The local pub

Some rural communities are fortunate to have a local pub. Some have more than one.

Often these pubs will rely heavily on food to stay alive, with offerings ranging from full-on restaurant style, through gastro-pub, to homestyle cooking and on to basic pub style (often freezer-max). Packets of crisps, pork scratchings etc clearly don't really count in the food offering stakes.

Along with many neighbours, I count myself lucky to live a very short stroll from a popular rural pub.

For the avoidance of doubt, after a period of radio silence of over nine years, I confirm that I still live in the heart of the Chiltern Hills which is a very pleasant part of the country.

After being in-situ for over a quarter of a century, earlier in the Autumn our local pub landlord handed in the keys and moved on. He didn't want to, but there was an unwillingness on the part of the brewery to offer a lease renewal on terms with which each side would be happy.

The old style was that for four or five days a week the pub was busy for most of the time. There was a busy lunch crowd, often the older generation, out for a regular good value and reliable meal with family or friends. From around four o'clock on weekdays there was the 'trade crowd' popping in for an after-work drink. The pub then morphed back into food-time in the early evening and once the food service had finished (generally moderately busy), the locals came out until late, especially on a Friday or Saturday. 

Sundays focussed on Sunday Roasts. That focus is still there with the food very good, indeed probably better than before.

We locals want the new licensee to succeed, we really do.

There has been some light touch decorating done. It is very tasteful and is generally considered to be an improvement.

The regulars have carried on.

The new landlord isn't happy that many of the lunchtime customers only want soup and bread. Prices were previously ridiculously good value, so really it isn't a surprise that they have gone up. Unfortunaly, customers didn't get the memo, so food trade has slowed.

I stress that I have not heard one bad word about the food, which by all accounts is good.  

A notice has now gone up saying that food will only be available on lunchtimes, unless tables are pre-booked in the evening. So the soup suckers are important after all.

Last Wednesday, I drove past at nine o'clock in the evening and all the lights were off. Yesterday, Last Orders were called at nine forty five and everyone was out by ten.

Sorry, this is not the way to run a pub that is at the heart of the community. I understand that money needs to be made, but irregular opening hours will drive custom elsewhere. An inconsistent food offering will drive custom away. Cross-subsidising another business makes no sense, for that seems to be what is happening.

The new licensee needs to change their priorities. They should hand back the keys of their other much smaller pub, which is by all accounts a huge money-pit.

Focus on the larger establishment that has built up a loyal customer base over 25 years, open consistently and don't close early on a random basis, put the one chef in on a full time basis.

Perhaps most importantly, as the owner of the business, they should perhaps try to look as though they want to be there. People want to be welcomed with a smile, not by someone who looks like they don’t really want to be there.

Running a pub or two involves a lot of hard work and plenty of business sense. Sadly both seem to be sadly lacking under the new regime in this rural backwater. I fear for the future.

Cleared: Service disruption between Birmingham Snow Hill and Kidderminster

Update: Chiltern trains are now running between Birmingham Snow Hill and Kidderminster.

A full normal service is expected tomorrow morning 1st October 2014.

Trains suspended between Kidderminster and Birmingham Snow Hill

Edit: The problems referred to below have now been resolved. A normal service is expected to run tomorrow morning.

Owing to a line side fire at the Hawthorns all Chiltern trains are suspended between Birmingham Snow Hill and Kidderminster.  Disruption is expected until 09:00 01/10.

All Chiltern trains will start from Birmingham Moor Street tomorrow morning 1st October. Passengers travelling tomorrow from stations between Kidderminster and Birmingham Snow Hill are advised to leave earlier than usual to take a London Midland train to which, depending on the state of the fire, will either stop at Birmingham Moor Street or Birmingham New Street where a walk to Birmingham Moor St will be required. Please allow plenty of extra time to reach Birmingham Moor Street, from where Chiltern trains will run at their normal times to London.

Tonight, local bus services are conveying passengers between Birmingham Moor Street and Kidderminster in both directions until further notice.  Arrangements have been made for Chiltern Railways rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys. 4M, 9, 53, 80, 87, 120 and 127. Ticket acceptance on all London Midland trains via any reasonable route is in place until further notice.

And now for something completely different

Where does one start?

Well, "It was a dark and stormy night" would be one way but, to be frank, that's a bit passé. so, i guess I'll have to think of something else.

How about "The sun was shining and Elsa decided to go for a walk along the beach."?

I think that is a little better, it has moved on from just describing the weather (a very British pastime) to something else.

Next step.

How about, "Alphie was still feeling cross so, as the sun was shining, he decided to go for a walk along the beach to see if it would calm him down."

Why was Alphie cross? What does the weather have to do with anything? Would a walk along the beach calm him down?

Chapter 1

Alphie was still seething after last night's argument with Elsa.  He didn't understand why she had got so upset.  After all, he was only going to be away for three months.

Elsa had stormed out in a rage and hadn't come back.  With no idea where she had gone, or when she would be back, Alphie was frustrated.  He didn't want to leave things like this, but his flight was due to leave at lunch time.  He needed to get out.  He needed to clear his head.

Elsa meanwhile had other things on her mind.

The evening had gone badly. After what had seemed like a perfectly normal start to a Saturday night, Alphie had told her what he planned to do the next day.  It had come as a complete surprise.  Actually, it wasn't a surprise, it was a massive shock.  They had had a massive row.

What a complete bastard.  How could he even think of doing something like that?  It was pure selfishness.  They had been making plans together for months.  Now this!  She had to get out.  Away.  Away from the devious little shit that she thought she loved.

She screamed.  She hit him.  She slammed the door and she ran.  She had no idea where she was running to, but as she ran out into the storm, tears was streaming down her face.  Elsa was not thinking straight.  She just wanted to run... and run she did, straight from one nightmare into another.

To be continued. 

Many a true word is spoken in jest

Apparently the phrase is derived from one originally written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th Century. 

Anyhow, it is most apposite in respect of the following, which I re-found today. 

Corporate life is often completely bonkers. Mine is. 

CU

In the beginning was the plan.

And then came the assumptions.

And the assumptions were without form.

And the plan was without substance.

And darkness was upon the face of the workers.

And they spoke among themselves saying,

"It is a crock of shit and it stinketh."

And the workers went unto their supervisors and said,

"It is a pale of dung and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the supervisor went unto their managers and said,

"It is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."

And the managers went unto their directors, saying,

"It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

And the directors spoke among themselves, saying to one another,

"It contains that which aids plant growth and it is very strong."

And the directors went unto the vice presidents, saying unto them,

"It promotes growth and is very powerful."

And the vice presidents went unto the president, saying unto him,

"The new plan will promote the growth and vigor of the company, with powerful effects."

And the president looked upon the plan and saw that it was good.

And the plan became policy.

This is how shit happens.

Haw-Haw

To someone of my generation, Haw Haw means something to do with the Second World War.

On Tuesday, I discovered that haw-haw is a noun for something completely different. The full effect has to be seen from the opposite side - it really is quite effective. Unfortunately the house is not mine. I was a car park attendant!

Cable Fire at London Marylebone

Sunday 15th June 2014

Overnight, there has been a cable fire just outside London Marylebone. This means that the signals don't work, so there are no trains running to or from Marylebone at present.

Full guidance from Chiltern Railways is available here.

In a nutshell....

• Passengers for the High Wycombe line should travel to/from West Ruislip using the Central Line.
• Passengers for the Aylesbury via Amersham line should use the Metropolitan Line. Chiltern Railways trains will start/finish at Harrow on the Hill. 

The situation could change during the day, so check before you travel. 

Information is also available via the National Rail Enquiries website.

Edit: 1038. It appears that some trains on the High Wycombe line may be starting / finishing their journeys at Wembley Stadium station. However connections by public transport there are poor into Central London (and it won't be all trains anyway. It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that passengers follow the official advice and travel directly to West Ruislip for travel to railway stations along the High Wycombe line. 

Edit: 1345. Most trains towards London (on the High Wycombe line) are currently stopping at South Ruislip to drop off for connections to the Central Line. Trains out of London however are still picking up at West Ruislip. It is clearly proving difficult to run all trains to time - many have extra stops, so allow plenty of time and expect delays.

Edit: 1630. The Central Line is currently suspended between Westbound between Marble Arch and a White City. Not good news for Chiltern Railways passengers trying to get to West Ruislip. 

Options seem to be:

1. Northbound Bakerloo Line to Wembley Central and then a 10 minute walk to Wembley Stadium station or
2. From Bakers Street or Edgware Road (H&C) stations take the Hammersmith & City Line to Wood Lane. White City station is a 3 minute walk from there, from where the Central Line runs to West Ruislip. Allow at least an hour from Marylebone. 

The day just got worse. 

Edit: 1715. Unsurprisingly, the Central Line suspension between Marble Arch & White City is now both ways. Expected to last until 1900 but no guarantees on this. 

Edit: 1745. It appears that a through service has now resumed on the Central Line. Severe delays are reported at present. 

Edit: 1950. Central Line has improved. Now just 'Minor Delays' reported. 

Email received at 1920 from Chiltern Railways re tomorrow morning:

"Dear Customer,

Marylebone station is closed due to a cable fire. Around 2 metres of signalling cable in the tunnel into the station has burned away meaning the signalling system is not working. Without signals we cannot safely run trains, so are not running to or from Marylebone until new cables are installed and tested. Engineers are on site however, disruption is expected and Marylebone will be closed into Monday morning and until further notice.

We strongly advise passengers to avoid travelling on Monday unless essential.

Chiltern tickets are valid on Virgin Trains, London Midland, FGW, CrossCountry & London Underground services."

Final Edit: 2320. Marylebone is not expected to open in time for the Monday morning rush hour. An emergency timetable has been published for the Amersham line. The Wycome line version will hopefully be out in the next hour or so.

Good night everyone.