Royal India - Ipswich

Royal India Ipswich

I’m afraid that I can’t remember much about my first visit to this newly opened establishment as the exertions over the bank holiday weekend had taken it out of me but Clare and I returned last Friday.

The restaurant is opposite the railway station and actually shares floor space with the Station Hotel pub.

The food is of a high standard with the various dishes nicely and variously spiced, fluffy breads and good Smokey sweet DHALL SAMBER.

It’s also possible to bring real ale in from the pub to quash the hot flames of those fiery dishes and the hops in my spitfire did this rather well.

Service was good and the staff suggestions welcome, they also have an accessible menu on the restaurant’s web page which is linked above. I’d highly recommend this restaurant to anyone near Ipswich station or who wants to try a well priced and reasonable quality within the Ipswich area, especially if you like a drop of ale with your spicy fix.

Station Hotel - Burrell Road - Ipswich - IP2 8AJ
01473 691737
OPENING HOURS
Mon to Sun Lunch Time - 12noon to 2pm
Evening Time - 5pm until Midnight
Open 7 days a week Including Bank Holidays

The Life of a Serial Killer

Well he's behind bars now and found guilty. Maybe the media will all go home and stop cluttering up the streets of Ipswich?

HE was the quiet man in the pub, the neighbour that no-one knew. No-one ever took
much notice of Steve Wright.
The twice-divorced, father-of-two appeared to be a shy, homely man. He kept himself
to himself. He gave one word answers to questions. If you asked the people who lived
in his street who Steve Wright was, not many would be able to tell you.
But that was until the early hours of Tuesday, December 19, 2006, when news of his
arrest broke around the world.

Happy Days

Yesterday went with a bit of a bang. I really enjoyed my trekker
training in the south west and then went to Epsom as I am working
in Croydon today.

After dropping my stuff at Andrews I went for a quick beer in the
Rising Sun. Apparently my person being in that particular
establishment is no longer acceptable to the ponsy management who
are slowly killing this once great pub. They didn't like my
Beerintheevening review so have put a bar on me. I don't care
but its the first pub I've ever been bard from and after the
thousands I have spent in the place. The pub was empty when I
went in. The place will be a block of posh apartments in a few
years I would wager. I told the manager this on my way out and
it didn't go down at all well.

Jaid and I then took a walk to the King's Head a bustling little
pub and I enjoyed 3 pints of landlord bitter before Andrew and I
went to Mint for the best curry it's been my pleasure to eat this
year.

Steve then dropped the largest bombshell of the evening by
informing me that Action For Blind People wish to get out of
housing and are selling Swaile House in EPSOM and the other
similar projects they run around the country. This saddens me a
bit since to be honest Swail gave me the leg up that was really
necessary after my last year in Preston.

we then went to the White Horse and met up with Don as well as
others from the old days of the Riser. What a good laugh plus
They had a good selection of ales including beers from Brains,
Batemans Gk and another I forget now. we had a cracking evening
and the landlord along with the French barman made a good double
team.

Moving on a few hours the Braillenote training went really well
today and afterward I went out for a beer with the customer and a
lass who worked for him. some days are so good when your
training, I forget that sometimes. The pub which was on Cherry
Orchard Road had Harvy's's, Adnam's and Lancaster Bomber plus did
some monster home made burgers.
I'm now on my way back to Ipswich and will probably get together
with Chris for a beer in the Dove.

Clare and I may be going into London tomorrow and should we do
this I shall send an update from the train about our day.

It's really cool that you can email to the blogger account which
then gets replicated in my Facebook notes.

Flood Update

It took a plumber, carpenter, electrician and a nice bloke from Anglia water to fix the mess of yesterdays deluge.

As a result we now have a nice new bit of pipe and a concrete floor in the kitchen. We wouldn’t choose pure concrete as an esthetically pleasing flooring choice but since the old was damaged beyond repair it will have to do for a few days/weeks. It has to be re laminated so I hope they won’t be too long in getting it done. It will probably take another day for everything to properly dry out though and I can still smell damp. Yuck.

