Tony Moorby Disconnected Jottings From

The thrill of seeing family for the first time in four years was palpable. There was one gaping chasm in that my twin brother was one of the first to be taken by the coronavirus in the UK in March of 2020. There was much to make up for; lots of people and places to see and catch up on.

Embracing the trip was helped by one of my daughters and my son. I spent three weeks, with Ally joining me for the first two and Robby coming over for the last two – there being an overlap of all three of us in the middle.

My brother’s family shared our company with open arms, dodging between two houses and a posh apartment. My sister-in-law still believes one should take three square meals a day, starting with a full English breakfast or close to it, then lunch and dinner. It’s been a long time for such an indulgence for me and it was all I could do to persuade her that lighter fare was the order of the day. We were going to get our fill of pub lunches and dinners out so we had to make room!

I made mention, in the previous article, that roads and traffic especially in London and its environs are dreadful and motorists are the lowest form of humanity smearing the face of civilization. The cost, financially, of operating a car around London is prohibitive – gas is an arm and a leg, parking, when available is costly and fees to come and go from the city should be paid in advance or, if late, the wrath of Khan will fall on you in withering fines.

The health and mental costs are probably even greater, bringing on the possibilities of early-onset frailties that I dare not think of! A couple of hours trying to escape the grip of West London traffic left me twitching like that detective in The Pink Panther! The prospect of an evening adult beverage did much to calm my eviscerated nerves. Speaking of beverages, the local pub, The Anchor, which dates back to the 1500s, although the current building is 100 years younger, is the epitome of the local village social center. It boasts an enormous Inglenook fireplace where you have to duck to avoid the beams, old black tables and a mishmash of aged chairs and church pews fill the tiny interior. Real Ale is hand drawn from the cellar and typical pub snacks make up the Bill of Fayre. Tuesday night is quiz night and attracts regulars, some taking general knowledge seriously and others there for the company. It’s an extremely convivial mix although one that’s quietly disappearing. Pubs had a hard time during the pandemic and many are struggling to regain their previous position in society. Those in towns are becoming pizza parlors or cheap and cheesy eateries.

On the other hand, where British food only appealed to the British (including me), in London there is now probably the widest choice of foods available.

I remember when Notting Hill was one of the sleaziest areas imaginable.

It’s now achingly posh and upmarket where prices for houses are now in the stratosphere but fabulous restaurants are everywhere, representing any cuisine you could name; even barbeque restaurants.

• 50-year veteran of the industry

• President from 1997–2000 of ADT Automotive

• Served as ADESA’s executive vice president of sales and marketing

• Moorby & Associates

2006–present

• NAAA Hall of Famer

• IARA Circle of Excellence

To see past columns from Tony Moorby, visit www.usedcarnews.com/ columnists/tony-moorby

While the Cotswolds and coastal villages are as charming as ever, emanating a warmth from wisteria covered stone cottages and rose gardens, the attraction of Old Blighty remains. But after forty plus years of enjoying American conveniences it was good to be home.

Myles Mellor