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Monthly Archives: November 2010

One for next year’s diary: Rye Bay Scallops Week

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Posted by admin on November 30, 2010 – 3:22 pm
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Events

Scallops for breakfast, lunch and dinner are on the menu for the eagerly anticipated annual scallop fest in Rye from 12th – 20th February 2011.

The irresistible scallop is incorporated into all aspects of Rye restaurant and pub life during the nine day event. Special scallop-themed menus to delight fans of this delicious local delicacy are on offer everywhere. Nowhere is immune, with scallop fever spreading out to the surrounding areas of beautiful Winchelsea and stunning Camber Sands.

For starters, we suggest beginning your day with a breakfast of pan fried scallops with black pudding and locally smoked bacon. This will be served if you’ve booked in to the 15th Century Strand House, Winchelsea for their scallop themed two night weekend break. A mere five minute drive west of Rye, perched high on a hill, Winchelsea is a town of breathtaking prettiness and has become a regular place for foodie pilgrims since the arrival of the Winchelsea Farm Kitchen, incorporating ‘Rick Stein food hero’ Jamie Wickens’ butcher’s shop.

Spend your morning working up an appetite along the 7 mile stretch of beach at stunning Camber Sands, then call in to The Gallivant hotel for lunch. Bruce Wilson, formerly of the Michelin starred Greenhouse restaurant and most recently head chef at the Tate Modern has taken the cuisine of this laid back stylish beach hotel to another level. You won’t be disappointed by his use of the freshest local produce – yes, scallops again!

In the afternoon, head into Rye for an afternoon’s rummage in the antique shops but make sure you’ve booked a table for dinner at the Good Food Guide 2011 recommended Landgate Bistro. On the menu is a trio of scallops served three ways, accompanied by three liqueur wines or you could book for their five course special ‘Scallop Bash’ on Friday 18th February 2011.

Tempted? Details of scallop shucking demonstrations, cookery schools and the popular ‘What a Load of Scallops’ race are soon to be added to the packed programme of scallop related events. For a taste of what to expect, visit www.ryebayscallops.co.uk

Useful links:
Rye hotels
Winchelsea hotels
Hastings hotels
Rye self-catering
Winchelsea self-catering
Hastings self-catering

Penguin cam at Edinburgh Zoo: a Twitter sensation

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Posted by admin on November 30, 2010 – 12:07 pm
Filed under Attractions

With the recent snowfall across much of the UK, Edinburgh Zoo advised visitors via Twitter that the Zoo was closed but that they could still see their penguins via their penguin cam. This was ‘re-tweeted’ extensively – so much so that it became what is known as a trending topic on the social networking site.  Twitter users used the hashtag #penguincam to keep abreast of comments on it.  Whether the online visitors translate into more real visitors remains to be seen, but it demonstrates the power of social networking and how rapidly word can spread.

Online users can also follow Edinburgh Zoo on their YouTube channel to see footage of other animals.

Useful links:
Hotels in Edinburgh
B&Bs in Edinburgh
Self-catering in Edinburgh
Tourist attractions in Edinburgh

Cirque du Soleil’s Totem – The amazing evolution of humanity show

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Posted by trev on November 30, 2010 – 9:20 am
Filed under Events

Coming in January to the Royal Albert Hall is one of the most spectacular shows on earth – Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem” – which charts a fantasy version of human evolution acrobatically.

The world famous circus troop mix death defying acrobatics with aerial stunts and dance moves, charting a fantasy version of the founding myths and the evolution of mankind from the sea to the desire to fly. This trailer should give an idea of what to expect in this show:

The show runs at the Royal Albert Hall from January 6th to February 17th 2011.

Royal Albert Hall links:
Hotels around the Royal Albert Hall
Visitor attractions near the Royal Albert Hall

Cornwall back in business with the re-opening of The Eden Project

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Posted by admin on November 30, 2010 – 8:16 am
Filed under Attractions

The Eden Project, Cornwall’s biggest visitor attraction, welcomed its first visitors since the floods of 17th November 2010 this week, signalling that the county is well and truly open for business as usual. The St Austell based attraction was one of the worst hit businesses in the Mid Cornwall flooding but following round the clock recovery work has overcome the devastation to reopen its doors to visitors. The ice rink and Link Building between the two Biomes suffered the most damage and as work continues on those areas, and to thank visitors for their support, all full-priced tickets brought on the door of the Eden Project until 30th November 2010 will be offered at half the standard price.

