A Busy Hastings Weekend!

As I write, the weekly St Leonards Farmers Market is being held at Tommy's Yard, 28 Norman Road TN38 0EJ, as it is every Friday, 10.00-1.00pm (website).

Tomorrow, Saturday 1st October, sees Hastings Oktoberfest with music, beer and bratwurst promised to entertain you indoors from 2.00 to 10.00pm at Horntye Park TN34 1EX! Lots of brass band and oompah promised too, tickets are  £15; more details, how to buy the tickets, at their website. Prost!

Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd also sees the Pop Up Emporium return to The Stade Hall, close by Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station, an indoor market for local businesses and crafts to exhibit their wares at; 11.00 to 4.00pm both days (visit1066country).

Then, on Sunday, 2nd October, the Bohemia Creative Quarter (BCQ) regular first Sunday of the month event is held. The event will be from 11.00am to 4.00pm in the Bohemia/London/Tower Roads triangle, an area consisting of 80 or so businesses.

There is a facebook page for the group and, as the image above suggests, expect creative workshops, live performances, wellness and beauty, affordable art, home decor, music, antiques, bric-a-brac, street food, fancy dress and vintage stalls. You are invited to visit and explore the Bohemia area of Hastings & St Leonards...

Also, for the week commencing tomorrow, for 8 days actually, 1-8 October, at the Observer Building, 53 Cambridge Road TN34 1DT, is the People of Hastings Exhibition, an event created by the Digital Arts Hub (facebook). The event will feature a digital 3D portrait of Hastings and its people and culture, following a 4 months long project; all those people scanned for the XR22 project will be represented by 3D models, see if you recognised anyone! It will be open daily 1.00-6.00pm, except on the 8th, when the closing event will be 6.00-8.00pm.

Enjoy your weekend folks! 👌

Hastings Pier Closed Again...

Yes, Hastings Pier has closed its gates again for this year and for the winter presumably, I can't imagine the owner organising anything else, and after another great summer of entertainment provided by the team at Hastings Pier Entertainments, their contract is ending and they hand the keys back on Saturday. They have sent an email to me and said the situation is uncertain, but they have submitted another proposal to the owner and hope to reopen in the Spring, good luck and fingers crossed! 👍

Could be worth keeping an eye on their page on facebook over the coming months. 

Such a shame that the alternative ownership hadn't succeeded taking over the Pier 4 years ago (blog), we'd have had a new pavilion and an extension of the central Deck building allowing for all weather events, oh well, brown envelopes and all that. 😞

More Water Trouble?

Interesting that the promenade opposite The Carlisle pub has been blocked off for a few days now, with notice boards saying "due to Flooding Issues" 😕 but the Government's own website says there are "no flood warnings or alerts" in Hastings and it's been pretty dry recently! Is this another example of problems with the water companies and polluted water? See recent blog.

Hmmm...

£400 from Taxpayers towards Energy Costs - But Beware Scams!

A friend posted the advice below on social media, many thanks Rod, but don't forget that scammers will try to take advantage of any payment schemes, and I doubt the EBSS will be any different. More details are at the Government website.

So, be aware folks, and remember, this is taxpayers' money, nothing to do with a benevolent Government, it's your money funding the Energy Bill Support Scheme.

And over to Rob, cheers again!

I received these details from my energy provider today. This should be the same for everyone's bills

"What is the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS)?

The EBSS means that all UK households will receive £400 towards their electricity bills. You’ll see this as a monthly discount on your energy.

You’ll receive your £400 in six monthly payments:

October £66

November £66

December £67

January £67

February £67

March £67

TOTAL £400

You don’t need to apply for the discount and you won’t need to pay it back.

More about the EBSS

How does the discount work?

You’ll automatically receive a discount to your monthly Direct Debit payment. For example, if your monthly Direct Debit is £200, we’ll deduct £66 in October, leaving you £134 to pay.

If you usually pay less than £66/£67, we won’t collect payment from you that month. Anything leftover will be applied as a credit to your energy account."

Restaurants Closing/Changing Hands/Styles

The Italian Way, next to the island fountain and opposite Iceland one side and the beach the other, has closed down after 44 years and 3 generations ownership (website). Expect to see a change in menu items, indeed, expect burgers 😉 and Rocksalt (facebook) is a clue to the new ownership, if you aren't already aware...

And, further east in George Street, after 20 years, Whites Seafood & Steak Bar closes this weekend, last chance to visit (facebook).

Life never stays static!

 

Seafood & Wine Festival & Beer Festival Weekend!