Drip Drap Goes the Dripping Tap

After yesterday’s flood of posts we had our own flood in the kitchen today. We’ve had a problem with a dripping pipe in the scullery for a few months now but it has been kept in check with promises from the landlord that it would be dealt with.

Well today I came down just after 5 to have a brew before work and had to paddle through the kitchen inn order to start bailing out with buckets and mops.

Basically Colin came around and had to use a wrench on the stopcock which has turned off the water but we’re still dripping from that damned pipe. I’m staying at home today and will hammer the bleeders at Ladbrokes and hope that for once they can sort this out in a professional fashion. Well, I’m sure if it’s dripped through the floor in to the shop below they’ll actually do something.

More as it unfolds today. I’ve had to take a day off work which isn’t the best because I was looking forward to a few pints with Seann tonight.

Mumbai Ipswich

2 Coachman Court, Old Market, Ipswich, IP4 1DX

Clare and I went along to the Mumbai Indian buffet last night for a few cold ones and a spicy snack or 4. It’s basically like one of those Chinese eat all you can for 10 quid jobs but an Indian version in the centre of Ipswich. This has the advantage of more chilies and less MSG.

Papadoms came out first and these were warm and snapped well.

The starters were all very good in particular the chicken tikka with lots of fresh fried onions and reshmi kebab. Special mention must also go to the aloo Pakura and onion bhajis which weren’t at all greasy. They had about 8 choices of starter and I went a little mad at this stage which is precisely what they want you to do in these places. I kept away from the Samosa and other battered delights as I find these just fill you up and take away from the delectable process of masticating meet.

I had a mildly spiced garlic chicken dish with garlic rice which was rather enjoyable if a little salty, once again lots of meet and lovely fresh garlic. My attention was then drawn to the chicken tikka Jalfrezi which was in fact excellent. A medium sauce with plenty of chilies to keep things lively. They had plenty of side dishes of which I was too full to partake and plenty of different rices and breads. Clare tried the lamb balti and chicken bhoona both of which were average takeaway fodder but in the context of the place rather acceptable if a little mild.

The puds were the usual suspects, fruit, ice-cream ETC.

The beers on draft were kingfisher, cobra, carling and Tetley’s and I went for the two pretend Indian beverages.


Service was verry good and the staff were attentive and polite. The guide dogs were also made welcome.
It’s not as good as say the Jorna in Ipswich but still packs a punch if you really want to get stuffed. It would be ideal for a birthday or something similar. It came to around 20 quid a head and was worth the money. The drinks were a little on the expensive side and this is really what bumped the price up.

I would return.

Cambridge for a quicky

Last weekend was rather fun even though I didn’t get in until late on Friday evening so was not at all up for going out.

I decided to pay a visit to Paul in Cambridge on Saturday in the Radigan. He’s now working in this most salubrious of pubs and I enjoyed a few pints of Milton beers with him and shot the brees for a few hours as he toiled. He’s going to be ordained in a few months and Clare and I have been invited to the occasion. This should be more than interesting and definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity for me as none of my other friends are so dedicated to a faith.

Paul gave me a bottle of 1976 Glentauchers malt which I’ll crack open with Dave sometime as it was distilled in October of that year and twas the same month that the chappy came screaming to the earth with a bare backside and totally unable to feed or look after himself. Well, I guess some things take a bit to change then.

I arrived back home and Clare and my good self had a lovely Chinese.

Sunday was typical really. I went to the Rose and Crown to partake of one of Steve’s curries and chat to Emma, Dale and the other regulars. Naomi brought her dogs and with jaid plus another canine or two the pub was puppied out.

I took some of Steve’s really cracking curry home for Clare as she was unwell and then made it to bed before the week of work at last crept up on me.

Andrew should be coming over this weekend so I look forward to that.

Coal mine closes with celebration

Congratulations to the men and women who made this happen. My dad used to work down the pit so this braught a lump to the old throat.

"In January 1995, the miners marched back to the pit as proud owners.
Now, as a lack of coal closes the colliery for good, the men will march away from
the pit and salute it.
Tower had reopened in defiance of the large-scale pit closure programme ordered by
the Thatcher government following the year-long miners' strike of 1984-5 - a strike
in opposition to colliery shutdowns.

