A busy weekend, and I'm not joking!

Up at the Bridge Community Centre from 10am this Saturday 1st April is the April Fool - Fun With Tressell, activities for children, a procession to Ore Adventure Playground at 12.00, and more children's activities there until 4pm; see website.

In addition to the regular activities, fishing from the pier, the pier's history, and food and drink on Hastings Pier, this Saturday sees the beginning of Easter Fun on Hastings Pier, from the 1st of April to the 17th, 10am start each day; see website.

In the evening, 1st April, at historic and beautiful St Mary in the Castle, Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra are playing Mozart's Requiem in D minor, at 7pm; see website.

Finally, though there's much more to do and see in Hastings this weekend, as there always is, at the White Rock Theatre on Sunday 2nd April is the eighteenth Hastings Beatles Day, from 12 noon to 10.30pm; see website.

Whatever you do this weekend, enjoy yourself!

Beach Huts leave their winter refuge...

Okay, in retrospect, maybe I should have been aware a wee bit earlier, but I only noticed whilst walking by the public toilets near Bulverhythe, ie the winter refuge for the St Leonards/Azur beach huts, which were now missing!

Wondering if I had missed them earlier as I had been walking along the upper promenade, or whether they had been taken away to carry out some work on them, on my way back I found they had been placed back in their summer position... It was confirmed by a local dog walker that they had been here for a few days, so I had missed them earlier in the morning, however, another sign that summer is on the way, a bit like primroses 😎

Sea Road Overnight Parking...

I was advised by a friend who lives nearby that overnight caravan parking was being prevented in Sea Road, by the old open-air Swimming Baths, St Leonards, and, whilst on a walk to Bexhill, I had a gander. Obviously a device to 'kill two birds with one stone', that is, preventing overnight parking of camper vans, and gaining more revenue for the Council, following even more central government cuts to Hastings thanks to Austerity Britain.

There had been very recent tarmac layed in the space, but, on my way back a couple of hours later, new lines were already being drawn, I'm on the ball! 😉

Though this hasn't prevented these two caravans being parked for ages by Grosvenor Gardens on Sea Road, oh well...

Au Revoir EU

Our letter of resignation from the EU, ie the 'trigger' of Article 50, goes out today... Whatever our opinions, whether we are Remainers or Brexiteers, let's hope it doesn't all go ar*e up, fingers crossed for the future and good luck to the negotiators!

White Rock Promenade Kiosk Now Open, Honest!

Yesterday, I noticed that the kiosk that was first mooted in the plans for the regeneration of the White Rock Promenade nearly 2 years ago, is now open to provide refreshments! 

This is how it was envisaged in the plans (see my blog of 11th June 2015). I'm sure they were talking about it as an 'information kiosk' at the exhibition at the White Rock Hotel that day. Though, with even more cut-backs to funding to local councils, particularly for Hastings, from Central Government, plus noting that, despite the Borough Council keeping its own annual council tax increase to 2%, the overall increase for Hastings council tax payers in 2017/18 is 4.3%! Subsequently, I can understand that, I presume, this kiosk is now being used as a way of making income for the Council... fair enough.

Beach Clean Images

From the Blue Reef Aquarium facebook page: "Thank you so much to everyone that came today! The turn out was incredible. We will do a count up of the rubbish bags this afternoon and let you know. If anyone took any pictures they would be happy to be used on future publicity material, then please do post them on here or email them to hastings@bluereefaquarium.co.uk. 

"Enjoy the rest of your weekend knowing you kicked it off to a good start by helping the environment and your local community."

Good stuff!

The Cut-backs...

You may just recognise more than a few people in this, filmed in Hastings, video, indeed, you may be in it! 😉

Public Space Protection Orders Consultation

Hastings Borough Council is proposing to introduce two Public Space Protection Orders, one for dog fouling and one for anti-social behaviour, with restrictions to specific areas of the borough, go to the HBC website to share your opinion.

Hastings Beach Clean Today.

Join staff of the Blue Reef Aquarium, Rock-a-Nore Road, in "helping make a difference to the marine environment, and volunteer at their first Beach Clean of 2017. All equipment is provided and they will be covering the Rock-a-Nore stretch by the Aquarium. Meet in the aquarium cafe at 10.30am to start for 11am."

Please note, they ask you to pre-register for this event in order to take part. You may call on 01424 718776, email hastings@bluereefaquarium.co.uk or message them on their Facebook page. Hurry up, though I'd be surprised if they turn down help...

Sad Days

Sad day yesterday with the return of terrorism on British soil... our thoughts go out to those who were murdered and their families and friends, R.I.P.

