Wombling Free

Friday in Epsom

IRA ends armed struggle

IRA ends armed struggle
Joy oh joy. A historical day, and for good reason.

The IRA has ordered an end to its armed campaign.
In a statement, the Provisionals confirmed its armed struggle would end from 4pm
and that all IRA units have been ordered to dump arms.
The organisation also confirmed that it had instructed its representative to complete
its disarmament process in a way which would enhance public confidence and to do
this as quickly as possible.
Two independent witnesses from the Protestant and Catholic churches had been invited
to testify to the weapons decommissioning move.

Whisky - Laphroaig Quarter Cask

The only conclusion I can arrive at is poor health. I haven’t had any whisky for weeks now. Surely a perfect time to put an end to this very stressful and ridiculous state of affairs by tasting the relatively new Laphroaig quarter cask as I’ve been promising to do for this blog for months. I picked up 3 bottles of this from Oddbins some weeks ago while in Preston

Nose: Creamy woody peat and smoke, stronger than the ten year old, but also maybe more vanalins, and germaline.

Pallet: soot wood and bitter tannins. At 48 not as biting as expected. Creamy and full bodied. Very good and splendidly mouth coating.

Finnish: woody and bitter with smoke.

Comments woody because of the new oak which adds creaminess, but with intense smoke that’s not as strong as in the cask strength. Like drinking a peat laden bonfire covered in cream. Don’t do that at home kids. Young and easy to drink, ahem, way too much.

Score: 90%, but at the price I paid, 91%.

Beer - a fantastic Amaerican beer, Sierra Nevada Pale ale

I do like American beers. Not the mass produced swill brands, but things like Anchor and Sierra Nevada. I’m enjoying a glass of Sierra Nevada pale ale at the moment, it’s 6.5 ABV and very hoppy and crisp with a good fruityness to take away the bitter hop flavour a little.. Clare enjoyed this at a BBQ in Epsom a few months ago, so I gave it a try and really do love it. It’s best just below fridge temperature, and you really can’t taste the strength at all.

It’s also bottle conditioned which means it has live yeast within. This gives it a bit of extra vivacity. I love this beer!

General - time with parents and a rant about Bud

My parents arrived yesterday and after a meal in the Riser, I got on with some work while they went for a walk in town. Later in the evening we sat outside and ate a very good Chinese takeaway I particularly enjoyed the smoked chicken starter. We capped off the evening with half an hour in the pub and then my parents went to the guest flat. Steve Andrew and I sat out with beer for them and whisky and soda for me and talked for a while. night was great until they had gone and some kids started smashing up the park across the road from my flat. I called the police, but they arrived too late to do anything.

My dad and I enjoyed a few bottles of bona fide Czech Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager one of the only authentic guaranteed imported check beers around after the big brewers have switched to brewing in other countries as well as the Czech republic. It’s really quite light delicate and tasty and one of the only lagers I buy. Matured for 90 days before bottling, this is very good in deed. They have been involved in litigation with the American scum brewers of torrid washing-up liquid flavoured water Anheuser-Busch the makers of the more well known Budweiser. Now I don’t mean that Americans are scum, for that is obviously not the case, but Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewery in the world of bland piss water are bullying the checks. No competition for taste, the proper imported European beer is far better. Read this article for the story of the litigation between the yanks and the Europeans. The better brew is made only with hops barley and water plus yeast. The other stuff is full of chemicals and bloody rice. I mean, rice in beer? Leave that to the Chinese. The all American ingredient included because it is simply a cheaper grain. Check out this information about the check republics last state run breweries challenge to other check brewers.

General - pre parents coming

My first proper mini cask with reel ale, and it was good. Not necessarily the beer, as summer lightening from Hop Back is hardly a favourite, but the experience of filling a pint from a mini cask really is quite cool.

In fact it was so cool I managed to drink the lot bar two pints that Steve and Andrew partook of. Andrew pilfered a table wit parasol and chares from another part of the housing complex I live in and stuck them outside my door near the bench. I think he may have gone a little too far this time, but we will have to see. Hope this will not create a fuss. All the same, its rather nice having it outside, just a shame the sun has decided to bugger off today.

Steve and Andrew rocked up at half 11 last night, so we sat outside and had some beer listened to music and took the piss out the oldies.

I have my parents coming over today for the weekend, and no damned food in. I forgot to add it to the Asda order after the beer and cleaning materials.

General - Summers evening in Coventry

Well, a night in Coventry on Wednesday turned in to a music fest and a few pints.

