Thursday, November 27, 2014

Come Home at Once postcard book by Guy Atkins

A new book about Edwardian postcards by Guy Atkins.

Postcard collector, writer and blogger Guy Atkins has a book out and it's well worth a look.

The new postcard book 'Come Home at Once' by Guy Atkins. Currently the number one read on our coffee table
Come Home at Once by Guy Atkins. Currently the number one read on our coffee table

Published by Bantam Press the book, 'Come Home at Once', has a lot of great Edwardian postcards (showing both the fronts and the messages on the back) from Guy's collection that he has built up over the last decade.

You can buy the very nice hardback book in the shops and online. More info on how and where to order can be found on Guy's excellent Postcardese blog.

After speaking with Guy via postcards, twitter and email over the years it was great to meet Guy in person at the recent launch event for his book
After speaking with Guy via postcards, twitter and email over the years it was great to meet Guy in person at the recent launch event for his book

I've been corresponding with Guy for the last couple of years - mostly by Twitter and Postcard - and he recently wrote a piece in his regular column in Stamp and Coin Mart about my minigolfing and postcard hobbies and how I've combined the two.

Links:
- Postcardese
- Bantam Press
- Picture Postcard Monthly
- Stamp and Coin Mart
- Guy Atkins on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Postcard
- Postcards

A #GetUpandGo experience at the Travelodge in Hastings

Travelling to Hastings for a minigolfing #GetUpandGo experience.

Greetings from Hastings - minigolf kit laid out and ready for a weekend of Crazy Golf action in Hastings
Greetings from Hastings - minigolf kit laid out and ready for a weekend of Crazy Golf action in Hastings

On our travels around the UK on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour Emily and I often stay in Travelodge hotels, and on our many trips to compete in Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf tournaments in the mecca of minigolf - Hastings, East Sussex - we'll often be found checking in at the Travelodge on Bohemia Road.

Minigolfer Richard Gottfried playing the skull hole on the Pirate Golf course in Hastings
Playing the skull hole on the Pirate Golf course in Hastings

The hotel is in a good spot, has nice clean rooms, parking and great customer service. It all helps to make a stay there pleasant and with the introduction of new and very comfortable beds we're ready to #GetUpandGo in the many individual and team tournaments we play in at the seaside resort.

The Midlands Minigolf Club line-up ahead of the 2014 BMGA British Club Championships in Hastings
The Midlands Minigolf Club line-up ahead of the 2014 BMGA British Club Championships in Hastings

On my latest trip to the town I finished 11th of 26 players in the two-round, 36-hole Planet Hastings Crazy Golf Club Open competition played on the 18-hole Adventure Golf course on the seafront.

Crazy Golfer Richard Gottfried on the 18th hole at Hastings' Pirate Golf
On the 18th at Hastings' Pirate Golf

I look forward to more stays at Travelodge hotels in the future.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Hastings

Links:
- Travelodge
- Travelodge on Twitter
- Travelodge on Facebook
- #GetUpandGo
- Hastings Adventure Golf 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Another gluten free menu fail

On a recent trip to the seaside town of Hastings I spotted a great typo caveat/warning/disclaimer on a menu in a restaurant.

A gluten free menu fail

I'm guessing the word 'FREE' was meant to appear between the words 'GLUTEN' and 'DESSERTS'!

Related blog posts:
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5 - Menu fails
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #9 - Menu disclaimers

Latest Tat Challenges in Hastings

Results of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenges.

Tat Challenge veteran in action at the first 60 pence Tat Challenge in Hastings
Tat Challenge veteran in action at the first 60 pence Tat Challenge in Hastings

Last month saw Kate Kelly crowned the Worlds £2 Tat Challenge Champion at the Old Town Amusements in Hastings and this month saw two more Tat Challenge contests take place in the East Sussex seaside resort.

The variation on the classic format of the sport saw competitors use 60 pence worth of two penny pence pieces to win as much tat from the buttons at the amusement arcade next door and a few from the Old Town Amusements.

The loot won by the winner of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge
The loot won by the winner of the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

The first shootout took place on the evening of Saturday 22 November and five of the finest exponents of the endurance game took on the challenge to see how much they could win with just thirty bronzes.

The gold medal went to Will Donnelly who scored an amazing four pieces of Tat with his stake.

Will 'The Winner' Donnelly and his haul at the amusement arcade in Hastings
Will 'The Winner' Donnelly and his haul at the amusement arcade in Hastings

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st - Will Donnelly - 4 pieces of tat
2nd - John Moore - 3 pieces of tat
3rd - Seth Thomas - 2 pieces of tat
4th - Richard Gottfried - 1 piece of tat
5th - Dave Donnelly - 0 piece of tat whatsoever

A happy/surprise John 'Big Al' Moore with three minions in his winnings at the 60p Tat Challenge in Hastings
A happy/surprise John 'Big Al' Moore with three minions in his winnings

Seth 'Two Bits' Thomas and his winnings from the 60p Tat Challenge in Hastings
Seth 'Two Bits' Thomas and his winnings

Richard Gottfried and a 'lego' man from the tupenny falls
Richard Gottfried and a 'lego' man from the tupenny falls

The biggest hands in the sport of Tat Challenging, but Dave Donnelly drew a blank in the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge in Hastings
The biggest hands in the sport of Tat Challenging, but Dave Donnelly drew a blank in the first-ever 60p Tat Challenge

Shootout two in the short form of the game saw Seth, Richard and Big Al return and were joined by Huntingdonshire's newest son and avid tatter Steve Lovell. Local competitor John 'Big Top Ted' McIver was unfortunate as he missed the start of the contest, as well as the end, as he was waylaid en route to the arena by his need to buy some chips.

