The funniest thing I saw today

Why wouldn't a dog climb into a stack of shopping baskets!

A dog at the Dog Stop at Waitrose in Leighton Buzzard

Despite the best efforts of a member of staff the dog didn't fancy moving. It was happy as Larry in there.

A surprise meeting with Big Bird in Hastings!?

I always enjoy a trip to Hastings. There’s obviously the brilliant Minigolf courses to play, meeting up with friends, visits to some very good pubs, excellent seafood, the great 1066 Cake Stand, the Amusement Arcades, some interesting events and of course the wonderful Post Office Tea Rooms in nearby St Leonards. But wandering along the seafront while in town during our latest visit for the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters tournament I randomly got to meet Big Bird out of Sesame Street!

Me and Big Bird, from Sesame Street, in Hastings

Sitting on the Longest Bench in the World. In Littlehampton!

Having a nice sit down after a long day of Minigolf.

On my travels around the UK I'm always on the lookout for interesting, unique, odd and obscure things to see, do and visit.

During a conversation about Littlehampton and Crazy Golf last year I was told that the town is home to the Longest Bench in the World. In fact, the people who told me about it were the very same people who designed it! I made a note to visit the bench when I eventually made it to Littlehampton.

Last summer we had run out of time on a Crazy World of Minigolf Tour roadtrip from Hastings towards Littlehampton and ended the day in Worthing. Similarly we failed to make it to Littlehampton on a trip from the direction of Southsea and ended that journey in Felpham, near Bognor Regis. So, having spent the weekend playing in the BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament in Worthing I took the opportunity to make the short trip along the coast to Littlehampton to check out the Minigolf courses there.

Looking at the information board and map on the seafront I noticed that the Longest Bench was not too far from where I had parked and was very close to one of the Miniature Golf course locations I was looking for at Banjo Road, so I headed along for a quick sit down.

A view of the Longest Bench in the World, built in July 2010, stretching along the Littlehampton Promenade

The bench is not as I expected it to be. I imagined that it would be one long bench like a Park Bench. But it's a very higgledy piggledy construction (at least at either end) and stretches along for some distance in a slightly more regular fashion along the promenade.

I'm looking forward to a return trip to Littlehampton with Emily to further explore the town, visit the amusements and Harbour Park and play the many Minigolf courses there. I'll also have another nice sit down on the Longest Bench in the World and take in the views of the beach and sea.

Links:

- Studio Weave & Longest Bench in the World project page

- The Longest Bench in the World website

- The Longest Bench on Twitter

- The Longest Bench Facebook page

Related Blog Post Links:
- A Stack of Minigolf Courses Visited in Littlehampton, but None Played!
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

Bench Related Photo Link:
- In January 2012 I had a sit down on a random BIG bench that is in Hitchin, Herts!

A London Pub & Jumble Sale Crawl

Post-Hopathon shenanigans in London

Following the Guinness World Record attempts at the Ripping Yarns Hopathon on Hampstead Heath we headed to the first stop on what would become a bit of a Pub & Jumble Sale Crawl!

The first stop after a ramble through Hampstead Heath was The Freemasons Arms pub on Downshire Hill. This pub is the home of the Hampstead Lawn Billiard and Skittle Club.

The Freemasons Arms pub in Hampstead

The club meets every Tuesday and Saturday evening, but we were too early to watch the Pros in action. Unfortunately we found out that bookings to play are only taken in advance – you can’t just turn up to play. The alley is available for hire on weekday evenings and weekends when the pub is open.

This way to the Skittle Alley

The Skittle Alley at The Freemasons Arms

The club is known as the Hampstead Lawn Billiard and Skittle Club and The Freemasons Arms was home to the only known pitch for the extinct game of Lawn Billiards! However, the pub extended its beer garden in the 1970’s and the Lawn Billiards court was covered. You can view the game in action in a film from 1933 at British Pathé.

The Beer Garden that was once home to the game of Lawn Billiards

While wandering through Hampstead on our way to Kentish Town we spotted a stall on the street with a huge banner advertising the NomNom Gluten & Egg Free Bakery! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get some Gluten Free cakes.

Walking through Gospel Oak Brad ‘Frugal’ Shepherd spotted a line of people outside the school there – it was a queue for a jumble sale. Not one to pass up a chance to look for a bargain we decided to head to the nearest pub to wait the 15 minutes until the 2pm opening time. 45 minutes later we left the Old Oak pub refreshed and ready for the next stage of the crawl.

The only notable purchase was of a pre-decimal 'A-Z Atlas of London' by Alan ‘Stormin’ Norman, who also bought a chocolate fairy cake.

The A-Z Atlas of London (circa 1900)

After arriving in Kentish Town we spent some time in a couple of pubs including the Assembly House and the George IV before heading towards Camden to show Alan and Chris ‘Stretch’ Jones the random Crazy Golf course in Clarence Way.

Alan 'Stormin' Norman refuels with the meal of champions

En route Brad pointed out his favourite off-license – Drinkers Paradise on Prince of Wales Road. He had lied and said that they stocked Gluten Free Beer and was laughing about it until we actually spotted a bottle of Glebe Farm Gluten Free Ale in the window!

Drinkers Paradise - just call for details...

Brad, me and a bottle of Gluten Free beer at Drinkers Paradise

Alan also made his second wise purchase of the day and picked up a bottle of Monty Python themed Holy Grail ale!

Alan and the Holy Grail

The day out of shenanigans that began with me riding a fake camel before the Ripping Yarns Hopathon ended at the Clarence Way Crazy Golf Course in Camden. Talks of the 2012 London Invitational Minigolf Tournament taking place there are underway...

The Clarence Way Crazy Golf course by night

The Minigolfers at the Crazy Golf course in Camden

It's not every day...

...you get to ride a Camel in Kentish Town!

The 'Camel' outside The Orientalist carpet shop on Highgate Road, London

Following a Random Brown Tourist Sign in Scotland to visit the 'Maid of the Loch'

While at Loch Lomond in Scotland on Sunday 20th November I made a point of following a random Brown Tourist Sign (as recommended by Amanda of the excellent Follow The Brown Signs website) to the intriguingly named 'Maid of the Loch'.

Photo: I noticed that Brown Tourist Signs in Scotland feature a Thistle in a blue oval, rather than being plain brown with white text and/or images 

I found out by having a look in the visitors leaflet for Loch Lomond that the Maid of the Loch was the last Paddle Steamer to be built in Great Britain.

Launched on the Loch in 1953 the ship is officially now an historic ship and was placed on the "Designated Vessels List" (which recognises ships of "substantial heritage merit with regional and local significance") in 2004.

Unfortunately on my visit the ship was not open for viewing as it is closed during the winter and will reopen at Easter 2012.

Loch Lomond also has a shopping centre, Sea Life centre, a couple of Minigolf courses (which I didn't get to play on this visit), restaurants, play area and on my visit there was a farmer's market too.

Links:
- Maid of the Loch Official Website
- Follow The Brown Signs Website
- The Brown Sign Way - A Website and Blog Dedicated to Tourist Attraction Signs