Snow, Toad and Working hard

Well it's been over 2 weeks since I last updated this blog, so what has happened in my life in Exeter?

Well the most exciting thing was the snow. It is great how at the darkest most miserable part of the year nature decides to throw down a nice clean white sheet of snow to reflect the light and make things feel cheery again. Anyone who knows me knows that I love snow. Hours spend gazing out the window and checking the BBC Weather website.

In all the excitement I forgot to take any pictures, so it was starting to melt away by the time I took these. As you can see in fact it was glorious blue sky!





The snow did mean that a few people did not make it into work over the last few weeks, making an already busy time doubly as busy. A combination of factors has made it very stressful and manic at work, but I know it is only a phase and we will pass through it - which makes it a little more bearable!

I have been finding time to relax though, mostly either in the form of ploughing through an Ian Rankin book while sat with a pint of Black Prince (St Austell Ales) in the Mill on the Exe, or trying to complete all the levels of Mario Kart Wii (as trusty Toad, pictured!)

River Exe watching

One of the things about living next to the River Exe (apart from the high contents insurance costs) is being able to watch the river rise and fall with the weather. It seems to take about 12 hours from a heavy rain fall until the river noticeably rises. A few weeks ago it was very high, and the Mill on the Exe scrambled to move benches and put the flood barriers in place around the pub, I expect they will stay in place for the whole winter now.

After last nights rather heavy rain I thought I would check the Environment Agency's site to see if any warnings are in place.



Thankfully they are not. My love of funny place names was satisfied when I saw where there was a warning.



Frisby-on-the-Wreake!

Talking of funny names I spotted this mountain on Wikipedia the other day...

Bonhay Road Closed

Bonhay Road is closed this week after 7pm, this means that we are expecting to hear lots of noise all night as a result of the roadworks that are closing the route. The Mill on the Exe has decided to close up for a few days as all access is lost to it (I was told they asked for “Business as usual” signs from the council, but these could not be provided as Council staff were on strike), and I imagine the gym has had a quiet night due to the rather long route that will have been needed to get to it (all around the Exe Bridges and up Frog Street, I know how lazy these fitness freaks really are).



Anyway, if I was wanting to win awards for dull photos then these of Bonhay road would be ones ones I would submit to the competition.




On the plus side I won £10 playing poker at the City Gate tonight.

Exeter Pub Guide, No. 1, The Mill on the Exe

Where is this pub?
Bonhay Road, just opposite the turning for Exe Street, perfectly situated on the banks of the Exe.



What would draw you to this pub?
Location, location, location. The main time people come here is when the sun comes out and you can sit by the river with a drink. If it were not by the river it would not be half as popular.

What sort of person would you find in this pub?
Typically couples, or groups of middle aged people having a meal, very occasionally students (posh ones) and groups of lads from the nearby Fitness First.

What can you consume in this pub?
A great variety of meals, from ribs to salads, ranging from £9 - £15. The food has improved greatly recently and we eat there quite often. As for Nibbles Burts crisps are available, and some varieties of nuts. I recommend the Parsnip Burts.



What is quirky about this pub?
Nothing greatly quirky, it has largely been cleaned up and modernised, but look out for the picture of the large pig, the spiral staircase (below), and in the bushes outside there is an interesting piece of ironwork. (see above)



What is specifically “Exeter” about the pub?
Views of the Exe and of St Michaels Church, Geese, ducks and swans, posh exeter students turning up in their new Minis and Beetles. It is also a building steeped with history as it used to actually be a mill.

What is there to do in this pub?
I think there are a few games behind the bar, and at least one machine flashing its lights confusingly. Otherwise conversation is key, the music is down very low and is very mellow and won't get in the way.

What are the worst things about the pub?
At £2.80-£3.20 a pint this is not a cheap place to drink, soft drinks are not cheap either. Also the place lacks a certain atmosphere, it is a middle class inoffensive pub, and something exciting or interesting is unlikely to spontaneously happen.

Is there an old man sat at the bar?
No, this pub is strangely lacking in regulars, in fact I would suggest that our friends and us are the only regulars!

In a word, should I bother coming here?
Yes. But try and pick a sunny day and make sure you have a wallet full! This is by far the pub I go to the most often, mostly as it is less than 2 minutes walk away!

Week round up

An unremarkable week in Exeter so far, some fire engines opposite where I work in the High Street yesterday for most of the day, but I never found out why, Monday night I was second place in the City Gate poker tournament, which is a tenner in my pocket, and a bit of time spent at the Mill on the Exe enjoying the sun this afternoon – apparently the downstairs is going to be open again in July, I remember when there were pool tables and druggies down there, ah, the good old days.



After my half day at work today I fully intended on going to HMV and getting the new Coldplay album, but somehow left with the Sarah Bareilles album instead. Somehow on a sunny afternoon it did not seen right to bring myself down with Coldplays misery, but I will get it at some point.

Tonight is a rarity for me, I will be watching a whole football match on the TV. Much as the sport leaves me uninterested I will be cheering on Germany for the sake of the two Germans present. Yay Germany for the World Cup, or whatever it is.