tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-199100902026-02-10T23:57:57.138+00:00Living and working in Torbay, South Devon.<br> <br> Covering news and events in Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Churston, Galmpton and Kingskerswell.MatGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-16772191671071060112007-09-26T19:57:00.000+01:002007-09-26T20:00:43.879+01:00

As the day grow shorter and the number of tramps grows more numerous there are still some things to feel good about in the bay. quite a few really, so many that Torquay comes in at number 16 on the RBS Affordable Affluence Index.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1159548902461603012006-09-29T17:45:00.000+01:002006-09-29T17:55:03.060+01:00

The refurbishment of Beacon Quay is finally complete. Just in time for the end of the tourist season. To celebrate they have managed to get the powerboat nationals down here. However that is not just noisy carbon spewing thrill seeking, one of the teams proudly advertise that they are are a Carbon neutral racing team. Just one mind.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1153822200052367222006-07-25T11:02:00.000+01:002006-07-25T11:11:48.030+01:00

A Couple more photos of the Tall Ships.I was only able to get a couple of photos of the Tall Ships in the Bay on the morning of the race. In previous years there have been ships there for days before the race. I was disappointed not to even see the Mir.Click on photo for a bigger picture.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1152641885828359882006-07-11T19:00:00.000+01:002006-07-11T19:18:05.840+01:00

The tall ships have now come and gone, with only a few minor hiccups. Like them not all being able to fit in the available berthing space meaning that on the 2nd and 3rd of july there was only a token presence for the fireworks. Or like the Mir being able to arrive early and stay a few days, but not even being contacted because of the potential pilotage costs. I didn't get many photo's but there

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1147124586767941392006-05-08T22:12:00.000+01:002006-05-08T22:43:27.300+01:00

This summer the Tall Ships Race returns to Torbay to commemorate it's fiftieth anniversary, Torbay having been part of the route of the original race. The race itself was to have marked the final word of the age of sail, but it instead marked the beginning of a new chapter with the building of new ships specifically for sail training such as the Jubilee Sailing Trust's The Lord Nelson and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1145990955261231532006-04-25T19:49:00.000+01:002006-04-25T19:49:15.306+01:00

Personally I am not a big fan of Council Tax, I would prefer a Local Income Tax. Well actually I would really prefer no tax at all. But at least they make it easily to pay, even being able to pay all you local taxes online. They also give details of possible benefits, and how to apply for them. Even if the page that they supply seems to have been specifically designed to be as hard to read as

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1144876287906379702006-04-12T22:05:00.000+01:002006-04-12T22:11:27.943+01:00

One of the first things that anybody coming into Torquay will see as they walk the short distance from the station to the sea-front is the great limestone sea arch on the horizon called London Bridge just beyond the Marina. The coastal path runs along above and in fact you can walk right out onto it. However most people don't and so will never see that the entire seaward face is one single, huge,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1141166256420336892006-02-28T22:35:00.000+00:002006-02-28T22:37:36.433+00:00

This is amazing place to live! There are few places in the country where you can walk out of the office in bright sunshine by palm trees, then be 10 minutes drive from a purpose built ski slope, and thanks to what must be some of the strangest weather that we have had in ages, real snow.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1139312685595618422006-02-07T11:41:00.000+00:002006-02-07T11:44:45.606+00:00

Torquay's Main Beach Sunday 5 Feb 2006 After several days of cold dull weather the sun shone, as it often does, on beautiful downtown Torquay and lots of people enjoyed a day out by the sea.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1138477971344560472006-01-28T19:49:00.000+00:002006-01-28T19:52:51.356+00:00

As you drive up to Newton Abbot you go under a bridge that is known as The Arch. A couple of days ago I took the photo with this banner, “Save our Library” hanging from it for all the world to see. The banner has done part of its job. I, and the tens of thousands who pass under the Arch now know the library is in danger.There has been an Arch here since Roman times,After the Romans left the Celts

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1138147964446391662006-01-25T00:09:00.000+00:002006-01-25T00:12:44.463+00:00

Not A Grand Junction This is the junction at the Grand Hotel on Torquay sea front. As you approach this junction all the traffic is in one lane. Then there is a second lane for traffic to turn right for the Grand Hotel or Torquay Train Station. Then, for about 20 yards there are two lanes going straight on. Unfortunately 20 yards the other side of the lights these two lanes reduce to one lane.So

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1137627925018029502006-01-18T23:43:00.000+00:002006-01-18T23:45:25.026+00:00