He's on a Quest, and another interesting discovery!

By Steve the Beermeister...

Following my recent consideration of beer price increases in Hastings pubs since the Chancellor's budget, and breweries annual price increases, I've been on a bit of a quest, because most breweries are at it, not to mention the middle person, and the tax collector indeed! Also, an interesting development regarding paying by debit card... So, here's a few in Hastings and nearby, and, OK, it is a chore, but I prefer to say it's really a calling.
                                                     

I walked to Bexhill the other day, to the RAFA Albatross Club... OK, it is cheaper because it is a members club, but their 4 real ales, whatever strength, are all priced at £3.20 a pint. For another comparison on keg beers, I checked on their Guinness price too, which is £3.50 a pint, not bad, but, as I said, this is a club.

I also popped into the Dripping Well, just up towards Bohemia Road from the old Post Office. Here, two real ales were on sale, the session bitter being Wadworth Henry's IPA at just £2.90 a pint, and their stronger bitter, Youngs Special at £3.30 a pint; the Guinness here costs £3.70 a pint, all very good value for a pub so close to the town centre.

Back into the old town and, in Rock-A-Nore Road, the Dolphin Inn today put up their prices following all breweries and other suppliers price increases, and the 2% increase in beer duty. All 6 of their real ales continue to be priced the same, strengths from 3.8% to, usually, no more than 6%, ie now £3.70 a pint, and Guinness now costs £4.10 a pint.

I shall visit a few more pubs and bars around town, and continue to report on price variations, probably coming to an overall comparison in a month or two, but! An interesting piece of information came to my attention this morning, ie, if you pay for your drinks by a debit card (as customers are increasingly being encouraged to do, but what's wrong with cash, I say?!?) at the London Trader in the old town, they charge you £1 on top, effectively, say you pay for 2 pints with your card, increasing the price of each pint by 50p!

Interesting, indeed! I shall continue my quest...😉

Want to be a RNLI Lifeguard this Summer?

Do you want to be a RNLI Lifeguard  in Hastings and St Leonards (or elsewhere) this summer, or do you know someone else who would be interested? If so, have a look at the RNLI website for further details for how you could help to save lives. 

Hastings Half Marathon Results

Overall Winner Ben Fish

Women's Results 2017:

1. Sarah Gruber, Invicta East Kent AC, 1:26:35
2. Sue Fry, Hailsham Harriers, 1:28:30
3. Julie Wedmore, Herne Hill Harriers, 1:29:21

Men's Results 2017:

1. Ben Fish, Blackburn Harriers & AC, 1:09:52
2. Rhys Boorman, Hastings AC, 1:14:48
3. Alex Money, Orpington Road Runners, 1:15:42

For the full list of times for the finishing runners see website.

Congratulations to all who took part!

Happy Springtime!

Spring begins today at 10.29 hours in the UK with the Vernal Equinox, enjoy!

Hastings Half Marathon... and Ale & Arty this weekend.

Today, if you feel up to walking along the seafront to Bexhill (or catching a bus or train, or driving for that matter) is the Ale & Arty Beer Festival at the De La Warr Pavilion. In addition, between 11am and 3pm, is the Battle of the Bands, for young musicians, later the AYU Funk Band and The Cavaliers will be playing; see their website for full programme. The nearby award winning Albatross (RAFA) Club will also be open all day to non-members, should you wish to have a drink or eat in there.

Tomorrow, Sunday 19th, sees the 33rd Hastings Half Marathon start off from Sea Road, by Marina Gardens, opposite the Bo Peep pub at 10.30am, and finishes there too, an hour plus later... See website for more details, and details of how to enter for next year!

Yesterday, I noticed temporary toilets already being placed... Good luck to the runners and the charities that many are sponsoring!

PS. Check for closed roads in Hastsings during the event...

Best wishes to you all!

Don't drink too much Guinness and Jamesons... 

slàinte mhaith!  😇

Amber Rudd, or Adolph Hitler?

Probably because I live in Hastings I missed this a few months ago, but this film of James O'Brien discussing our MP is well worth a watch, prepare to be shocked...

Another Aslef/Southern "Deal"

Govia, ie Southern's parent company; have come to a secret agreement with the train drivers' union, Aslef, and so, their members are now being asked, for a second time, to vote on the 'agreement' as they recently rebutted the first 'agreement.'  Aslef obviously have the stronger hand in any potential deal, that is, stronger than the guards' union, the RMT, and Southern appear to be doing well in dividing the opposition to driver-only operated trains, damn the safety issues! See the BBC website for further information.

Pete "Squeaky" Pepper's Ashes...

Pete "Squeaky" Pepper's ashes were today passed to the sea, with thanks to Podgy and many other friends, and glasses were later raised to his memory, R.I.P. 😢

FILOFLATION!

By Steve the Beermeister...

OK, I'm guessing that the First In Last Out doesn't make enough money from its restaurant, because, they increase the prices of their beers at least twice a year, despite having up to 50% small breweries tax relief on a pint of their own ales. So, following the tax hike in the recent Government budget, they're selling a pint of their FILO Gold (a very decent ale, indeed, and local CAMRA champion this year!) at £3.70, since they put their prices up yesterday, which is equivalent to £4 a pint, or thereabouts, taking into account small brewery tax relief. Indeed, a pint would cost you similar in the array of Hastings Shepherd Neame pubs ( which are vastly overpriced too!), yet you can buy, today, a pint of the excellent Salopian Hop Twister at the Dolphin Inn for £3.60, or 10p a pint cheaper straight up, or 40p a pint cheaper taking into account the tax relief (Indeed, you could get the same Hop Twister at the FILO very recently for the same price!)... 

Hmmm... is this profiteering, with DFLs apparently willing to pay more for a beer?

Marine Court: Police are seeking witnesses

Emergency services were called to Marine Court at about 09.00 yesterday morning following a report that a man had fallen from a window. He was found to be dead and another man "has been arrested on suspicion of murder." Police are calling for witnesses; see the Sussex Police website.

Industrial Action on the Railways... AGAIN!

So, yet another day with the train 'service' effected by industrial action in Hastings and the South and South-East, though this time, RMT members, ie conductors on Northern and Merseyrail as well as on Southern, have joined in (thanks to the BBC for this image, by the way)! If you need to travel on Southern before midnight, here is a link to what's been arranged to account for a disrupted service on Southern's website.

Of course, rail workers from other rail companies are now joining in the fray, as the Government continues to interfere in 'franchised' train companies operating, with its policy of bringing in driver-only trains across the country to save staffing costs. The unions' argument (Aslef  drivers are still involved, of course, indeed, many Aslef drivers on Merseyrail have refused to cross picket lines and so further disrupted Merseyrail's service today) is that this is about safety, though it has to be about jobs as well, in reality.

The unions do not trust the Government, let alone the train operating companies, to ensure jobs are safe, as plans are afoot to re-train guards to become drivers as current drivers retire, thus, the so-called reduction of guards' duties will see only one member of staff left on trains, including 12 carriage trains stopping at platforms where there are fewer than 12 carriages meeting the platform, and we have many station platforms down here that have fewer than four carriage length platforms! Consequently, jobs will be lost...

Not to mention, no guards to help customers with special needs and disabilities, eg blind people and those in wheelchairs, nor guards to collect fares from those who board trains at stations with no staff, thus losing income too! Oh well... I haven't been around for a few days as I had a weekend away, coincidentally, having to use the 'replacement bus service' between Brighton and Polegate yesterday, this one due to railworks, will it ever end?

HBC sorts it out, a wee bit...

Well, the Council, or Kier, sorted out the mess here, for now, meanwhile, they listened to protests about the proposed closure of the public toilets in Ore, which has been reprieved, though they are still going ahead with the closure of the central town loos in Harold Place it would seem. Oh well, cuts have to happen somewhere, taking into account central government's unfair annual reduction in support to Hastings since 2010... 😒

1066 Energy Day at Stade Hall

The 1066 Energy Day is happening this Saturday 11th March, at Stade Hall, 10am to 4pm; now, I have no idea what this is, but see their website for more details! 😉

Dogs on leads in Hastings

A Hastings resident was recently fined for not having his dog on a lead and charged with "not keeping his dog on a lead in Queens Road and South Terrace, contrary to the Dogs on Leads (Borough of Hastings) Order 2008." He was summonsed to Hastings Magistrates Court on Friday, February 24, but did not attend and was found guilty in absence, being fined £150, with £225 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Warren Davies,  Hastings Borough Council’s lead member for environment said: “We recognise that the majority of people in Hastings are considerate dog owners but sadly there are a few who are not. We take dog control issues very seriously and the safety of residents and visitors to the town is very important to us. This prosecution will hopefully act as a deterrent to other dog owners who do not keep their dogs under control; be warned, we will prosecute.” For more information about dog control orders in Hastings visit www.hastings.gov.uk/dogcontrols 

Read more at the Observer website.

