Cheers! 12th Night Drinks Go Down a Treat!
January 2013
The Marchmont Arms echoed to the sound of chatter and the chink of glasses at the 12th Night party. A gathering of residents old and new had plenty to talk about, from colds to Christmas!
The cricket pavilion that should have been given out first ball
January 2013
Happy New Year! Apart from resolving to eat less bread and more rice, this year I plan to go about and about in the Dacorum area, picking out examples of the good, the bad and the ugly. One building that constantly catches my eye, and for all the wrong reasons, is the cricket pavilion in Hemel. First of all it’s out of all proportion to its setting. How did that get past the planners?
Does Anyone Live in Hemel Hempstead?
December 2012
Enjoying a cappucino and a croissant at Hemel station (top marks to the ladies from Puccinos on Platform 4) my ears pricked up at the following exchange. Lady customer: ‘Where do you live?’ Puccinos lady: ‘Harrow. Where do you live, Hemel Hempstead?’ Customer: ‘No, Boxmoor’. It was only when we moved to Hemel that we realised the important
All the Fun of the Fireworks Party
November 2012
One of the perks of running a fireworks company is that every year I get to put on a display for the village. This has become a regular feature since we moved here in 2003 and every year it attracts a large audience. Everyone chips in with offers of help, from hot soup and hot dogs to delicious pork and apple rolls. This year is another big success.
Hot soup, hot dogs, hot fireworks!
November 2012
Another dry night and another big turnout for the annual Piccotts End fireworks party, provided courtesy of Fantastic Fireworks. Nearly 100 villagers, families and friends came to Marchmont Cottage to enjoy all the traditional fare of Bonfire Night – the only thing missing was the bonfire!
Harry Hill gets personal with a Piccotts Ender!
October 2012
Seeing that Harry Hill was coming to the Old Town Theatre we quickly booked the last remaining few tickets. Our guests included our friend and neighbour Val Corbett. Unfortunately Val broke her ankle only a few days before the show and the only way she could make it was if the theatre had wheelchair accommodation. This was duly arranged but Val would have to sit in the front row. You can guess what’s coming next!
The Traffic Light Texters Who Are Driving Me Mad!
September 2012
I have got a bit behind with my blog as of late. Quite often I’ll think of something or see something which would make a good post, only to forget it. Quite often these come to mind whilst driving so you can’t write them down. And as I write this I’m imediately reminded of something I have observed among the driving
High speed broadband is here
July 2012
Reports of BT engineers installing large green cabinets in the village and surrounding areas turn out to be the advent of high speed broadband. Good news for all. Broadband speeds have been pretty poor around here and for me it can’t come fast enough. One evening the phone rings and it’s BT telling me the service is here and would I like to upgrade for the same price I am currently paying. Yes please! The results are noticeably better, not so much in how fast programs take to load but very much when you are downloading files. I’d transfer all my Sky Sports subs to BT Vision as well but for all its lightning speed broadband delivery, BT doesn’t yet offer HD.
These roundabout sponsors leave me cold!
July 2012
What a lousy month! It’s hard to know where to begin. Well I suppose the rather depressing new signboards on the Link Road roundabout are a good place. I know that sponsorship is a useful source of income for Dacorum Council but do we local residents really want to be reminded of funeral directors everytime we drive to work? I’m sure J. Worley Funeral Directors do a fine job but in a village where we only recently lost our chairman, the timing could have been better.
Jubilee party is a rainaway success!
June 2012
It rained on every other parade but not on ours! Thanks to the Marchmont Arms, a terrific turnout of villagers, families and friends and the hard work of the social committee, the PERA Jubilee Party was a huge success.