onionbagblog

One of the most impressive sites in Wivenhoe over recent weeks has been the continued building work behind the back of Jardine on the High Street. Despite the challenging weather conditions, much of the work has been carried out to complete what is an incredibly impressive project.

I’ve blogged before about why I think the bistro should be celebrated in Wivenhoe, both for the uniqueness of service on offer, as well as because I think Christian is a thoroughly decent and very entertaining chap.

But anyway - Christmas is coming and Jardine *almost* has a beer garden (bet it’s called a wine relaxation space, or something similar to suit the elegance of the project.)

And so whilst we’re waiting for the golden days of summer, the well thought out schedule of events continues within the walls of the old Park Hotel. The evening of the 24th January sees the continuation of Politicafe - the combination of political debate and coffee. Or even wine. Chin chin:

“Confused by the crisis? Lecture from Keith Blackburn, Monday the 24th of January at 7:30pm.

Keith Blackburn will be talking about the debt, deficit and double-dip recession of the globalized economy. Time for questions and exchange of opinions to follow.

Admission is free and coffees will be on the house. Spaces are very limited and can be reserved confirming your interest either calling 01206 820390 or emailing [email protected].”

The following week and Jardine will play host to another exhibition launch, this time showcasing and celebrating the work of local artist Emma Cameron:

“The Vivid Gaze - we welcome Emma Cameron’s work into Jardine for January and February, with nibbles and drink on arrival.”

Once again an RSVP over here should do the trick. Jardine is still taking bookings for New Year’s Eve, before taking a short break for business between 1st and 10th January.

Emma Cameron, Wisp, oil on canvas.

Emma Cameron, Man, oil on canvas.

All copyright Emma Cameron. Many thanks for agreeing to publish here.

Here’s a sad, but rather inevitable public service announcement on behalf of Off the Rails:

“Off the Rails sadly announces that because of all the white stuff, we have had to postpone the Art Bus. However, we have been assured that there will be an Easter Bunny Bus in the Spring.”

Take it easy out there, folks.

And so as promised (I think?) here’s the *shhh* secret recipe for the hybrid lighter fuel that is Ye Olde Fair City Sloe Gin, twinned somewhere over the modern interweb with Wivenhoe.

Oh Lordy

Disclaimer: making this highly potent alcoholic pleasure is not nearly as much fun as drinking it. The Wivenhoe Run from The Flag down to the Rose and Crown is a mere tonsil tickler ahead of the main game of a sloe gin session.

Remember - wash your hands before you start the preparation. If you are using a sharp implement, always ask a responsible adult to help you. Booze is bad.

Chin chin.

[With a BIG heads up to Honest Rich...]

My mix is as follows:

350g sloes, 500ml gin, 200g caster sugar (you might choose less sugar). Go for cheapo bargain booze gin, not Bombay Sapphire.

[My man speaks the truth.]

I wash the sloes, and then prick them with a fork.

Chuck everything into a really clean glass container (I use wine bottles, kilned jars) and you’re done.

Shake every day until all the sugar dissolves, then shake once a week. Keep in a cool dark place (a cupboard or garage) and should be done in 2-3 months. Strain it into another really clean bottle (the original gin bottle is idea.l)

Chin chin.

An innocent plugging of m’blog, and whaddya know - less than twenty-four hours later and there I was, about to go live on BBC Radio Essex to big up the benefits of Essex life.

Blimey.

Yeah, it really was as simple as that. It seems that the (((((ahhh)))) good news story of the Colchester Kid caught the attention of the good folk working on the @DaveMonkShow at BBC Essex.

“Would you like to appear on the show for a short interview?” came the request.

Um…

Normally I would shy away from this. It’s not that I’ve got a face fit for radio, more that I’ve got a voice that only works on a blog. But y’know - these opportunities come around rarely. It is what I strive to achieve via m’blog - reaching out and seeing where the ride takes you.

So yep, shortly after 10am on Wednesday morning, there I was sitting in my rocking chair and finding out that dear old Roy Wood and Wizard were my support act.

Oh Lordy.

I had a rough idea of the points that I wanted to put across, but failed to achieve any. This was no bad thing. Dave was such a calm, reassuring host, and the end result was simply a charming phone conversation with an engaging chap.

[um, linkage - one hour, ten minutes in...]

We talked about the story of the Great Escape and what has changed in the estuary wilds in my seventeen year absence. I managed to get the plug in for Nigel and @15QueenStreet; apologies @Colchester101 - one plug more may have been pushing it slightly.

I wrote down on my notepad in front of me two areas to focus on:

Speak SLOWLY and

Don’t say f*** and don’t say bugger.

Bugger.

Only joking.

