the Crooked Billet, Stoke Row

It's a very short article and a review of a pub, but I read it three times.

https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/bars/crooked-billet-stoke-row-henley-review-b1221569.html

Paul Clerehugh
stake a claim
best [Collins] (verb) to gain the advantage over or defeat
[quote]besting the Eagle in Farringdon by two years - by??
a Shires legend - capital letter?
swing by [quote]Marco Pierre White swings by
stop-off
egalitarian
brawny - brawny scallops
Mersault - spelling
mark up
pull [quote]his pull with musicians
Nigel Kennedy
PP Arnold
chattering classes

I want to go to the Billet and the Eagle.

an idea of the next trip

It seems to me that most of recent world news are dystopian sci-fi.
I've come to believe that D.J. Vance will be the next president of the USA. This havoc may continue for 12 years.

Only thing I can do is escaping from those nonsense. I should focus on 'daily life'.

Why you should visit the chocolate-box Swiss town that most tourists miss
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/switzerland/thun-switzerland-visit-b2698418.html

glitzy
glimmering < glimmer
teal [Collins]a greenish-blue colour
quaint
hamlet
endearingly < endearing
ibex
namesake
perch
slatted < slat
marvel
conical < cone
turret

I should check European travel articles than silly American political news.

Fire at Chiltern Firehouse

I completely missed the news of the fire. it was 14th February. I need to catch up.

Chiltern Firehouse future unclear after fire
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2e4212rqzo

It's a important news but no words...

I'd wanted to stay at the hotel, but I failed.
Although the restaurant is closed, I still like the street because of Monocle or other nice small shops.

The Brutalist

I like the Barbican Estate. I didn't know it's Brutalist architecture.

London's best brutalist homes — from the Alexandra Road Estate to the Barbican
https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/london-brutalist-homes-alexandra-road-estate-barbican-golden-lane-balfron-concrete-b1207641.html

brutalist < brutalism
coin [Collins] (verb) If you coin a word or a phrase, you are the first person to say it.
laud - remember!
megastructure
downright (adverb) [quote]downright vandalism, downright dangerous, downright rude
load-bearing
timber
monolithic
reminiscent of - remember!!!
pilotis
stilt
ziggurat
sunken
Arup < Ove Arup

I will explore Langham House Close and Parkleys Estate. Housden House, Dunboyne Road Estate and Alexandra Road Estate, too.
I should watch the movie for the preparation.

The UK government has announced an increase in APD

I'd been very busy at work. Meanwhile, UK changed the clock and had announced the budget. It's almost the end of the year.
I hadn't time to read articles. I'd only listened to the radio and podcasts.

What does the Air Passenger Duty increase mean for cheap flights?
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/air-passenger-duty-rise-tax-cheap-flights-budget-b2638803.html

[quote]The UK government has announced an increase in air passenger duty (APD) in the autumn Budget [..] APD rates, the tax that passengers aged 16 and over must pay when flying from most UK airports[unquote]

I like the increase of the APD on the private jets. I cannot find articles which explain about the duty of business class.

Budget: Private jet passengers hit with extra tax bill as rate increases by 50 per cent
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/budget-2024-private-jet-tax-rise-b2638927.html

out of touch
[quote]Sunak was known to use private jets and a helicopter service during his time as prime minister, and was often criticised for it by Labour MPs, who branded him as “out of touch”.[unquote]
[Cambridge]not informed or not having the same ideas as most people about something, so that you make mistakes:

prick up your ears
[quote]Joking that Sunak’s “ears pricked up” at the mention of air passenger duty, Reeves said, “That is equivalent to £450 per passenger for a private jet to, say, California?”[unquote]
[Cambridge]to listen carefully

Paddington in Peru

I used to lived near Primrose Hill. It's already been very busy on weekends.
My neighbourhood in Tokyo is also busy on weekends. I can understand the concerns of the residents in Chalcot Crescent.

Primrose Hill residents complain about street being 'pimped' ahead of Paddington-themed AirBnb event
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/primrose-hill-paddington-bear-airbnb-chalcot-crescent-windsor-gardens-b1188352.html

hit out [Collins](journalism)If you hit out at someone or something, you criticise them strongly because you do not agree with them.
Mary Portas
pimp
influx
inundate
upkeep
exacerbate

Hunting for Paddington: How to find statues of the beloved bear in London
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hunting-for-paddington-how-to-find-statues-london-b1186803.html

It's interesting that some locations are isolated place such as Land’s End or John O’ Groats.

Tipping in the UK

Tip is always anxiety when I travel alone. Cash is used only for tipping (or aid to street performers or homeless people) nowadays.
I'm always annoyed to find a place to change big bank notes which I withdraw from an ATM in the airport to smaller bank notes or coins.
If my tip work out, my trip turn out to be funner and more comfortable. Money works usually.

