Crazy Crazy Golf!

 

Yesterday saw the inaugural Ted's Planet Hastings Seasonal Sprouting competition at the Adventure Golf Course, and I was coaxed into taking part, indeed, I feel like I am being 'groomed' into joining Planet Hastings! It was a beautiful morning, just a tad cool, and the competition involved 2 rounds, one over the Pirate course, and a 'crazy crazy' round over the conventional Crazy Golf course.

Dave G won overall, and a good time was had, and with a few bevvies afterwards. I came in the bottom half as expected; see the Planet Hastings facebook page for full results. And well organised Ted, many thanks!

Seafront and 2 Award Winning Parks Stroll...

So, a 90 minute stroll was enjoyed this morning, from the town centre, along the seafront, up through St Leonard's Gardens, over to Alexandra Park via West/Tower Road, and back down through the park to the town centre, a mostly peaceful walk, but more of that later. Here (above photograph), below Warrior Square, is the pleasingly successful Goat Ledge Cafe; winter opening 9.00am to 4.00pm (website).

Entering award-winning (blog), and excellently designed, St Leonard's Gardens (blog) from behind the Royal Victoria Hotel (above), and I found myself in an oasis of peace and quiet, indeed. Walking up...

... and you soon find the pond, literally swimming with wildlife, and it's family of moorhens make their presence felt, and one sad looking herring gull too!

At the North Lodge at the top of Maze Hill, and above St Leonard's Gardens, is the first of 2 closely assigned blue plaques, this one for author Henry Rider Haggard, who lived here from 1918 to 1923.

A little further up in Upper Maze Hill is where the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, and famous for breaking German codes during World War II, Alan Turing lived whilst at school from 1922 to 1926. In July 2019 the Governor of the Bank of England announced that Turing's face will be on the new polymer £50 note, expected to enter circulation in 2021 (Bank of England website). 

Entering Alexandra Park

I carried on up Upper Maze Hill, then crossed over via Tower Road West/Tower Road, where my peace was disrupted for a couple of minutes when 3 police cars shot up Tower Road West from Tower Road, presumably previously from Bohemia Road, 2 of them with sirens blaring (approximately 09.30 hours).

Anyway, peace returned, and I carried on to the far eastern corner of Alexandra Park (blog), another another excellently designed and award winning park in Hastings, and gradually walked back down to the town centre.

And Alexandra Park has its own fair share of wildlife, and it's own families of moorhens too, for example in the pond above. The walk was a joy!

dRMM Architects New Year Honour

Co-founder of dRMM, the architects who designed the Hastings Pier rebuild and provided a free design (voluntarily) for the Friends of Hastings Pier proposed second phase of rebuilding the pier (blog), Sadie Morgan, is to receive an OBE in recognition of "services to architecture" (Building Design website); congratulations to her!

And what has the owner of Hastings Pier (blog) added architecturally since he was suspiciously sold the pier for just £60,000 over 18 months ago? As the photograph I took yesterday (above) shows, a few empty sheds have recently been added, although they are larger than the already existing empty sheds. What a waste of 18 months... 

Seasons Greetings!

Yet another year has passed, and I wish to share best wishes and peace and goodwill to all, and particularly thanking those helping to keep us safe and healthy; in Britain that is those working in/for the NHS, RNLI, Coastguard, Ambulance, Police, Fire & Rescue, and for Snowflake (blog) and any Emergency and Essential Services not already mentioned, and not forgetting other customer services!

Much Respect.

Hastings Library Closures over Holiday Season

All libraries in Hastings and East Sussex will be closed from Tuesday the 24th of December to Thursday the 26th of December inclusive, and on Tuesday the 31st of December and Wednesday the 1st of January 2020 (East Sussex Council website).