This was essentially a good news story. I genuinely LOVE living around here. The reality has lived up to all the expectations during the year or so planning around leaving London.

So a huge thanks to @DaveMonkShow and the team for a slightly different way of spending the morning. It’s a really great local news based broadcast, even with the odd hit and miss guest.

Chin chin.

A winter walk out to Thorrington Tide Mill was the challenge. What could possibly go wrong, as we set off out of Wivenhoe *ahem* rather late in the afternoon with the bruising skies above looking foreboding?

Um…

The inspiration behind the walk was twofold. The wonderful Wivenhoe Encyclopaedia details the walk, as well as Martin Newell, the pop genius of this parish, enthusing about the panoramic scenes in his ace Prospect of Wivenhoe book.

Having already explored the Wood, Rowhedge and Alresford, the next logical location in the Saturday afternoon series of walks for @AnnaJCowen and I had to be out towards Thorrington.

Armed with a ropey print off of the Wivenhoe Encyclopaedia map (which to be fair, isn’t exactly OS quality in its original form,) and boastful claims of “back before tea,” everything was going fine until we reached Alresford Creek.

The realisation that the girl had forgotten the hip flask was the first crisis flash point. Failing to comprehend how utterly stupid it is to be stuck in the great outdoors during darkness, was a bit of a downer - they don’t have streetlights around here, y’know.

Ever creative, the Wivenhoe Encyclopaedia map is actually three maps rolled into one. For a non-creative cartographer that gets lost just reading street signs, this was all rather confusing.

Hey hoe - we pressed on, although not too sure exactly where on actually was. I don’t believe in re-tracing your footsteps to try and seek inner knowledge, but a quick scan of google maps back at base leads me to believe that we actually completed all three walks - twice over as well.

Cripes.

But away from the amateur rural exploration skills, both the Wivenhoe Encyclopaedia, and the pop genius of this parish were right about one thing: Thorrington Tide Mill is simply stunning. Not the building but se, but the views that it offers out towards Brightlingsea, and then back down the Creek and all the way back to Alresford.

A mere half hour walk out of Wivenhoe (yeah, right…) and you are presented with a landscape that can compete with the best that the British Isles has to offer. That’s not something that you can often say about Brightlingsea.

Blimey.

The return leg required a bit of guess work (“follow the Creek” - ah!) and soon we were back at Wivenhoe. In the absence of any hip flask activity, it would have been rude not to continue our afternoon of exploration, with the Black Buoy soon appearing on our radar.

Chin chin.

Thorrington strikes me as the type of place that is forever changing. Having approached it under rather brutal winter conditions, I look forward to a summer return. Don’t forget the hip flask, luv.

I tell you what - it’s all kicking off at the railway station car park this Sunday. As if the bonkers (but brilliant) the Hounds of Wivenhoe photo shoot wasn’t enough to drag you away from the Archers omnibus, then how about the arrival of the Art Bus right outside the station entrance?

“The Art Stop Bus is coming to Wivenhoe Railway Station on Sunday 19th December 11am - 3pm. A free event for all the family to make Christmas decorations, led by Alison Stockmaar and other artists to stock our station with wonderful artwork and words for 2011.

This is an Off the Rails Wivenhoe event, sponsored by Firstsite and National Express.”

How absolutely ACE. This is a wonderful example of how the good folk of @firstsite are actually taking art out into the Essex community, with close involvement from local Wivenhoe artists as well.

Alison was heavily involved with the Wivenhoe Christmas Presence event around the town. Her input on Sunday will involve “artist-led workshops for little elves – make one, leave one.”

More information is available on the Off the Rails website.

Chin chin, choo choo.

Here’s something that sounds barking mad, but equally brilliant:

The Hounds of Wivenhoe Exhibition photo shoot

“Wivenhoe dogs are invited to have their photographs taken as part of the upcoming Hounds of Wivenhoe Exhibition for display at the Crab and Winkle Gallery, Platform 2.

Just turn up in the station car park on Sunday 19th December, from 11am until 3pm, and be prepared to sit nicely - a pre-photo groom available!”

Get down, boy.

Blimey.

It’s almost tempting to go and buy a bonzo, just for the photo shoot itself. I don’t think that the feline loving @AnnaJCowen would approve, but I’m always up for teaching an old dog new tricks.

Disclaimer: A dog is for life, and not just for the ace Hounds of Wivenhoe photo shoot. Plus it’s probably worth plugging Wivenhoe Pets once again, a new business to the town, just down by the Business Centre.

So yeah - if you want a picture of your pooch to appear on platform 2 at Wivenhoe station, Sunday is the big day for pruning. The repressed dog lover within laments that my only canine action for the day is likely to be at The Greyhound.

Woof woof Chin chin.