Not the best photo I have taken but I like it.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1137008779645854572006-01-11T19:45:00.000+00:002006-01-11T19:46:19.656+00:00

I recently got a second hand bicycle, I thought that it would be better for getting around than taking the car everywhere. And with the hills of Torbay it would be certain to help my fitness. There is an interesting thing about the bicycle since the invention of the Safety Bicycle destroyed the old Penny Farthing the design of every single component has been improved. The brakes, gears,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1136124103829070522006-01-01T13:59:00.000+00:002006-01-01T14:01:43.836+00:00

Expect Chaos.From Tuesday 3rd Jan 06 the road between the YMCA and Waterside will be closed for resurfacing. For 4 weeks. Must be laying each piece of tarmac by hand.As this is the main road to Brixham it will cause delays and diversions. The 12 will divert up the Totnes Road, past the Zoo and turn left onto the ring road at Tweenaway Cross. Then along the ring road to Goodrington Road where it

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135682117116122882005-12-27T10:53:00.000+00:002005-12-27T11:15:17.130+00:00

Melville Street in Torquay is a steep hill and drivers feel that to get up the hill they must attack it as fast as they can and drivers coming down the hill decide that reaching the bottom of the hill at 50 mph is good fun. Now there is an extra hazard, thanks to Torbay Town Hall.As you walk or drive up or down Melville Street you will have to dodge the barriers outside the Clipper Pub. By now

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135680827269733472005-12-27T10:46:00.000+00:002005-12-27T10:53:47.276+00:00

This small hole in the pavement; which to my knowledge has been there for years. This is PC gone mad. If there is an accident in the roadway because of the barriers then some one in the Town Hall can say, "But we had to put the barriers there in case a pedestrian tripped and fell. We have to protect people."Come on Torbay Town Hall, a hand full of quick dry cement over the hole until you can find

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135599762125897572005-12-26T12:22:00.000+00:002005-12-26T12:22:42.150+00:00

The nights are long and dark. TV is terrible. Why not a film? A new trick that I just discovered from Google is that if you search forfilm: tq1it will get all the films that it can find showing in all cinemas the close to the postcode. Replace TQ1 with whatever postcode you like to find what is on near there.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135392151094814562005-12-24T02:16:00.000+00:002005-12-24T02:42:31.103+00:00

It's that time of year, old friends return to the area, call you up, and a meet up is arranged. Tonight, I went across to Paignton to meet several old friends who've mostly moved away, and, well, we went for a wonder.Started in the Isaac Merrit, the Wetherspoons in the centre. I can remember when it was a shopping arcade (not that long ago), and the decor, faux traditional pub with strange

MatGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135211674954804002005-12-22T00:24:00.000+00:002005-12-22T09:04:55.326+00:00

This gentleman, a kindly soul, was out walking one day when he noticed a frog sitting at the side of the road. Being a kindly soul he picked up the frog intending to place it somewhere safe. To his surprise the frog spoke to him, explaining that he wasn't really a frog but a 25 year old prince of royal blood. A wicked witch had placed a curse on him and the only way this curse could be lifted was

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1135046628157474102005-12-20T02:32:00.000+00:002005-12-20T02:43:48.163+00:00

I was born in Paignton, now over thirty years ago. My parents lived in Galmpton, I attended Galmpton and White Rock primary schools before going on to Churston Grammar, a few minutes walk from the house.Since then, I've moved around the country a few times, having lived in Manchester, Salisbury, back to my parents and then to Exeter. Three years ago, I moved back here, and am now, finally,

MatGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1134996117909595482005-12-19T12:33:00.000+00:002005-12-19T12:41:57.910+00:00

This is my first post to this blog, so where to start? The things that attract me most about living in Torbay are not the pubs and clubs, even through they are many, but the natural beauty of the area. Us locals may get jaded by living is such a beautiful place, resentful even due to the hordes of tourists that flock here every summer, but that does not stop it being so. Mat can deal with

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19910090.post-1134699146481413062005-12-16T02:07:00.000+00:002005-12-16T02:12:26.486+00:00

There's more to living in the bay than working, drinking and the Herald Express complaining about traffic wardens. I met up with Chris from Strange Stuff in the Hogshead this evening, we decided it was worth trying to set up a newsblog for the Bay. If nothing else, it's an excuse to try and get out more.Just getting started, so until the template is sorted out posting will be intermittent, but

MatGBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821264556751176639noreply@blogger.com0