Hastings Christmas Refuse & Recycling Collections

Over the next couple of weeks refuse and recycling collections are a bit different, go to the BHC website for details about your postcode, or see below:

Usual Collection Day     -   Revised Collection Day 

Wednesday 25 December - Friday 27 December 2019 

Thursday 26 December    - Saturday 28 December 

Friday 27 December         - Monday 30 December 

Monday 30 December      - Tuesday 31 December

Tuesday 31 December      - Thursday 2 January 2020 

Wednesday 1 January       - Friday 3 January 

Thursday 2 January          - Saturday 4 January 

Friday 3 January               - Monday 6 January 

Monday 6 January            - Tuesday 7 January 

Tuesday 7 January            - Wednesday 8 January 

Wednesday 8 January       - Thursday 9 January 

Thursday 9 January          - Friday 10 January 

Friday 10 January             - Saturday 11 January

For details of Hastings Borough Council Christmas Closures see website.

Harvey's Brewery Tour

By Steve the Beermeister:

A group of Hastings lads visited the brewery for a tour on Tuesday evening last, it was well worth the visit, and I write about it at the Steve the Beermeister blog if you want to know more. I do recommend that if your local sells Harvey's beers regularly, suggest to the publican that s/he organise a similar trip, we had a great old time!

Not posting...

Apologies for not posting for a while, haven't felt up to it, hopefully I shall be back up to normal very soon, fingers crossed... 😟

Vote Today!

Whatever your political persuasion today will be the most important election you have voted in in Britain since 1945, which will colour the future for your grandchildren... Chose your priorities carefully, therefore, whether you want an independent NHS or health care paid for by insurance, whether you want to stay in the EU or want to leave, whether you want to pay less tax or have better facilities like street lighting, a fire brigade and police force, whatever, it is important to vote today, best wishes!

Weekend 7th/8th December 2019

There is plenty to do this weekend, aside from traditional Christmas shopping, visiting museums, pubs and restaurants, or promenading, including the Hastings Lifeboat Station Christmas at the Boathouse from 11.00 to 15.00 on Saturday, with tea and cake, gifts, tombola, Guess the weight of the Christmas cake, and more, not to mention visiting the lifeboat and the RNLI shop (facebook); the Blue Bee Christmas Market at 25 Courthouse Street in the old town from 10.00 to 20.00 on Saturday, with gift and stocking filler ideas from local artists (facebook); the Winter Art Fair at the Dirty Old Gallery, 31A West Street, TN34 3AN, from 12.00 to 18.00 both days, with locally made arts and crafts (website); and on Sunday from 11.00 to 16.00 at The Stade Hall, The Pop Up Emporium, again supporting local arts and businesses (facebook).

Whatever, enjoy your weekend, with a not so bad weather forecast too (Met Office).

Hastings Foodbank

The Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. An increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, and consequently emergency food stocks deplete very quickly! 

November was their second busiest month ever, with the equivalent of 10,791 meals given out to people in crisis situations, including 42% of this total to local children, and Christmas is fast approaching!

Indeed, over 90% of the food they distribute is donated by members of the public. Urgently requirements include tinned meat and fish, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti, potatoes and vegetables, tinned fruit, custard and rice pudding, pasta sauce, and UHT milk; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Community Contact Centre, Hastings Town Hall, Queens Road TN34 1TL; 
Tourist Information Centre, Breeds Place TN34 3AA;

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA, next to restaurant;

Asda, opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, in main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, in main entrance;
Nat West Bank, Havelock Road, in main entrance;
Nationwide Building Society, in main entrances to 40 London Road, 395 Old London Road, and 15 Wellington Place.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!

Christmas is coming...

As if you hadn't noticed, however, when I took this photograph in the town centre early yesterday, as I turned round I noticed a lit up Christmas 'show' on the walls of Costa Coffee, I've never noticed that before, is this new for this year I wonder...

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

Today s the United Nation's International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (website), who remind us that over 40,000,000 "people worldwide are victims of modern slavery." In addition 150,000,000 "children are subject to child labour," see their website for more details of this International Day.