Glasgow Loves Christmas

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Posted by admin on November 30, 2010 – 12:23 am
Filed under Attractions, Events

Glasgow Loves Christmas is the city’s festive campaign for 2010 – a private public partnership comprising Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Glasgow Life, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and major retailers on the style mile, including Buchanan Galleries, St. Enoch Centre, John Lewis, Frasers and Princes Square. The campaign promotes the style mile’s unrivalled retail offering and vibrant seasonal events and entertainment programme that includes Glasgow on Ice on George Square.

The city is set to be a hive of festive fun throughout December. There’s also a host of free family entertainment including a programme of events on the style mile, Choirfest, Glasgow’s Hottest Ticket, Tribute Night and Family Weekend, as well as the Santa Dash – a 5k race at George Square on 12th December 2010 in aid of Marie Curie and Baby’s First Christmas in association with St. Enoch Centre and Hamleys.

Glasgow’s style credentials have also been bolstered this Christmas with the arrival of the Harvey Nichols pop up shop in St. Enoch Centre, specialising in its iconic own brand products, luxury gifts and Christmas hampers. And the free-to-download Glasgow style mile iPhone app will provide real-time Christmas retail offers and discounts as well as key information on almost 800 businesses in the heart of the city’s retail district. In addition, the user-friendly A-Z directory and integrated Google mapping feature ensures locals and visitors alike never get lost for ideas and get the most out of any trip to Glasgow’s style mile.

Retailers are extending their shopping hours over the festive period and a number of the city’s car parks, including Cadogan Street, Cambridge Street, Charing Cross and Concert Square will provide parking at the reduced rate of £2 on Sundays in December. There is also free parking after 5pm at Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre to coincide with the extended shopping hours throughout December. Both outlets are also offering free Sunday parking in December.

Useful links:
Glasgow hotels
Glasgow B&Bs
Glasgow self-catering
Glasgow attractions

The world’s first business computer from London

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Posted by trev on November 29, 2010 – 6:49 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

Did you know, the first computer to be used in a business was built and operated in Kaevener House at Hammersmith Road in West London, although it wasn’t quite a desktop PC.

The British LEO I (Lyons Electronic Office I) computer started operations in 1951 long a useful transistor was invented and well before the microprocessor was even considered. Exactly what the computer did is a little unclear, but most likely the computer would process information such as payroll.

Running at a blistering 500 kHz, the computer was capable of receiving multiple inputs and outputs although it was admittedly missing a mouse or a monitor, but could receive “high speed” paper tape readers and punches taking 100 instructions a minute (quite a bit quicker than your average typist).

The computer was most likely dismantled and the old Cadby Hall was demolished, but some British LEO III’s were still running in British Telecom until 1981, and you’re probably reading on a machine legacy of the LEO.

More details about the LEO on Wikipedia.

Scottish ski season opens early this year

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Posted by trev on November 29, 2010 – 5:00 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

The weather might be causing a lot of travel chaos across parts of the country, but in Scotland the ski resorts are revelling in this snow, albeit rushing to get things up and running.

The Aviemore resort in the Cairngorms received over two feet of snow in a couple of days. The rest of the Cairngorms also has masses of early snow with staff struggling to get the funicular railway up and running after it was blocked by several feet of snow.

Access roads might be tricky currently, but the A93 is currently cleared and over 1000 people have already landed at the Cairngorms resorts but there are only six lifts open as the resorts generally only open from the 1st December.

Glenshee is trying to get things going too, although access roads are posing a problem. With 25cm more snow forecast for tonight, all the resorts are going to have fun keeping the roads open but it looks like there’ll be plenty of people wanting to take advantage of this home skiing boom. Things might get a little dicey early next week with blizards also being forecast, so for anyone wanting to go skiing later in the week might be a better option.

Outside of Scotland, Allenheads in Northumberland is also doing a bumper trade with skiiers taking advantage of this early cold snap, and with the amount of snow that has fallen in the area it looks like this will be good skiing country for a quite a while.

Links around Aviemore and Cairngorms:
Hotels in Aviemore
Non-ski related attractions in Aviemore
Self-catering accommodation in Aviemore

One of the best snow pictures – Stirling Castle

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Posted by trev on November 29, 2010 – 4:30 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

There are many quite spectacular snow photos around, but one picture in the Daily Mail rather out-does all others (at least in my opinion).

The shot taken over Stirling, shows the Scottish town’s castle making it look like something from a snow covered Middle Earth a la Lord of the Rings. The full sized picture can be seen here (thumbnail above) [original Daily Mail post].

