Clocks Forward...

Did you remember to change your clocks before you went to bed? If not, your mobile phones and computers may well show you are now up at 05.45 instead of 04.45 as we lost an hour between 01.00 and 02.00 this morning, yes indeed, time moved forward overnight, and in Britain we are no longer on Greenwich Mean Time (website)!

Easter Weekend in Hastings: Enjoy!

Okay, I still have a wee bit to say about my break away in Belgium, but I can't not share the fact that there is much to do around Hastings over the Easter period, including Hastings Easter Festival at the Stade Open Space on Saturday 30th March, from 2-6.00pm (website). This will be a free live music and arts festival, including an eclectic mix of musical genres, an arts exhibition and food from local vendors; donations towards the cost would be appreciated. The weather forecast isn't bad either!

But the musical fun has already begun with Easter Madness live music at the Jenny Lind pub in the High Street until Monday 1st April (Hastings Events). Of course, there is always plenty of live music in pubs and bars around the old town anyway, and even Hastings Pier will be waking up with live music this weekend (facebook), so there's plenty of live music to look out for, and much of it free!

Also, not to forget that this evening (28th March) there will be free light shows in Bottle Alley: 7.00-7.20pm; 7.35-7.55; 8.10-8.30pm; and 8.45-9.05 pm.

Plus plenty more to do, including for children, for example, at Hastings Aquarium (facebook), the Great Cream Egg Giveaway at Priory Meadow Friday 29th and Saturday 30th from 11.00am to 3.00pm both days (website), and see All Events website for details of other events around Hastings.

Enjoy the weekend folks! 👍

A Day in Bruges

Belfort

Sorry folks, but still in Belgium... Many years ago, circa 25 years, I met a lad called Jannes when I was at university in Sheffield, and we had a few bevvies; Jannes who came from Bruges recommended I visit Bruges, particularly for the beers and bars. Many years later I have now visited Bruges, not only encouraged by Jannes, but also after seeing the film In Bruges (YouTube). The bell tower pictured above, the 13th century Belfort (website), is at Markt 7, 8000 Bruges, and has significance comically and tragically in the film.

Café Vlissinghe

Our first disappointment was the 1515 Café Vlissinghe, Blekerstraat 8000 Bruges (website), the oldest continuously running café in Bruges. Disappointment only in the fact that it doesn't open Mondays and Tuesdays, we were there Tuesday, oh well...

I had to photograph a canal and bridge

De Vloamse Trine

Anyway, we had a wee wander around, getting hungry, so thinking about food, obviously, but the centre of the city was very busy, however, we managed to find a quieter bar still pretty much in the centre, and quiet, although it started filling once we had found seats. De Vloamse Trine, Kraanplein 5, 8000 Bruges (website) became our food and drink provider, and not a bad price for food or drink either. Enjoyed the food and I drank another Duvel (website), as I had done the day before, and as I've written about before (blog), a very dependable tasty ale to go for indeed. 

Kruispoort Gate

We decided to walk off the food so headed towards the main canal that encircles Bruges and reached Dampoort, then just east of south to one of the remaining 4 city gates to Bruges, Kruispoort Gate, built way back in 1402 (website) and in wonderful condition!

A little further south is the Hof der Gefusilleerden (Courtyard of the Executed - website), Kazernevest 8000 Bruges, where memorials to the 13 civilians shot there for giving assistance to Germany's opponents by the German occupiers between 1916 and 1918, now stand. Included is the monument above for the second British civilian executed during World War I (the first was the British nurse, Edith Cavell in 1915) Captain Charles Fryatt (Merchant Navy), who was court-martialled by the Imperial German Navy and executed on the same day, the 27th of July 1916. His crime was to not stop his ship the SS Brussels when confronted by a German submarine, but he headed full steam towards the submarine. A year later he was arrested whilst leaving the Hook of Holland, from where he was transported to Bruges for trial and execution (Historic UK).

De Garre

We wandered around a bit more, next to canals mostly, and then headed for the Staminee De Garre, De Garre 1, 8000 Bruges (website), literally down a very well hidden alley off Breidelstraat, off the Burg. We missed the entrance to the alley (like a small doorway between shops) once, and Dan had been there before! So don't rush if you want to find it. As you can see, it's in an older building, but De Garre will celebrate its 40th anniversary next month (21st April).

Drink-wise I had the 8.7% Brugge Tripel (website) in De Garre, a very nice tripel that I hadn't had for many years, not since Dan had given me a box of said ale with a complimentary glass, very similar to the glass in the photograph, as a present; I still have the glass. Dan had their very own house beer on draught, their De Garre Tripel, brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge (website), and 11.0%, Dan was surprised, but he enjoyed it, right enough! 😉

't Brugs Beertje

Our final port of call on our way back to the railway station was the bar that Jannes had specifically advised me to visit, and with over 300 beers on sale here, he was certainly a good advisor! That is 't Brugs Beertje, Kemelstraat 5, B-8000 Bruges (website), where we drank Straffe Hendrik Tripel (website), 9.0% of full flavoured ale, with hints of citrus, caramel and banana, with a gentle bitter finish, nice one to end with, cheers!