A Quiet Weekend

I've had a very quiet weekend, I know there are all sorts of markets and Christmas thingies going on, but I really just wanted a nice quiet weekend, so I'm having one. I had a wander into the 'old town' yesterday morning, and noticed that the Ferris Wheel (older blog), down in-between Flamingo Park and the beach, has been folded down, presumably for the winter. Why does this mean so much to me and my peace and tranquility? Well, in the early hours, when it is still dark, and when windy, it makes one hell of a spooky noise as the wind blows through the structure, so I'll have a more peaceful, less spooky walk to Rock-a-Nore for the next few months, many thanks!

RX134 - The Stacey Marie

Why I was actually heading towards Rock-a-Nore Road was to take some photographs, with blue sky at last, of RX134, The Stacey Marie, a bit of a passion (blog).

Happy end to the Weekend!

Urgent! Register to vote by tomorrow night.

As I suggested in my blog of 25th of October, a General Election was imminent, well we know now it is to be held on Thursday the 12th of December 2019... And, you have until before midnight tomorrow (11.59pm/23.59 hours, or if you want a postal vote, it needs to be before 5pm/17.00 hours), Tuesday the 26th of November, to register (Government website). Registering online "usually takes about 5 minutes" only, and remember, if you are not on the register you cannot vote, and you may be fined!* 

If you want/need to register to vote please do hurry to the website and register.

* Explained in older blog

OHPS Guided Walks of the Stade this weekend...

The last 2 guided walks of the year organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) are to be held this weekend during the Hastings Herring Fair, (Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November, previous blog). The free Stade Guided Walk begins at 11am both days, meeting up outside the Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road (inside if wet; may be Saturday less likely on Sunday, Met Office website). Should you partake, you will be shown around the fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, although on the flat mostly, you will be walking over uneven ground, so sensible walking shoes would be, well, sensible (website). The walks are provided free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks, enjoy!



Hastings Herring Fair 23-24 November 2019

Once again, the Hastings Herring Fair organisers invite you to celebrate the 'silver darlings of the sea' at this free fish, food, drink and music festival at the Stade Open Space this weekend; 11am to 4pm both days. Meet the fishermen and learn traditional skills. With many food and drink traders, a bar run by Lewes brewery Harvey's, live music (see at bottom of blog), cooking demonstrations, and plenty of entertainment for children, indeed there's plenty for everyone. See visit1066country website.

Herring are small tasty silver coloured fish that can be fried, smoked or cured, and they are full of healthy oils and, because they have existed in abundance, they were so named; the word herring comes from the Old German for “multitude”. The Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus), is caught around the British coast, though in the biggest numbers in the North Sea, and can reach up to 16 inches in length, but we usually see them at about 8 inches. There is locally caught herring in Hastings this year, so nice and fresh from our local fishing industry, nice one.

The Weekend Music

The Fair is free, so do visit The Stade Open Space in Hastings 'old town' and sample the local fare, not to mention wine, cider and beer, and much local music too, enjoy!

Herring Fair being set up...

Hastings Herring Fair 2019 (1066 Country website) is already being set up for the weekend, and word has it that there are plenty of locally caught herring this year too!

Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Quiz Night

This Tuesday evening, and another fun money raising activity for Hastings Lifeboat Station (facebook), Tuesday 19th of November 2019, 7.30pm start, Quiz Night at East Hastings Sea Angling Association at The Stade; £2.50 per person, maximum 6 people per team... Have fun supporting the RNLI in Hastings!

Burning Sky Tap Takeover at the Jolly Fisherman

By Steve the Beermeister:

This weekend, at The Jolly Fisherman, 3  East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR, there will be a tap takeover by Sussex brewery Burning Sky (website), 9 Burning Sky ales and crafty kegs available! Indeed, yesterday I had to drink their rather wonderful Aurora, a 5.6% pale golden ale with plenty of hops from the USA producing a fruity aroma and taste with plenty of body, please may I have another, cheers!

