Walking. Gossip. Travel.

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Wizz Air (Luton Airport to Warsaw)

After an uneventful rail journey to Luton Airport, I popped in Big Smoke where I get £18 to spend with my Priority Pass card. There has been another price rise, which is the fourth of the year to my knowledge, which makes menu ordering slightly more difficult each time.

I opted for the dirty fries with beef brisket, the latter of which is just about hidden in the photo but there was a big lump of it at the bottom. It was entirely adequate, with the service being friendly and helpful.

And a quick visit to My Lounge to see their collection of dirty crockery and to try their Heineken 0%. They’re really nailed the flavour of it, it tastes just as bad as Heineken so that’s a win for the brewery. The Mexican chicken and spicy rice is actually decent, the food standards do seem to have improved here over the last few months. Or my standards have dropped, either is possible.

I was moderately amused as the customer in front of me asked for two Birra Moretti beers. They’re quite tight here, so every customer gets 2/3rds of a bottle, unless you have the 0% Heineken where they just give you the whole thing as I don’t think many people want that. This whole thing just makes matters more faffy and the bar server ended up with one glass of Birra Moretti full and the other 90% full. The customer complained he wanted 100% in each and the barman actually just tutted in response. The customer looked annoyed and the glass was topped up begrudgingly. Lounge entry here is nearly £40 (unless you have a lounge card or similar) so this tightness does them no favours. But, since I get free entry with Priority Pass, I won’t complain about anything else in here…..

They started boarding twenty minutes earlier than advertised, but Wizz Air are efficient and everything here was under control during the boarding process. One customer got charged £70 for having a large bag, he had got confused which bag sizer he was meant to use and I thought he was very gracious about it all. We were on the aircraft at the time that the gate was meant to have closed, something that British Airways always struggles to manage as customers faff about with their bags.

Boarding the aircraft which was HA-LGO which I don’t think I’ve been on before. The seating Gods gave me a window seat and it also transpired that there was no-one in the middle seat despite the flight being around 90% full.

The flight was, yet again, peaceful and uneventful. The crew were efficient and polite, sweeping down the aisle selling things without waking everyone up. The aircraft was clean, I had plenty of space and I was rather pleased with my £8.99 flight cost.

We were put on a bus to get the 75 metres to the airport terminal and they really struggled to get everyone on two buses, I think they’d usually use three. It felt slightly sub-optimal, but it was hardly a long bus journey so I was only briefly annoyed.

My shiny new passport, which doesn’t have around 120 stamps in the bloody thing, is allowing me to sweep through border control so I was able to get one of the last trains of the evening into Warsaw. I don’t have much leeway here, although there are plenty of night buses which serve the airport if required.

It’s always good to be back on public transport in Warsaw, peaceful and efficient.

Arriving into Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) railway station, which is currently being upgraded. However, it feels at times that Warsaw is constantly being upgraded, such as the fast rate of change here.

And there’s the Ibis Budget, hidden behind road works. This was only a ten minute walk from the railway site, and I’ve stayed at the adjoining Ibis several times, and fortunately I found a gap in the road works to actually gain access to the hotel.

All in all, I was once again pleased and content with the whole airport and flight experience.

November 3, 2025
Warsaw – Metro System : C14 Stadion Narodowy (Visiting Every Station)

Continuing on my theme of visiting every metro station on the Warsaw network. This is Stadion Narodowy, namely the National Stadium.

The station, located on the M2 line, opened on 8 March 2015 which was a few years after the stadium itself opened, but there is also a national rail network station here. The stadium was built on the site of the Tenth Anniversary Stadium, which opened in 1955 and was built on rubble from the Second World War. The stadium was a bit sub-optimal, it was a ten minute walk for football players to get back to the dressing rooms, so half-time had to last for half an hour. It closed in 2008, ready for the development of the new site.

Here is the lovely shiny stadium, which is used by the national Polish football team amongst others.

It’s possible to walk around the perimeter, it doesn’t seem to be closed off at all.

This is the Ryszard Siwiec (1909-1968) Memorial and is one of the heroes of the Polish nation. On 12 September 1968, he set fire to himself in front of the country’s leaders and 100,000 spectators. The communist authorities were livid, it took the shine off their day and they pretended that he was an alcoholic who was mentally unstable. They seized the letter that he sent to his wife and tried to pretend that the whole thing didn’t happen. But it did, his vision for Poland took a long time to come about, but it has.

The neighbouring rail station.

A tunnel under the railway line which gives access to the stadium.

There’s a nearby park to the metro station, Skaryszewski Park.

A long path through the park, which was built on the site of a floodplain in 1905. Some beavers made the park their home in 2006, but they caused so much damage that they removed the little angels and plonked them in the nearby zoo.

This memorial needs repair as it’s nearly impossible to read, but it commemorates the lives of those Poles who died in the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York.

A sculpture outside the park of Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) who served as the Prime Minister of Poland for most of 1919. He was perhaps more well known as a pianist and he served as part of the Polish Government in exile between 1940 and 1941. The entire park has now also been named in his honour.

Apparently, if AI is to be believed, the circular wheel is a telecommunications mast.

The old looking building is one of the towers constructed as part of the bridge which was designed to be ornamental and it also houses the staircases.

This Adam Roman (1916-2013) sculpture is named ‘The Relay’ and is located outside of the stadium and it dates from the previous 1955 structure. It was originally meant to be located at the Central Park of Culture in Powiśle, with the artist adding a third runner to his initial plans to have just two.

Back into the metro station, which is also planned to be one of the ends of metro line M3 which is currently under construction. There is another island platform and two tracks already in place for this, but they’re not currently in use. Hopefully by the time the first section of the M3 line opens in around five years I’ll have actually finished visiting all the stations that are currently open….

November 3, 2025
London – City of London – Sir John Oldcastle Pub

As I had a couple of hours spare in London before my train from Farringdon, I thought I’d pop into the JD Wetherspoon operated Sir John Oldcastle which is at the end of the street. It’s not been one of my favourite pubs as it’s often very busy, but matters are more sedate on a Sunday early afternoon.

As usual, I’ll use the pub chain’s own history of the pub name:

“Named after The Sir John Oldcastle Tavern, which stood in the former grounds of Sir John’s nearby mansion, this was already long established by 1680. Oldcastle is thought to have been the model for Shakespeare’s character ‘Falstaff’.”

Not a vast amount has changed with the street layout here in the last 150 years, the pub is located just above the “EET” of Charles Street. The ward of Saffron Hill has now gone, which originally took its name as saffron grew around here. It’s also where Fagin’s den was located in Oliver Twist.

The bar area and coffee machines and today it was the £1.81 unlimited hot drinks that tempted me in here rather than beer. It all seems functional enough and it felt well managed.

Carpets in every JD Wetherspoon venue are unique, although this one isn’t necessarily the most decadent in terms of its styling.

The online reviews are pretty decent for a JD Wetherspoon venue, despite the challenges they must have here with having a small site and limited space in terms of facilities.

“I was so surprised when the staff said to me I can not paid by 50 in cash. No explanation why. The answer was “not because not”. This is absolutely disgusting and ridiculous. I asked about manager to explanation me this situation. He didn’t show up to speak with me. I will never back to this place. Higley not recommended.”

Disgusting that a venue won’t accept a £50 note? Hmmmm. Seems quite reasonable to me given the number of forgeries.

“I’ve just been kicked out of here, because I had the audacity to bring a Costa Coffee in; even though I’d just ordered and paid for breakfast. They’d rather refund my breakfast purchase; than let me have a Costa with it. If their machine coffee was better; I wouldn’t have had to in the first place.”

Why not just bring in your own food as well?

“Good interior. Ordered porridge. I went to the toilet and when I came back some waiter had taken it away. I hadn’t eaten any of it. I found it was thrown away! Another diner’s beer was also taken away by the same waiter undrunk.”

Very efficient service, it’s good to keep the tables clean.

“If you want to sit and read a paper or a book, this is the place for you. If however, you want to have a laugh and giggle with friends, go to the castle pub instead.”

I’m with the pub, this group sounds needlessly frivolous.

“Leffe. £3.49 a pint in most Wetherspoons. John Oldcastle £5.49 some might say different location BUT McDonalds do not have this issue.”

It feels inevitable to me that a pub in central London will be more expensive than one in Swindon.

“Asked to leave when we were causing no trouble…”

I suspect another side to this story….

Anyway, once again I digress. I thought the pub looked relatively clean, although the toilets probably need more rebuilding than cleaning, with the team members seeming friendly enough. And the coffees and other assorted hot drinks tasted as expected, so a rather peaceful couple of hours.

November 2, 2025
Christchurch – Christchurch Railway Station

The current railway station in Christchurch was opened on 30 May 1886, replacing one a little further down the line which had opened on 13 November 1862.

This dual map shows how the railway station has switched to the other side of the main road, with the railway line looking like it has been rerouted. It hasn’t, the bit shooting off to the right is the South West Main Line which was extended in the 1870s and 1880s to allow for an extension to Bournemouth that allowed tourists from London to access it. The line which goes up to the north on the old map was the branch line to Ringwood which was closed in 1935 as rail traffic had fallen away since the construction of the South West Main Line.

There’s our South Western Railways (SWR) train from Bournemouth departing the station.

The current station is functional and near to the town centre, with all services operated by SWR.

November 2, 2025
Norwich Beer Festival (Part 3 – Castle Social Saturday)

After the bravery that Liam and I showed at the mud run, I partially limped to the beer festival as I’m brave like that.

Ivan, once again, demanded to be in a photo. But, he’s the Social Secretary of the local CAMRA group, he loves the publicity. And I can remind my loyal blog readers that he leads coach trips for members (and non members) to see pubs around Norfolk and not just those in Norwich.

It had been a busy Saturday and they’d taken the decision to stay open throughout the day, rather than having two separate sessions. There was also the surprise and delight to the glasses team that the credit card machines stopped working. I picked an opportune moment not to be there….

And thank you to the lovely Paula for sorting out food for me.

Thanks Paula! The turkey Yorkshire pudding wrap with gravy on the side, very nice. And paired marvellously with the Electric Currant from Mikkeller, a gentle, blackcurrant and smooth little sour.

There’s the cider bar set-up, although I didn’t manage to actually have a single cider during any of the beer festival. Next year I hope to do better in that regard.

Ivan, making farmyard animals out of blu-tac, with the wonderful and formidable arm of Jen to the right hand side.

And really is the end of Norwich Beer Festival 2025 now, unless there are some fringe events still lingering on that I don’t know about. It was a marvellous volunteering experience, I enjoyed it all and it was wonderful to meet some new people as well as old friends (literally old in some cases). Hopefully we’ll be back at the Halls next year as I hear that there will be some exciting changes, so I must actually get to some of the planning meetings.

November 2, 2025
The Bravery of It All…..

More about this in another post, but this is why I couldn’t be at the Norwich Beer Festival, as my best mate Liam and I were busy being brave……

November 2, 2025
Norwich Beer Festival (Part 3 – Castle Social Friday)

After my volunteering efforts at Redwell and the Waterfront, I wasn’t going to go down to the third part of the beer festival at Castle Social. However, when I was sent a photo of Roy’s badge, I couldn’t not go down and visit…..

And there is the lovely Roy and Sue.

All looked well organised and calm, but glasses & token is a very well run area.

This is usually the only bar at Castle Social, but for three days only, there were tens of cask and keg beers available from Norwich Beer Festival. I heard several people mention that they didn’t know that this floor was here, so hopefully the whole event boosted Castle Social a little.

I thought that I’d pop to the Curiosity Bar to see what delicious keg beers were available.

And Ivan rushed over as it’s always lovely for him to see me.

Cheers!

I only stayed for around 45 minutes, but it was suggested that I might pop back the following evening. Which I did, so that means another post is coming shortly…. Oh the anticipation! And once again, a marvellous effort from all the volunteers who had to have this venue all ready the day after Waterfront closed. It’s all been quite a logistical challenge, but all the months of planning paid off.

November 2, 2025
Christchurch – Red House Museum and Gardens (Olympic Torch Sculpture)

Located at the Red House Museum and Gardens in Christchurch is this Olympic Torch sculpture. A sign by the sculpture notes that this was designed by local artist Chris Davies and it was sculpted to mark the 70 day Olympic torch relay which took place in 2012 and which reached Christchurch on 14 July 2012.

It’s easy to forget how important events like this would have been for the community, even if it was just for one day. Judging from this video, the turnout on the main street in the town was sizeable.

October 31, 2025
Christchurch – Red House Museum and Gardens (Inga Street)

Attached on a building to the side of Red House Museum, there’s a regularly changing gallery section. At the time of our visit, it was featuring the works of local artist Inga Street.

The artwork is varied and it seems to be an opportunity to both display the pieces and also put them up for sale at the same time. This seems a sensible way of the museum having something to offer in its gallery, whilst still being something very useful for the artist.

I’m not sure that I’m the target market here, and Ross (who is a well-known art critic) declared that he thought he could have painted some of them. But, variety is important and the artist is popular locally, so this feels like another reason for the venue staying open. I mention that as the volunteer suggested when we left that we left a positive review for the museum to ensure that its survival was assured given the challenging finances in local Government at the moment.

October 31, 2025
Christchurch – Red House Museum and Gardens (Spicer Street Memorial)

This stone memorial is located in the garden of the Red House Museum in Christchurch and it reads:

“SPICER STREET

To commemorate a most destructive fire which on July 20th 1825 in less than three hours rendered fifty two families houseless, and to record the spirit of compassion and liberality which the event awakened in the town and neighbourhood this stone is placed amidst the monuments of their benevolence.

By a committee appointed by the subscribers to the appropriation of the money raised.

Novr. 1825
John Spicer, Chairman of the Committee.”

The house that this memorial was attached to was demolished in the late 1930s, so it has made its way here. The day after the tragedy, a national newspaper published a letter written by a local:

“As you will hear of the distressing fire which happened this morning in this town, I think it best, to prevent your uneasiness on my account, to state the case as far as it has at present proceeded. The fire broke out at about eleven o’clock, in the New Town, a little above Mr. Aldridge’s, and had the wind continued as it then was, the destruction of the whole town it appears would have been inevitable; but very providentially the wind took the direction of the fields, and thereby is is hoped many houses will be saved. Some time since I heard there were at least 50 houses burnt down, and the fire, though much subdued, is still burning in various parts. You can scarcely think with what rapidity it spread, the houses being chiefly thatched, and many of mud walls—the intense heat of the weather, and the dryness of the buildings, no doubt contributed to the work of desolation.—What renders it very afflicting is, that the sufferers are chiefly poor people, who, although it is hoped they have saved many of their things, will still be great losers. The bellman has just been through the town, calling a meeting of the inhabitants this day, at four o’clock, to take into consideration what will be the best mode of providing for their present relief. They will, I should think, have to sleep to-night in the fields, which are strewed with beds, &c. that are saved. It is on this account a happy circumstance that the nights are so hot. I hope something will be done to reinstate them in their dwellings, and that the destructive element will be shortly subdued. Some person in each house will no doubt sit up all night, for there is a general alarm.”

The museum has a photo of where the commemorative stone was once placed, seemingly blocking up the view from Mrs Preston’s window. Anyway, it’s marvellous that the stone has been kept so that at least the memory of what happened 200 years ago isn’t forgotten.

October 31, 2025