On 12 Jan 2010 at 3:12pm Lewes Cinema wrote:
Hi all, I think that there has been a dramatic over-reaction to the snowy weather during the last few days. Do so many things REALLY need to shut down?
All events at All Saints Centre for example were canceled over the weekend except us (the cinema) which was open as normal. Why was everything else canceled? Why was tourist info office closed on Friday? Why did the town council decide to close all its buildings on Thursday (we made it into Lewes on Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun with absolutely no problems)?
Yes, we had to make a bit more effort to get there (I drove 20 miles to operate the cinema service) and clear the path with a shovel and some grit but it was well worth it. So many people called us to check if we were screening as normal and they all sounded so relieved that something was actually open and operating as normal.
There are some very difficult conditions in side roads but I think the media have unfortunately created a lot of panic about the weather.
Anyway, apart from blowing our own trumpet I just want to say big thank-you to all the hundreds of our customers who made their way to the cinema at the weekend and made our efforts worthwhile!
Happy New Year everybody!
LC
On 12 Jan 2010 at 3:49pm SAR wrote:
'I think the media have unfortunately created a lot of panic about the weather.' - I think you have just answered your own question LC! I know of a teacher who went to school on Friday and no kids turned up. Surprising how the kids all made it to Churchill Square when schools were actually closed due to 'severe weather' on Wednesday. There are genuine cases where it's impossible to drive down a road, even today, but unfortunately there's also a significant proportion of people who take a pee. Trains where running like hot butter on Thursday and Friday, I was very impressed, but people maintain the mentality that if they cannot use their car it's a card blanche to stay home. Lazy bum mentality.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 4:32pm Sherlock wrote:
SAR: 'Trains where running like hot butter on Thursday and Friday...' Did you try to get one? The Victoria-Lewes service was reduced to one an hour; I noticed that other Southern services had reduced carriages etc. I didn't see much happiness at Victoria on Friday.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 5:27pm Penguin wrote:
To change the subject slightly, will Lewes Cinema be screening Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, as it is not on anywhere in Brighton as far as I can see ?
On 12 Jan 2010 at 5:41pm Helper wrote:
On at the marina cinema from around the 25th of Jan.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 6:30pm SAR wrote:
Sherlock: Yes, on both days. Granted that trains ran 5 monutes late on three occassions. It really wasn't any inconvenience, especially once I had signed up with Southern email alerts and had looked at the revised timetable. But I guess it added inconvenience to those who didn't want to make themselves familiar with service updates. Self-inflicted ignorance isn't an excuse. Well done Southern.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 6:32pm Sherlock wrote:
SAR: As I was travelling back from the West Country I don't think my ignorance about Southern's arrangements was self-inflicted. And a lot of other people at Victoria seemed just as ignorant, including some of the staff.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 9:25pm SAR wrote:
Sherlock aren't you supposed to know these things? Your's is obviously a different story. My OCD anal disorder makes me plan things with military style precision so I guess I had checked out all train operators on the way if I was you. 'Some of the staff at Victoria' - all staff in my experience including Transport police. Best bet is to find things out online.
On 12 Jan 2010 at 10:45pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
Those people I know who made it to work in Ldn from Lewes took at between 3-4 hours to get there. The service was massively reduced on the Weds. Many trains were cancelled in the evening and there was no guarantee of getting home. It was only by Monday this week that there was a more reliable timetable (but still one an hour) and this morning the train had only 4 carriages.
And on the subject of Sex, drugs, rock and roll...YES PLEASE !
On 13 Jan 2010 at 12:41am SAR wrote:
Granted. Wednesday was an exception but revised timetables where in existence so really no excuse. It took me 25 minutes to Gatwick, not sure how they spent the other 3hours 35 minutes? Sex, drugs, rock and roll I guess..? Swingers train to London?
On 13 Jan 2010 at 12:43am SAR wrote:
Reflecting on hat, the windows were a bit steemed up and the air conditioning seemed to struggle 
On 13 Jan 2010 at 8:18am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the trains when I had to go to Haywards Heath last Friday. They were down to 1 an hour, but just a few minutes late on the way up and on time on the way back. I enjoyed it too - it was sunny and the countryside looked wonderful.
I was alarmed to see how icy/snowy the platforms were at some stations, but thankfully they had been cleared at Lewes and HH, so well done to station staff.
On 13 Jan 2010 at 9:12am SAR wrote:
Trains are running fine today too, with the odd cancellation and delay as Southern is operating a perfectly sensible reduced timetable. People seem to base their journey on 'hearsay': Abandoning all travel plans at sight of one Cancellation and again using it as a carte blanche of not getting into work without even checking in what direction the train goes and why it has been cancelled. What about if it snows for the next month to come?
On 13 Jan 2010 at 9:18am SAR wrote:
I shouldn't have said that. I broke the trains! Sorry!
On 13 Jan 2010 at 11:52am Penguin wrote:
Thanks Helper
On 13 Jan 2010 at 12:54pm Sherlock wrote:
SAR - you know you're completely wrong, don't you? You know that the Southern website was giving totally inaccurate information this morning, don't you? You know how late the trains that weren't cancelled were in arriving in Lewes and then reaching London were, don't you? Does SAR stand for Southern Abominable Railway?
On 13 Jan 2010 at 1:29pm SAR wrote:
Yes Sherlock. Yes Sherlock. Yes Sherlock. No Sherlock. Sorry Sherlock. 
On 13 Jan 2010 at 1:52pm Sherlock wrote:
That's more like it. You're forgiven but try not to do it again.
On 13 Jan 2010 at 2:04pm Ivor the engine wrote:
No grit sherlock
On 13 Jan 2010 at 2:23pm Lewes Cinema wrote:
Yep, 'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll' (the biopic about the late Ian Drury) is expected to make an appearance at Lewes Cinema during Feb I would imagine.
Can't comment on the trains as I did not use them during the snow but driving on main routes was fine.
This week I'm operating our touring cinema service which shows films in village halls etc around Sussex. Now that IS a challenge! Many people not turning-up for screenings unfortunately, even though we have managed to make it to the venues ourselves.
By the way (little plug coming up) next Lewes Cinema weekend is on 22 & 24-Jan, prog published soon.