SoCo RX19 Exhibition

From today until the 24th of November an art exhibition inspired by Hastings Fishermen's Museum and the local fishing community, SoCo RX19 is being held at the Stade Hall, with some 'small artworks' integrated into the Hastings Fishermen's Museum too (Katherine Reekie). To find our more about SoCo Artists, who are based in East Sussex, go to their website.

Will this ever be used again?!?

This was from two years ago (at the west end of the Stade Cafe), I cannot remember the last time this advertising display was working/being used?!? 😕

Hastings Pier Former Staff Damages Payouts

2 former employees of Hastings Pier have each been awarded £3,500, one for 'damages' and the other was an out of court settlement for similar, the money being paid up by Lions Hastings Pier Ltd (facebook).

South Terrace Closed

South Terrace (photograph from corner with Queens Road, by M&S) will remain closed for another 2 to 3 weeks due to Southern Water undertaking Sewer maintenance.

Old Town Hall Clock Repaired!?!

I took this photograph earlier, and, as you can see, the clock at the Old Town Hall Museum (blog I wrote about the building and its closure over 4 years ago) has been fixed and up again, although not sure if it's actually running yet! Anyway, the building is still up for rent, which has been reduced to £19,500 per annum (HBC website), with the closing date for offers being a couple of weeks time, the 19th of November 2019.

Oh, and I took this photograph when it was a bit darker this morning, but you can tell that the clock is well lit, nice one!

Breakfast and Rugby at the Dolphin

Earlier this year (blog) I reported that Clare was now the chef at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, TN34 3DW (website), but I have not eaten a Full English Breakfast there since, although I have had many excellent bacon (locally 'smoked' across the road) sandwiches, because I'm being sensible about my diet these days, and despite having eaten breakfasts all around town before, eg at the Anchor Inn (blog). But yesterday, I was there for the Rugby Union World Cup Final, along with many others of various ages, male and female, all of whom were a wee bit upset at the result, except 2 Scotsmen, oh well, I did enjoy my breakfast, ales, and the craic!

So, to the food, of the various breakfasts available, I had to chose the Full English, of course, as it's what I've always compared when writing about breakfasts before, and above you will see a photograph of my meal, costing £6.75, and the price including a mug of tea or mug of various coffees. This is a slight variation on the usual Full English, which includes bubble & squeak, but without the beans and fried potatoes.

They also have a smaller version at £4.25, a Vegetarian Breakfast, Welsh Breakfast, Kedgeree, GEG (a pretty special scrambled eggs on toast, but look up all the breakfasts at the website!), and a Classic Omelette, all at £6.75 and including a tea of coffee in the price too. Breakfast is available until lunchtime (12.00 noon, then lunch) every day, starting at 10.00 am on weekdays, but at 09.00 at weekends. Food is locally sourced, particularly from Hastings Fish Market, which is opposite the pub.

Of course there is always ale, including these 2 excellent guest ales yesterday, another guest ale (Harveys Old Ale yesterday), and 3 regular ales, including 2 ales brewed in Sussex, Dark Star Hophead and Harveys Sussex Best. But to the breakfast I ate!

As I said above, a slight variation on the usual Full English, with Double Bacon (Clare's own and delicious!), a Pork Sausage (very eatable), Fried Egg (perfectly cooked, only a wee bit runny), Plum Tomato, Mushrooms (should always be included in any Full English in my opinion!), Black Pudding (not everyone's favourite, but I'm happy to eat it), Fried Sliced Potatoes (liked these muchly!), Baked Beans and Toast (lovely bread). Also, they are always happy to omit or add other ingredients when asked, eg if you hate Black Pudding, which I don't, indeed, you can create your own breakfast! 😉

Anyway, good value, nicely cooked and presented, thanks to Clare and colleagues, but maybe I shouldn't leave it so long before I have a cooked breakfast next time...