I asked if I could stay with Gavin as I was to be in Birmingham early today. After meeting up at the Coventry society for the blind we took a taxi to the Farmers a themed pub in Erlsdon owned by Hardys and Hansons brewery of the midlands. I may have tried there beer in the past but couldn’t honestly remember it. The Druids Droop was particularly pleasant. After taking the piss out the people in the beer garden we went back to his flat and nattered while drinking two bottles of very agreeable red wine.

I did some prep for the GPS walks at Sight Village today and am now travelling back to London. We have just observed a two minutes silence for the people killed in last Thursdays atrocities.

General - Going Underground

While travelling in to work on Tuesday, I found it strange and possibly a little unnerving going underground on the tube for the first time since the tragic events of Thursday the 7th of July. Things appeared fine though as I walked down to Vauxhall station. Many lines including the circle and Piccadilly are out of action still and trains don’t stop at Kings Cross on the Victoria line at the moment. A lady who worked in Kings Cross told me that it may be possibly open next week, but structural damage has to be checked out, plus they are still bringing up bodies from the Piccadilly line. She had worked at KC underground station for many years and can remember the big fire in the late 1980s. It was clear that she took the fact that her station had been targeted again personally, and empathy was my only feeling for her. Apparently the staff can’t get in to the mess room, so all coats and belongings they left are still within. I remarked that the packed lunches would be festering along at the mo, and she agreed saying that the rats would have a field day.

I eventually got to Kings Cross via Euston and Euston Square undergrounds with the Metropolitan line.

The afternoon saw me in the office working and it turned out to be a lovely day. My favourite stop over place the weatsheaf in the evening with a fantastic meal of highly spiced pork slices with home made chips, vegetables and a homemade pate starter. This was gently washed down with a pint of Green King IPA, last years champion beer of Britain at the great British Beer Festival, and a pint of Adnams best bitter, both of which are from Suffolk. The food choices happened to be the same chosen on my first night in this pub while eating with Jonathan Mosen.

I always end up tired at this place, so as usual I was overcome with sleep by around 10. I’m just about to put on a brew and do some foundation reading for the training and Sight Village preparations we are undertaking today, actually not in MK now, but in Wellingborough. I have not yet decided what the a gender is tonight, that really depends on one of my co workers plans, but it will either be another stay at the digs in quaint Titchmarsh, or back home and then in to Birmingham tomorrow. As I’ve been righting this, I’ve just read the news online. It makes chilling reading with home grown terrorists apparently behind the suicide bombings in London What a nightmare situation for race relations in British society and the country. I hope we don’t get a backlash against Muslims, please lets not get in to that with the fuckers from combat 18 and the BMP, I also hope the world doesn’t turn against the religion for the atrocities caused in the so called name of Islam this is a tiny minority of brainwashed individuals, and extremists exist in all religions. It appears that the Police have information that a second suicide bomb squad could be on the ground, so I think my mind has been made up. I’ll stay in Titchmarsh tonight thanks very much. What petrifies me is the car found full of explosives in Luton station. I passed through on the train not an hour prior to the enforcing of the police cordon before the controlled explosions on my way in to the office.

UK police chase pics, email, phone records in bomber hunt | The Register

UK police chase pics, email, phone records in bomber hunt | The Register
The Observer said UK home secretary, Charles Clarke, will this week propose new data
retention measures covering mobile phone and internet service providers at an emergency meeting of European Union interior ministers on the implications of the bombings.
Clarke will also apply pressure on areas such as law enforcement databases, tracking
passports and movements of explosives. Clarke has said he believes authorities might have been able to prevent the bombings if they had access to such data.

General - Roast on a summers evening

Paul and Tina invited Steve and I over for a roast last night. It was lovely chicken with roasters and lots of yummy vedge. Finished off with one of Tina’s fruit crumbles. Delicious.

The beer was also good, organic circle master and another organic ale.

After eating to burst Steve Paul and I went out and had a pint or two, then back to mine for a night cap.

I spent the last day training Chloe and it went splendidly.

The rest of this week is a little up in the air, definites include Birmingham on Thursday and MK on Wednesday.

Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - 12 Beer Myths

Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Why beer is best

I'll just put one here as a taster.

Women don't drink beer:
Disappointing news for Sister Doris, the Bavarian nun who makes Mallersdorf lager
or for Lady Catherine Maxwell Stuart, whose Traquair House brewery, in the Scottish
Borders, produces a fine strong ale. Fortunately, it is not true. The most feminine
women I have met in a lifetime's appreciation all drink beer. So does the Queen Mother
(that should clinch the argument). Our national matriarch has been photographed with
pints of both Young's and Fuller's bitters.

Beer - Epsom summer crawl

After not getting in to London to se Dan and Jody as I’d planned because of Jaid being sick we expected a quiet night yesterday but I had a skype with Andrew who told me that in deed, a pub crawl around Epsom was in order. Armed with this info I ate a pizza and then we went for an enjoyable tour of the town’s hostelries. Well, only 5 of them, but to be honest that was quite enough as my form was hardly the best.
Our first port of call was the King’s Head a cramped whole of a place that does food. I found the atmosphere unfriendly, but the barmaids were nice and they had some proper beer in the form of Spitfire, Young’s and London Pride. I opted for the Spitfire which tasted on the tern to me and we got out pretty quick. You know when you go in to a place and the room around you goes completely silent? Not worth lingering.

We took a shortcut through Epsom church yard and went to one of the finest pubs in the area, the railway Guard. They always have some interesting beers on and this time was no exception. It reminds me a little of the New Britannia in Preston in that regard. On this visit they had black sheep best, speckled hen, Everards Tiger, London Pride and Cottage Champflower. After talking to the lovely Emma for a bit we went outside to enjoy the weather. The atmosphere in and out the place was very agreeable and my black sheep slid down well. For a locals pub it’s fantastic and a notable thing about the place is the cash machine in the corner. It always appears to be busy also. Just before we left my drinking partner managed to cascade his cider all over the table, dog and I, so got a little pissed but that soon went when we got to our next pub.

After this, a very short hop to the barley Mo at which I chose the Fullers ESB served in a stemmed glass of some kind It tasted very good actually but strong. Other choices were all Fullers beer and included Chiswick, London Pride and discovery plus fullers bottled beers. Andrew informs me that the lager at both the above mentioned pubs was nothing to Wright home about, but the proper beer was very good in both. Once again sitting outside and this time joined by an incredibly fat bloke. I squeezed past him to get out the place, and this chappy was all belly. In fact he reminded Andrew of Mr Creosote of Monty Python fame. He was pissed anyway and drinking the 8.5percent Golden Pride barley wine.

Then back to the Railway guard as they had a band on. Well, really just two duffers with an acoustic guitar and singing 1960s hippy tracks. One example being Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens. After grabbing a pint of Tiger we went outside to listen to the music and chill. It’s just like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re actually in close proximity to the town. The computer shop across the road spoils the elusion a little, but never mind. We must have been a little merry by this time as I was informed by my companion that a good war is what we needed to advance technology. Logical I guess, but I don’t want a war. Things are bad enough in the UK at the moment.

After getting lost on our way to the next pubs [Should have taken GPS with me] we walked around a car park and past the Epsom evangelical Baptist church. Man happy clappy. Sounded a little Hispanic the guy singing. Apparently the preacher at that place is a proper hellfire and brimstone kind of guy, meant to be quite amusing.

After a long half walk half run we reached the Ladas. I had probably the best pint of the night in this pub. Young’s is a strange beer. When it’s kept well it is simply amazing. The best bitter is full of flavour, and Fran keeps his beer on form The other beer on was Greene king IPA and though they normally have Young’s Special it was off on this occasion. Shame as I’d have liked to contrast it with the Fullers ESB. This is well worth a visit too just to see the stable lasses and lads all of who can hardly see over the bar. Not forgetting the beer though which was my main reason yesterday evening. We would return here for last orders but the Amato was our next call.

This foody pub was very quiet on entry and we talked to a crazy woman for a half an hour to kill a little time. Jaid got in trouble for scavenging so I had to do some diplomacy and explain why guide dogs aren’t aloud pork scratchings.

This pub has some of the best bar snacks around including cockles and vinegar, the afore mentioned scratchings and other savoury delicacies.

The beers on offer were Young’s best, London pride and Harvey’s Sussex best bitter. I opted for the Harvey’s which was pleasantly quaffable.

Time was marching on so we ran back to the Ladas and Jaid made friends with a beautiful sheep dog. Andrew would have liked to make friends with the dark haired bar made, but I convinced him that home was a good plan.

On our way through the park we observed two fools jumping in the duck pond. This annoyed and amused us, so we grabbed some beer out my fridge and went back to the park for an hour. It was quiet and calm there say for the odd drunk stumbling through.

All in all a good walk and capped off for me with a plate of bangers and mash at home. I should have had a pint of Greene King IPA though as it reminds me of Suffolk and Clare. It was a no fuss pleasant night at some traditional English pubs. Hard to imagine the sadness of Thursday and the evil that tore through London.

5 pubs done, plenty of different ales and it just goes to show that Epsom has a good variety. Not up to Preston standards, but a good effort, and we missed out plenty of good pubs.
Beer links in no particular order.
Youngs
Fullers
Black Sheep
Harveys
Greene King
Everards
Shepherd Neam

Blasts in London

Just A QUICK NOTE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I’M OK. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH London today but the client cancelled on me. It’s a sad day, but the underground was an obvious target and with the G8 happening and the day after the Olympic decision I hope London was on high alert.


I must admit to been a little shaken by this, but life goes on.
Some info from the BBC.

General - Hypermarket rage sweeps Epsom

icSurreyOnline - Hypermarket rage sweeps Epsom:
I hope this doesn't go ahead, but I'd guess it's a done thing.
"The proposed giant complex which could tower over the outskirts of Epsom town centre
has sparked 'hypermarket rage'.
ASDA and Tesco are in competition with each other for possession of the vast complex
which would go up in Upper High Street if developer Helical-Bar gets planning permission
from Epsom and Ewell Council.
But furious opponents at a packed protest meeting on Thursday fear that, whoever
wins, the store - which would sell not just food but furniture and fashions - will
kill off small shops at its feet and also eat away at those in the High Street.
It was agreed at the Epsom and Ewell Town Hall meeting that an ordinary supermarket
would be an acceptable newcomer.
But this hypermarket proposal would, said objectors, overlook small houses and flats,
its shelves fed by delivery juggernauts threading their way through the narrow roads
of what is still a small market town."

Online - Shopping getting better?

UK: Online shopping �easy and convenient,� says survey : Food industry news: "online"

According to the above the online super market shop is becoming a more agreeable experience, and I think it’s about spot on. I’ve used Tesco and Asda and they are both good with Tesco normally better for items in stock but Asda superior on price. Asda also get the nod for a wider range of beers and malts.

Incidentally for my friends in Preston Asda have just started online delivery for your area.

Beer - An outsiders view on Epsom pubs

Dan's Internet Plaice - Epsom and Sutton with Richard Bradshaw

This guy has a very humorous in a blokish kind of way webpage for those interested in beer and pubs. He does some funny crawls around the south of England and sometimes other countries. His comments are definitely none PC though but its fun and he got my stomping ground about spot on.

Technology - British man sacked for having opinion

British man sacked for having opinion | The Register

I don't think the company will have much of a leg to stand on. The human rights act should be used in any ACTIONS against them. One to watch.

General - After Live 8

Live 8 was fantastic with most of the bands doing a credible job. I found Snoop Doggy Dog appalling and Mariah Carey bad but on a lesser scale. Don Steve and I managed the whole gig and had too much beer. In fact I can’t remember getting home but I know it happened as I was fully clothed in bed on Sunday. Only bad part of the afternoon was the BlackPearl going off in the Rising Sun. Dave dancing around to the Who more than made up for that though.

Sunday was spent in recovery mode listening to Pink Floyd and wishing that the amazing reunion from the night before was a permanent thing.

I’ve had a moderately quiet day work wise in Epsom and tonight I’m just going to have a beer or two and relax.

Music - Pre Live 8

My whisky moratorium was broken yesterday evening when I got back from the pub to a glass of Laphroaig. I sank a good few pints of Black Pearl last night so today started a little shakily with a hangover.

Today is a historical day in musical terms with Live 8 happening all around the world. I’ll be watching with pint in hand. I remember live aide in 1985. I was crawling around on Eamon Preston’s floor playing with toy cars. I didn’t understand the significance of the whole thing but I do now, and we have hardly progressed in any areas. Millions of people are still starving and we in the west are bringing it to the attention of everyday people in a decadent way.

L8R

General - Quixy Update

After a fantastic weekend with Clare disappointingly ended with my laptop biting the dust and getting packed off back to Misco I went to Keighley on Tuesday with a stop to have a pint or 4 with Seann on Monday evening. We had a great time BTW and the training in west Yorkshire went very well also.

I must mention the release of our new product the MPOWER which I’ve been using for a while now and is very cool. In fact I’ve hardly missed my laptop at all over this last week as the Mpower can do most things I require..

Dave stayed over for Tuesday evening and I went with him part of the way to the airport. Wednesday and Thursday saw me in the midlands and I arrived back home last night.

Something must be wrong with me as I haven’t had a whisky in well over two weeks. I wonder if I’m ok?

Yes a quick update this time, but I’ve got work to do.

L8R