Pompey

13th and 14th March 2013
Two day trip to Portsmouth to see the old haunts. Staying over at the home of Mark and Rona Stuart-Bourne in St Andrews Road, Southsea.

A great time was had - the 14th was full of hangover!

I managed to visit the curry house where I had my first ever curry - it was the Eastern Moon then (1982) but is now the T & J Mahal. Would you believe it - it was also the Stuart-Bournes curry house of choice from hundreds!

 Not pretty but a great Madras!

Beers were had at a variety of pubs - special mentions to the Barley Mow which hasn't changed at all, and the Hole in the Wall. We also failed to keep a fire alight in the Dolphin.

Visits were made to everywhere I have lived in Portsmouth:

Trafalgar House Hall of Residence (10) - now a pub. 1981/2.

54 Granada Road Southsea (11) - then a guest house - now a private home. 1982/3.

11 Worthing Road, Southsea (12) - ditto. 1983/4.

46 Angerstein Road, North End (13). A flat (first floor). 1986.

4 Oxford Road, Southsea (14). 1986/89.

 I had a haircut around the corner. This house is near the Akash curry house - a favourite.

Then on to Fareham:

1A St Annes Grove, Fareham (15). 1989/1994. Sarah came home to this house after being born at St Mary's hospital in Eastney in 1991. Andrew too in 1994 after his birth at the cottage hospital in Fareham.

Not a pretty house.

Finally, 36 Uplands Crescent, Fareham (16). 1994 - Andrew and Nicola still live there! £71,000.

Managed to visit HMS Victory (17) of course....

The top masts have been removed for restoration. I acquired a copper cannonball made from the sheathing plates from the hull - scarey to think they may have been at the Battle of Trafalgar...battle scene below.

We won.

Portsmouth is one of those places where I feel instantly at home.