Questions
After I was made Town Mayor (of South Woodham Ferrers) in May 2020, the local free newspaper, the South Woodham Focus asked if I would answer twenty questions for them.
Continue readingSleepy Joe
Okay so it's been refurbished, but I suspect it's a more authentic taste of old Cuba than many other bars.
Continue readingHemingway
(Jussie Smollet) – Don Hermanos, Havana As I mentioned earlier (here), it’s easy to get cynical in Havana, if you believe the publicity then Ernest Hemingway regularly frequented Sloppy Joes, La Floridita, Dos Hermanos… indeed its difficult to find a bar that doesn’t have a claim to Hemingway, and I struggle to imagine how he […]
Continue readingDandy
I had a strange experience in Bar Dandy, but before I explain, you should be aware that Salsa music pervades Havana, it issues from every bar, café and taxi… I don't think I heard any other type of music while I was in Havana.
Continue readingCars and Girls
(Prefab Sprout) – The Jolly Farmer, Dronfield Woodhouse Once upon a time, many years ago and in a previous life, I lived with my parents on Gosforth Drive, overlooking the Gosforth Valley in Dronfield Woodhouse; midway between Sheffield and Chesterfield. I was single, in those days, and the ‘Gorsey Brigg’ was the (then) newly opened […]
Continue readingGrand Central Station
We both agreed that the mains were a disappointment, but that we’d enjoyed the starters.
Continue readingFull Force Gale
I had booked this as part of a package, but would happily stay at the Vila Gale again.
Continue readingAriel
All in all, I found the Holiday Inn Ariel to be modern, clean and very well maintained, particularly given its considerable age. I suspect it’s only a matter of time before it’s replaced with something taller than its three floors, but I would be happy to stay there again if circumstances required.
Continue readingKey Lime Pie
(Kenny Cheney) Key Lime Coffee, Liverpool We were staying in the Holiday Inn opposite Lime Street station in Liverpool and decided to try breakfast outside the hotel, there were plenty of opportunities, with ‘Costa’ Coffee bars and Wetherspoon pubs nearby. But we thought we’d support a small, independent coffee shop and I’d spotted ‘Key […]
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