Harrogate
Last Friday, Emma and I drove up to Harrogate. This was primarily for Emma to sit for a portrait artist.
I'd visited Harrogate twice before - to interview and re-interview a most interesting woman and to meet her young kids. Those had been fleeting visits. All that I'd gauged was that there were nice big stone houses near the centre of town and that there was an attractive green space called 'The Stray' just off the town centre. 'Cultural knowledge' - if you will forgive that phrase - also told me that it was a popular conference town - political parties, societies for various 'ologies and trade exhibitions. Thus, big expensive hotels, decent restaurants and generally 'keen' pricing should have pervaded. And so they did. That said, our business was specific...
So to the artist who Emma had first seen on a TV programme buying a property. A little research had yielded her details, contact and an enquiry had been made and after some vetting a booking was sorted. Artist turned out to be an entirely convivial chappess who made good tea and was comfortable with dry humour. She told Emma that she'd 'not met anyone like you (her) before' and that she was a 'breath of fresh air'. She told me 'you'd be good to paint oh yes, what a wonderfully interesting mouth, nose and dimpled chin'. I smiled and agreed to let her photograph me. 'Ich habe keine desire to get my portrait painted merci beaucoup like' thought I. Emma's portrait will be ready in a few weeks - sketchings, photos and what's already painted will see it through to completion.
Our overnight had been at a small bed and breakfast - 'family run' and all very pleasant until our hostess got a little too relaxed whilst dishing out breakfast on Saturday and started to anecdotalise about a guest who'd been so big and fat that he'd broken the bed in room 5. Not very professional. It was also clear that our hostess was one of those very competitive people who do one-upmanship for a living. Cringe-worthy, though suited to Harrogate from what I saw - quite a bit of 'new money' knocking about as evidenced by the glut of personalised car number plates.
Other than all that, the famous Betty's tea room was doing good business on Friday afternoon and Saturday lunch time - lots of Americans, all drawling and drooling. Was most entertained to note that you don't get mushy peas with fish and chips at Betty's, you get 'pea purée'. I shit you not.
*****
In 2002, a poll for the Observer found that 31% of people had had sex with a work colleague. I wonder how the National Institute for Lone Traders would have interpreted this... wankers?
*****
I love the tube map. Incidental art. Love it.
I'd visited Harrogate twice before - to interview and re-interview a most interesting woman and to meet her young kids. Those had been fleeting visits. All that I'd gauged was that there were nice big stone houses near the centre of town and that there was an attractive green space called 'The Stray' just off the town centre. 'Cultural knowledge' - if you will forgive that phrase - also told me that it was a popular conference town - political parties, societies for various 'ologies and trade exhibitions. Thus, big expensive hotels, decent restaurants and generally 'keen' pricing should have pervaded. And so they did. That said, our business was specific...
So to the artist who Emma had first seen on a TV programme buying a property. A little research had yielded her details, contact and an enquiry had been made and after some vetting a booking was sorted. Artist turned out to be an entirely convivial chappess who made good tea and was comfortable with dry humour. She told Emma that she'd 'not met anyone like you (her) before' and that she was a 'breath of fresh air'. She told me 'you'd be good to paint oh yes, what a wonderfully interesting mouth, nose and dimpled chin'. I smiled and agreed to let her photograph me. 'Ich habe keine desire to get my portrait painted merci beaucoup like' thought I. Emma's portrait will be ready in a few weeks - sketchings, photos and what's already painted will see it through to completion.
Our overnight had been at a small bed and breakfast - 'family run' and all very pleasant until our hostess got a little too relaxed whilst dishing out breakfast on Saturday and started to anecdotalise about a guest who'd been so big and fat that he'd broken the bed in room 5. Not very professional. It was also clear that our hostess was one of those very competitive people who do one-upmanship for a living. Cringe-worthy, though suited to Harrogate from what I saw - quite a bit of 'new money' knocking about as evidenced by the glut of personalised car number plates.
Other than all that, the famous Betty's tea room was doing good business on Friday afternoon and Saturday lunch time - lots of Americans, all drawling and drooling. Was most entertained to note that you don't get mushy peas with fish and chips at Betty's, you get 'pea purée'. I shit you not.
*****
In 2002, a poll for the Observer found that 31% of people had had sex with a work colleague. I wonder how the National Institute for Lone Traders would have interpreted this... wankers?
*****
I love the tube map. Incidental art. Love it.
posted by Shane @ 1:00 pm
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