SO, HERE WE are. The UK has officially left the European Union (although the machinations have only just begun) and we are in the transition or implementation period. There are three potential outcomes at the end of this transition period. A UK-EU trade deal can come into force, and it will take time to adjust to all the changes to be made. The transition period may also be extended; or lastly, the UK could exit with no deal. What may happen at that time is impossible to know for the time being. However, it is interesting to note that our stock market has lagged behind most others since that unforgettable day in 2016 when 52% (of the 72% of those eligible Brits who did actually bother to vote) voted to leave. Continue reading Don’t Panic
All posts by jedski
Jim Gowans’ West Hill Watch, Apr 20
Charging the Earth
As lamp post charging points for electric vehicles are installed in our area (although only in West Hill Street and one or two other locations, it seems) the wisdom of subsidising these for use by privately owned electric vehicles must be questioned. It would surely be a far better use of public funds to provide more infrastructures for electric buses and taxis than to spend £300,000 on 200 lamp post charging points rated at a mere 3 or 3.6 kW which the RAC has declared are unsuitable for use as on-street charging points for residents. They are unsuitable mainly because of the time it takes to charge, which will typically be 6 to 12 hours. Other drawbacks such as trailing cables, vandalism and finding the lamp post charger already in use by your neighbour can be envisaged, whilst the other impracticalities of owning an electric vehicle for private use are considerable. Continue reading Jim Gowans’ West Hill Watch, Apr 20
White Rioja
Andrew Polmear writes for the love of wine . . .
I LAST WROTE about red Rioja in June 2019 and said that the white wines of that glorious area would need their own article. I didn’t then write such as article because, frankly, I thought there wasn’t much to say. All the white Rioja I’d tasted had been decent, full-bodied, with a light, occasionally lemony tang, but without much individual character. Indeed, they only planted vines for white wine in Rioja in the first place to add them to the reds to soften the harshness, not with a thought of ever making white wine. Then, at a Rioja tasting at L’Atelier du Vin at Seven Dials, I tasted a white from 2008 which overturned everything I’d understood. It was full-bodied all right but the flavour was of toast and caramel, of nuts and marzipan. This, I now realise, is the true old-style Rioja white. The grapes are the same as in the ordinary white wines (Viura, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia). The thing to look for on the label is the word Crianza. This guarantees that the wine has been aged in oak for at least six months. In fact, to make these rich stunning wines, they are often aged in oak for three years then matured in bottle for 3 to 12 years. The wine I tasted was by one of the great Rioja firms, Lopez de Heredia, from their Gravonia vineyard. You can buy their 2005 version from Berry Brothers for £37 a bottle. Continue reading White Rioja
The Whistler – February 2020
Come and Join Us
WHCA held its twenty-first Christmas Social in December 2019 and, judging from the reaction of people on the night and the letters we received about it, we can say that it was pretty darn special.
If you’ve ever thought about joining WHCA, 2020 is the year to make that thought a reality. We are looking for a Hall Administrator. Ideally, someone who lives near the Hall and has, on average, 3 hours a week to spend on bookings, liaising with hirers, a little bit of ‘care’ taking and generally a whole lot of loving West Hill Hall to ensure it stays the way that works for everyone who uses it. Apart from keeping an occasional quick eye on the Hall at weekends, mostly it involves activities that can be done at any time of the day from the comfort of your own home. Interested? Even if you’re slightly intrigued and would like to know more about what being part of the WHCA team entails, Colette would love to hear from you. Write to her at westhillhall@gmail.com and seize the moment to become an active part of the community.
We’re grateful to local artist Adrian Ventura for his marvellous drawing of ‘House Sparrows’ above, which we think complements perfectly Lorraine Bowen’s suggestions later in this issue for attracting more sparrows to West Hill.
New at the Hall – Spanish Club Conversation Sessions
Tuesdays 7.30pm – 8.45pm
¡Hola amigos! Whatever your level, come to our Spanish Conversation Sessions on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. We have 3 different groups: beginners, intermediate and advanced level, all working at the same time in their own groups. Practise, have fun and meet lots of wonderful people.
Sessions include games, activities and exercises: all of them encourage speaking and listening.
Spanish Club has been teaching Spanish in Brighton for the last 5 years; doing one-to-one lessons, groups and camps in Spain. We want to help you in your journey and get to know you. Come on your own or with a friend but the most important thing – have fun!
For more information call 07760 665414 or email inefsay@gmail.com
Letters to The Whistler
To all the fabulous West Hill Community Christmas team
Thank you so much for giving us such a fabulously memorable evening. As ever, the food was first rate; the organisation impeccable; the live music perfectly fitting for the occasion; and the sense of community spirit, second to none. Robin and I feel so fortunate to live in a part of the city that has such a sense of community spirit. When we describe to friends and family what you all create, they can barely believe it! Continue reading Letters to The Whistler
BE of West Hill
A Christmas tree is not just for Christmas
After the festivities, lots of real Christmas trees are dumped onto pavements and removed by the Council at residents’ cost, when it already provides a tree recycling station at Montpelier Crescent – a short walk for anyone living in West Hill/Seven Dials. Recycled trees are shredded, turned into mulch, and then sold on to grow new trees and plants Continue reading BE of West Hill
The Row Room
The Row Room, Bath Street, offers 40 HIIT (high intensity intermitted training) rowing classes for up to 8 people across 6 days a week, and also soon launching, Brighton’s only YogaBeats classes. Continue reading The Row Room
If Music Be . . .
DURING THE PAST year I have spent many hours exploring a great variety of music. This time has been spent with a friend who has a great library of CDs and very wide musical tastes. My knowledge and understanding has certainly improved. But anyone today could take the same journey. Why? How? Because the sheer volume and variety of music available to us all is amazing. Modern audio technology enables us to access a huge amount of contemporary music and to recover from the archives almost any music that anyone has ever recorded. It is a fantastic facility. Orsino, in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ asked if he could have “excess of it” (music). We can have whatever style we enjoy. Continue reading If Music Be . . .
Halloween Hooligan
I used to live in a retirement block not a million miles from Seven Dials. There was one poor resident who wandered the corridors in the wee hours, ringing doorbells, then disappearing before the luckless occupant answered the door. The culprit was never identified.
They seek it here, and hunt it there
and chase that phantom caller everywhere.
‘Cos late-rung bell, or midnight knock
disturbs your dream-filled slumbers with a shock.
We search the roof, the lift-shaft too,
but not a hint of hide or hair shows through. Continue reading Halloween Hooligan
Part of the Furniture
RW BERRY & SON has been a fixture in the Dials since 1959. This is the story of how it came to be . . .
In 1959 Chris Berry, aged 13, moved from South London to Brighton into Stanford Road next to the motor garage. He attended Brighton and Hove Grammar School (now called BHASVIC) and left to pursue a career working for the National Cash Register Company, maintaining huge mechanical calculating machines (early computers) in banks around Sussex. He played guitar and did some performing locally in Brighton. At the age of 17 and 3 weeks he passed his driving test and bought an old Morris Minor van to do local transport of furniture in and around the Brighton area. There were very few people doing small transport jobs in those days so he was remarkably busy. Continue reading Part of the Furniture