But the day will be one of celebration, not mourning, according to its chairman Tyrone
O'Sullivan, who led the buyout of Tower.
"When there was the miners' strike, and all the rapid pit closures, there tended
to be something resembling a wake afterwards," said the 62-year-old grandfather-of-three,
who started working at the mine 40 years ago after his own father died there.
"In Tower's case, it's a celebration of the last 13 years. We marched to the pit
when we got it back, so we're going to reverse it this time.
"We'll start from the shaft and go back up the road. Then we'll raise the banner
and tip it towards the pit as a salute for the life it's given us."
From the pit, the 270 workers will head to the Penywaun, the club where the decision
to buy the pit was made, and raise their glasses as speeches are made.

Meanwhile, each miner who donated his redundancy payout towards the deposit needed
to buy it, are now to have their say on the future of the site.
Plans for the future of the 480-acre site are still being discussed, but Mr O'Sullivan
said a new development, with the creation of jobs and affordable homes, would be
a fitting tribute.
"We're hoping 1,000 jobs could be created, maybe in retail, leisure and housing.
There could be lakes there, and places to walk," he said.
"I believe our company can leave a legacy to the community that will see today's
toddlers able to find a job up in the valleys when they're 16 or 17, instead of having to leave the area.
"It will be the greatest tribute that the workers could give. We'll be leaving jobs,
not statues."

Mary Rose Given Lifeline

I've always had a bit of an interest in the Mary Rose since school so good news.

"The world's last surviving 16th Century warship has been awarded a £21m grant.
Henry VIII's flagship the Mary Rose, housed at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, was
raised from the bottom of the Solent, in 1982.
Fears the national treasure would be sold for firewood if the funding bid failed
clouded the 25th anniversary of the ship's raising last October.
The Heritage Lottery Fund grant will be used to complete its conservation and build
a £23m museum around the vessel.
Over 19,000 artefacts recovered from the ship will be on display at the museum, which
is currently a temporary structure.
Admiral John Lippiett, of the Mary Rose Trust, said: "[It] paves the way to complete
the long conservation process and display the majority of amazing artefacts in a
magnificent museum."

New Year! Same old Blog

Happy new year everyone. I’ve been busy with work the last week and also had some good traveling around the south east of the country. I went to Canterbury for work so decided to stop off in Favasham the home of Shepherd Neam brewery for a pint of Bishop’s finger. Sadly this wasn’t available on draft in the town and in order to get a pint on cask I would have to travel back down to Canterbury. I thought this strange but did enjoy 3 pints of the uncompromisingly hopped Master Brew and a half of the brewery’s most excellent porter. These drinks were taken in the Sun Inn a really friendly hostelry close to the brewery.

Last weekend RoadKill Chris Steve and I drove out to Orford in north Suffolk and visited the smokeries. The village is beautiful with the remains of the castle visible from the central parking point. The church bells were wringing as it was a Sunday and the smoke wafted across the village. I purchased lots of locally made and smoked sausage, anchovies in garlic and smoked salmon along with some Suffolk bacon and other bits and bobs.

We had a stonking few days over the new-year with friends and I hope everyone else had a suitably enjoyable and pleasant time. It’s now a new year with all the challenges that holds for everyone and I’m looking forward to it.

Happy new-year guys.

Acccess- Eat

My good friend Graham just mailed me the below. check out his blog if you like dodgy and interesting food places.

The Access Eat blog I have been banging on about for a while is now up. The
purpose is to review or discuss places you may have been to eat. their good
points, bad points and anything that makes the place different. I went to
Barbecue Express in Station Road Wood Green London today after an assessment
and this forms the first post.
At the moment, I don't have anyone other than me authoring the blog but feel
free to email me comment on restaurants or take aways you have visited and I
will include them. Ideally, comments should relate to a particular visit
but I am not strict on that one! The blog is only rough and ready at the
moment. if anyone has ideas of how it can be improved or made more readable
then all info and help welcome.
Feel free to pass on to your friends or whoever.

All the Best for Christmas

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy Christmas break. I’m sitting in the lounge with the brilliant track ‘Reaching Home’ by Robin Laing on the stereo and a bruichladdich 12 year to hand. The leather chair is all comfortable and I’m more than content with life. Life is good for me and I wish everyone the best for the week ahead and the rest of 2007.

HE'S a foxy little fellow - and he is known to bite the hand that feeds him!

click the link above for the full story.

'“I was with some friends having a Christmas drink when the fox wandered in searching
for scraps and showed no fear as it sat under our table and then wandered around
the bar,” he said.
“It was bizarre - people did a double-take.
“It would be pretty unusual to see a fox on the seafront, let alone coming into a
bar. It was so tame people even stroked it. It was completely unfazed.”
A little while later it continued its pub crawl, making its way across the bottom
of Bent Hill and into the Alex, which seems to be its main haunt.
The fox has been visiting the Alex day and night for about a week, sitting outside
and appealing for food and drink.
General manager Greig Barnes said: “It's been enjoying a little bit of our sausages
and even a nibble of my finger because I got a bit too close!
“It is very tame and friendly - not aggressive at all - and it's a real pleasure
to have him here.'

An alternative Christmas from the Evening Star

An alternative Christmas
22 December 2007 | 15:03

JAMES MARSTON
Christmas brings us perhaps the world's most famous story. But if Jesus was born today, here in Ipswich, how different would the nativity story be? JAMES MARSTON imagines the modern day equivalent.

AND it came to pass that Prime Minister Gordon Brown raised taxes - he's already done this when he was chancellor. Everyone had to go to their home town because the Inland Revenue had lost everyone's records, including two disks with family credit recipients' details on them - and the country was a right mess.

So Joseph and his Mrs, not that they were married yet, left London and headed for Ipswich in the county of Suffolk where Joseph's family came from.

His Mrs, Mary, was about to drop. She was having contractions as the One train pulled into the station but it was match day and the place was heaving.

By the time they got to Ipswich Hospital the baby was on the way. The cash-strapped hospital was facing financial pressure and they temporarily put her in a corridor as there was no room in maternity.

They did consider going to a Travelodge, as rooms were being offered free to anyone called Mary and Joseph this year, but decided to stay in the nurses' care.

Meanwhile there were in the same town, a small group of insurance brokers abiding in the Willis building, keeping watch over their clients by night.

All of a sudden, a nutter appeared from nowhere. They were pretty scared and wanted to call security.

The nutter said to them: “Calm yourselves. I've got some great news. There's a special baby been born in Ipswich Hospital. You'll find him wrapped up and waiting in a corridor on a trolley.”

The brokers wondered what to do, and decided to made their way up Woodbridge Road to check it out. They found the family in hospital and went to The Evening Star with their story so other people knew.”

Mary kept quiet though, and wondered what the hell was happening.

Now when Jesus was born in Ipswich, the country town of Suffolk, there came wise men from the east, probably from the Felixstowe peninsula, asking “Where's this new celebrity? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

There'd been some strange vapour trails that looked like they were hanging about over Ipswich, people were worried of increase air traffic, so the wise men followed them.

And when the wise men found the corridor, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and took his picture and asked for his autograph.

Then they gave him a load of freebies including a gold watch, some aftershave and some embalming fluid - a bit of a strange gift for a baby.

Finally after they had all gone Joseph had a dream telling him to emigrate because it wasn't safe. They fled from Harwich to the Hook of Holland and were presumed dead.

They came back when things were safer, and once their wives had claimed the life insurance money, and hid forever in another part of East Anglia.

Year Roundup

2007 is now tottering in to senility and it’s embers are ebbing so we await it’s last orgasm in the form of Christmas and newyears celibrations with much enthusiasm in our Ipswich household.

This year has been a good one for me in every way. Work is interesting me still and throing up many and varied challenges, gps technology moves on swiftly and the Streem has been a huge success. We will find more developments and new products next year with Humanware and I remain excited by our technology. Work invariably puts me in to contact with some amazing and also eccentric people but that’s the beauty of being on the road. Two of the best were a flamboyant Welsh actor and musician in London and a man in Chesterfield who introduced me to chunky peanut butter kit kats.

