EDitorial ± 27-Apr-2014

130Story: Worry / Chance / Berry / Tone / Egg

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Worry

Chance

Berry

Tone

Egg

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 24-Apr-2014

Light Lunches: Boss Hoggs, Copdock

There's a terrific black and white '60s film called Fail-Safe which, once seen, stays with you, being the super-tense account of a cold war incident which goes disastrously wrong. See that at the wrong age and you'll be scarred for life. Among the cast are big names like Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau. Slightly further down the bill are Larry Hagman and Sorrell Booke. Who? Well, that's JR Ewing, of course, and JD Hogg. Most people, including Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, referred to him as Boss Hogg. Died 20 years ago, poor chap.

One month back we were luxuriating in the loveliness of the Cookhouse. Today we're parked on the rough gravel to the rear of a transport caff, the topically titled Boss Hoggs. So it goes. Lined up out front are a BMW, a Merc and a Jag, all on offer from Select Prestige Motors. Not sure if the garage has the caff attached or t'other way around. Interior is a timeless blend of tiling on a roll and fixed chairs and tables in the great tradition of, say, Kesgrave Kitchen. Location scouting for your '70s noir Suffolk-set existential thriller? You've found it.

Today's special is the "mince & onion pie with potatoes and veg". Not quite feeling that, Andy has the straight bacon and egg sandwich. My eye and stomach catch on something weightier: corned beef and egg and chips. Come on! My other body is a temple and all that. Incidentally, wanting to keep in character, Sorrell Booke would happily devour the raw liver that was Boss Hogg's favourite food. Over to the solitary lady who's single-handedly running the place to power up the griddle and rustle up our short orders. There's more than one thick slice of corned beef on my plate. I knuckle down and get through it. Perfectly alright with a can of Diet Coke for balance. Non-Heinz ketchup, though?

On the far wall are details of the new arrangements for Operation Stack. On the near wall are driving jobs and ads for 20ft containers. Compared to our usual hang-outs, there's a notable absence of fine art for sale. Though it's nearing the 2pm closing time, we're not alone in here: other manly men, mostly in hi-viz, are occupying other tables. Not even Andy enquires as to the WiFi. Pudding time and it has to be today's sweet special, the syrup sponge and custard. My oh my, that is some retro goodness right there in a bowl. Andy's transported back to his student days of watching Twin Peaks. Good times, Enos, good times.

If it was a car -- Jaguar XJ6.
If they were passing by -- Donald Gee.

EDitorial ± 20-Apr-2014

130Story: Sun / Line / Cool / Ghost / Box

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Sun

Line

Cool

Ghost

Box

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 13-Apr-2014

130Story: Eagle / Freeze / Table / Throw / Brain

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Eagle

Freeze

Table

Throw

Brain

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 6-Apr-2014

130Story: Boot / Crisp / Nature / Taken / Bone

The rules of 130Story are simple: given a random seed word, write a story in 130 characters.

Boot

Crisp

Nature

Taken

Bone

More to follow.

EDitorial ± 1-Apr-2014

Costa Coffee, Wolsey's Gate

Costa Coffee, Wolsey's Gate

IPSWICH -- April 1st, 2014 -- Costa, the UK's favourite coffee shop, is delighted to announce a new pop-up store. Conveniently situated for both the waterfront and the town centre, our latest retail outlet is sited in Wolsey's Gate, Ipswich on College Street.

Breathing new life into this dusty old monument, we'll be delighted to take your order. To celebrate Wolsey's alliance with Spain, why not try a limited edition Cardinal Cortado with the slightest hint of sweet Spanish paprika?

Also, in a revolutionary move, we're very proud to be able to offer Costa-To-Go. Any Ipswich motorist will be familiar with the daily gridlock caused by the one-way system on Star Lane and College Street. To help alleviate this stress, we invite you to place your order at the Costa kiosk outside the Lord Nelson pub on Fore Street. We then guarantee to have your freshly made coffee ready for collection outside The Gate. Peak times only!

Costa in Ipswich
In the mid 1990s we opened (1) a flagship store on Queen Street opposite the Giles statue, followed by (2) a smaller outlet upstairs in WH Smith on Westgate Street. Next came (3) another major shop on the corner of Carr Street facing the Great White Horse. Recently we've built new glass boxes near (4) Toys R Us and (5) opposite Waitrose on Futura Park. Did we mention the Costa Express garages on (6) London Road, (7) Woodbridge Road, (8) Norwich Road, (9) Copdock, (10) Nacton Road and (11) by the Orwell Bridge?

We think you'll agree that Ipswich was crying out for another branch. Carry on, Costa!