Swansong at Bellota's

Once again, yesterday, I met up with four close friends (one absentee) for our regular lunch club meeting at Bellota's Bar y Tapas in Brighton. A group of disparate individuals: my brother Dave, Market research consultant, Phil, a retired Pub landlord, Graeme, a retired Regulatory Affairs Director, Lesley, a retired teacher, and me, a retired Managing Director. I say disparate because we are individuals of strong views on most subjects, our political views encompassing the left and right of politics. Opinions on the arts and culture, film, music, literature - never a dull moment. Bellota's has become our home ground. A place where we feel 'at home', where we belong if you will, and the manager, Mark Lampit and his front house staff, have always provided us with second-to-none service.

So, here we were, once again, the usual warm welcome from Mark, beers at the bar, robust conversation, back-slapping old friends, decisions about what to eat, similar choices made to the last time we dined here, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose... That warm feeling of being with good friends, enjoying the occasion...

And then, Mark dropped the bombshell! He is moving on. This would be the last occasion that we enjoyed his hospitality at Bellota's. Mark IS Bellota's, so far as we are concerned. We come here, we are entertained by Mark. That's it. Moving away, Mark, you take the heart and soul of Bellota's with you. So now, we have to decide, whether or not we stay loyal to Bellota's without you, or relocate our meetings to your new establishment Crafty Chooks if we do, Mark, might we suggest a change of name!

Anyway, for the record, here is a pic of those of us who love Bellota's Bar y Tapas. Mark is on the far right, I am wearing the trilby hat with my arm around my brother.... Graeme, far left, then Phil and Lesley...

Well, it was Mark's swan-song and it was the end of an era I guess.  A bittersweet occasion...

Wallander - Back to Front

I was delighted to learn that BBC4 is broadcasting six new film length episodes of 'Wallander' starring the masterly Krister Henriksson, who looks like a tatty old teddy treasured since childhood. My favourite Wallander actor by far. The first episode airs tonight at 9:00pm. Although this should be the last... ever. Because the programme makers in their infinite wisdom are showing 'The Troubled Man' as the first in this new series. If you have read The Troubled Man...

SPOILER ALERT

you will understand what I am getting at as it is in this, the very last Wallander book ever, that the author Henning Mankell gives Wallander his irrevocably final swansong. So, the conclusion of this first episode will have to be dramatically changed to avoid the book's devastating conclusion.

The Troubled Man would have made a fitting end to the entire Wallander saga. I seriously do not understand how they can follow this with five more episodes. It just doesn't make sense...