My usb keydrive is filling up with aps like portable winamp, CDEX the cd ripper and audio file converter and that always useful screenreading tool NVDA. Facebook has been compelling and both Clare and I have found old friends by joining.

I’ve had my picture in the local newspaper and also the Humanware newsletter, so well published ay?

I visited my first whisky distillery and it was in England, went to Bruichladdich on Islay for the most amazing holiday I’ve ever had and have sipped whisky in warehouses with good people. Dave and I were a tad Merry and blocked the Port Charlotte hotel staircase with drams in our hands. I’ll also take from Islay the beauty of sipping Bruichladdich 12 at 1 AM sitting on a rock outside the distillery with Dave and Philip two dear friends. The pompous bugger Dave and I also now own a cask of Bruichladdich spirit quietly maturing for our enjoyment many years from now.

The Ipswich move was challenging at first but now I’ve made friends in the town and found 3 regular pubs, two locals in the Rose and Crown and the Dove plus been on the tour of my town’s brewery.

I’ve been to the GBBF festival in Olympia, sunk pints of 10% Paradox stout matured in Caol Ila barrels on a barmy hot day at the splendid Peterborough beer festival, been in a crowd of stoners at the anarchic Cambridge Strawberry Fair and was pleasantly surprised that Young’s Special London Ale is still a cracking glass full of hoppyness. A weekend full of happiness was spent at William’s mansions for his house warming in April. It was also my pleasure this year to eat a Cornish Pasty in Cornwall.

Unhappily I sampled Bob’s Burger Van in Ipswich and had the shits, Michael Jackson the beer and whisky scribbler passed away and my bottle of Glendronach is getting emptier by the week. Oh, whisky prices are also going up and up.

Dream Theater released a really strong album in a year which was rather quiet for new music. Symphony X’s Paradise Lost album was brilliant and the always reliable Kate Rusby can make you laugh or cry depending on the track. My head was turned by the UK progressive band Threshold and they made a good show this year with a solid album.

I saw Cara Dillon, Kate Rusby, Symphony X and Dream Theater live and all were superb. I also witnessed my first evensong in Cambridge at the beautiful King’s College Chapel. We saw Jenny Éclair and have one more comedy night to go before the end of the year in Colchester. Other events included Dad's Army the Lost Episodes in South end, the annual Hancock weekend in Bournemouth and getting pissed with the actress Su Pollard in Dovercourt.

Jaid has found a new owner when she retires, I’ll never forget my 30th birthday weekend, Clare was wonderful and having Seann and my friends over made it one to remember. Unfortunately Clare lost her voice on her birthday and Ipswich was on a brain drain that particular weekend.

We spent time in the market town of March in the fenlands and had friends from Ireland over for a really top few days in July.

At home we’ve just been buying things for the house, Clare got a huuuge TV and Malone is quieting down and has turned into a marvelous guide dog.

Next year will throw up new challenges including a new guide dog for me, the worry of house buying, should I or shouldn’t I? tentative plans to spend a weekend on Islay and in late January a trip over to the magnificent city of Dublin.

World War I Christmas Truce

I have just been reading the above linked article on firstworldwar.com and found it strangely moving. It brings home the spirit of Christmas for me. It's worth a read.

‘the evening of 24 December 1914 and you are on the dreaded Western Front.
Stooped over, you wade across to the firing step and take over the watch. Having
exchanged pleasantries, your bleary-eyed and mud-spattered colleague shuffles off
towards his dug out. Despite the horrors and the hardships, your morale is high
and you believe that in the New Year the nation's army march towards a glorious
victory.
But for now you stamp your feet in a vain attempt to keep warm. All is quiet when
jovial voices call out from both friendly and enemy trenches. Then the men from
both sides start singing carols and songs. Next come requests not to fire, and
soon the unthinkable happens: you start to see the shadowy shapes of soldiers gathering
together in no-man's land laughing, joking and sharing gifts.
Many have exchanged cigarettes, the lit ends of which burn brightly in the inky
darkness. Plucking up your courage, you haul yourself up and out of the trench
and walk towards the foe...’

Christmas Prep2

The online presents have now started to arrive thank goodness, the tree is fully trimmed and the ale delivery takes place today.

Emma and I went out for some Christmas shopping yesterday in town once work was done and my goodness it was busy.

I picked up a free-range turkey crown stuffed and covered in bacon from M & S for the centerpiece of our Christmas dinner at Paul’s, I do hope it will be nice because it cost a bloody fortune! We then grabbed some other presents and then headed off to the Dove for a pint or two of Adnam’s Yuletide and a pie before I got a taxi home.

I’ve got the rest of this week off yay! And then just have to work from home on the 24th of Dec.

The BBC take Kirsty's Gag away

A sensible decision in the face of our politically correct culture which is going mad whether it be race, disability or sexuality. I was horrified when this happened yesterday, this track is a classic and my favorite Christmas track of all time.

“BBC Radio 1 has said it will allow the Pogues' Fairytale of New York to be played
on the station uncut, after criticism of a decision to censor it.

The words "slut" and "faggot" had been dubbed out from the 20-year-old festive hit
by station executives. But after a day of criticism from listeners, the band, and the mother of singer Kirsty MacColl, they changed their minds.
Controller Andy Parfitt said the original decision was "wrong".

The BBC had said that an edited version would be played because "some members of
the audience might find it offensive". But sister station Radio 2 said it would play the track uncut, and Mr Parfitt subsequently
said that after "careful consideration", the ban on the uncut version of the song
would be lifted.

Kirsty MacColl died 13 years after the track's release
"Radio 1 does not play homophobic lyrics or condone bullying of any kind," he said.
"It is not always easy to get this right, mindful of our responsibility to our young
audience. The unedited version will be played from now on.
"While we would never condone prejudice of any kind, we know our audiences are smart
enough to distinguish between maliciousness and creative freedom. In the context
of this song, I do not feel that there is any negative intent behind the use of the
words, hence the reversal of the decision."”

Christmas Prep

Clare and I now have a proper Christmas tree for the first time. We trimmed it as best we could last night but a lack of hooks for the borbles thwarted our efforts somewhat. This should be rectified in the next day or so and the rest of the decoration put up. The tree does smell lovely and reminds me of Christmas as a child.

Clare cooked a really top notch curry on Friday night and we took some to the Rose to share with friends.

Saturday was slow but a Christmas party in the Woolpack was enjoyable then we came home with a friend for some whisky for me and he some vodka and coke.

Only 3 more days of Humanware stuff left now as I’m taking Thursday and Friday off work.

I’ve at last ordered all my presents and am just hoping that the postal elves more lots of backsides and deliver the booty.

Sunday sermon (no intended blasphemy)

THE LADS' (and LASSES') PRAYER

Our beer which art in barrels
Hallowed by thy drink
I will be drunk, thy will be drunk
At home as it is in the local
Forgive us this day our daily spillages
As we forgive those who spillest against us
And lead us not into the practice of poncey winetasting
And deliver us from alco-pops
For mine is the bitter, the ale and the stout
Forever and ever
Barmen

Sunday sermon (no intended blasphemy)

THE LADS' (and LASSES') PRAYER

Our beer which art in barrels
Hallowed by thy drink
I will be drunk, thy will be drunk
At home as it is in the local
Forgive us this day our daily spillages
As we forgive those who spillest against us
And lead us not into the practice of poncey winetasting
And deliver us from alco-pops
For mine is the bitter, the ale and the stout
Forever and ever
Barmen

Author Terry Pratchett has Alzheimer's

Sad news to the extreme. I love his work.

"The author said work was continuing on his latest book, Unseen Academicals.
'More books'
"All other things being equal, I expect to meet most current and, as far as possible,
future commitments but will discuss things with the various organisers," he said.
"Frankly, I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's
time for at least a few more books yet."
He told fans the statement should be interpreted as "I am not dead".
"I will, of course, be dead at some future point, as will everybody else," he said.
"For me, this may be further off than you think. It's too soon to tell.
"I know it's a very human thing to say 'is there anything I can do', but in this
case I would only entertain offers from very high-end experts in brain chemistry."
Pratchett was made an OBE in 1998 for services to British literature.
"

Kate in Norwich and a few pubs

Yet another exciting few days. SATURDAY went with a splat literally as the train taking Chris Pete and myself to Norwich for a days pub exploration hit a plump breasted pheasant. This triggered the emergency stop on the train so we were left standing for 20 minutes or so as the crew reset the train and scraped away our feathery friend. bits of the unfortunate creature were visible and clinging on the train's front when we finally clambered off in Norwich which is a shame since we fancied it for the pot.