Hastings Lifeboat Exercse

Watch both of Hastings Lifeboats launched on their regular exercise tomorrow evening (Wednesday 8th March). The launch will be at 1800 hours, and recovery should be at 20.00 hours (subject to operations). Hastings RNLI  have recommend that the best view of both will be from the Harbour Arm...

No Irish Folk Music at the Dolphin this evening, BUT!

The usual 'fiddly dee' music with the Tune Raiders is not on at the Dolphin Inn this evening, apparently a few of the musicians are not available this week, but the family are putting on a 'Games Night' to cover for the lack of live music... That is, a large variety of pub games (including chess, shove ha'penny, cards, dominoes, and many more) will be available from 6pm until closing time, and cheese boards and biscuits (I've eaten one last week, and decent value at £5, indeed!), and a number of Lou's decent value cocktails, will be available too! Should be fun...

Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition Results:

With thanks to the 13th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition's facebook page: The 2017 winner of the First Prize of £10,000, and a concerto performance with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is Kenneth Broberg.

Second Prize: Hans Suh

Third Prize: Youkyoung Kim

Fourth Prize: Koki Kuroiwa and Meng-Sheng Shen

Fifth Prize: Giuseppe Guarrera

Orchestra Prize: Koki Kuroiwa

Southern Railway: Campaigners apply for Judicial Review!

Campaigners have applied for a judicial review into the government's handling of the Southern fiasco. Govia Thameslink (GTR) took on the Southern rail franchise in 2015 and its contract with the Department for Transport (DfT) runs for another 4 years! 

As I have regularly reported, there has been an industrial dispute with the RMT (conductors) getting on for a year, and now with the drivers union, Aslef, too. The Transport for All campaign group asserts that the Government should have done more to ease disruption; but, as I have regularly reported, the Government is funding GTR to beat the trade unions. A Department for Transport spokesperson said they are unable to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing. 

Transport for All, which campaigns for travellers with disabilities and older travellers, has joined the Association of British Commuters in requesting that a Judicial Review be held into the Department's handling of the Southern Railway dispute with the unions, particularly in respect to the impact on older travellers and travellers with disabilities. The Association of British Commuters has already applied for a review in January and is awaiting a decision from the Royal Court of Justice. 

A spokesperson for the campaign asserted: "Accessible public transport is a lifeline to inclusion for many disabled people who disproportionally rely on it to go about their everyday lives. The Southern rail crisis caused disruption and misery to disabled and older people, leaving many unable to travel to work and increasingly isolated. Yet throughout the strikes the DfT has remained silent." 

A spokesperson for Southern Railway said: "We aim to give excellent assistance and are very sorry to hear about these passenger experiences. Over 440,000 journeys were made on Southern with disability railcards last year and only a tiny fraction resulted in a complaint that assistance was not provided. We regularly carry out call-back surveys with disabled passengers and 'mystery shop' so that we can look at what we can change to improve."  

For more information see the Disability News Service website.

Fat Tuesday Music Images

Nigel Clark of Dodgy, the well known headlining act for Hastings Fat Tuesday this year, here photographed playing at the London Trader; they also played at the Albion and were the last act to play at the Carlisle.

My roving photographer, Marcus, took these photographs for me (many thanks Marcus!), chosen because he has much better photographic equipment than I do. Oh yes, and he knows quite a number of people who play in the 24 bands that were on show on Tuesday evening, and these images are unique and all rights are owned by him...  

And this is Captain Clagnut playing at the Old Market; they also played at the Jenny Lind and the Standard. An eclectic selection of bands shown here, indeed!

This is Sand Rabbit playing at the Dolphin Inn, and this trio also played at the First In Last Out (FILO), and at Porters, earlier in the evening.

Local band, Kid Kapichi, the last act to play at the Admiral Nelson; they also played at the Albion, and at the Carlisle.

Soul Xpress playing at the Dolphin Inn; they also played at Porters earlier in the evening, and were the last act to play at the Anchor.

We Are Baz were the last act to play at the FILO, here photographed playing earlier in the evening at the Albion; they also played at the Anchor and at the Dolphin Inn.

Thanks again to Marcus J Lamb-Bentley for allowing me to publish these images, cheers!

Hastings Pier Vintage & Retro Indoor Market

Added to the ongoing Fishing from the Pier, Camera Obscura - Make a Sketch, Hastings Pier Yarn Bomb, bars and restaurant, not to mention promenading on the Pier, this weekend sees the return of the Vintage & Retro Indoor Market in the Memories Room of the central Deck Building from 11am to 5pm both days; See website.