What can I say, are you a lover of good food and drink? Then you've a great weekend ahead of you! Starting tomorrow is the annual Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival at The Stade Open Space, opposite the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Hastings Old Town: 11-18.00 Saturday and Sunday. Food and drink, obviously, and live music, cooking demonstrations, and activities for children too; Tickets cost £4 in advance from the Visitor Information Centre by Hastings railway station/bus terminus, £5 on the gate, under 18s free. Go to visit1066country for full information. 🐟🍷

In addition, and already started today, the Brickmaker's Alehouse in Bexhill, 27 Sea Road, TN40 1EE, is holding a Beer and Cider Festival all weekend, with the refreshments coming from breweries they've never had ales from before. Indeed, last week Martin thought I was pressing him for an idea of what may be served up, but he was steadfast in his resolve not to divulge any information!  Anyway, over 20 new ales and 8 ciders ordered for the festival, starting off with 12 ales and 6 ciders available from today. If you'd like more information, and what will be available over the weekend, go to either facebook or twitter, cheers! 🍻

Elizabeth II - I had to say something...

I've been thinking about what I want to say, and whether I should say anything or not, but the satirical site, NewsThump, published a piece that says much, and probably the only non-humorous piece I've ever read of their's (copied & pasted below), but pointedly, it reminds us of the gap left in our lives, whether monarchist or republican.

I remembered that she was the only remaining head of state who had served in World War II, when she volunteered, then Princess Elizabeth, to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a mechanic and driver (above). I also remember, again before I was born, that my Grandad had danced with Queen Elizabeth II when my Grandma used to work as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace, and they used to have Staff Christmas Parties. In addition, Thursday was my birthday and it was a sad ending to the day, so I shall never forget the day that Elizabeth died...

Indeed, she was a constant in life and will be missed, R.I.P. 😔

From NewsThump: 

"Few things in life are constants; there in the background, always, your entire life, creating a sense of continuity.

Even if you don’t really pay attention, figures in public life give a sense of time and place. As established norms and realities fracture and change and become new and different, or are burned in war and rebuilt, a durable figure’s presence acts as a reassurance – a lodestone against which change can be measured and a reassurance that the future need not be uncertain as you fear.

And then one day they’re gone and it’s only then you see the gap in their place.

Without the constants, the changes seem so much bigger and the challenges all the greater. It’s a moment of mental dislocation, a moment when certainties become uncertain.

From those early photos of an uncertain but hopeful mechanic fixing up lorries to carry troops and weapons to punch Hitler in the face, to sharing a cuppa with Paddington, the Queen was there, her face on banknotes with a slightly quizzical smile as if surprised to actually be there.

And it was there for your entire life. It’s easy to lose sight of how valuable that stability is, not just to individuals but to a sense of identity.

Of course, people will make jokes. That’s what they do when they’re saddened and afraid. If they upset you, forgive them and move on."

Indeed...

Coastal Currents Returns & A Busy Weekend!

It is a busy weekend, sorry I'm a wee bit late with this one, but the 2022 Coastal Currents Arts Festival is on this and next weekend (website), but many events continue for another month or so! Indeed, from Bulverhythe to Rock-a-Nore, and further east, west and north too, "workshops, performances, films and exhibitions" galore!

Tomorrow (Sunday 4th) is the second year that Palestine on the Pier has been organised, from 12.00 to 6.00pm, a free cultural festival for all the family. Music, Dance, Food, a Catwalk Show of hand-embroidered dresses, Kite-making Workshop, Market, Talks, Story Telling and much more; go to the website for more information.

In addition, tomorrow sees the second First Sunday of the Bohemia Creative Quarter (BCQ) and now their regular first Sunday of every month events! The event, or events really, will be held from 11.00am to 4.00pm in the Bohemia/London/Tower Roads triangle, the BCQ covers an area with over 80 businesses. Go to their facebook page for the details of what is on, face painting, creative workshops, live performances, wellness and beauty, affordable art, home decor, music, antiques, bric-a-brac, street food, Steampunk and vintage stalls. Explore Bohemia and enjoy the day!

And, of course, so much more to do in Hastings, live music, museums and the seafront; more details of events @ allevents, but just walk around, there's plenty to enjoy...

As if we haven't had an exciting enough weekend already, enjoy folks! 👌

Police Incident Cambridge Road, Town Centre: Partly Closed!

Because of a Police Incident (I do not know what or why) Cambridge Road, between the old Post Office building and ESK is closed off. They are waiting for Scenes of Crime Officers to arrive to gather evidence regarding whatever happened...

So it is likely to get very busy in that area very soon. 

Coming down Cambridge Road into the town centre is clear at the moment, and you can still turn into Cambridge Gardens by ESK, and around into Cornwallis Terrace/Devonshire Road, it's just that small area which is closed off.

Drive safely folks!

RNLI Donations, Nice One!

I just saw on Facebook that the Dolphin Inn had amassed donations totalling £1,379.50 in the RNLI Charity Box, nice one! 👍