The Sue Ryder sale - Nettlebed - This Saturday

Today we set off for the Sue Ryder charity sale from Henley,

It is held in aid of the excellent Sue Ryder charity.  Sue Ryder have a nursing home in Nettlebed. It is rumoured that they may be coming to Henley when the Townland's Hospital is rebuilt.

The house that the nursing home is in is magnificent.

The sales is very crowded.

Below is a tape recorded from the 70s.  I had a similar version to this made by Ferguson

The items on sale range from clothes, to sheets to carpets, to furniture, to electrical goods.  A massive range of books are also there.  I got a copy of "Henley Heritage" by signed by the author Jan Baldwin'

 This is a preserved kiln, kept for historical purposes. It is a landmark in Nettlebed. Used for making bricks in days gone by

Finally some ancient stones in the grass by the roadside in Nettlebed, the caption in the photo below the shot underneath this text, gives part of the story about these stones.

Finally a mosaic shield

The Henley Pancake Race

The Henley Blogger was present at this year's Pancake race, his first experience of this event.

The Mayor of Henley was present, and was the voice on the megaphone throughout.

It was sad that there was not a large crowd, but of course Shrove Tuesday has passed, and therefore the relevance of the event to Saturday shoppers was not that apparent!

My hearty congratulations to all who took part on a lovely sunny day, but with a cold wind blowing at the time. Thanks for the free entertainment.

Here are some photos I took of the event - they speak for themselves!

 

 The Mayor flips his pancake really high!

In contrast on Tuesday the Wallingford event was well attended.  The Henley Blogger was delayed arriving due to the bus being held up in the traffic, but here are a few pictures of the crowds for you to see.  Maybe next year we could have our event on the day?

Pleased with food at the Catherine Wheel in Henley - so am I, here is my opinion of the Wetherspoons in High Wycombe

I went into the Wetherspoon's in High Wycombe today. It is called The William Robert Loosley.  

There were only two staff on duty, one behind the bar and one serving food.  Both were charming and polite and helpful.  That was appreciated, but it was so evident that the staff were under stress due to lack of support.

My Ham and Cheese toastie was not fit for purpose.  It must have had about 3/4 of a processed cheese slice in it.  When I have eaten at other branches of Wetherspoons they are in thicker bread and the cheese is oozing out of the sandwich.  Nothing wrong with the quality of what was served up or the warmth of it.  

The final straw was a visit to the Gents.  It smelt of urine, in fact the smell was overpowering.

I mentioned all this to the staff on duty and said I thought they were coping well, and I was sorry to have to bring these things to their attention.

I note that it is listed on a web site as a Lloyds Bar, maybe these are of lower standard?

Why have I posted this information an pictures online?   I rang up their customer service when I got home and the lady took down the details, promised to report these matters to the area supervisor.  I asked for some compensation, but I was told they never gave compensation.  I can make a better toasted sandwich at home, but Wetherspoons can do much better in other branches.  

If Wetherspoons would care to post a comment and reply to these points please feel free to do so, other than that stand as charged.  

Floods in Henley

I was amazed today to see how bad the flooding has got my side of the bridge in Henley.

Here are some pictures I took today, they speak for themselves.  Sorry a few taken on my mobile are blurred but stand as a record of river front floods.  The local radio, well Radio Berkshire says they are worse than the last bad floods in 2003.

Condolences to the many people the other side of the bridge, the pub, the rowing museum and many others right up to and beyond Twford. Old Father Thames is angry!

No drinks today at the Angel Pub - it is in the drink sadly!

Our mermaid is in the water at the moment !

Boxing Day - traditional Thames Swim Day

Unfortunately the traditional Thames swim on Boxing Day was cancelled for the most sensible reasons. The current was too fast, and debris was flowing down the river as well.  Also it was freezing cold!

Correction ( I was on the wrong side of the river - see the news reproduced here from the Henley on Thames News

THIRTEEN swimmers plunged into the swollen Thames for a Boxing Day dip. Six of them completed the 70m swim across the river from the landing stages near the Red Lion Hotel on the Henley side to the Berkshire bank near Leander Club. Beatrice Heller, 27, did the route first as she is the group’s strongest swimmer and she finished 150m downstream, climbing out on to the flooded towpath. She was followed by her brother Douglas, 29, and friends Henry Collett, 27, from Russell’s Water, Chris Gee, 28, from Singapore, James Bowkett, 29, from London, and David Thompson, 29, from Fife. About 40 spectators, including friends and family, watched as they braved the 6C water. The remaining seven swimmers had a quick thrash around in the water close to the Berkshire bank. The event, now in its fourth year, went ahead despite the Henley reach being on red boards due to a strong flow. Last year’s swim was cancelled because the river was deemed unsafe. The swimmers, who took about three minutes to cross the river, were not accompanied by a safety boat. Mr Heller, from Skirmett, said: “It was a case of not swimming against the stream and just swimming to get to the other side. Beatrice set out first because the stream was very fast and she is the strongest swimmer. “I think everyone watching thought we were insane and they were almost silent. Perhaps they thought we were swimming to our deaths, so it would be inappropriate to clap. There were a few whoops when we got out though.” When the swimmers got out of the water, they were wrapped in towels and given mulled cider, hot mince pies and hot water bottles. Mr Heller added: “Invigorating is one word I would use to describe the swim as it gives you a bit of an adrenaline rush.” Before the swim, there was a safety meeting at which some people who had planned to take the plunge decided against. Mr Heller said: “There were initially 35 people who wanted to do the dip but we wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the possible dangers. Those who took part were strong swimmers and 100 per cent confident of being able to get across.” Published 06/01/14

Instead I took some more pictures - being the new guy on the block I am luxuriating in the variety of buildings and views in this fine town.

First though an example of those pavements on the Marlow Road covered in slushy leaves.  There are also a few nasty potholes, treacherous to cyclists in the road as well.  Today further down, fortunately not where we were walking - a massive flood on the road!  On Christmas day drivers were avoiding puddles by the road side - today they were driving through the puddles!  They have to if a car is on the other side, but in both instances there was no car !

Meanwhile in town

The Boxing Day view of the river front

Two chaps arriving at the pub on a boat - real style!  Also the first rows of tables are currently submerged by the swollen river

What a fabulous name for a Street, does anyone know why it is called Friday Street?  Man Friday?

Some really old cottages 

Some stone statues in a shop window, remind me of Doctor Who's characters - don't blink!

A Dentist's in a really quaint ancient building

A cooker from yester-year in a shop window