Blog Tracker
21-08-2020, 22:55
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/moving-in-right-direction.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmU0nENJ5wc/X0A5R7M6u8I/AAAAAAAAo0g/svPMdshv6zoDZSmhyAHE0mQdsnHHiOuggCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200806_131406.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmU0nENJ5wc/X0A5R7M6u8I/AAAAAAAAo0g/svPMdshv6zoDZSmhyAHE0mQdsnHHiOuggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200806_131406.jpg)
I took three days off from work at the end of last week. I didn’t go away anywhere and didn’t do anything terribly exciting, but it was nice just being away from the workplace for five days and just generally chilling out. The reason I wanted to write this piece is I have noticed encouraging signs of something like a return to normal. For example, I had to take my car in for a spot of work last Wednesday, and after dropping it off at a garage on North Farm Industrial Estate, I took a stroll along to High Brooms station from where I caught the train back to Tonbridge.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upETcSExLCI/X0A5ni233fI/AAAAAAAAo0o/t5YuQO726fc8pXc6Oq9TZbsl_lv6DWROACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20180528_125752.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upETcSExLCI/X0A5ni233fI/AAAAAAAAo0o/t5YuQO726fc8pXc6Oq9TZbsl_lv6DWROACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20180528_125752.jpg)My original plan had been to walk back, via the cycle-way that runs parallel to, separate from the main A21 trunk road, but with 30 degrees of heat, and no shade, I didn’t fancy a three and a half mile walk. Instead I let the train take the strain, as the ads used to say, and was heartened by the number of people waiting to board at High Brooms.
Arriving back in Tonbridge, I thought I’d chance getting a much needed haircut – my first since early March. Walking up to my usual barber’s I was just studying the sign on the door about how to make an appointment, when the owner popped her head out and asked if I’d made a booking.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuDruzcgfg/X0A6RoMDwjI/AAAAAAAAo0w/1940ygVsNLsL3b31JlvgDVGC6n3jhpaqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200717_145253.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuDruzcgfg/X0A6RoMDwjI/AAAAAAAAo0w/1940ygVsNLsL3b31JlvgDVGC6n3jhpaqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200717_145253.jpg)
I said that I hadn’t, so she said she could fit me in, if I wanted. Well, after sweltering in the heat, with a mop of unruly hair, I of course said yes, but before sitting down in the chair, there were the Covid safety procedures to perform. Name and contact number, followed by having my temperature taken. I was slightly concerned that having walked up from the station, the reading might have been too high, so I was rather shocked when I was informed it was 34° C! If her thermometer was that accurate, I would have been suffering from hypothermia, so rather than relate this information I instead just smiled sweetly and said nothing. It was nice and cool in the barbers, due to the recently installed air-conditioning, and whilst in the chair, we’d chatted about trade and the situation in general. The hairdresser’s had been busy, and whilst operating mainly on an appointment basis, the proprietor said that she wasn’t going to turn away walk-up trade, if the shop was quiet.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H78OX2bdegM/X0A6_4Pfa0I/AAAAAAAAo1A/RrGyPW_BJWIYuDgwYcPR-MeqbLgajzeSACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h304/Barbers%2BArms.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H78OX2bdegM/X0A6_4Pfa0I/AAAAAAAAo1A/RrGyPW_BJWIYuDgwYcPR-MeqbLgajzeSACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Barbers%2BArms.jpg)
One haircut later, and a promise to send my son up for a haircut as well, I was on my way to pick up some shopping, before heading home. Tonbridge High Street was bustling as I walked along to son Matthew’s shop to inform him it was safe for him to get a haircut. The hardware store he works at has remained busy, since reopening at the end of June, and the same seemed true of several other nearby shops. I was tempted to stop off for a coffee, but wanted to get home before temperatures climbed much higher.
