B&Bs and Hotels in Hemel Hempstead

Good Hotel Guide

Hostels and Hotels in Hemel Hempstead

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Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Bovingdon, Chalfont St Giles, Chesham, Dunstable, Great Missenden, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, High Wycombe, Little Gaddesden, Luton, Park Street, Princes Risborough, Redbourn, Saint Albans, Sarratt, Tring, Watford, Wheathampstead

For UK travelers going abroad, we recommend Tenerife, with feel of the UK yet all the sun of Tenerife. Read an extract below from More Ketchup than Salsa, the story of a English couple who left the UK to set up life in Tenerife. Info on how to buy the book can be found below.

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Below you will find short extracts from More ketchup than Salsa by Joe Cawley – not to be missed.

Short Extract

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Apparently, the unfinished apartments at the top of the complex were the problem. In Tenerife, the builder is obliged to provide electricity and water until the complex is officially finished and handed over to the community, by which time the responsibility is passed to the individual owners. Our builder had decided that he had finished all the work that he was going to do and informed the electricity company, who duly noted that nobody else had applied to take over the electricity account, and promptly pulled the plug. Everybody on the complex was affected apart from those who had found out about the need to apply for a private supply and had already had individual meters installed. Our two jovial Johns had heard about the new requirements by chance and were two of very few on the complex who had not been plunged into darkness. For want of anything better to do, they were now wandering through the complex, gloating at everybody they could find. Its a bit serious, isnt it, said John One. ‘I mean, a bar without electricity? What can you do? Become a salad bar? Aye, a salad bar. Good one, John. Salad and water warm water, mind. They both set about laughing. This was getting us nowhere apart from feeling more irritated by the two clowns. What do you suggest? I asked, interrupting their mirth.

The following day we visited the community president. Roger was a retired headmaster who spent every other month in Tenerife with his wife, Brenda. Ahh, our very own smugglers, said Roger, looking down his nose. ‘Do come in. Since taking over the bar and renting Rogers apartment for the first few weeks we had tried to stay on the right side of the community committee, and Roger in particular. Residential committees can make life difficult for an on-site business owner, regarding commercial enterprises as a necessary evil. We had only fallen foul of the community rules and regulations twice. The first occasion was when Gary and Michelle had forgotten to turn the outside speakers off as required at midnight. ‘Good Vibrations were certainly not forthcoming the following day from residents and committee members after The Beach Boys had warbled well into the witching hour.

I rushed out of the kitchen, called two children out from behind the bar and grabbed Joys elbow just as she was about to bring in an order. ‘Grab a seat and act like a customer, I hissed. ‘I think the inspectors are here. Our gestoria had repeatedly warned us that it was only a matter of time before we were visited. Joy immediately sat at the nearest table and started to make small talk. Unfortunately it was a table of bemused Germans so she quickly sidled outside to a family of regulars whom we had got to know over the past week. Faith was leaning over the bar. ‘Joy. Joy, she shouted. From behind the two officials I motioned with my head at the two men in front and opened my palms like a book. Faiths eyebrows launched into orbit. ‘Can you take these drinks to table five for me? she asked in a nervous high-pitched voice.