Torture by telephone at the Rex

May 2011
I’m sure there is a sort of Room 101 at The Rex Cinema, Berkhamsted,  where a phone constantly rings and no one answers it. We have invited some friends for the weekend and have promised them a visit to our renowned local cinema. The problem is that we are in France the weekend the tickets go on sale and so a special plan is put in place.

A late frost kills off the apple blossom

April 2011
I must try to keep my blog more up to date. I’m writing this two months in arrears and I’m struggling to recall even May let alone April. But yes, I remember a late frost that has caused havoc in the garden. Re-reading a post last year about my apricot tree not producing any fruit, I’m now beginning to see why. Apricot trees flower before peaches and if you’re

One way isn’t the answer

March 2011
Plans are afoot to make the Old Town one way. Apparently it will cost £1.3 million. I suppose it will improve safety and make the area more attractive but why don’t they go all the way and pedestrianise it? Apparently shopkeepers are against the idea because they fear it will deter drivers because there will be nowhere to park. But that’s not borne out

The writing’s on the wall at Waterstone’s

February 2011
The Marlowes Waterstone’s book shop has closed, inevitably as they were never going to keep it and the more recent one in Riverside. But what will happen to the lovely mural painted by Chris Burke when it opened as Ottakars six or seven years back? Apparently Ottakars commissioned about 30 such murals, at a cost of about £20,000 each,

The Piccotts End Blog Years 2007-2010

December 2010 Up to now I can’t remember two successive white Christmases. But we’ve just had them – even if it didn’t snow on the day they were certainly white. Snow stories, which didn’t really exist throughout most of the Nineties, have become commonplace this past few years. Everyone can tell you of that nightmare…