Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[TRIP5]

Was mooching around in t'North this weekend and stopped in Harrogate on t'way back. Took afternoon tea in Betty's which I think you've mentioned before Tikay? My first visit there and thought it was the bee's knees. Live pianist, range of exotic teas, silver tea service and china cups, cultured chatter from all around. Yeah, liked that a lot. Why aren't these dotted along every high street instead of McDonalds? For some reason the whole Victorian ambiance made me imagine I was in the saloon aboard The Titanic. Very civilsed, social and polite. Even got an authentic sinking feeling when the bill arrived as well.

You write with great originality Mr MANTIS. It is quite often bollox, but beautifully written bollox. We are blessed on blonde right now to have a goodly number of folks who take the time & trouble to write well.

Betty's is just SO Harrogate, it absolutely belongs there, & I'd go there just for the Betty's experience, it is different class to anything in the UK except, perhaps, Afternoon Tea at a posh hotel such as Luton Hoo, or The Ritz.

I think Harrogate may be one of my favourite Towns in the UK, right up there with Cheltenham, Bath, Durham, Edinburgh, & Kyle of Lochalsh, (OK, they are not all "Towns"), they all have that sort of "character", you'd know you were there even if you were blindfold.

The only problem I have with Betty's is the queues - I can't be doing with queues, so I try to go early morning if I can.  

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

I was born/raised in Harrogate, Betty's is amazing, service, quality, atmosphere, like going back to a better time!

I like HArrogate a lot, I have only been back about 6 or 7 times in the 5 years since I left home, doesn't feel like home anymore which is a shame, but as far as places to live go I think it's right up there.

Cool memories from those pics though.

You ever stay in The Old Swan, Dave? Absolutely wonderful, I imagine it has not changed a bit since 1930. It began life as the wonderfully named Harrogate Hydropathic Company.....!

It was good enough for Agatha Christie to run away to, too. That'll do for me, I love staying there when I have half an excuse.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Swan_Hotel


There is a grand Chinese Restaurant in the old "Public Baths" building too, (might have been a Pumping Station, can't recall), it is a magnificent setting, might even be "Listed" building.

There's a grand chippie opposite Montpelier Terrace, too, owned by a Greek family.

Love Harrogate.

Just round the corner there is an Egyptian restaurant above a live blues bar.. not that modern r&b stuff but good old fashioned honkey-tonk - Defo worth an overnight stay.. and that's coming from someone who only lives 20 miles away ;o)

xx

[millidonk]

I have worked in Harrogate a few times and loved it everytime. Decent night out, nice restaurants, all round great, apart from the daily protestors, they got a bit annoying.

It was this place:



I remember as a child looking out of the window during our biannual trip from York to London to visit my nan, had no idea what they were and my parents were unable to spread any light on them. "giant golfballs was the only thing I remember being told". Now I know everything. Makes me feel all warm inside.

[stumpythefish]

Open goal time

Thoughts on Virgin losing the West coast to First Group?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19264614

I was just reading that, elsewhere.

To be honest, & it pains me to say it, but it is insanity, or so it seems from where we stand.  

I imagine there is some logic somewhere, but I can't think what it is, so I'm not going to diss it to death, but it's quite odd.

"First", of course, handed back a previous Franchise, which I would have thought barred them for life from even bidding.

The whole Franchise system just seems like a nonsense to me, in this case, Nationalisation worked better, or, if privatising, at least leave the TOC's alone to get on with it. First will now spend fortunes to re-livery the EXACT same rolling stock.

Your right its totally crazy it all boils down to the highest bidder even tho they have handed back past franchises. imo virgin have done a great job in turning round a difficult route.When gner pipped virgin for the east coast mainline with a crazy bid which everyone new they couldnt afford it.I will give first group 2 years until they hand it back to the government.I was dead against privatisation when it was introduced but a hell of alot has improved since the br days unfortunately alot of private companys have made alot of money out of it and put nothing back in.Since privatisation i have worked for 5 different companys some good some bad but in the end it doesnt seem to matter how they do the franchise just seems to go to the highest bidder.The relivery is a running joke as if they repaint our shiity old trains again they wont fit thro the tunnels

Fine post Mr Stumpy.

The ROSCO's are almost the nut example of "wtf"?  Angel, Porterbrook & HSBC Rail are all owned by Banks or City Institutions, & all made absolute fortunes by Leasing out Rolling stock to the TOC's.

How are all the Team Dobbs boys these days, & NPF? Thought I might see a few of you in Vegas this year, but maybe you saw me coming, & swerved me.

Guess we'll not see any or many or even any of you at the SPT Grand Final next month, as you have UKIPT coming to Town up in Newcastle.  Hope it goes well for you boys.  

