Missing Letters sign - Be Fre

It's no 'Broke' Ladbrokes...

Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten.

Gluton (sic) Free menu at the Chicago Rib Shack in London (October 2010)

Gluton (sic) Free sausages at the Arcade Butchers in Hastings (October 2010)

Not the funniest of puns, but the amount of times I've heard the line! If I had a pound...

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- Luton, Gluten and Gluton - 'typo' signs
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010

Ghost Signs U.K.

Old and intriguing 'ghost signs' advertising long-gone shops, businesses, products and services.  

My friend and fellow Minigolfer Brad 'The Fist' Shepherd (retired) has been telling me to have a look at the Ghost Signs U.K. Facebook page and the intriguing and interesting collection of advertising signs from long-gone shops.

As the Ghost Signs U.K. Twitter page says the aim of the project is "nothing to do with the paranormal but everything to do with social history."

After attending the Celia Time event back in February 2013 we spotted a great ghost sign of a very old and long out-of-business Dispensing Chemist shop on Cloudesley Road in north London.

Toilet Requisites! Photo by Emily of me and Brad next to the old Ghost Sign advertising on a wall on Cloudesley Road in London

Ghost signs are another thing for me to keep an eye out for in addition to Minigolf & Crazy Golf courses, brown signs, milestones, Bar Billiards tables, plaques, abandoned shoes, funny signs and whatnot!

Links:

- Ghost Signs U.K. on Facebook

- Ghost Signs U.K. on Twitter

'Riedenburger Gluten Frei' beer

John Mittler, a friend of mine and fellow Minigolfer in Finland, kindly let me know about a gluten free beer he found in a supermarket with a 70% discount! What a bargain. 

The bottle of Riedenburger Gluten Frei beer - and the early stages of the BBQ. Photo by John Mittler

It's not a gluten free beer I'd heard of before!

He gave the 'Riedenburger Gluten Frei' beer a try, and while it wasn't too his taste he did enjoy the first sip! He commented that he was very glad he doesn't have to consume only gluten free beer.

I'm looking forward to giving the Riedenburger Gluten Frei beer a try.

Links:

- Riedenburger Brauhaus Gluten Frei

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers - Details of Gluten Free Ale, Beer and Lager that I've 'sampled' since being diagnosed as a Coeliac *hic*

Bompas & Parr - Building a National Treasure with the British Menu Archive

The latest project from Bompas & Parr - The British Menu Archive.

Crazy Food Architects, Culinary Maestros and Jelly Mongers Extraordinaire Bompas & Parr have launched their latest project and it's going to be massive!

The team are calling on people around the UK to contribute to help them build a National Treasure in the form of the British Menu Archive.

No menu is too old, too new, too small, or two large to be included and Bompas & Parr want to see any menus that people have spotted to help paint a picture of the changing landscape of British food and drink over the decades. Contributions can be physical or in the form of photos.

The archive will be launches at Andaz Liverpool Street on the 28th of May 2014 and one of the features will be a feast consisting of a selection of courses from the submitted menus!

There is a great prize up for grabs, with the very best menu submitted winning a table for six at the launch event! Everyone else will be rewarded with eternal glory and immortality with all menus held in the archive for the nation.

Find out more on the British Menu Archive website.

Menus can be sent to the address below, with everyone who submits one successfully getting fully credited.

British Menu Archive

Bompas & Parr

17 Rushworth Street

London SE1 0RB

Alternatively, scans of menus can be emailed to:

britishmenuarchive@bompasandparr.com

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any gluten free menus on my travels to add to the archive.

The deadline for menu submissions is the 20th of May 2014.

Back in the summer of 2012 Bompas & Parr created a brilliant 'London Landmark in Cake Creations' Crazy Golf course on the roof of Selfridges on Oxford Street! The course harked back to the early 1930's when the department store had a Miniature Golf course as part of the rooftop garden.

The 2012 edition was a brilliant idea and a tricky, but fun 9-hole layout. We played a number of tournaments up there and I became the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Champion in August 2012.

The prizes - in addition to the MASSIVE minigolf trophy - I received for my June play-off win included two Bompas & Parr recipe books. One for Cocktails and one for Jelly! The cocktail book has a very good recipe for making your own pork crackling snacks.

With my winnings of a BIG minigolf trophy and two of the Bompas & Parr books for victory in the June Crazy Golf play-off at Selfridges London in 2012

Links:

- Bompas & Parr

- British Menu Archive website

- Bomas & Parr-related blog posts

- Bompas & Parr on Twitter

- Bompas & Parr on Facebook

Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

As someone diagnosed with Coeliac Disease I find the labels you get on your gluten free prescriptions quite funny. Not only do they have instructions that you should eat the gluten free food "as directed by your doctor", but also that you should "Keep all medicines out of children's reach."

