Bald Blokes Blog

It’s a bit off hot the press.

I have head from close to the source, that the The Tumbledown Dick is to be saved.  Well kinda….

Confirmed rumours have suggested that the high street drinkery chain known as “Yates” have bought The Tumbledown Dick from its previous owners, The Spirit Group.

The Venue back?

More importantly, the new owners are said to have agreed that The Venue side of The Tumbledown Dick, which hosted live gigs by local bands and tribute acts, as well has the hugely popular ‘Quarantine’ rock nightclub, is to be kept as it is, and possibly even increase the size of the venue.

Its has been almost a year since the Tumbledown closed its doors to the public due to health and safety reasons.  Plans to re-open the pub in time for September and Xmas 08 fell by the wayside.

Right now, its sits abandoned at the side of the Farnborough road.  The car park is now filled with people looking for free parking.  The gardens are shattered and overgrown.  The number of times the pub has been broken into goes into double figures.

This news comes not a moment too soon as plans for the improvement of Farnborough town centre are currently underway.

Fears that the pub was to be ‘brought in line’ with the rest of the town centre regeneration, have circulated since the pub has closed, with fears of the pub being turned into a family restaurant, or a regular high street bar.

But these ‘supposed rumours’ might just be enough for the fans of the hugely popular landmark amongst the alternative youths of Farnborough and surrounding area’s.

Watch this space…..

Well, its been an interesting year for me.

I certainly did not expect it to be such a journey for me.  It was one where I learnt the REAL price of love, about identity, my responsibilities to my family, my friends, but ultimately ME as a person.  What my responsibilities are for me, for my soul, for who I am.

Work

At the beginning of this year, I decided to put my life in the hands of my best mate, to see if he could do a better job of things than me.

Funny enough I did actually land probably the best job that I have ever had.  I smile when I think back about how my prayers are always answered.  Obviously I had parts to play in this bargain, and I guess only time will tell if I have done my part.  I like to think that I have.  Or that I can always put in the weekend overtime before Monday morning deadline.

Family

There as been a lot of growth with regards to my relationship within my family and with other family members.  This year has emphasized the role that I play within this family and brought home my duties, and shown areas that I can and should work on.

Love

This year has been one of the hardest lessons I have had ever.  I have discovered the dark sides of love, no sooner than I had discovered love itself.  I have learnt what it means to stand by someone, no matter what happens.  Even if it hurts to do so.  The sacrifices that are made to keep the love alive, and what it takes to let it die.  All this coupled with it being a long distance relationship, just makes it that little bit harder.

I am hoping that 2008 was a metamorphosis for the relationship that I am, and that in 2009, the butterfly takes flight.  And I guess that is all I have.  Hope!!

Kelli Lee, if you read this:  I am so in love with you.  Please, let’s make this year happen.

Health

I’m my first year past my 30′s, I am no longer invincible.   But putting my mind to it, I can maintain myself internally and externally, very well for many years to come. But for the future wife and children I shall have, it is my responsibility

With the desire and a lot of determination to not give up or take the easy option, I can be the man that I want to be.  It is not an ideal that I can talk about or hope for, but something I HAVE actually touched on this year.  When circumstances allow, I can be happy and content in all of the above area’s of my life.

I’ll let you know how this year pans out for me.  Keep me in your prayers…

Due to MY horrible career history and dissatisfaction with most things work wise, a former girlfriend of mine sent me a link for the supposed ‘Best Job in the World‘.

The actual website for the position was is called www.islandreefjob.com

Best Job Ever?

And I am going to apply for it.  I don’t expect to get it, but I think I am going to make a funny video.

I had a look at a lot of the videos, and after a few weeks, most of the them have been complete tripe.  I think the people applying have got confused with the next lot of auditions of Big Brother.

The first initial batch of videos were almost plea’s for work, for the job to miraculously save them from their dreary lives, but failed to address the most basic of all rules.

READ THE BRIEF AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

It’s not rocket science.  60 seconds.  That is all they have, and half of them just go on about why this, and why that.  No I can do’s, I will learns, I have done….just utter bull.

So I am off to put the people to shame.

If you are reading this, and there is no video here, keep coming back as I will get around to putting it on here.

Thanks

I think this is something that everyone should do.  I think it should be compulsory for people to see other parts of the world, like a National Draft.  Everyone would have to do a minimum in another continent.  There may be a day, where we no longer get the option of doing it, with wars and natural disasters sometimes limiting our options.  You could say that not everyone is interested in travelling, but not everyone is interested in school, but they all still have to go.

I had the option of going back in 2004, where I travelled to the USA, then on to Fiji.  After 3 or so weeks there, I went off to New Zealand, and then Australia, where I stayed for a few months.

Finally I went off to Thailand, but had to come home shortly after arriving, do to money issues.

You can read about my trip here

Read More…

Hey there Tumbly lovers.

I wish there could be more news on this front.  The Tumbledown Dick in Farnborough, stands like an unloved relative at the side of the road.  Quarantine Club has moved venues to Camberley Agincourt.  All of the staff are all now redundant.

Back in February, when the pub was closed down for “hygiene reasons”, the staff were told that the pub would be re-open in October.  That it would take at least 6 months to sort out.

I have been told that the pub will not be re-opening this year, so I am not too sure what the brewery are up to.  Everyone in Farnborough can see that the place has been left to die.  It lies boarded up, and has done for over 6 months.  The car park is now filled with Farnborough Station parking fare dodgers.  The garden is broken and overgrown.  For somewhere which was a hub of activities, not only for youth, but for older generations, and a big hit with bands, both local and

Since the pub’s closure, a million and one rumours have circled the pubs fanbase.  A family restaurant, a town winebar. You name it, we’ve all heard it.

I have heard that there are several bids on the table to buy the place, but as yet nothing has been confirmed of this.  I heard that several parties were interested in keeping the place along the same lines as it currently is.  But these are just things that I have heard.

If I hear anything else, i’ll make a point of mentioning it.

For now, those holding their breath, i’d find something else to be getting on with.

It could be sometime.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20698

Well.  It looks like the end of an era for a small corner of the world in my little town of Farnborough.

My History of The Tumbledown Dick.

I started drinking down here towards the end of 1999, and I had my millennium party there.  It stood out from the other 20+ pubs in Farnborough already.  It had character, a bit of life, a bit of spunk. It reminded me of the TV show “Cheers”.  Everyone knew everyone’s name.  It wasn’t like the  It stood out.  It remained overlooked by the vast population as being a biker pub with a nasty reputation.  Over the years that I drank there, it just got better and better. All my friends drunk there, and my work collegues. They held Battle of the Bands competitions, 1 day rock festivals, inflatable sumo.  All of that was done in the large pool room at the back.  A lot of the regulars, became staff, and would eventually end up running the pub.

Read More…