Should you tip even if the service wasn't worth it?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7jr4125wzo

[quote]A tip is "an uncalled for and spontaneous payment offered by a customer,” according to the government, whereas a service charge is "an amount added to the customer’s bill before it is presented”.[unquote]

<words>
faint
wrath
no hard and fast rules
on top of [Collins]in addition to [quote]tip on top of the service charge that is added to the bill
uncalled for [Collins]unnecessary or unwarranted
discretionary [Collins]Discretionary things are not fixed by rules but are decided on by people in authority, who consider each individual case.
withhold
resentful
less of
prevalence
earshot - within earshot/out of earshot
front of house
loose change

London Oktoberfest

People are always looking for reasons to drink. We drink beer because it's approaching to October.

Oktoberfest 2024: The parties, events and beer halls across London
https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/attractions/oktoberfest-2024-parties-beer-london-wurst-b1183587.html

<words>
reveller
Kool-Aid
bash - again!
bottomless [Cambridge]serving or including an unlimited number of drinks, and sometimes food, in exchange for a single payment
soak up [Collins]If you soak up the atmosphere in a place that you are visiting, you observe or get involved in the way of life there, because you enjoy it or are interested in it.
akin - accent ak-i-n [quote]Expect something akin to heading to an Irish pub on St Patrick’s Day
wash down
in a row [Collins](B2)If something happens several days in a row, it happens on each of those days.
immersive
on a budget

<Bavarian>
stein
dirndls
lederhosen
oompah band
thigh-slapping dance
Prost!
Lecker!

I just wanted to remember the word 'bottomless', but I learnt more.
Stein in Richmond doesn't do Octoberfest. It's been the only place to have German beer and food other than Germany. Or, Schmatz in Ark Hills.

Yet another dodgy Boeing plane

It's dangerous, but I can't avoid Boeing...
I haven't known bleeding when the pressures changes suddenly.

Boeing jet forced into emergency landing after passengers 'start bleeding from ears and noses’
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/us-delta-airlines-boeing-plane-emergency-landing-salt-lake-city-b1183051.html

<words>
eardrum
pressurize / pressurise

[quote] However, the FAA in late January recommended more thorough inspections of other Boeing aircrafts including the 737-900ER involved in the incident over Salt Lake City because it shares the same door plug design as the MAX jets. [unquote]

There are no words or expression in the article, but the comment.
[quote]Yet another dodgy Boeing plane.[unquote]
yet another, dodgy
This is the reaction on the news.

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction

Yes. Definetly Bowness-on-Windermere is the place to avoid.
But driving roads are limited in Lake District, so we have to pass through the town sometimes. It's annoying.

‘Horrendous’: rise in tourism stokes local tensions in Lake District town
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/20/horrendous-rise-in-tourism-stokes-local-tensions-in-lake-district-town

<words>
tail end [quote]at the very tail end of the summer
bustle [Collins]A place that is bustling with people or activity is full of people who are very busy or lively.
constabulary - I can't remember this!
hen and stag parties
the missus and the little one

Overtourism is everywhere in the world. The world is changing.
I've been annoyed by tourists in my neighbourhood in Tokyo and Britain. It was horrendous to find sculptures of monkeys in Richmond.

I know I'm a tourist in a new place. But I always think myself a traveller, not a tourist. I like travelling, but avoid major tourist area.
I don't like selfieing and posting private information on social media.
Sometime I resist urge to show off my luxurious and splendid trips in Europe or fun and enjoyable daily life in the centre of Tokyo and Britain.
But it's just leaking personal information in public, though I'm revealing my poor English ability. Because I desperately trying to improve my English.

I sleep on firewood, I lick bitter liver. I expose my bad score of English tests. And I swear vengeance on myself being lazy for ages.

Britain’s most remote pub

I want to go to the pub, not by a three-day walk, by a ferry. I read the reviews of the pub. It has good reputation now.

Hiker who set out for remote Highlands pub found after ‘challenging’ search
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/18/hiker-remote-highlands-pub-found-search-scotland

wilderness - pronunciation

the worse for wear
[Collins]If you say that someone is the worse for wear, you mean that they are tired, ill, or in a bad state because they have been very active, been through a difficult experience, or been drinking alcohol.

in good spirits / spirits
[Collins]an emotional state, esp with regard to exaltation or dejection

hell of a lot
[Collins]If you talk about a hell of a lot of something, or one hell of a lot of something, you mean that there is a large amount of it.

go through hell / through a lot

protracted
[Collins]Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped.


He couldn't get a free pint, but he was found in good spirits.

getaway

A short reading but interesting survey results. Travel is the top priority for spending for most of people, like me.
It seems that the price of flights and accommodations will not be decrease due to the demand.

Four in five people ‘planning to spend same or more on holidays in next year’
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/money/four-in-five-people-planning-to-spend-same-or-more-on-holidays-in-next-year-b1179402.html

<words>
draw to a close / draw to an end [quote]As the summer holidays draw to a close
getaway [Collins]A getaway is a short holiday somewhere.
[quote]43% of people cited “guaranteed sunshine” as making the perfect getaway.[unquote]
underscore[US] = underline[BR]

I completely mixed up getaway with gateway...

[quote]The research also pointed to holidaymakers wanting to tour around multiple destinations during a single getaway[unquote]
I want to know the reason of this.
I assume that travellers are gaining experience and aren't satisfy with only destinations that have a direct flight from their location, or they travel to further destinations than before.
Or, it may be economical reason to spend to explore efficiently in one trip.

curb

This article contains useful expressions for writing reports.

Edinburgh backs introduction of new 'tourist tax'
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v5l29q2dvo

<words>
transient - transient visitor levy (TVL)
motion [Collins]A motion is a formal proposal or statement in a meeting, debate, or trial, which is discussed and then voted on or decided on. [quote]but their motion was defeated.
curb [Collins]If you curb something, you control it and keep it within limits. [quote]in an attempt to curb the expansion of short-term letting accommodation.
surcharge [Collins]A surcharge is an extra payment of money in addition to the usual payment for something. It is added for a specific reason, for example by a company because costs have risen or by a government as a tax.
diminution [quote]Those cities have not seen diminution of visitors due to the size of the levy
heed [quote]but they have failed to heed his stark warnings.

<to memorise>
face a fine of up to £2,500
couple with [quote]The city council declared a housing emergency in November 2023 due to skyrocketing house prices and rental rates, coupled with a record number of people identifying as homeless.[unquote]
put forward [quote]Proposals for a tourist tax in Edinburgh were initially put forward in 2019.[unquote]
bitter blow [quote]At a time when tourism businesses are already facing a huge tax burden, this is another bitter blow for them.[unquote]

I agree with the surcharge because Edinburgh is overcrowding.

compatriot

While I was reading the Majorca incident, I found another important travel information!

Excess weight may have caused Mallorca building collapse, officials say
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/24/several-dead-mallorca-building-collapse-medusa-beach-club-palma
I learnt that the area is popular among German tourists (and Dutch).

word
nightmarish (accent) n-I-ghtmarish
rubble
compatriot - poor Senegalese man
boom verb/noun [Collins]a loud, deep sound that lasts for several seconds

[quote]Another local resident said the venue had only recently reopened after being refurbished.[unquote]
It sounds like a sort of illegal construction.

Alcohol ban in Ibiza and Majorca - what tourists need to know as new rules come in
https://news.sky.com/story/alcohol-ban-in-ibiza-and-majorca-what-tourists-need-to-know-as-new-rules-come-in-13135601
Words in Sky news are colloquial.

Word
hefty (informal)
nautical - one nautical mile = 1.85km
uncivil [quote]correct uncivil attitudes
no-no (informal)
coexistence
deteriorate - remember!!
tranquillity - remember!!
[quote]disrupts coexistence, involves crowds or deteriorates the tranquillity of the environment

Just avoid - Llucmajor, Calvia, Magaluf and San Antonio
I've been to San Antonio and the neighbourhood of Magalf when I was 20's. They'd already been notorious for party towns. I can imagine that it's been worsen than before.

Anyway, holiday season has been started. I want to go to beach resorts, but it's too late for Ibiza and Majorca.

vein

I like hedonistic British. They are loud, but they looks happy.

I met them on an easyJet plane from London to Ibiza. They were too excited to start singing a song along with drinking beers.
I encountered them on an East Coast train from New Castle to Edinburgh. They drunk loads of booze on the train or maybe even before getting the train.

'Hedonistic' British tourists drink all booze on four-hour SunExpress flight to Turkey in 25 minutes
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/flight-turkey-sunexpress-alcohol-british-uk-tourists-drink-b1152594.html

words
hedonistic < hedonism
booze
drain
[quote]A Turkish airline chief described the “hedonistic” attitude of some British holidaymakers after a flight’s entire alcohol supply was drained in just 25 minutes.
high-spend < high-spending
vein
[quote]In the TTG profile, Max Kownatzki set out his blueprint to grow SunExpress as a tourist and commuter airline in a similar vein to that of Jet2.
accommodate
[quote]the business is looking to increase the number of UK passengers it accommodates every year.
venture
[quote]We needed to venture further in terms of our network – that made us look at the UK.

I didn't know SunExpress. Sun and Express sound tabloid papers, but it's a Turkish-German. I wonder if it is a member of Star Alliance. I can't find it on the web.