Wee Weekend & Weather Blog

I do like an alliteration! 😉

The weather has certainly already effected the weekend and things to do, for example, Live & Unlocked on Hastings Pier was postponed yesterday (facebook) thanks to the rain and strong winds (and little chance of setting up due to the weather); I don't believe there is any live music today, but it is still worth a visit these days, great views, and more businesses getting on board regularly. Tomorrow (Sunday 23rd) there will be DJs and Pier Pressure from 13.00 to 18.00 (facebook), it looks to be a wee bit windy still, with sunshine and maybe showers (Met Office), so be prepared! By the way, the Pier now opens from 08.00 to 23.00 (way to run a pier - are you watching Mr G?!?).

And why the photograph looking down on the local fishing industry quarter early doors? First of all, I was sure I'd written a blog about the history of the local fishing industry in the past, but looking back I don't seem to have, although I have written quite often about the contemporary local fishing industry, eg the blog about when Greenpeace came to town. Hmmm, must have written about it somewhere else! 

Anyway, I know it was the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe when I started writing my blogs (many thanks to Jimmy Toller - R.I.P. - for information I was given many years ago now), but, since I started writing my blogs it looks like there are about 10 fewer boats actively going out to fish from the beach (and thanks to Jack for information here too, cheers!). Which is why the photograph is published above as it was taken by me a couple of days ago when the weather meant the working boats were not launched that morning, so I counted the numbers, about 15 still working/licensed to fish.

But back to this weekend and, whatever you do, please do still be careful, and enjoy yourself! (Cue music) 👍

Weekend Out & New Covid-19 Guidelines for Face Covering

Some things are getting back to normal, and the new stewardship of Hastings Pier appear to be using their grey matter, at last! Anyway, they have a large seating area, with a capacity of 600, on the far side of the Deck building in the middle of the pier and calling it a bier garden, thus for eating and drinking at. On Fridays there will be free live music on the pier with Live & Unlocked from 4-11.45pm (facebook). Also, on Saturdays they will be providing free live music at this outdoors venue, tomorrow (25th July) Funk Jam will mean live music from 2pm to midnight! (facebook). Last week saw the 'inaugural' pier gig with local act Sam Calver playing, and you can see many photographs at flickr showing just how many people were enjoying the day!

It does look a bit damp tomorrow, so be dressed appropriately (Met Office).

And the pubs and restaurants keep reopening, for example, yesterday saw the reopening of The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street (corner with Crown Lane) TN34 3BN (website). They are open 10am-10pm, with food served 12-5pm and 6-9pm. There is table service, like for most places now, and on the website they state there will be a limit to numbers and recommend to book tables required from noon, which can be booked online. You do not need to wear a face covering at any of Hastings pubs, bars or restaurants, but from today there are new Government guidelines for elsewhere...

As I write we are a little over 7 hours into the new guidelines about wearing face coverings in public in England, following the already well publicized guidelines that we must wear face coverings on public transport. This now includes, with some exceptions for health conditions and age, we must wear face coverings when travelling on public transport, and in shops, supermarkets, shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and transport hubs (indoor train stations and terminals, airports, maritime ports, and indoor bus and coach stations or terminals).

We must also wear face coverings when visiting takeaway food businesses, unless we are going to sit down to eat on the premises, in which case we are allowed to take off our face coverings once we are sitting down, but we must put a face covering back on once we leave the seating area. I trust that is clear... 

For more details go to the Government website.

Whatever, do please be careful folks, and enjoy your weekend!