The Deal thread....

[Rocky]

*puts down glass, steps away from bottle*
Is the childbirth part obligatory? I've not drunk *that* much...

I'm not sure if it's obligatory, Doc.....and like you I don't think I'll try it to find out

 

[mudsticks]

No, not that dreadful one, this one, the good one where I have now spent 5 Christmases.
Though to be fair, it’s reputation has not always been rosy:

Diarist Samuel Pepys recorded several visits to Deal, being moved on 30 April 1660 to describe it as "pitiful".

The author Daniel Defoe controversially wrote of the town in his book about the Great Storm of 1703. The town accused him of libel and refuted the allegations he made. Defoe's book included: -

If I had any satire left to write,
Could I with suited spleen indite,
My verse should blast that fatal town,
And drown’d sailors' widows pull it down;
No footsteps of it should appear,
And ships no more cast anchor there.
The barbarous hated name of Deal shou’d die,
Or be a term of infamy;
And till that’s done, the town will stand
A just reproach to all the land

William Cobbett passing through in September 1823 noted in his book Rural Rides:

Deal is a most villainous place. It is full of filthy-looking people. Great desolation of abomination has been going on here; tremendous barracks, partly pulled down and partly tumbling down, and partly occupied by soldiers. Everything seems upon the perish. I was glad to hurry along through it, and to leave its inns and public-houses to be occupied by the tarred, and trowsered, and blue and buff crew whose very vicinage I always detest.

Nowadays a lovely thriving bohemian town at the end of the world beloved of the 4x4 driving Joules bedecked London set of a weekend.
The steep shelving pebble beach keeps the bucket and spade hordes away in favour of those preferring a bracing dip and a promenade past pier and castles.
The town boasts a Medieval quarter of presrved smugglers, publican and fisherman's houses. An excellent market every Saturday supports an enthusiastic foodie community.
Cycling is great, flat lands and climbers cliffs, something for everybody, Deal is quite a cycling town

In the media it seems well liked winning plaudits for its individuality and tranquility.

On a good day you can see the continent...oh well...

Anyhow, I commend this Deal to the house

All sounds great 'cepting the Joules clad hoorayettas...

I suspect those same sorts may also infest blameless southerly havens, such as Salcombe from time to time.

You can hear the braying across the water in East Portlemouth when the winds in the west..

 

[Sharky]

Lovely place Deal. Even got a cyclists cafe, which is now open (or was last year)
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/cyclists-cafe-can-open--31875/

Like the walk to the end of the pier though, and the Cafe overlooking the sea and back to the front.

 

[Salty seadog]

Lovely place Deal. Even got a cyclists cafe, which is now open (or was last year)
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/cyclists-cafe-can-open--31875/

Like the walk to the end of the pier though, and the Cafe overlooking the sea and back to the front.

Two cyclist orientated cafes.
Try walking onto the pier with your bike though, you'll soon be told to leave it behind by the gatekeeper.

 

[Cycleops]

On a good day you can see the continent...oh well...

If it were Frinton you could see the incontinent.

 

[accountantpete]

Is Deal near Ben Dover?

 

[Beebo]

Is Deal near Ben Dover?

View attachment 566309

He’s looking healthy these days.
Too much viagra?

 

[slowmotion]

Mr Jerome Garcia lobs in his two cents.....
[media]

]View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1IMWsWQrkY[/media]

 

[srw]

Deal is a somewhat unknown but attractive ornamental wood. Used frequently in marquetry.

Soft with a fine grain IIRC.

It's a generic term for various native varieties of softwood - cheap and easily available, especially when international trade was difficult.