The pharmacy guidelines and doctor's orders stuck on my prescribed packet of medicine (Glutafin Mini Crackers)

The Savoury Shorts from a prescription with the big guidelines sticker from the pharmacy

On a more serious note you can check out the guidelines for Coeliacs to receive gluten free food on prescription on the Coeliac UK website. The only treatment coeliacs currently have is to adhere to a STRICT gluten free diet - this can be very restrictive indeed - so it's great that some staple products are available on prescription. However, in the dozens of prescription orders I've ever done, I've only had one be correctly prescribed!?

Luckily I followed the doctors orders and didn't overdose by eating too much long-life bread, or too many crackers and pizza bases.

Links:

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

- Coeliac UK

- Glutafin

"Minigolf, an international sport" - New WMF Video Now Online

The World Minigolf Sport Federation has published a new promotional video from the WMF World Minigolf Championships. The video shows the passion, concentration, intensity and skill on display in an elite Minigolf sport event.

Check it out on the WMF's YouTube Channel at "Minigolf, an international sport."

   

The World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) is the umbrella organisation of Minigolf sports association's worldwide and continental associations in Asia, Europe and America. Please visit the WMF website for more information about the sport of Minigolf.

Links:

- World Minigolf Sport Federation

- WMF YoutTube Channel

Love Worthing Photo Competition #useitorloseit

While in sunny Worthing for the recent BMGA British Masters miniature golf tournament at Splash Point Mini Golf course I spotted an advert for a Worthing Photo Competition in the Worthing Herald.

The competition is being run by Worthing Borough Council for its #useitorloseit campaign to make Worthing even more attractive for local residents and visitors to the town.

Here's our entry.

My favourite thing about Worthing is the excellent Splash Point Mini Golf course in Denton Gardens. Photo by Emily Gottfried

For further details of the competition check out the #useitorloseit page on Worthing Borough Council's website and the competition advert here.

Links:

- Splash Point Mini Golf

- Worthing Borough Council

- Worthing Herald

- #useitorloseit campaign

- #useitorloseit on Twitter

- Cobb Digital

Pit-Pat Crazy Snooker in Littlehampton

Playing the game of Pit-Pat at Western Putting Miniature Golf in Littlehampton.

Back in March 2010 I visited the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria and while there I saw an intriguing game that was a hybrid of Miniature Golf and Billiards! That game was Pit-Pat.

The Hindernis Billard layout at the Askoe Wien Wasserpark in Vienna, Austria (March 2010)

In April 2012 I managed to visit the UK's only known table*, at the Western Putting Minigolf in Littlehampton, West Sussex. Unfortunately my visit was a little late in the day, and out-of-season, so I didn't manage to play.

Western Putting (and Pit-Pat) in Littlehampton (April 2012)

That wasn't the case on our recent visit to the south coast as on Thursday 10th of April Emily and I made it to Western Putting on Banjo Road just before 4pm and were able to have a game of Pit-Pat, aka Crazy Snooker.

And it was brilliant!

Cue and carry-case in hand and ready to play Pit-Pat

A view of the Pit-Pat course in Littlehampton

The game is a version of the 'Eternit' style of Miniature Golf, most often found in continental Europe, but played on tables and with cues rather than putters.

My favourite table on the layout sees you having to play down table from a tee-off point right next to the hole!

The obstacles are very similar to those found on Mini and Crazy Golf courses and the balls used are like specialist Minigolf-sport balls, rather than standard Golf, or low-bounce, balls.

Emily sets up the skittles on table 1!

And I knock them all down in one go

Emily lines-up a shot on hole 2

Hole / Table 2

Emily plays up a ramp obstacle

Western Putting on Banjo Road in Littlehampton is also home to a Swedish Felt type of Minigolf course and a grass Putting Green

Emily shoots the green ball over a little ramp and onto a bigger one

The Pipe hole - often my nemesis on Eternit Miniature Golf...

...and no different on Pit-Pat as it was my worst hole!

It's a real novelty to be able to play on a course/set-of tables like the Pit-Pat in Littlehampton. You are provided with a little carry case containing four different coloured Pit-Pat balls, with the table legs painted to correspond with the ball you should use for that particular table/hole/lane.

The specialist Pit-Pat balls in their little red carry-case

This is very handy to know as each of the balls has different properties, meaning that some are more bouncy, while others are harder and deader.

The green Pit-Pat ball is a bit of a dead ball

The bouncy yellow Pit-Pat ball

The slightly squidgy purple Pit-Pat ball

The Red one

With our experience of playing tournament Minigolf in the British Minigolf Association (BMGA) and World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) since 2007 we were already thinking about how different shots could be played on different lanes by mixing the balls up a bit.

In our match-up on the crazy tables Emily and I drew on a score of 55 each. We can't wait for the rematch!

Videos from our visit:

Many of the Miniature Golf courses in Littlehampton are operated by Inspire Leisure. They also operate facilities in nearby Bognor Regis and all of those we've visited have been in great condition and had very friendly and helpful staff on duty.

There is an International Pit-Pat Association that consists of the Baden-Württembergischer Pit-Pat Association (in Germany), the Austrian Pit-Pat Sports Association and the Swiss Pit-Pat Association. The European Pit-Pat Championships taking place Fehring, Austria on the 31st of May and 1st of June this year. Check out the Pit-Pat TV YouTube Channel for videos of the sport.

Links:

- Inspire Leisure

- The International Pit-Pat Association

Related blog posts:

- Minigolf Course Visit #210(a!?) - Vienna, Austria (Askoe Wien Wasserpark) - pit-pat "Hindernis Billards"!

- A Stack of Minigolf Courses Visited in Littlehampton, but None Played!

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - List and links for all Miniature Golf courses visited to date

- Crazy Golf and Minigolf Putting at Hotham Park, Bognor Regis - Courses played #273 & 274

- Putting Course in Felpham, near Bognor Regis - Minigolf course played #276

- An unplayed Miniature Golf course in Bognor Regis - Marine Park Gardens

Videos:

- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 1 of 5 (intro)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 2 of 5 (hole-in-one)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 3 of 5 (hole-in-two)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 4 of 5 (two)
- Playing Pit-Pat (Crazy Snooker) in Littlehampton 5 of 5 (hoop)

* While in Skegness, Lincolnshire in May 2011 we saw a sign for 'Crazy Pool', however the 'tables' were long gone when we reached the (derelict) course.

Vozars Gluten Free Cafe Deli Restaurant in Brixton Village Market

A great gluten free meal at Vozars restaurant in Brixton.

Coeliacs are a funny breed. We're easily spotted by our wide-eyed wonder when we find somewhere safe to eat, our scrambling for a camera to photograph the food we are about to eat, and a notepad (or scrap of paper) so we remember what we ate to enable us to blog, tweet, review and let other poor unfortunate Coeliac Disease sufferers know where they can also eat stress and worry-free.

One of the best places I have found in my six-ish years as a Coeliac on a strict gluten and wheat free diet is Vozars in Brixton Village Market where EVERYTHING is gluten and wheat free!

For a Coeliac it really is a great place to dine at, or grab something to take-away, as all of the food is prepared and cooked by very knowledgeable staff, so its safe for Coeliacs (as well as being tasty for 'normal' diners and those on a gluten free diet).

Vozars has a great range of cakes and pies to eat-in, or take-away. The WAGfree Black Forest Gateaux (bottom left) is a favourite of mine

The lunch menu has a good range of dishes and there were some specials including a Venison Burger on offer. But I remembered how much I liked the chicken strips on my last visit, so opted for the Chicken strips, rocket and chilli mayo sandwich. I also had the Hand cut chunky chips with Vozars mayo, and of course this was washed down with an obligatory Celia gluten free lager.

My big lunch of a Chicken strips, rocket and chilli mayo sandwich; the Hand cut chunky chips with Vozars mayo; and a Celia gluten free lager

The meal was nice and filling, so I didn't have a chance to have a dessert, however tempting the pear and chocolate tart looked.

Since my last visit in October 2013 Vozars restaurant has had a refurbishment and it looks great. There's now a lot more seating space inside and out and is also licensed to sell alcohol - very handy when the restaurant is inspired by Celia Lager.

Vozars has had a refurbishment since my last visit in October 2013 and looks great. The food is still as excellent as ever

Check out the Vozars website and Twitter feed and keep up-to-date with Vozars and Celia Lager via Facebook and Twitter for news, events and competitions.

Links:

- Vozars Cafe Deli Restaurant

- Celia Lager

- Celia Lager-related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files

- Gluten Free-related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files

Latest British Minigolf Association Ranking Updates

Ranking updates from the British Minigolf Association following the BMGA British Masters tournament in Worthing.

The British Minigolf Association has updated the ranking lists following the 2014 BMGA British Masters held at the excellent Splash Point Mini Golf course in Denton Gardens, Worthing on Sunday 13th April.

In the latest update of the official BMGA Order of Merit for 2013/14 I have moved up from 11th place of 79 places (135 players) to be ranked as the new British number 7. A total of 137 players are ranked in the list in 84 places.

Richard Gottfried playing hole 13 of the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the BMGA British Masters

Following a very strong showing at the BMGA British Masters Emily has also moved up in the BMGA Order of Merit rankings from 34th place to 26th. The move inside the top 32 players in the UK also means she is now a Category 2 player for the first time in her Minigolf career. 

Emily putting on hole 4 of the Splash Point Mini Golf course in Worthing during the BMGA British Masters Hole-in-One Challenge

You can see the ranking lists, including the BMGA Season Only list, on the British Minigolf Association website.

