The Documentally Files

Northampton - Shopping - Shopping Centres

The better of the two shopping centres in Northampton town centre. But that’s not saying much.The Grosvenor Centre is a little bit grotty and in need of a referb. Especially if you enter from the high street and fight your way through all the smokers and their trash to the greasy glass doors.
The shops are your normal choice of faceless chains selling the same old stuff you can get from any town center.
I would love to one day walk into a shopping center in Northampton and find a store I have never seen anywhere else.

Our town centers lack diversity, originality, where has the independent trader gone?

Just as newly built housing estates have to cater for affordable housing, newly built shopping centers should be made to leave room for the independents. Lets get some choice and originality back on the streets.
Check out my review of Grosvenor Centre - I am Documentally - on Qype

Northampton - Shopping - Outdoor & Camping

I do like ‘White and Bishop’, both in Rugby and in Northampton. I have used the Rugby store the most over the years and was really happy when i moved to Northampton to find another even bigger store. If Northampton does not have an item you are after and the other store does it only takes a day to get what you want.

White and Bishop as a company gets a little bit of stick because it’s run by members of the ‘Jesus Army’ but what this means to me is that no matter what mood i am in I always get great service from some super nice people. Apart from only one occasion when i mentioned to a member of staff that Paramo clothing was made be ex-prostitutes in Colombia and i think he took offense. I wasn’t lying, Paramo saves desperate women from lives on the streets by giving them jobs.

White and Bishops is more for top end kit. It is not really fair to compare it with Millets as more and more the Millets and Blacks of this world are forgetting about the outdoors and turning to selling outdoor-fashion.

They are also pretty good with offering discount to the emergency services, members of the scouts, mountain rescue and countless other organisations.

White and Bishop has helped me kit out for travels in over 56 countries and always knows it’s products and has great advice for any kind of traveler. I hope they continue to do so.
Check out my review of White & Bishop - I am Documentally - on Qype

Rugby - Shopping - Outdoor & Camping

I do like ‘White and Bishop’, both in Rugby and in Northampton. I have used the Rugby store the most over the years and was really happy when i moved to Northampton to find another even bigger store.

It gets a little bit of stick because it is run by members of the ‘Jesus Army’ but what this means to me is that no matter what mood i am in I always get great service from some super nice people. Apart from only one occasion when i mentioned to a member of staff that Paramo clothing was made be ex-prostitutes in Colombia and i think he took offense. I wasn’t lying, Paramo saves desperate women from lives on the streets by giving them jobs.

White and Bishops is more for top end kit. It is not really fair to compare it with Millets as more and more the Millets and Blacks of this world are forgetting about the outdoors and turning to selling outdoor-fashion.

They are also pretty good with offering discount to the emergency services, members of the scouts, mountain rescue and countless other organisations.

White and Bishop has helped me kit out for travels in over 56 countries and always knows it’s products and has great advice for any kind of traveler. I hope they continue to do so.
Check out my review of White & Bishop Ltd - I am Documentally - on Qype

Berlin - Travel & Hotels - Hotels

I had a great stay but I did make sure i had the best view and wasn’t really paying, so the cost was not a factor in my enjoyment.

Would have liked wifi in the room but it was cabled in, albeit expensive.

The breakfast was great.. Just about any possible thing you could want.

One of the stranger things i remember was that the elevators were super quick and made popping back to the room from the bar very easy no matter how high.

Being super central it was handy for the Web 2.0 conference as well as anything you wanted in town.
Check out my review of Park Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz - I am Documentally - on Qype

Thame

Walking around the hotel, it is difficult not to overhear the conversations of the residents complaining about the service and the general experience of staying at the Oxford Bellfry Hotel.

It’s not actually in Oxford, it’s about 13 miles out, in the country but almost on top of the noisy main M40.

In only two hours of being here, I have got lost in it’s maze of nondescript passageways only to be asked by a member of staff where the kitchen is. I had a mediocre dinner which reminded me of being at school. An interesting conversation with a couple who were checked into someone else’s room and witnessed a young girl untrained at kitchen work fuse her fingers to a hot pan. On top of that, on arrival last night a associate of mine was told there was no food in the Hotel and was finally offered a sandwich from the local petrol station.

On the good side, I am glad I am here to work and not to relax. The Receptionist was really helpful and let me have wifi access for free and although a small cup of coffee was £3.. it was pretty nice and I got to steal some biscuits from a conference room that had not been tidied since breakfast.

This is apparently a four star hotel. I give it one.
Check out my review of Oxford Belfry Hotel - I am Documentally - on Qype

Luton - Travel & Hotels - Airports

If I was going to sum up this airport in a few words I would say.. Cheap flights, a little dirty, torn seats and over priced food and drop off parking.

Apart from the newer terminals getting built around the country I am guessing that description could fit a few airports but although relatively east to get through, it feels tired. Most of the staff look it too.

I spent most of my time hunting for a plug socket for my laptop and ended up having to buy an expensive cup of tea so i could sit down near one. Considering it does well out of European short hops, It’s certainly not geared up for the business traveler.

On a positive note some of the shops looked like they were being refitted.
Check out my review of London Luton Airport - I am Documentally - on Qype

Berlin - Nightlife - Clubs - Restaurants - Fast Food & American

Popped in tonight to grab a bite and loved the decor lined ancient looking walls steeped in darkness. What with the massive knife and gas mask hanging from the wall you would not be surprised to hear murders had taken place there.

Great feel and I imagine a great place to drink with friends. Food was filling, (Fish Burrito) but nothing to write home about (just here :) ). Service too time but the waitress was really helpful and polite.

There was a live band setting up as we left. I think this place has more than enough atmosphere and character and would pop back to try the food in an attempt to find what they are good at.
Check out my review of White Trash Fast Food - I am Documentally - on Qype

Berlin - Travel & Hotels - Hotels - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Cocktail Bars - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Lounges - Restaurants - International

It’s got Wifi.. (free if you have BT at home or have paid for it already in your room) ..a large menu full of stuff that sounded great but I had no idea what any of it was and seems to be pretty central to the center of town.

I would not normally give such a good ranking for a hotel bar as they are nearly always over priced, but here, the serving staff were friendly and quick, the beer was tasty and came in large comedy glasses (normal if you are a local) and the company was great. I guess it is down to you to take your own company but when you do, you will find the seats/booths comfy and the atmosphere conducive to plotting a revolution or just having a laugh.
Check out my review of Spagos Bar & Lounge im Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz - I am Documentally - on Qype

Sat on the plane to Berlin. See you at Web 2.0.

Up and awake.. Thinking surely I can say stuff about what’s happening today.. But not.. just in case.

Dived through the closing doors of a train to London. Full of a thousand students.

Charging batteries, formatting cards, packing kit.. you never know when you just might need it.

New Blog Post: http://hellotxt.com/l/KlFz

Anyone else using http://hellotxt.com ? Feels a little like spamming.. When are we going to have the app that shows all replies everywhere?

New blog post on OurManInside.com : http://hellotxt.com/l/VM2s