The following day I was up extra early, as we were due to have a section of our garden fencing replaced. The contractors advised they would be on site between 7.30 and 8am, and true to form they were ringing the bell at just after 7.30am. There were just two of them, but they worked like a couple of Trojans, slaving away in the heat and high humidity of the summer heatwave.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jKcT7wrDI4/X0A6oPejIBI/AAAAAAAAo04/aFdq7g_y6JAEtNz3ASu-gJ_XON4pfr7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200813_132507.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jKcT7wrDI4/X0A6oPejIBI/AAAAAAAAo04/aFdq7g_y6JAEtNz3ASu-gJ_XON4pfr7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200813_132507.jpg)I kept them liberally supplied with cold drinks and coffee (most contractors drink tea, surely?), nipping out for a short while in order to drive Mrs PBT’s to her place of work. The fencers were finished, just after 1pm, having replaced three damaged and two missing panels, along with new fence posts, where necessary.
We’d been waiting to get that job completed since the winter storms had first wreaked havoc with our fence, back at the end of last October, so that was another item to cross off the list. In the weeks leading up to the installation, I had the job of removing a Leylandii conifer hedge, that was long passed its prime, so whilst the garden looks a little bare at present, I will be planting some less rampant and far more colourful replacement shrubs.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kkq8HQI-KU/X0A_U8ylExI/AAAAAAAAo1g/YTWV9HXFkqMLEuomy6eURxB23HEIyanHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200820_132209.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kkq8HQI-KU/X0A_U8ylExI/AAAAAAAAo1g/YTWV9HXFkqMLEuomy6eURxB23HEIyanHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200820_132209.jpg)
Friday proved a welcome chance for a trip out. The weather was a lot cooler, so Mrs PBT’s and I took a drive down to Peasmarsh, in order to pick up some “luxury” grocery items from the Jempson’s superstore on the edge of the village. I have written about this emporium before, so won’t repeat myself here, but it proved an enjoyable ride out in the country and the chance to do something a little different. One thing we did notice was the leaves on many of the trees were already starting to turn yellow. Some were even brown, indicating that autumn has either come early, or that the trees were suffering from a lack of water, given the near drought conditions we’ve experienced over the past few months.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt0w4xhD1d4/X0A8irWVvPI/AAAAAAAAo1M/VJzbbPRkh9c-tqsdJ4lHx5HoAWuFSqC0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200820_131600.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt0w4xhD1d4/X0A8irWVvPI/AAAAAAAAo1M/VJzbbPRkh9c-tqsdJ4lHx5HoAWuFSqC0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200820_131600.jpg)
Continuing in that vein, I’ve noticed a similar autumnal effect on many of the trees, whilst out on my regular lunchtime walks. I’ve also come across plenty of ripe blackberries, whilst out on these jaunts; another indicator that autumn is on its way. The following day we drove over to Gravesend, for a socially-distanced get together in the garden, with Eileen’s brother and his girlfriend. It was quite wet on the drive over, but fortunately there was a large gazebo which kept us dry.
Keeping us wet, on the inside, was some draught beer which Mrs PBT’s brother had collected earlier from the local Iron Pier Brewery. I took a look at their website, which demonstrated that Iron Pier (https://www.ironpier.beer/) produce a myriad of different beers – far too many in my eyes, but their standard bitter that we glugged was a very drinkable, dark and malty 4.0% brew, which went well with the fish and chips, ordered from a local takeaway.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNy-oOqlZgg/X0A8wU7gwWI/AAAAAAAAo1U/ZJjfB18X4rkBi4oplLvuCRQteOi4qagDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_20200815_152407.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNy-oOqlZgg/X0A8wU7gwWI/AAAAAAAAo1U/ZJjfB18X4rkBi4oplLvuCRQteOi4qagDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200815_152407.jpg)
The point of this article is not so much to bore readers with domestic trivia, but to demonstrate that a degree of normality is starting to return to our lives. Yes it's a pain having to wear face-masks in shops and other places, but if they allow us to mingle more freely whilst we go about our business, then I can put up with it for a while longer. Getting that much needed haircut was another step in the right direction, as was that ride on the train. It was encouraging to notice a lot more passengers than on my previous journey, three weeks before, and whilst I didn’t get the chance to visit any pubs over the course of my short break, I’ve received reports from friends that suggest things are picking up too in the licensed trade.
Follow Blog via EmailClick to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
More... (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/moving-in-right-direction.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmU0nENJ5wc/X0A5R7M6u8I/AAAAAAAAo0g/svPMdshv6zoDZSmhyAHE0mQdsnHHiOuggCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200806_131406.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmU0nENJ5wc/X0A5R7M6u8I/AAAAAAAAo0g/svPMdshv6zoDZSmhyAHE0mQdsnHHiOuggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200806_131406.jpg)
I took three days off from work at the end of last week. I didn’t go away anywhere and didn’t do anything terribly exciting, but it was nice just being away from the workplace for five days and just generally chilling out. The reason I wanted to write this piece is I have noticed encouraging signs of something like a return to normal. For example, I had to take my car in for a spot of work last Wednesday, and after dropping it off at a garage on North Farm Industrial Estate, I took a stroll along to High Brooms station from where I caught the train back to Tonbridge.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upETcSExLCI/X0A5ni233fI/AAAAAAAAo0o/t5YuQO726fc8pXc6Oq9TZbsl_lv6DWROACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20180528_125752.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upETcSExLCI/X0A5ni233fI/AAAAAAAAo0o/t5YuQO726fc8pXc6Oq9TZbsl_lv6DWROACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20180528_125752.jpg)My original plan had been to walk back, via the cycle-way that runs parallel to, separate from the main A21 trunk road, but with 30 degrees of heat, and no shade, I didn’t fancy a three and a half mile walk. Instead I let the train take the strain, as the ads used to say, and was heartened by the number of people waiting to board at High Brooms.
Arriving back in Tonbridge, I thought I’d chance getting a much needed haircut – my first since early March. Walking up to my usual barber’s I was just studying the sign on the door about how to make an appointment, when the owner popped her head out and asked if I’d made a booking.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuDruzcgfg/X0A6RoMDwjI/AAAAAAAAo0w/1940ygVsNLsL3b31JlvgDVGC6n3jhpaqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200717_145253.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxuDruzcgfg/X0A6RoMDwjI/AAAAAAAAo0w/1940ygVsNLsL3b31JlvgDVGC6n3jhpaqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200717_145253.jpg)
I said that I hadn’t, so she said she could fit me in, if I wanted. Well, after sweltering in the heat, with a mop of unruly hair, I of course said yes, but before sitting down in the chair, there were the Covid safety procedures to perform. Name and contact number, followed by having my temperature taken. I was slightly concerned that having walked up from the station, the reading might have been too high, so I was rather shocked when I was informed it was 34° C! If her thermometer was that accurate, I would have been suffering from hypothermia, so rather than relate this information I instead just smiled sweetly and said nothing. It was nice and cool in the barbers, due to the recently installed air-conditioning, and whilst in the chair, we’d chatted about trade and the situation in general. The hairdresser’s had been busy, and whilst operating mainly on an appointment basis, the proprietor said that she wasn’t going to turn away walk-up trade, if the shop was quiet.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H78OX2bdegM/X0A6_4Pfa0I/AAAAAAAAo1A/RrGyPW_BJWIYuDgwYcPR-MeqbLgajzeSACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h304/Barbers%2BArms.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H78OX2bdegM/X0A6_4Pfa0I/AAAAAAAAo1A/RrGyPW_BJWIYuDgwYcPR-MeqbLgajzeSACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Barbers%2BArms.jpg)
One haircut later, and a promise to send my son up for a haircut as well, I was on my way to pick up some shopping, before heading home. Tonbridge High Street was bustling as I walked along to son Matthew’s shop to inform him it was safe for him to get a haircut. The hardware store he works at has remained busy, since reopening at the end of June, and the same seemed true of several other nearby shops. I was tempted to stop off for a coffee, but wanted to get home before temperatures climbed much higher.
The following day I was up extra early, as we were due to have a section of our garden fencing replaced. The contractors advised they would be on site between 7.30 and 8am, and true to form they were ringing the bell at just after 7.30am. There were just two of them, but they worked like a couple of Trojans, slaving away in the heat and high humidity of the summer heatwave.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jKcT7wrDI4/X0A6oPejIBI/AAAAAAAAo04/aFdq7g_y6JAEtNz3ASu-gJ_XON4pfr7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200813_132507.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--jKcT7wrDI4/X0A6oPejIBI/AAAAAAAAo04/aFdq7g_y6JAEtNz3ASu-gJ_XON4pfr7-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200813_132507.jpg)I kept them liberally supplied with cold drinks and coffee (most contractors drink tea, surely?), nipping out for a short while in order to drive Mrs PBT’s to her place of work. The fencers were finished, just after 1pm, having replaced three damaged and two missing panels, along with new fence posts, where necessary.
We’d been waiting to get that job completed since the winter storms had first wreaked havoc with our fence, back at the end of last October, so that was another item to cross off the list. In the weeks leading up to the installation, I had the job of removing a Leylandii conifer hedge, that was long passed its prime, so whilst the garden looks a little bare at present, I will be planting some less rampant and far more colourful replacement shrubs.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kkq8HQI-KU/X0A_U8ylExI/AAAAAAAAo1g/YTWV9HXFkqMLEuomy6eURxB23HEIyanHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200820_132209.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kkq8HQI-KU/X0A_U8ylExI/AAAAAAAAo1g/YTWV9HXFkqMLEuomy6eURxB23HEIyanHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200820_132209.jpg)
Friday proved a welcome chance for a trip out. The weather was a lot cooler, so Mrs PBT’s and I took a drive down to Peasmarsh, in order to pick up some “luxury” grocery items from the Jempson’s superstore on the edge of the village. I have written about this emporium before, so won’t repeat myself here, but it proved an enjoyable ride out in the country and the chance to do something a little different. One thing we did notice was the leaves on many of the trees were already starting to turn yellow. Some were even brown, indicating that autumn has either come early, or that the trees were suffering from a lack of water, given the near drought conditions we’ve experienced over the past few months.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt0w4xhD1d4/X0A8irWVvPI/AAAAAAAAo1M/VJzbbPRkh9c-tqsdJ4lHx5HoAWuFSqC0gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_20200820_131600.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jt0w4xhD1d4/X0A8irWVvPI/AAAAAAAAo1M/VJzbbPRkh9c-tqsdJ4lHx5HoAWuFSqC0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200820_131600.jpg)
Continuing in that vein, I’ve noticed a similar autumnal effect on many of the trees, whilst out on my regular lunchtime walks. I’ve also come across plenty of ripe blackberries, whilst out on these jaunts; another indicator that autumn is on its way. The following day we drove over to Gravesend, for a socially-distanced get together in the garden, with Eileen’s brother and his girlfriend. It was quite wet on the drive over, but fortunately there was a large gazebo which kept us dry.
Keeping us wet, on the inside, was some draught beer which Mrs PBT’s brother had collected earlier from the local Iron Pier Brewery. I took a look at their website, which demonstrated that Iron Pier (https://www.ironpier.beer/) produce a myriad of different beers – far too many in my eyes, but their standard bitter that we glugged was a very drinkable, dark and malty 4.0% brew, which went well with the fish and chips, ordered from a local takeaway.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNy-oOqlZgg/X0A8wU7gwWI/AAAAAAAAo1U/ZJjfB18X4rkBi4oplLvuCRQteOi4qagDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_20200815_152407.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNy-oOqlZgg/X0A8wU7gwWI/AAAAAAAAo1U/ZJjfB18X4rkBi4oplLvuCRQteOi4qagDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200815_152407.jpg)
The point of this article is not so much to bore readers with domestic trivia, but to demonstrate that a degree of normality is starting to return to our lives. Yes it's a pain having to wear face-masks in shops and other places, but if they allow us to mingle more freely whilst we go about our business, then I can put up with it for a while longer. Getting that much needed haircut was another step in the right direction, as was that ride on the train. It was encouraging to notice a lot more passengers than on my previous journey, three weeks before, and whilst I didn’t get the chance to visit any pubs over the course of my short break, I’ve received reports from friends that suggest things are picking up too in the licensed trade.
Follow Blog via EmailClick to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
More... (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/moving-in-right-direction.html)