tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post7430132376360998601..comments2023-10-25T05:30:54.507-04:00Comments on Oh Get A Grip!: No Comfort at the Inn by J.P. BowieAshe Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03390519279886657608noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-73261651046466589242014-03-08T14:06:14.965-05:002014-03-08T14:06:14.965-05:00That's a great story, JP, and I hope your dece...That's a great story, JP, and I hope your deceased friend's spirit was also drawn to the John Betjeman pub. Your post reminded me of staying in a suite in an old house in London in the 1970s where the only heat was supplied by coin-operated heaters & gas cooker. Without the right change, a person could freeze and/or starve. The warmth of other bodies in public places was much more attractive.Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-38392080462089686132014-03-06T07:07:07.013-05:002014-03-06T07:07:07.013-05:00Great story, JP, especially the contrast between t...Great story, JP, especially the contrast between the hotel and the pub.<br /><br />D.H. and I have sometimes stayed at B&B's, in search of atmosphere and a sense of history. However, we've found that they often tend to be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Victorian era furniture (or American Colonial, at least as bad) frequently doesn't provide adequate surfaces for laying out ones belongings. The beds tend to be too tall for short people like us to get in and out of without breaking our legs. Old houses lack insulation so drafts are often a problem. (If you think winter in London is cold, try winter on the North Shore of Boston!)<br /><br />Lisabet Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162514190572269660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-43698253527137607342014-03-04T17:48:31.936-05:002014-03-04T17:48:31.936-05:00I remember touring Great Britain about 35 years ag...I remember touring Great Britain about 35 years ago on a shoestring, staying at Bed and Breakfast places in rural areas, and time after time being asked if we were Canadian, presumably because Americans weren't likely to be staying at B&Bs, especially with shared bathrooms. I remember finding some good meals in pubs, too, but we had no circle of friends there and traveled on each day, so we were still outsiders. I envy the convivial pub experience.<br /> Sacchi Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10801164916418570059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-39102079574694709132014-03-04T11:08:51.781-05:002014-03-04T11:08:51.781-05:00The Comfort Inns here in the states don't seem...The Comfort Inns here in the states don't seem to renovate older houses, the ones I've seen anyway. They're not top shelf by any means, but nowhere as bad as the one you encountered. <br /><br />Back in the seventies, I had an English partner in a North Beach SF saloon. I was chef. We served bangers and mash as well as shepherd's pie. No Fish & chips because we had no fryer. What we did have, however, was an illegal kitchen in the basement, with no ventilation. We'd told the health department that we brought the food in from another restaurant and that nobody could open the downstairs rooms because the liquor was stored down there, and the major partner didn't want anybody else in the basement. They knew something was up, so after months and months of being put off, they said that if we didn't open up down there, they'd shut us down. What we did was make an appointment with them and the major partner, move the stove and preparation equipment into the liquor room that morning, stack wine and beer cases all around it so it couldn't be seen. They never bothered us again.Daddy Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12927663248424944119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-5307864242785886742014-03-04T10:24:17.217-05:002014-03-04T10:24:17.217-05:00People asked why didn't you leave the hotel? W...People asked why didn't you leave the hotel? Well, Expedia had made the charges nonrefundable - they must have known what the place was like! I sent them a nasty letter after, but no apology was sent. JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10305127219838784688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9156334464585894857.post-32191808983339952492014-03-04T08:01:59.510-05:002014-03-04T08:01:59.510-05:00I laughed out loud at the line, "You must be ...I laughed out loud at the line, "You must be from America!" <br /><br />Due to your contrast of the ironically named Comfort Inn and the amazing pub, it occurs to me that warmth is a big part of comfort. Comfort food is so great in part because of the way it warms the belly and makes one feel enveloped. The inn, on the other hand, didn't give adequate shelter against the bitter cold, driving one out into it in order to see friends. <br /><br />In any case, it sounds memorable, and I'm impressed at how well you remained in touch even before Facebook! A raised glass for your friend. Annabeth Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07455191827664110878noreply@blogger.com