- Updated BMGA Strokeplay Order Of Merit published following the British Masters

- April sees Smith retain his UK number 1 ranking and a new name at the top of Season Only Rankings

- Updated Season Only Rankings published following the British Masters

Bar Billiards in Newcastle, Littlehampton and Worthing

Update from our increasingly erratic Barmy Bar Billiards Trail.

Last summer we had a grand day out in London visiting a number of pubs to play some Bar Billiards, but since then we've not found so many tables to play on our travels. However that's changed in the last month, with visits to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Littlehampton, and a re-visit to Worthing.

A Bar Billiards table in Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Unfortunately when our friend and fellow minigolfer John 'The Legionnaire' Moore took us to the Hustler Pool & Snooker Club in Newcastle-upon-Tyne we found the table to be out of order. John has previously played the table and hoepfully it'll be back in working order soon.

No Bar Billiards played in Newcastle

The Hustler Pool & Snooker Club was a nice spot for an evening of cue-sports, with plenty of pool and snooker tables on offer at reasonable rates, as well as a number of dartboards. It's well worth a visit.

Quite unexpectedly we fared better on our mini-break to Littlehampton, as on our arrival at the Seaview Hotel (in East Preston) we found there was a Bar Billiards table in the pub!

Playing the very well maintained Bar Billiards table in the pub of the Seaview Hotel in East Preston, near Littlehampton

In our games I won 950 to Emily's 610, followed by a 580 to 300 win.

While in Littlehampton we also spotted that The White Hart pub in the town centre has a table.

The White Hart pub in Littlehampton, West Sussex has plenty on offer to customers, including Bar Billiards

On the eve of the 2014 BMGA British Masters minigolf tournament at Worthing's Splash Point Mini Golf course we'd booked into the Marine View Hotel on the seafront. This was on the back of us visiting the hotel's bar last year for an evening of Bar Billiards on the very tricky table.

John 'Big Al' Moore scores while Richard shoots

Alongside John 'Johnny Waffles' Moore, Emily and I had a number of games, with the results as follows:

- John beat Emily 960 to 50

- Richard beat John 1,570 to 670

- Richard beat Emily and John 1,090 to 780 to 360

John has also developed a very handy Bar Billiards Scorecard Mobile App which added another dimension to our games!

On our recent trip to Nottingham we ran out of time to find and play the Bar Billiards tables that our friend and Minigolf rival Jam Trubridge had told us about, but we're sure to be back at some point for a game or two.

Links:
- Bar Billiards-related blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files
- The All England Bar Billiards Association (AEBBA)
- AEBBA map of Bar Billiards tables in the UK
- Bar Billiards Forum

Sharksville Adventure Golf at Harbour Park Littlehampton

Playing the Sharksville Fantasy Golf course in Littlehampton's Harbour Park.

A view of the Sharksville Adventure Golf at Littlehampton's Harbour Park

On Friday 11th of April 2014 Emily and I visited Harbour Park in Littlehampton, West Sussex to play the 9-hole Sharksville Adventure Golf course.

At Sharkville Adventure Golf in Littlehampton

I visited Littlehampton in April 2012 and I managed to NOT play any of the courses in the town as it was out of season and the evening! Luckily on this occasion our visit co-incided with the Easter break which meant the courses along the seafront were open.

Last time I'd managed to get as close as the bottom of the steps to the course and managed to see the sign with the big shark's head (which is wearing a bowtie!) so I was pleased to actually land on the course on this occasion.

Sharksville Adventure Golf is open

The course became the 334th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since 2006. As I'd previously visited the course, the number we've been to remains at 554.

Emily holes out on hole one

Playing hole one of the Sharksville Adventure Golf

Emily on hole two

The tricky uphill hole three

Emily on hole four

Emily on hole five

Putting on hole six

Emily on hole seven

Emily on the ninth hole at Sharksville Adventure Golf

The final hole at Sharksville Adventure Golf in Littlehampton

The course is a tricky adventure golf layout and has some nice theming - my favourite bit was the BIG caught shark near to hole 7 that you have to pass on your way out.

The one that didn't get away

In our Minigolf Match Emily beat me by four-shots with a 25 to 29 scoreline.

The course costs 5 tokens to play (with each token 50p on our visit). A reasonable price to pay for a 9-hole course. Check out the Harbour Park website for details of prices, tickets and tokens.

The course was the first miniature golf called 'Fantasy Golf' on our travels - another name to add to our blog post on Types and Variants of Miniature Golf visited and played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!

The 129th course we played on our tour was at Pendine Sands in Wales, that course had a big shark's head as an obstacle!

Links:

- Harbour Park, Littlehampton

- A Stack of Minigolf Courses Visited in Littlehampton, but None Played!

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour