What Ferne Arfin REALLY does...

... is not write stuff for the New York Times. Not yet anyway but give it time who knows?

Ferne writes for http://www.about.com/: United Kingdom Travel . She corrected me on Facebook which it seems gets ever more popular. I now have 19 friends which is, of course, untrue.

So my bit of name dropping failed on that occasion. However I cannot resist regaling you with some of the famous people who have stayed at the Avalon, Brighton (if I have ever put this information in a previous post please forgive me but you will soon realise if you are out for a beer with me that if I have an amusing anecdote or snippet of information, telling it once is rarely an option).

We had the sister of the man who used to be the voice of Bungle on Rainbow. We had the understudy (and I think subsequent lead) for Michael Banks in the West End production of Mary Poppins. We've had a viola player from a Netherlands symphony orchestra.

I am really sorry if you have stayed with us and I have forgotten to mention you. Please remind me if I have missed you off our illustrious Hall of Fame.

In the 1960's - and I was not here then - allegedly Dusty Springfield used to come back to the Argyll Bar and stay 'til dawn, her famous beehive often precariously askew as she ducked under the front bay while tottering up the basement steps. The Argyll is what the Avalon was called. One previous owner fell in love with Bryan Ferry - from a distance you understand - and renamed the place after his hit song. We could have been the 'Let's Stick Together Guest Accommodation'.

England have just won the Ashes seconds ago...