Oh yes, and we met a nice couple of couples from East Anglia  at 't Brugs Beertje too, I had to pry Dan away to catch our train, then we took a wrong turning and missed the train anyway... Then we caught the wrong train, but there's another story!

We eventually got back to Brussels...

A Day in Brussels

Sorry, but I've been away, however...

I visited Belgium, and I did have a couple of drinks on Eurostar on the way, although, sadly they no longer sell Duvel in their buffet bars, but they do sell Leffe Blonde (website), which is very nice too, but drinking on a train isn't drinking in Brussels, so... I stayed nearby at my sister-in-law and brother's flat, on the other side of the Parc du Cinquantenaire to our first bar on the day, and the first bar I ever drank in on my first visit to Belgium many many years ago (apparently changed ownership since my last visit), that is the 120 years old La Terrasse, Avenue des Celtes 1, Etterbeek, 1040 Brussels (website).

I've already been questioned by a friend about my drinking lager here, as I'm more of an ale drinker, but for me the 5.2% Jupiler pils (website) is the best pilsner there is, indeed it is the highest selling beer in Belgium with 40% of the market share! It has flavour but is refreshing and very easy to drink, and okay, it is a pilsner style lager... 😉

We wandered through the Parc du Cinquantenaire (visitbrussels) and on to Chez Bernard at the Cafe L'Espérance, in the small square at Pl. Jourdan 47, Etterbeek, Brussels 1040, with my brother diving in ahead of me in the photograph above!

It was very quiet inside, much busier outside, but we sat down with this view of the bar (above) and Dan ordered the ever-good 8.5% Duvel (website), and I drank a trappist ale, the 9.5% Westmalle Tripel (website), my favourite Belgian ale indeed.👍Indeed, I wrote about both of these beers in my blog a couple of years ago.

We ate with my sister-in-law, after she got away from work, at Restaurant Volle Gas, Pl. Fernand Cocq 21, 1050 Ixelles (website). To the right of where I took this photograph from (above) is the Ixelles' Municipal Hall, where my youngest niece's birth was registered. If you visit, don't be surprised by how far back the restaurant goes, even if it does look quite small, there's much room downstairs, not to mention upstairs. I drank Westmalle Tripel again, as did Dan, it so goes with food, and I ate a hearty... I'll not say what, I don't want to upset any vegetarians reading this, but excellent food, and many thanks to my 'sis' Shirin for treating me, cheers m'dear!

Next stop Bruges! 🍺

Missed Anniversary & Hastings Half Marathon

Well, I apologise, but I've been abroad and missed (just) a couple of things, including the fourth anniversary of the first Covid Lockdown (blog), and I (literally) just missed the 40th Hastings Half Marathon (website), oops!

But I shall be sharing some details of my trip to Belgium... 

2024/25 Council Tax Bill

Yes, indeed, my 2024/25 Council Tax Bill came through the letterbox this afternoon, unsurprisingly it's gone up again, this year by an overall 4.7%. January saw the last official British inflation rate at 4% and it was projected to drop over the year. So, the rise is slightly more than the inflation rate at the moment, but of course, prices have increased significantly more than 4% since March 2023.

Adult Social Care has the lowest increase since last year at 2%; East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex Fire Authority have all had increases of 3%; as usual, the amount of increase gone to the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner is higher, that is by 5.4% (remember this when you're told more money is being spent on increasing the number of police officers).

Local elections coming in May, General Election soon-ish?!?

Hastings America Ground, The Musical!

Bob Tipler (and I've borrowed most of this blog from Bob's facebook account) and John Knowles have written a play with songs loosely based on the history of the America Ground area of Hastings (blog), which Bob says is "an allegory concerning today’s housing crisis and issues of land ownership."

With support from Historic England and a supporting grant from Arts Council England, they have nearly reached the funding required to professionally stage the play this coming June, with a cast of local actors and musicians. There will soon be a push for the final bit of crowd funding and sponsorship required.

There’s a reading of the synopsis of the play with a performance of five of the songs next Wednesday 20th March during the Trinity Triangle Heritage Showcase at the Hastings Observer Building, 13-21.00 hours (eventbrite). Tickets are free and their America Ground synopsis is due to start at 8pm.

Should you wish to go along here’s a link to sign up.

PS. The America Ground The Musical is my invention, I have no idea what they will be calling it, but would be amazed if it's the same, you never know! 😉

Total Loss to East Sussex of Dark Star Beers...

By Steve the Beermeister:

Hmmm... Yes, the brewing of the Dark Star range of ales is moving yet again! It began when Asahi bought up Fuller's (blog), which had previously taken over Dark Star, and then started brewing Dark Star Hophead at the Griffin Brewery at Chiswick to 'maximise' production. On realising that Hophead just wasn't up to scratch whilst brewed in West London, brewing Hophead was returned to the Dark Star brewery at Partridge Green. Then! Asahi decided to close down the Dark Star Brewery at Partridge Green and move brewing of Dark Star ales to the Meantime Brewery in South East London (blog).

Meantime had trouble getting the formula right and Hophead again began tasting nothing like Hophead, but recently it seemed like they'd sorted it out and the quality of Hophead improved again, thankfully. But now Asahi have decided to 'maximise' again, indeed, have decided to close down the Meantime Brewery in South East London (The Drinks Business) and move all brewing to the old (Fuller's) Griffin Brewery in West London... 😣 It doesn't bode well for the future of the quality of ales with Asahi I'm afraid, although, apparently, there's some sort of plan to have a smaller brewery and brewing experience in Greenwich (The Drinks Business). 

We'll wait and see what happens, but a sad loss to East Sussex...

Mo's Lounge in St Andrew's Market

And, although it wasn't open when I walked through St Andrew's Market earlier, the Smoke Shack Bar & Grill (blog) has been replaced by Mo's Lounge, it appears...

I shall have to visit for research purposes, obviously 😉, and the opening times are Thursday 5-11.00pm, Friday 5pm to midnight, Saturday 2.00pm to midnight, and Sunday 12-10.00pm; apparently not open Monday to Wednesday. 🍹

Hastings Pier Open Again -ish...

YES, I got onto Hastings Pier this morning too! Hence this nice view looking westwards towards Marine Court from by the Pavilion.

And the Pier's facebook page is providing information regarding the build up to more being open and available on it, for example, that Mackay's Amusements will be returning from the 16th of March... 

And, what must have contributed to the sad closure last year, much too soon after its opening, of the Deck Building and La Belle Vue (blog), which translates as 'Beautiful View' and who's view was definitely not so good with the obstructions that arrived with the live music later last year! Anyway, as you can see in the photograph above, the end of the pier is again blocked off as preparations are again made for live music from the Easter weekend (facebook), so the Pier is definitely opening up again!

Town Centre, Police Hub and HMV Open

Indeed, as I said recently (blog), we appear to be getting more of a police presence in the town centre, now added to with this 'Police Hub.'

As the notice says, this Police Hub (POD) is for community engagement and queries and will be open Mon-Saturday, 12-13.00 and 15-16.00 hours. It is not a police station so they'll not be able to take crime reports. As usual, if you need to report a crime "please phone 999 in an emergency or 101 for non emergency calls."

You may have realised that I had a bit of a wander around earlier today and I visited the HMV shop as it's opened again following more refurbishment, and yes, I made a couple of purchases as I'm happier to buy from a shop than online, good to be back! 👍

I told you the road would be closed overnight!

The Bourne

I told you the road would be closed (blog), taken last night 😉

Think Pharmacy First & NHS Sussex Survey

We are reminded that over 90% of Pharmacists can now offer treatment for more conditions, indeed, community pharmacies can now offer treatment for the following conditions without the need to make a GP appointment (NHS):

• Earache (for sufferers aged 1 to 17 years)
• Impetigo (sufferers aged 1 year and over)
• Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over) 
• Shingles (aged 18 years and over) 
• Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs - women aged 16-64 years) 

Regarding the local NHS survey, I've only just discovered that we have until Sunday the 10th of March, that is this Sunday, to complete an NHS Sussex survey. Everyone living in Sussex is asked to contribute with their experiences of health and social care, go to the website to participate, apologies for my late sharing.

Road Closure for Resurfacing from this evening - A259

From 19.00 hours this evening to 06.00 hours in the morning, and between the same times overnight for the next 3 weeks, the A259 will be closed to traffic in Hastings old town, stretching between the seafront and up The Bourne to Old London Road. A diversionary route will be in place via Priory Road, Mount Pleasant Road and Elphinstone Road; access for residents will be possible from the Old London Road/Priory Road junction to 100 metres north of the High Street (website).

East Sussex County Council say this is part of their continuing improvement of East Sussex roads and this particular work should continue until the 22nd of March, weather permitting. Not the worst road in the area, I'd suggest...😕

Be aware folks, there are going to be likely delays...

ESCC Libraries' Late Book Amnesty!

To encourage people to return late books to East Sussex County Council's Library Service there is currently an amnesty, and they will waive all fines on overdue book returns until the end of March 2024 (website).

They say that every year thousands of borrowed books are not returned, meaning that library users regularly miss out on the chance to borrow books they want to read, and this is a free service, it must be remembered; use libraries or lose them folks!

Details of East Sussex library services can be found at the website.