With a bit apiece Steve and Seth picked up the win. The other competitors blanked. But at least Ted got some chips.

Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas are happy with their 'haul'. Each winner got to keep the one piece they'd won in the 60p Tat Challenge in Hastings
Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas are happy with their 'haul'. Each winner got to keep the one piece they'd won

Results from 60p Tat Challenge Player's Championship #2 - Hastings, 23 November 2014
1st (tied) - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas - 1 piece of tat each
3rd (tied) - John Moore and Richard Gottfried - 0 pieces of tat each
DNS/DNF - John McIver

Following both contests the players continued to amass quite a haul of prize goodies, including an awful lot of minions and 'lego'.


Lots of Minions in the Buttons in Hastings, East Sussex
Lots of Minions in the Buttons

A Lego logo above some not Lego bricks and figures in the two pence falls in Hastings, East Sussex
A Lego logo above some not Lego bricks and figures in the two pence falls

60p Tat Challenge Hall of Fame
#1 - Will Donnelly
#2 - Steve Lovell and Seth Thomas

Related blog posts:
Report from the 2014 Worlds Tat Challenge in Hastings
- Tat Challenges

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Gluten free chicken and beer

Chicken and beer - a great combination.

Emily's a great cook and makes some delicious gluten free treats - both sweet and savoury. We've blogged about some of them here on The Ham & Egger Files and also posted photos and details on her Twitter feed.

The latest creation Emily has perfected is oven baked cornflake chicken (think kind of southern fried, but healthier if you will).

Southern-style baked chicken coated with crushed Nestle Gluten Free Corn Flakes, served with paprika potato wedges, BBQ beans and an avocado. Washed down with a chilled Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer. Delicious food, gluten free or otherwise
Southern-style baked chicken coated with crushed Nestle Gluten Free Corn Flakes, served with paprika potato wedges, BBQ beans and an avocado. Washed down with a chilled Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer. Delicious food, gluten free or otherwise

Since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried a fair few of the gluten free beers available and Estrella Damm Daura is one of my favourites.

While recently shopping for a gluten free Chocolate Yule Log in Tesco's Free From section I noticed that Estrella Damm Daura were included in a 3 for 2 offer and so twelve bottles of the great gluten free beer were £12 - a great buy for a savvy coeliac like me.

Links:
Estrella Damm Daura website
Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer on Twitter
Tesco Free From website
- Nestlé Cereals website

Related blog posts:
Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- New Nestlé Gluten Free Corn Flakes and Honey Corn Flakes
Gluten Free

Monday, November 17, 2014

Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom

A visit to the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey.

Minigolf explorer Richard Gottfried at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

On Sunday 16 November 2014 Emily and I headed to Surrey to compete in the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament against our friends and fellow competition players Matt 'The Don' Dodd, Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in a two-round, two-course contest.

Richard Gottfried playing a shot through the remains of a dinosaur at Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

The second course we played was the 18-hole Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom.

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

The course was the 353rd played and 587th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

There are a lot of water features (and hazards) at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Emily Gottfried in action at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

There's a crashed plane at Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Emily Gottfried playing at Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Helen Dodd putting at Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

A skellington at the Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf course at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Emily Gottfried on the tricky 17th hole plateau volcano at Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey

Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom, Surrey


A round of minigolf at the course costs £9.25 for adults and £7.25 for children. The course is open seven days a week and is open from 9am.

There's currently a limited offer to buy an annual pass to play the Jungle Island Adventure Golf that looks like a good deal.

The limited edition annual pass at Jungle Island Adventure Golf at Horton Park Golf Club in Epsom
The limited edition annual pass at Jungle Island Adventure Golf

More information can be found on the Horton Park Golf Club website, Twitter and Facebook.

Links:
- Jungle Island Adventure Golf
Horton Park Golf Club

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking
Surrey Invitational Tournament Minigolf Report
Fake Crocodiles (or are they Alligators?) at Minigolf courses!

Pirate Island Adventure Golf at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking

A visit to the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey.

Minigolfer Richard Gottfried at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey

On Sunday 16 November 2014 Emily and I headed to Surrey to compete in the inaugural Surrey Invitational Minigolf Tournament against our friends and fellow competition players Matt 'The Don' Dodd, Helen 'Hells Bells' Dodd and Oliver 'The Machine' Florence in a two-round, two-course contest.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey

We began the day at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking - home to the 18-hole Pirate Island Adventure Golf course.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey

The course was the 352nd played and 586th course visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Playing a shot on a big green

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Matt holes out on the very long par-5 third-hole

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
In the drink

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
As is Matt

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Oliver in great form at the Pirate Island Adventure Golf course

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Helen plays a shot on the BIG minigolf loop-di-loop

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Emily inspects the cannon as Oliver prepares to putt

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
The first hole at the stern of the pirate ship

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
The pirate ship has two holes and three tee-off points

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Inside the pirate ship is a blacklit hole!

Pirate Island Adventure Golf course at Hoebridge Golf Centre in Woking, Surrey
Emily plays a shot inside the pirate ship

A round of minigolf at the course costs £8.25 for adults and £5.25 for children (4-16 year olds). The course is open seven days a week and is open from 9am til late. There are deals for families and groups too and you can also find out more by signing-up to the Pirate Island Golf enewsletter.

More information can be found on the Hoebridge Golf Centre website, the Pirate Island Adventure Golf website and Facebook.

There are also Pirate Island Adventure Golf courses in Milton Keynes, Castleford and Nottingham. We've played the MK course at Abbey Hill Golf Centre on our Tour and are looking forward to visiting the Castleford and Nottingham courses in the future.

The course was built by City Golf, check out their website too.

Links:

Related blog posts: