Month: January 2013

Lets Take Our Cue From The Past


The News has recently published an interesting, if short, article reporting on days gone by. On the passing of the prison hulks that used to lie out in Portsmouth Harbour. Similar to HMS Victory these were ships that had seen better days. Ships such as HMS Briton, HMS Defense, HMS Leviathan, HMS Racoon and HMS Stirling Castle served as hulks until around 1850 when the practice of prison hulk usage stopped. Those prisoners being held on hulks in Portsmouth Harbour were moved to a prison within the walls of Portsmouth Dockyard.

It seems that prisoners held in the dockyard prison were once used for “public works”. The news mentions that when this practice ceased the prison was closed.

A prison was built within the dockyard walls in the north-eastern corner. By 1895 the convicts were no longer used for public works and in 1896 the prison, capable of holding 1,500 men, was closed for good.

It’s a shame that our governments haven’t seen fit to reinstate the practice of using prison inmates for carrying our public works as referenced here.

We, the tax payer, are already paying for their clothing, accommodation, entertainment, healthcare and three square meals a day. It seems only fair that prison inmates repay their debt to society by doing some work.

The namby pamby do-gooders in our society will say that they are being punished by having their liberty taken away. That may well be true. We keep hearing that prisoners don’t like their conditions, that some of them spend most of their time in a cell. Well here is a way to get them out and have them doing something for society. I’m not talking about hard labour, breaking up rocks or such like. We have a workforce locked up twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We should use them. Set them to work getting rid of graffiti, clearing out silted up canals, picking up rubbish on our beaches. How about all these potholes in our roads, created by the last severe winter and, more recently, flooding. The local councils say they are overwhelmed and don’t have the money.

Well here is the workforce, provide the tools and materials and set them to work.

End of the prison hulks – Remember When – Portsmouth News.

Pubs – “Splash” Rip-Off


In my recent post I mentioned the good food at The Fishermans Rest I have moved this to a separate post because I don’t want to taint what was predominantly a very positive experience.

This negative issue is not restricted to The Fishermans  but is common across the industry. I am referring to the amount pubs charge for lemonade and other “splash” mixers that are added to spirits.

My wife drinks Southern Comfort with lemonade and the Fishermans along with many other pubs charges £0.65 per “splash” of lemonade.

Because my wife likes her glass filled with lemonade that apparently equates to two “splashes”. So £1.30 added to the price of a single shot. With SC at £2.85 the total price for the drink was £4.15 meaning that the lemonade accounted for 31% of the total price.

In my view this unacceptable commercialism is unfair to the customer. After all I can buy a two litre bottle of Schweppes Lemonade from a supermarket  for around £1.25

Before you all shout that the pub has to cover the costs of providing the comfortable surroundings, transportation of the drinks etc. etc. I understand all that. And I also know that I can buy a bottle of SC and lemonade and drink at home. But that is hardly the point.

That £1.30 additional charge for my wifes drink is somewhat hidden. We all know roughly what pubs charge for spirits but not all pubs charge £0.65 per “splash”, some don’t even charge at all.

My Abbott Ale was only £2.95 for a whole pint. The pint measure is controlled by law. My wifes drink cost £4.15 for just over half a pint. Although spirit measures are controlled by law there are no legal controls over measures for mixers.

It’s no wonder pubs are struggling. I thought it was beer prices that was keeping folks out of pubs but now I’m not so sure.

Personally I am going to try and convince my to drink beer, it would certainly be cheaper.

The Fishermans Rest – Titchfield


The Fisherman's Rest

Spent a gloriously relaxed Saturday afternoon, with my wife and friends, at this pub. The Fishermans Rest has to be one of the best pubs in the area. Good food, friendly staff and a really nice atmosphere.

We spent four hours here, during which we caught up on family, mutual friends and jointly expressing our outrage at issues in the news while attempting to put the world to rights.

During this time we managed to take a breath or two and eat a wholesome meal

I had the “Trio of Fishcakes” while my wife and our friends all had the “Baked Stilton Stuffed Mushrooms” starter. Two of our party then sampled the steaks, the third had the Chicken Pasanda while I was boring and once again had the “Mixed Grill”. All agreed the food was delicious.

Eventually we had to take our leave and head home, parting ways in the car park and debating who would be the first to be taking a nap when we got home.

If you are ever in the area I wholeheartedly recommend this pub for a visit. Combine this with a visit to Titchfield Abbey for a little bit of history.

End of era as Havant’s last greengrocer shuts


Although reasons for this closure cannot necessarily be laid at the door of HBC, they are not helping the situation

David Guest, deputy leader of Havant Borough Council and ward member for St Faith’s, said: ‘Hopefully we have not lost it and they are able to relocate.

‘A lot of people enjoyed that shop and I’m very sorry to see it go.’

He said that independent shops were an important part of Havant.

So important that the HBC is intent on dragging shoppers away from the town centre by allowing huge developments across the other side of Park Road in the Solent Road area.

‘It’s nice for people to have a choice,’ he said.

‘As long as people use these independent shops, they will survive.

How many people have stopped using the independent stores in Havant centre since the Tesco store opened ? From personal experience I know that I don’t tend to go to smaller stores if I am doing my weekly shop in a supermarket. We are all so busy that it is more convenient to “one stop shop”.

‘There’s no guarantee they will stay around.

‘We just want to encourage more people to open small shops.’

If you want more people to open small shops then you shouldn’t allow the big stores to open up so close to the town centres.

HBC, haven’t you learnt anything ?

And you are doing the same thing to Waterlooville by allowing the new Sainsbury store to open up outside of the town centre. There is no incentive to anyone to open small shops in either of these town centres.

I feel sorry for John Wills and his family. It will be difficult for him to relocate and keep his current customers,to start afresh and build a customer base under the current economic climate and with the lack of true support from HBC. I wish him the best of luck for the future.

End of era as Havant’s last greengrocer shuts – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

RIP Pattie Page – Crossed Over The Bridge For The Last Time


Singer Patti Page,  passed away on New Year’s Day. She was 85.

Best known for her hits “Tennessee Waltz” and “(How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window”, Page had hits throughout the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. She was still actively touring, with performances at up to 50 concerts a year, right up to her death.

More recently her reputation was revitalised by the White Stripes when they covered her 1952 song “Conquest” on their “Icky Thump” album.

Page is survived by her two children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren