Author Archives: Richard Stokes

Dropping Names Sometimes I think dropping names is an odious thing to do. However I am going to make a list of the well known, famous, infamous (do I know any of these?) and perhaps people who aren’t famous but … Continue reading →

I am writing this because some time ago Hockney, a devoted smoker, reported to the press that he thought smokers might be less likely to become infected with Coronavirus.   I think it was 1970 give or take a year.  … Continue reading →

A hidden gem of a country public house My friend Andy and I on Friday night decided that we should have an afternoon out away from the confines of Milford-on-Sea and Lymington where we normally hang out. I suggested Eling … Continue reading →

I have been remiss in not contributing to this blog for ages, years in fact. The last couple of years have been interesting, I mean interesting in the scenes of the Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times”. My … Continue reading →

Many years ago (late sixties) when I was a student in Birmingham a new up market Indian restaurant opened in New Street, one of Birmingham’s main retail thoroughfares. It was in my mind anyway rather ludicrously named the Gaylord Indian … Continue reading →

Recently I felt nostalgic for tinned Russian Salad. I can’t remember which company supplied them might have been Heinz or possibly Crosse and Blackwell. What I recall was something like a macedoine of vegetables but with a salad cream/ mayonnaise … Continue reading →

Thursday 13th of March we went to the Pig. It should have been the previous day had it not been that Jersey Airport was closed owing to impossibly snowy conditions. I had not been to the Pig before yet I … Continue reading →

I was listening to Alex Bellos on favourite numbers on Radio 4 and was fascinated to know that he had created a survey website asking people for views on their favourite numbers.  http://www.favouritenumber.net I went to this and informed that … Continue reading →

Chinatown Canal, Birmingham This photo was taken in Summer Row close to where the old Birmingham College of Art Experimental Workshop would have been. Only a stone’s throw away from the brash new city centre. Note the contrast between old … Continue reading →

Royal Oak North Gorley Fo peace and quiet go to North Gorley, 2 miles south of Fordingbridge.  There is a small plain with wild cattle, horses and donkeys, tranquil ponds and a thatched pub. The pub serves good food and … Continue reading →

Seen in Lymington on Easter Day.