Uncles promise

HOW?

The Bedford

A visitor of a nervous disposition to Royal TunbridgeWells in the 1990s would have been well-advised to stay away from the Bedford and Roebuck inns.

The Roebuck had a fearsome reputation and trouble would often spill out into Camden Road.  In my experience it was boisterous, plenty of atmosphere and blessed with visits from the police when fights broke out.    The pub is now a mosque.

The Bedford is across the road from the railway station.  In the 1990s it was a seedy establishment..  I was in the  Bedford drinking bottled Guinness when a posse of policemen arrived.  Cue for the pub's denizens to scatter fast.  The pub went through name changes and a succession of landlords.  Never a good sign.

However the pub is on the up.  An oasis of real ale, a mature clientele and a welcoming atmosphere. Indeed, I would recommend a visit.

Uncles speaks again

Latest from the Uncles' camp.

http://steveunclesenglishdemocrats.org/2015/08/22/if-elected-kent-police-commissioner-i-will-ban-the-burka-in-kent-steve-uncles

A few questions:

1.  What legislative provision can be used to achieve this?

2.  What do you do with people who flout the ban:  fine, put in prison?

3.  How will the ban be enforced?

Do I hear cuckoos?

Smoking cessation

I have smoked a pipe for many years. At the end of July I decided to try to stop smoking, after all it would save me just under £13 a week if I succeeded. Just coming to the end of week 3 and so far so good.

Keeping fit, not fat

Started a new fitness regime yesterday. Consists of going on long walks with steep(ish) hill to climb. Yesterday a wander to Speldhurst, today Ramslye, High Rocks and Barrow Lane.  The High Rocks Inn was closed.  Signs at the end of Barrow Lane state it is closed.  Traffic has no difficulty travelling the length of the road.

The Grim Reaper approaches

The only certainty in life is death.  For most people the uncertainty is when the scythe will do its work.  In recent weeks there has been a spate of  'celebrity' deaths:  Cilla Black, David Nobbs and George Cole. Each death affirms our mortality.

On the buses

Used my bus pass today to travel to Sevenoaks for a meeting.  All the buses on time. The bus station in Sevenoaks more convenient by far than the railway station.  The only problem: my meeting finished at 3.15pm and there is no return bus until 4.16pm.  Over an hour's gap in the service (3.08pm to 4.16pm) which is rather strange given that for most of the day there are two buses an hour and a notice  at the Sevenoaks bus station refers to a half-hourly service.

Hopefully Cllr Jukes will get his comeuppance over his plans to ban buses in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.  Last time buses were diverted bus timetables were turned into works of fiction. I look forward to our two Conservative councillors in Rusthall putting the skids under the Jukes folly.

BML2

Encouraging news:

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/194-hm-treasury-gives-green-light-to-brighton-main-line-2-study.html