I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Author: ashleyelsdon

Storyteller - Poet - Explorer

So, that’s a micropub then

Posted by on in Beer, PlacesLeave a comment

I’d never been to a ‘micropub’ before, in fact I hadn’t even heard of one. Then, whilst in Wells over the summer I found this little place called ‘Just Ales’. It was definitely smaller than a regular pub, although I’m sure I’ve been in smaller pubs in London. Anyway, it was certainly an interesting experience. I especially liked the ‘thirds’ option, where instead of having a pint or a half you can have 3 different beers in thirds glasses. It’s a good option, and I hope that more pubs make this available.

I’m not sure if the idea of a micropub is a good one or not. I’d like to try out a few more before I have a real opinion.

Goodbye Holger

Posted by on in Music, PeopleLeave a comment

I found out yesterday that Holger Czukay died on the 5th of this month. It is so sad. I have been listening to his music and collaborations for over 30 years now. Some time ago I went to see him live at the Roundhouse in Camden. It was a great show. He had so much energy. It was such a fun show.

I will be listening to his music over the next few days and enjoying it, remembering what an incredible innovator he was, and how he influenced so many creative people. He’ll be missed by many. He will be missed by me.

Matthews Yard needs some saving

Posted by on in PlacesLeave a comment

I got an email the other day about Matthews Yard. A really lovely and somewhat quirky space in the older part of Croydon. It’s being threatened by a developer who wants to turn the site into luxury apartments. Of course we really need more luxury apartments to keep on gentrifying more and more of London. Yeah, right!

So I’ve added my voice to keeping Matthews Yard going. Croydon needs more spaces like this and not a load more luxury apartments to push out local people. If you want to do the same then sign the petition here. If you want to know more about what Matthews Yard has done since 2012 when it launched, check this out.

I want this and I really don’t

Posted by on in Making things, SoundsLeave a comment

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Part of me wants this just because it’s kind of cool that Haynes are making a little synth kit, although I’ve no idea why they would do that at all. It seems so strange, but there you go. I also know that if I got one and made it I wouldn’t really do much if at all with it and it would just gather dust for a long time.

So I’ve more or less decided not to get this. I think that’s probably best.

Lunch on the Pullman

Posted by on in StuffLeave a comment

This was a rare treat as part of a trip away for a couple of friends’ birthdays. There are very few pullman cars on regular trains, so if you find one it’s well worth going. The one I visited was excellent, both the food and the service.

These kinds of services are dying out as the train operators decide to get rid of them just to make more profit out of us without offering anything in value at all.

I hope that I can find another one in the not too distant future.

Finding my first cassette recorder

Posted by on in History, StuffLeave a comment

When I was about 11 or maybe 12 I really desperately wanted a tape recorder, and for Christmas I got one. It was a fergusson and it looked like this.

I found it again at a very weird museum a few weeks ago. It took me right back. I used to use it for recording myself and later on it was very handy for use with a ZX81 and then with a ZX Spectrum.

Tasting at the St Austell Brewery

Posted by on in BeerLeave a comment

This was a rather lovely time at the St Austell Brewery a couple of months ago. I’ve been here before and done the brewery tour, but back then it was different. You got to see a lot more of the actual brewery and the process and it’s all changed now. It’s a shorter tour, but also in some ways a little better too. There’s a much bigger emphasis on the tasting side at the end, which I am all in favour of.

As you can see from the bottles in the picture above, there was a good range and plenty to go around. It made the tour quite different and, in my opinion, a lot more fun.

I also really liked how they offered thirds of pints in the bar. So you could have a taster tray of 3 beers. Very useful indeed.

Back again

Posted by on in AdminLeave a comment

I realise that it’s been a while since I wrote anything here. It’s been a busy time what with one thing and another and it’s meant that I just haven’t had time to do much here. I’m hoping that will change from now on in. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to keep this up a bit more.

There’s a lot to say.

Big Finish: Survivors – Series 6

Posted by on in Audiobooks, Books and AudiobooksLeave a comment

I’ve been waiting for this for some time now, and really looking forward to it. Today it is released, and I’ll almost certainly be buying it today.

In preparation for series 6 I decided to listen to all previous 5 series in order. That’s the Big Finish series of course, not the original television series or the remake. I thought it would be a good wait to get ready and have the timeline and stories straight for series 6. I’d forgotten just how good Big Finish have made survivors. They’ve done an amazing job on it. It’s totally consistent with the original and yet extends it seamlessly.

When I’ve absorbed series 6 I’ll let you know the verdict.