Snowflake Winter Night Shelter 2019/20

The Snowflake Winter Night Shelter will return again for 2019/20, providing supervised overnight accommodation to homeless people who would otherwise be sleeping rough in Hastings & St Leonards from the evening of Friday 29th of November 2019 to the morning of Wednesday 18th of March 2020. Users of the service are referred by various local organisations including Hastings Borough Council Housing Department, the Seaview Project, St John Ambulance Homeless Service, and other agencies. They are calling for volunteers to help run the service during the coming winter months (website).

Registration and Training Evenings will take place at the following venues, starting at 6.30pm and lasting approximately 2 hours (see website for further updates).

Sunday 3rd of November at St Matthew's Church Centre, Silverhill TN37 6PD.

Tuesday 5th of November at St Mary, Star of the Sea Church Hall, Hastings Old Town TN34 3BD.

Wednesday 6th of November at Wellington Square Baptist Church, Hastings Town Centre TN34 1PN.

Thursday 7th of November at Chapel Park Community Centre Hall, St Leonards TN37 6HR.

Saturday 9th of November at Christ Church, Blacklands & St Andrew Hall, Laton Road TN34 2ES.

Friday 16th of November at St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Brittany Road, Upper St Leonards TN38 0RD.

As suggested above, check the website for any further sessions and updates.

General Election!

I said there was a General Election coming soon (blog), as have most pundits of course, if not on the Electoral Register you need to hurry to here.

12th of December 2019 (BBC).

Hastings Castle, a few days left...

Hastings Castle will be closing for the winter after this weekend, and the Smugglers Adventure from the weekend after (website), so hurry up if you want to visit either! If you'd like to know a little more about the oldest Norman castle in Britain I have written a blog about it with plenty of photographs of the castle and views from the castle, enjoy!

If You Forgot, It Is Now GMT!

If you forgot, the clocks were turned back an hour at 02.00 hours this morning, it is now Greenwich Mean Time, I trust you enjoyed your extra hour, though my feelings go out to people working night shifts, as I have a few years ago, when I had to work 14 hours instead of 13 at this time of year, oh well...

On the Electoral Register?

Unless you've been hiding in Iceland or somewhere you are probably well aware that a General Election in December is a very real possibility! So, if you are not already on the Electoral Register have a look at the Hastings Borough Council website for advice, or just go straight to the Government website and register online, if you're not on the Electoral Register, you can't vote, and you could be fined!

Just a couple of days left...

You now have only a couple of days left in which to see Hastings very own Turner watercolour at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery before it goes into storage for a year or two, as I suggested in my blog recently. I visited earlier today to take advantage of it still be exhibited (until Sunday) and took this photograph, and there are many other wonderful artworks to enjoy, well worth the visit!

Cuppa Club this lunchtime!

This lunchtime, between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm Cuppa Club returns to Priory Meadow, under cover, and just in front of Marks & Spencer's (website). Refreshments, that is tea and cake, are being provided to older folk, and the event is backed up by volunteers from Age UK East Sussex, plus there's entertainment planned, and I did notice what looked like wee goody bags on each seat, not sure what though, enjoy!

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery and The Stade & Fishing

Today (until 5pm) and this week (opening times: closed Monday, 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 5pm Sunday 27th), there are 2 exhibitions at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery due to end next Sunday that concern The Stade, and Hastings Fishing Quarter and Fleet, so hurry if you don't want to miss them. They are Fishing for Generations (website), a photographic exhibition of John Cole's that portrays the men and women of Hastings fishing community from the 1990s to today, and:

The Art of Life on the Stade (website), with artworks that "explore fishing activity, complemented by several historic fishing objects." This exhibition has also featured Hastings very own Turner painting, one of 10 he is known to have painted in Hastings, the early 19th century Fishmarket on the Sands.

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery is uphill on the right of Bohemia Road in John's Place TN34 1ET; more details for visiting can be found at the website. Enjoy!