Your Tick Tock Moment
Our Swimmer
Lindy Dunlop our lovely swimmer belongs to the Brighton Swimming Club whose hardy members have been taking the plunge since 1860. In the early days of the club, annual swimming events were held at which club members entertained with a variety of marine antics including the exchanging of clothes between two fully dressed swimmers (whatever turns you on!), marine tea parties, and other activities to show that it’s possible to be as much at home in water, as on land.
Lindy tells us that weather and sea conditions permitting, swimming takes place on a year round basis with a 7.30 start. She points out the only equipment needed is a towel, a costume, brightly coloured rubber cap and a pair of beach shoes as stones can hurt. To which we would add – an unflinching constitution, nerves of steel and a hot flask of Rooibos quality tea! www.brightonsc.co.uk
Our Potter
Sylph Baier’s tableware is humorous, accessible and supremely functional. It not only looks great but is delightful to lift, hold and touch. You’ve already gathered how we think, so you’ll appreciate that we leap with enthusiasm onto anything that adds to the pleasure of a nice cup of tea and there’s no doubt Sylph’s work does that in spades.
Sylph specialises in making bespoke tea-and-dinner-sets so was already very much on our wave length. She loves creating specialist one-off objects for customers, from tulip vases to honeycomb pots. She’s also the originator of a delightful children’s range, personalising each item with name and birth date.
www.sylphbaier.co.uk
Our Tea Lady
Our very elegant lady taking tea is Camilla Carpet-Bowls aka Patsy. Patsy’s a singer and family entertainer of the Danny La Rue school with a repertoire spanning the 40s, 50s and 60s and equally riveting as Carmen Miranda, Annie Oakley or Dolly P.
Camilla first made an appearance in Patsy’s life, we understand, at a Royal Variety Performance when they got chatting (in the bar) and found they were kindred spirits. Since when, Camilla has generously agreed to help Patsy out on a number of occasions with guest appearances at carnivals, fêtes, galas, award presentations and PR events where her ease of manner, natural charm and elegance of appearance has made her a firm favourite with young and old alike. One certainly feels that were one to partake of tea at the Ritz one couldn’t wish for a more delightful and knowledgeable companion than C.C-B. More about Patsy on www.patsycabaret.co.uk
Our Camper Vanners
Our band of happy camper-vanners are Marc and Caroline Ball together with their son Stanley. They are proud founders of Summer Lovin’ VW Camper Hire which welcomes you warmly back to the ‘70’s!
Their business grew out Marc’s inspiring journey through New Zealand in his 1959 VW split screen campervan which he’d lovingly restored to full health. So much so that when he came home – the campervan came too!
Over the years the Ball family have owned and loved a number of different classic VW’s and have a huge affection for all things 70’s. Combining their interests, they have created a camping holiday with a difference and being people of a determined bent have carefully sourced vehicles, complete with 1970’s books and games so you can transport yourself back to a time when life maybe seemed a bit simpler.
www.summerlovinvwcamperhire.com
Our Naked Gardeners
Leading us perkily into our ad are Ian and Barbara Pollard, happy to be known as the Naked Gardeners, for obvious reasons. Ian and Barbara have owned, created, lovingly nurtured and run Abbey House Gardens in the centre of ancient Malmesbury since 1994.
The couple are firm believers in the fact that being naked offers both physical and psychological health benefits, although we quite forgot to ask whether or not the exception to the rule is when working with roses. Not only do they put their beliefs into practice themselves with great enthusiasm, (to the slight surprise of early unenlightened visitors) but in 2005 launched special clothes optional days so like-minded folk arriving at their beautiful gardens can feel free to have a true open air experience, British climate permitting. More details from www.abbeyhousegardens.co.uk.
Our Cricket Team
Abinger Village Cricket Team A more cheerful and fun loving lot would be hard to find! We understand that there was a small problem in getting all the team members to memorise their one line. Then, having sorted that out, a minor timing issue arose. However, we feel and we hope you’ll agree, that whatever was lacking in slickness was more than made up for in wholehearted enthusiasm. Way to go boys. http://abinger.play-cricket.com/home
