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  • Lake District Week – Day One

    Lake District Week – Day One

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

    It’s the Hike Norfolk week in the Lake District this week, and I’m all ready and fully packed. We’ll be brave and will be conquering (well, struggling up and then struggling down) the delights of Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, Ennerdale Lake and the pubs of Keswick.

    Today is the driving day up to the Lakes, and I’m being driven by the group’s official driver, Steve. His driving is excellent, much better than some of the rubbish I’ve seen from the group (I won’t name names, but he knows who he is) and I’m delighted to hear that there are numerous stops of interest planned along the route. I intend to photograph them so I can look back and remember them, as I imagine they might be a highlight of the week.

    Looking at the list of people going, I dread to think of the gossip and drivel that will be got through during the week. But, no fear, I’ll be there to lift proceedings and ensure that all topics of discussion are wholesome and suitable for family audiences. The group really are lucky to have me.

    I’ve decided that taking a coat would be a good idea, since I was reminded last night how cold it is up the top of some of the hills, so that’s packed. And, just for special measure, I’ve packed the Hike Norfolk first aid kit, as you never know what injuries might befall Dave. He’s already recovering from an injury that he claims was caused at work, although there’s a rumour that it was a more seedy injury. But, I’m not one for gossip.

    Given that it was Bev’s 60th birthday party last night, I’m hoping that no-one was led astray during those proceedings, but I think everyone was responsible…. I can’t wait for what Bev will buy me for my 35th birthday as she was very delighted at my purchase for her 60th. And I’ll say again, she doesn’t look a day over 50….. Right, I doubt I’ll say that again if I’m being honest. Anyway, that’s nothing to do with the Lake District, but we will miss Bev this week.  Well, maybe.

    So, that’s the start of the week, how lovely!

  • Wrocław – Capitulation of Festung Breslau

    Wrocław – Capitulation of Festung Breslau

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    Wrocław, or Breslau as it then was, has the dubious distinction of being declared a Festung (fortress city) by the Nazis in 1944, meaning that it was to be defended at any cost. “Any cost” in this context turned out to mean the near destruction of the city and the needless deaths of tens of thousands, but those were details that didn’t particularly bother the Reich as long as orders were followed.

    The concept of Fortress Breslau was meant to hold back the Red Army and protect the eastern flank of Germany, though in reality it was mostly about Hitler’s refusal to admit the war was already lost. The city was ringed with defences, civilians were pressed into service and resistance was supposed to be fanatical. The siege lasted from February until May 1945, outlasting even the Battle of Berlin. By the time the Soviets finally took it, Breslau was a ruin, its medieval heart and baroque splendours reduced to rubble.

    The human toll was staggering with around 170,000 civilians trapped, food shortages, forced evacuations in the depths of winter and an estimated 40,000 dead during the siege. The city held out because orders said it had to, not because there was any realistic hope of changing the war’s outcome. It’s one of those decadent exercises in futility that twentieth-century Europe specialised in.

    The capitulation itself came on 6 May 1945 when General Hermann Niehoff, the German commander, finally accepted the inevitable and surrendered the city to the Soviets. Accounts describe Niehoff as weary rather than defiant, the fight having gone on long past the point of sanity. It was also the end of the city’s German identity, it became part of Poland just months later. Niehoff himself lived until 1980, it must have been a strange career to look back on.

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    This is the same location now where the surrender took place. Everything has changed, I can’t imagine anyone in 1939 could have predicted what would happen to this city.

  • Wizz Air (Wrocław to Gatwick Airport)

    Wizz Air (Wrocław to Gatwick Airport)

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    Wrocław is the city of these little gnomes and this is the one welcoming passengers to the airport.

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    I didn’t love it a few days ago, but I feel we’re friends again now.

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    My 14:55 flight looked like that it would be on time. The security process was fast and efficient, with the airport feeling clean and organised. But, it’s Poland, I can’t remember it not being like that.