Stirling Links:
Tourist attractions in Stirling
Hotels in Stirling
Self-catering accommodation in Stirling

Saving the pennies in South East England

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Posted by admin on November 29, 2010 – 4:23 pm
Filed under Attractions

With Christmas fast approaching you need to watch the pennies – but you still need to keep the kids entertained before the big day. Tourism South East has brought together a range of offers, many exclusive, providing great family fun across South East England. Here’s how to keep the costs down and the interest up in December and beyond…

2 for 1 at the Roald Dahl Museum, Bucks
Until 31st March 2011 you can gain admission for two people for the price of one at the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre at Great Missenden in Bucks. Enter the world of Willy Wonka, James and the Giant Peach and the BFG and claim your discount by downloading the exclusive voucher at www.funfamilydaysout.com. Adult price £6, children aged 5 to 18 £4 – the cheaper of the two tickets will be free.

Kids go free on Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight
Visit the South East’s answer to Jurassic Park, Dinosaur Isle on the Isle of Wight, and each child goes in free with a fare-paying adult! This offer is exclusively valid until 23rd December 2010 by visiting www.funfamilydaysout.com and applying for a Dinosaur Isle ‘kids go free’ voucher. Adult prices £5.

Save £6 on tickets to Ascot’s Christmas Family Day
Join in the festive fun at Ascot Racecourse on ‘Family Day’ on 18th December 2010 and meet Father Christmas, take a ride on the fairground, skate on the only ice rink located on a British racecourse, have your face painted by Santa’s elves! Adult tickets from £16 but save £6 per ticket by booking in advance on www.ascot.co.uk, quoting TSE2010. Under 18s enjoy free entry to Ascot.

20% off entry to Beaulieu
Get a 20 per cent discount per person on entrance tickets to Beaulieu, home of the National Motor Museum, when you purchase online only before 5th January 2011. Buy tickets at www.beaulieushop.co.uk and enter XMASTSE10 when prompted for a discount code. General admission prices start at £16.25 for adults and £8.65 for children before the discount.

Save 20% at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport, Hampshire
Get 20% off two standard entry tickets to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum by downloading an exclusive voucher at www.funfamilydaysout.com. Climb aboard the 1947 HMS Alliance and get the inside track on how submarines work from experienced submariner guides. Offer valid until 29th May 2011 (certain dates excluded) and only one voucher accepted per visit. Adult price £10, children aged 5-15 £7.

£5 off family tickets at Guildford Spectrum, Surrey
Keep the kids happy all day at the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex, where a ‘Family Fun’ ticket allows them to choose two activities from skating, bowling and swimming. With an exclusive voucher from www.funfamilydaysout.com families of four will get a £5 discount on a Family Fun ticket, normally priced at £37. Offer valid until 31st December 2010 with a maximum of two adults.

£1 off undersea adventures at Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth
Save £1 per person on the ultimate undersea safari at Portsmouth’s award-winning Blue Reef Aquarium, where you’ll come face-to-face with everything from freshwater turtles to tropical sharks. Download an exclusive voucher at www.funfamilydaysout.com, valid for up to six people at one time; offer valid until 31st December 2010. Adult price £9.20, children aged 3-14 years £7.20.

Children free on Windsor sightseeing tours
With a certain wedding on the way next year, get the family in the mood with a sightseeing bus tour of the Royals’ backyard – Windsor and Eton. Need another reason to celebrate? With an exclusive voucher available at www.funfamilydaysout.com, a child travels free with a full fare paying adult. Offer valid until 31st December 2010, weekends only until 19th December 2010; only one discount per transaction. Adult price £8, children 5-15 years normally charged at £4.

A cheap day out on the Isle of Wight
Take the kids on a day trip to the Isle of Wight and take advantage of Wightlink’s Super Saver Fare, valid until 31st December 2010. Prices start from just £34 for a car with four passengers.

Medieval myths and merry misrule at Dover Castle

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Posted by admin on November 29, 2010 – 4:10 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

Step into the Christmas court of King Henry II at Dover Castle between Monday 27th and Friday 31st December 2010 to experience a time of feasting, celebration and most of all a time for songs and spellbinding stories – medieval-style! Join costumed characters for stories of brave knights and heroic quests, of King Arthur and his round table and listen out for exciting tales of mythical beats and legends – from vampires to werewolves with ghosts and greedy peasants too!  And there’s even the chance to test out your own talents, as the royal court is turned topsy-turvy in an old medieval tradition. Sing and dance for King Henry’s pleasure for the chance to claim his crown as one lucky visitor is chosen to preside over the festive revelries as Dover Castle’s ‘Lord of Misrule’.  Plus journey through three floors of the stunning medieval Great Tower, from the opulent King’s Chambers right down to the huge kitchen, and there’s also an interactive exhibition full of quizzes and games to discover.  With so much to see and do, Dover Castle has plenty of festive fun for the whole family this Christmas!

Useful links:
Dover hotels
Dover B&Bs
Dover cottages
Dover attractions