The boys are fine most of us are still loving the game but the npf is going thro a queit time hence why i am a blonde stalker, and have to say you have some great posters with a great mix between poker and life.Vegas i think we just missed you we played the nugget the day before and day after your fantastic win i did double check with the cr manager that it was THE TIKAY from england that was on the honuors board.I actually had planned to play the spt final as i thought it was the week before newcastle ukipt oh well nm.Im sure there will be a few npfers down there as as the £330 is alot more affordable than the £770.

[redsimon]

Do you still have shares in Rank Group?

Results out today, online poker revenue hits new low £1.1m per year down from 1.5 million .

In the scheme of things miniscule.

The shares leapt up today with big increase in final dividend and healthy income from G casinos with Gala soon to be taken over the biggest force in live UK poker?

Rank take over of Gala Casinos referred to Competition Comission today

[tikay]

Do you still have shares in Rank Group?

Results out today, online poker revenue hits new low £1.1m per year down from 1.5 million .

In the scheme of things miniscule.

The shares leapt up today with big increase in final dividend and healthy income from G casinos with Gala soon to be taken over the biggest force in live UK poker?

Rank take over of Gala Casinos referred to Competition Comission today

Thanks Simon.

I've not forgotten your previous question, I'll reply in the morning. Had a bit of a frenetic day today.

How's the health holding up? Good, I hope. You've done well man, really well. Poor health sucks.

[Acidmouse]

The nut thing to do it go to the 'other' Betty's in Harrogate the one thats 10mins outside Harrogate centre next to RHS Harlow Car gardens. Busy yes but not half as busy as the one in the centre. Also really nice gardens, garden centre and 2mins from the 'golf balls (menwith hill spell) that donk goes on about, or 10mins from fewston/swinsty reserviors.

[millidonk]

That's the one Acid. RAF Menwith Hill or MHS to some.

[tikay]

Ahh, I never realised there was another Betty's in Harrogate. I really can't be doing with queues, so yes, I'll try that one.

RAF Menwith Hill.....apparently, the largest electronic monitoring station on earth, according to Wiki. Not sure I buy that though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Menwith_Hill


We - next door - used to have our Head Office in Harrogate, right on the outskirts of Town, & we could clearly see Menwith Hill across the moors. What an odd juxtaposition, those high-tech golf ball things, & the rolling moors. You or I would struggle to get Planning Permission for a Garden Shed up there, & quite right too.

Now, our Head Office is smack-bang in the middle of Leeds. Ugh. Leeds is OK, but if countryside is your thing, it's not Harrogate!  I was there yesterday, Wellington Street was closed for roadworks, & it took me 45 minutes to drive 300 yards from the Station to our Office. Ugh.   

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Doobs]

I was at the 3rd Betty's in Harrogate yesterday.  There is a cafe inside Harlow Carr gardens.  It isn't very special, little different to any other park cafe, just the ice creams were a little more posh.  Certainly wouldn't waste £7.50 ( or 8.25 with gift aid) to get in.  Children there were a little less feral than in the valley gardens, and the tree house went down a storm, so worth the £7.50 each for us.  Just isn't worth it if you want just tea, cake and Victorian ambience.

[SuuPRlim]

I remember going on a school trip inside the "golf balls" when i was about 14 (which was longer ago than you all think before RED-DOG comes in with some smart comments!)

Was pretty impressive, and i remember us all being thoroughly searched on the way in, and seeing lots of men with massive machine guns!

My parents live round the corner from the "new betty's" met my mum for lunch recently in leeds and she bought me a cake from there! was amazing

oooh Tikay, the old swan - never stayed but i remember a wedding there I bet it's amazing, I have a feeling it got taken over by someone new about 5 years (if i remember rightly)I know the chinese restuarant you mean as well, it's in the same building as the turkish baths, which if you've never been to you 100% should, I think it was voted #6 or 7 in the countries BEST Spa's!!

That restaurant is excellent to, Chez la Vie opposite wait-rose just above a nihtclub (idk what it is now, think it might be closed, used to be Jimmy's and carringtons when i was there) is a really nice restaurant. I know the man who owns that chip shop in Montpellier (can't remember the name) in fact iirc we nearly went into business with him me and my old boss Graham!

Every been to Rudding park?

I went recently and got a suite for the night, room was AMAZING I had two bathrooms, a jacuzzi bath, a sauna, a steam room and a big living room!

[AndrewT]

Programme on BBC4 last night which is right up your street - about the British post-war aircraft industry.

Plenty of Vulcans, Victors and Lightnings.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01m81f5/Jet!_When_Britain_Ruled_the_Skies_Military_Marvels/

[leethefish]

Still waiting patient

For the

 

To



Story!!

[tikay]

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[Karabiner]

Click to see full-size image.

Polly and Peck?

[tikay]

Very good Ralph.

I went for Asil and Nadir.