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    A quick visit to the airport lounge. I was very pleased with the Greek salad arrangement, the range of beers and the peaceful nature of the place.

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    Safely at the gate.

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    The queue took longer than I had anticipated, which wasn’t great as the sun was bounding into the airport from the windows, so I was too hot. But, I didn’t complain other than to about 18 friends on WhatsApp.

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    A little unusually for Wizz Air, they were boarding via the airbridge only. The seating Gods had been favourable yet again, giving me a window seat. The aircraft was G-XLRB and I don’t think I’ve been on that aircraft before, although it’s only a few weeks old and so that isn’t a surprise.

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    It’s not very visible, but that’s London in the background. The crew were friendly and everything, yet again, went as expected. There were frequent announcements from the pilot about the delay and the whole arrangement felt relaxed.

    We’d been delayed before taking off because of a limited number of slots at Gatwick Airport and there was also some faffing about in a holding cycle before landing.

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    And back into Gatwick airport. We were around one hour late, but I had a big gap before my train home, so all was well. This is the last flight for a few weeks, I coped admirably I thought….

  • Great Yarmouth – Tourist Information Centre (and Sailors’ Home)

    Great Yarmouth – Tourist Information Centre (and Sailors’ Home)

    [I originally posted this in August 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    This building isn’t of historic interest just because it’s a tourist information centre (although I’m sure it is a lovely little service for visitors to the town), but because it was the Sailors’ Home from 1861 until 1965. During the time which it was open it looked after over 11,000 shipwrecked sailors from 29 different countries. I’m sure that I remember this building being used as a Maritime Museum for a while in the 1980s.

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    There doesn’t seem to be any specific connection with this building and HMS Lutine, other than it sailed from Great Yarmouth in 1799. The boat was carrying today’s equivalent of £100 million of bullion and coin and it sank, which must have irritated its owners. Although not overly irritated them as they had the sense to insure it, so Lloyds of London paid out for the losses. Lloyds have since salvaged some of the gold, although much is still underwater, and they also got back the ship’s bell. This bell, the Lutine Bell, is now pride of place in the Head Office of Lloyds in London. Although it occurs to me that if I sent a salvage crew to collect my gold I’d rather they returned with that rather than the bloody ship’s bell.

  • Great Yarmouth – St. Mary’s Catholic Church

    Great Yarmouth – St. Mary’s Catholic Church

    [I posted this in August 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    I’ve walked by this church on Regent Road hundreds of times over the years, but never actually gone in it. The church opened in 1850 after three years of construction, replacing a small chapel which couldn’t cater for the growing congregation. At the time this was the only building on Regent Road and it now looks a little out of place with the mainly tourist orientated shops and restaurants that are on the street today.

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    The church was designed by Joseph John Scoles, who also designed St. Peter’s Church in the town. It was built for the Jesuits, although was taken over by the Diocese of East Anglia in the mid-twentieth century. When the church opened it had a congregation of over 800 people, showing why the previous building had been of an inadequate size.

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    The font is from the 1850s and was also designed by Scoles.

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    There are numerous of these painted artworks around the church and there are information sheets (well, pieces of paper stuck to the wall) which give information as to what they represent. The information sheets are though useful and give a little bit more context about the building’s history.

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    The impressive interior, which is relatively unchanged since the church was built, with some interesting roof decorations. There are over 800 carved roof bosses in the church and there are a few of the original mid-nineteenth century pews remaining in situ.

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    The pulpit was apparently designed by Pugin, although there seems some doubt on this, and it was installed under the supervision of George Myers.

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    The stained glass window, which I think is from the mid-nineteenth century.

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    The organ dates from the late nineteenth century and has 1,032 pipes.

    I had wondered why there were numerous CCTV signs and warnings of alarms, but assumed it was a general security measure. Unfortunately though it now makes sense, as some yob tried to set the church on fire earlier on in 2018. Fortunately the damage wasn’t too severe and the idiot was caught and charged with committing hate crimes.

    It’s a peaceful and quiet environment in the church, in contrast to the rather busy and noise shopping street outside. I can’t imagine this church when it was located on a little quiet road which led to the beach, but I’m pleased that it has survived intact.

  • Great Yarmouth – St. Spyridon Church (St. Peter’s Church)

    Great Yarmouth – St. Spyridon Church (St. Peter’s Church)

    [I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    It has to be noted that the state of Anglican churches in Great Yarmouth isn’t what it was, with perhaps most of the energies in recent decades going into the Minster. This church was opened in 1831 as St. Peter’s Church, designed by JJ Scoles, who also designed the nearby St. Mary’s Church.

    The church fell into disuse in the 1960s and it was given to the Greek community to use as an Orthodox church. It was fortunate for the building that a new use was found, as this was at a time when churches were often demolished if they had become redundant.

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    The building is currently being repaired and the process has been on-going for several years. English Heritage have helped with the funding, but it has also been a major financial challenge for the local congregation to raise money themselves to put towards the project. The first part of the work involved repairing the tower, which had become a danger given that bits were falling off of it, never an ideal situation…..

  • Great Yarmouth – St. John’s Church

    Great Yarmouth – St. John’s Church

    [I originally posted this in August 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    A short way from the busy seafront is this closed and redundant church, looking a little sad. Its future is though more positive, as it was sold to the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust in 2016 for £1 and the organisation has plans to restore the building and use it for the community. The funds aren’t currently in place to complete the project, but the Trust seems hopeful that they can be secured.

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    A rather charming tree in the churchyard.

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    Sadly, at the moment the entire church is fenced off. The church had first opened in 1858 when it was opened by the Beach and Harbour Mission. During the Victorian period the church was primarily used by the local beachmen, sailors and their families.

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    The church’s former chapter house. The building was built by John Henry Hakewill, who designed and restored many churches during the mid-Victorian period.

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    The Trust is restoring and preserving seven documents which were found in the church, including an impressive baptism roll. It’s delightful that these documents have been secured for the future, as without the Trust’s intervention there must have been the risk that the church would have been turned into flats and the contents lost for ever. The kneeler cushions, which had been left unused for years, were also kept and there are plans to repair and preserve them.

    The restoration of the church appears to be in good hands, and the Trust said to the local media that the repairs would be sensitive and that the interior wouldn’t be reconstructed. Hopefully in a few years this building will once again be used by the community, and I can then have a little look inside.

  • Wrocław – Bistro Stu Mostów

    Wrocław – Bistro Stu Mostów

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    I had somehow managed to miss that the excellent Polish brewery Browar Stu Mostów is actually from Wrocław and they have a couple of venues in the city.

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    It’s a bright and vibrant interior. There was a friendly welcome and the option to sit inside or outside, but I felt I’d done enough al fresco drinking for the week, so opted for inside.

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    They call this outlet a bistro, so there’s a focus on the food and beer. The online reviews are generally very positive and I rather liked, in the response to an angry drunk customer, that the venue commented on the Sobriety Education Act which is a rather lovely name for the Polish drinking laws.

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    I ordered a tasting board to try four different beers from the brewery, or, in one case from another brewery. From left to right:

    (i) Fruited Tango from Browar Stu Mostów. This was thick, fruity, lightly soured and packed with mango. An exceptional beer.

    (ii) Green Diamonds from Other Half Brewing which is an incredible brewery that I went to when I was in New York. The beer was hoppy, dank, fluffy, creamy and really quite decadent, another delight.

    (iii) Cake Drop from Browar Stu Mostów. This is one of the best beers I’ve had this year, it tasted of carrot cake and was lightly soured and tasted of liquid gold. A punchy flavour with so much fruit that it must be healthy.

    (iv) Blueberry Shake from Browar Stu Mostów. Just as I was thinking the Cake Drop would be the best of the evening, this was the icing on the carrot cake, packed with blueberries, thick, luscious mouthfeel and one of the best beers I’ve had.

    In short, I liked the beer here.

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    The food was pretty decent, this is the pastrami brisket sandwich with fries. The thinner pieces of pastrami were a delight, the larger pieces were a bit fatty for my liking, but there was a depth of flavour to the whole arrangement and the chips were particularly decent.

    Anyway, this was an absolute delight and the beer quality was exceptional, which was the main point of my visit. The atmosphere was welcoming, the venue was clean, the service was polite and the beer was lovely. Next time I’m in the city, I’ll try and head for the brewery’s main taproom which is just a little way out of the city centre.

  • Louisville – Slugger Museum and Factory

    Louisville – Slugger Museum and Factory

    [I originally posted this in August 2018 about a visit in January 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

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    My interest in sports and baseball is a little marginal to say the least, but the museum and factory tour offered by the Louisville Slugger was well reviewed and designed to be of general interest.  There were a few subtle signs outside of the building which indicated that I was in the right place, primarily the largest baseball bat in the world (certified by Guinness) that was parked outside.

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    There is a museum at the centre of the attraction and then visitors can go on a pre-booked tour of the factory. Above is the introduction area to the factory tour, although there are no photos allowed beyond this point.

    The machinery involved to make baseball bats is impressive and it has removed much of the human element that was once needed. However, there was a staff member making the bats in the traditional style, which seemed to require quite a trained eye.

    The measurements for making baseball bats are very precise and individuals can choose their own length, width and weight for the bat. These figures are inputted into a machine and the bats are produced from that and it was quite mesmerising watching the lathes and then seeing a bat rolled down.

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    At the end of the tour everyone is presented with a mini baseball bat for free, and I’m pleased to say that I got this on the aircraft at Louisville Airport. The rules on this changed relatively recently to allow this, as before there were hundreds of the bats being confiscated. I say mini baseball bat, but the thing is actually relatively large and isn’t something that can be put into a pocket (unless you have big pockets). The other section of wood is what connected the bat to the lathe whilst it was being turned and they hand these out to anyone who wants one.

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    After the tour, visitors are returned to the museum area and the story of both baseball and the Slugger factory. It wasn’t a big museum and it doesn’t take much more than around thirty minutes to look around, although it’s all well presented.

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    This area is where visitors can pretend to be a hitter (or whatever they’re called) and there is a video of a pitcher (or whatever they’re called) chucking (or whatever the term is) a ball (or whatever they’re called). A machine then throws the ball at the speed that it would have been pitched, and I have to admit, it is pretty fast. On balance of probabilities, it’s fair to say that I’d have missed it if this was for real. Or been hit by the ball……

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    So many baseball bats in the sky….

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    Babe Ruth is the only baseball player that I’ve ever heard of. And this is his bat.

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    An historic recreation of how the factory used to be.

    I thought that this visit was rather interesting, although I became a little pre-occupied about how I was supposed to carry a baseball bat around the city and then get the thing home. I fortunately did, but there is something a little strange about traipsing about with a baseball bat. But, then again, it’s America and they often carry guns, so I wasn’t that out of place.

    The tour was interesting, although a little monotone in its presentation and the guide seemed a little bored by the whole thing. But, then again, he had probably given this tour many times and the excitement had perhaps worn off. However, he knew the information that he needed to know, so I felt that I was sufficiently well informed as to what each piece of equipment in the factory did.

    It’s not a cheap site to visit, at $14, but it wasn’t unreasonable with the free gift of the mini baseball bat. For anyone who loves baseball I’m sure that they’d get much more from the visit, but it’s still an interesting way to spend ninety minutes or so.

  • CAMRA – No 2026 GBBF Taking Place…….

    CAMRA – No 2026 GBBF Taking Place…….

    This is a little sad, although I least I got to experience my first Great British Beer Festival this year. Difficult it to see it ever coming back now, but who knows…..