Many pubs were visited but I didn't keep a record of the places or the ales.

I last remember talking to a bunch of Lithuanian gents in the rose and crown around 4 on Sunday in the AM. I also remember that the St Jude's St Mary's Stout was very good indeed.
Jaid and I popped into the office today to finalize one or two bits before the end of the year and all was uneventful until I returned back to Liverpool street underground after the work was complete. COMMON sense tells me that we should have known that getting off a train when alert announcements were telling us not to really was not a good idea but Jaid and I along with a friendly out of work actress called Lee did just this. She kindly helped us through the crowds and to platform 10 so I got on the train to Ipswich in the end.

Clare and I went to a gig yesterday and it is one not to be forgotten for a long time. She gave me tickets to watch Kate Rusby's Christmas tour in Norwich's Theatre Royal as part of this years Christmas box. Kate is a folk singer from Barnsley with a spellbinding voice and it turned out a sharp and witty stage persona.

The set consisted of tracks from her more recent albums along with Christmas songs performed in the style of a traditional south YORKSHIRE pub Carole session. It's no exaggeration to state that we were both blown away by the beauty of the songs and her band supported by a brass section topped it all off and put us in the jolly mood of the season.

Clare took us to the restaurant at the theatre for a meal of Norfolk chicken and some really yummy puddings. This was washed down with a bottle of Adnams Explorer for me and a coke for Clare. Now it’s a case of meals and partying for the next few weeks. Shame I’ve got a bit of a cold but with Clare’s soup I’ know that a quick revitalization must be on the way.

Barnsley V Ipswich and some beers

Emma, Dale, Rebecca, Sam and Joanne were in the Dove along with Chris and I on Friday night. We had some strong winter ales and a good chat. I haven’t seen some of these people for around 10 years and it was about time we got together.

Chris and I were given a lift home by Naomi and Dezz in a 1940s Citroen car which was something unexpected and most agreeable then the two of us had a dram from a bottle of BRORA 1981 Signatory Un-chillfiltered Collection. This is a rare whisky as the distillery has been shut down since 1982 or so.

It was destination Portman Road on Saturday to watch Barnsley verses Ipswich, me from the Barnsley end and the Ipswich parts of the family from the opposite. The result was a good one for Barnsley and the 0 0 draw was made the sweeter as Ipswich have been on a winning streak at home of late. We all then trooped back to the Rose and Crown for beers and much later those of us who were left shared a pizza. It wasn’t possible for me to get a taxi home as I’d have waited an hour for it it was 1 AM already so I crashed on the finest leather sofa in Ipswich for the night and partook of the crackling open fire. Thanks Nigel!

All the Christmas whisky, beer and wines are now in and a fine collection they make. I’ve purchased Bishops Finger and Special London Ale from Majestic at 15 quid a case delivered plus have 15 bottles of assorted reds from the Sunday Times Wine Club. We have stocked up on ports one of Clare’s favorite and some dark sherries for me, oh plus two bottles of ginger wine and some NZ bubbles to round everything off. We now have just to buy the last of our gifts, get a tree, food and some other bits then we’ll be set for the month ahead. I’ve not been adventuress with the whisky and just stocked up on Aberlour A'Bunadh and Ardbeg Uigeadail with one or two Bruichladdiches chucked in. I have a good amount of Glenfarclas 105 but will probably get another bottle or two when next I’m in Stansted Airport. the prices of whisky are going up so fast at the moment and I’m afraid with the lack of sherry casks these days some brands may be killed off. I do have some interesting bottles open at the moment so I’ll put some notes on the blog later in the month.

Keep on Moving

Work took me to Gosport in Hampshire on Friday so I took the opportunity to call in the Clarence Tavern a small pub that stocks the local Oak Leaf brewery’s ales and jolly good each of my 3 half’s were, they are noted below I’ll just put the descriptions of each from the brewery’s WebPages as they are spot on with any comments in ().
www.oakleafbrewing.co.uk/

Blake's Gosport Bitter
Strong, dark and intensely malty, this bitter has everything
you need for a cold winters evening yet surprisingly easy to
drink for a hot summers day. (Chocolaty but drinkable like a version of Riggwelter from Black sheep.)
abv 5.2%

Hole Hearted
Brewed with 100% Cascade hops. This powerful, floral and fruity
beer will surprise with every mouthful.
Champion Beer of Hampshire 2002, 2003 & 2005
4.7% abv
abv 5.2%

Oakleaf Bitter
A clean, refreshing, light hoppy session ale with an aromatic,
distinctive flavor and a pleasant aftertaste. (Dryish very drinkable and balanced, a quencher.)
3.8% abv.

Jaid and I then walked from the pub to the ferry terminal and took the boat across the estuary to Portsmouth harbor railway station and are now on our way home on one of Southwest Trains class 344 Desiros. I’m lead to believe that the powers that be will try and get these on to the Ipswich to London line in a few years. Oh no!

We won’t mention Thursday but last Wednesday was rather full with demos in London Suffolk and Norfolk. As the last one was in Norwich I went to the Fat Cat for 4 very good pints of Fullers’ London Porter, Fat Cat Marmalade, Kelham Island Pale Rider then oh joy of joys a pint of the 5.9 percent Thorn bridge Jaipur IPA.

I’ve got a bit of a cold coming on which isn’t good but my parents are over at the moment and we really had a good weekend.

Friday with tea in the Woolpack, Satterday was restful but we did take some beer over and partake of a curry in the Jorna plus a few ales for me after in the Rose. Sunday found us driving to Otley for dinner in the White Hart but the service wasn’t up to snuff though the food was good.

I toddled over to the west midlands on Monday and am now looking forward to December immensely.

Cara Made the Weekend!

What a weekend. I’ve been more than lucky over the last few and had some smashing times, this one just gone was no exception.

It started with a visit to Catherine in Colchester and we had a giggle and did some catching up. We have also planned to go to the Colchester comedy zone at the art centre on the 28th of December.

On arrival back to Ipswich Clare and I had a bit of a kip then went to the Rose and Crown around half 9 for some top do beers. Carlo Extra, Danish Dynamite from Stonehenge, Umbel Magna from Nethergate plus a very good cask of Gipswic Bitter from Ipswich’s St Jude’s brewery. These were helped down with handmade crumbley cheese and Road Kill’s home made oat bread. Clare felt a bit sick near the end of the evening so we made tracks home.

Saturday involved a camera beer tasting and training sesh in the Fat cat. Dave from the Essex branch conducted this well and the 5 hours were enlightening in many ways. In actual fact vary little beer was consumed but the various chemical analysis and anecdotes about breweries and beer helped my understanding of the creature. The winter Warmer this year is very good and though the sample I had was a little young I can confidently say that they have made up for last years poor show.

I then went over to the Rose and had a few pints of the St Jude’s before heading home.

Clare and I went to have dinner with June and James on Sunday and everything was cooked sensationally Melon with a port and ginger glaze, roast venison with all the trimmings and a boozy home made tiramisu for pud. Yummy. The dogs played and after the huge dinner everyone had a little kip.

James then took us to the railway station and we clambered aboard the Norwich train which would take us to the cara Dillon gig. It was in the Norwich Arts Centre a lovely venue created from a closed down church. This venue boasted a reasonable bar with Bateman’s XXB, Archers Arctic Blonde and Woolf Golden Jackal on hand pump. I naturally tried each of these before and in the gig. We also made it to the Ten Bells a GK pub across the road from the church and I dispatched a good pint of Abbot Ale.

Marina Florance the support act was ok. Simple but catchy pop/country songs and a powerful voice were her hallmarks. She sounded to me a little dollyish but in a good way with less warble and a London accent. She tried her best with a quiet crowd and I think drew people over in the end. Her album is called Somewhere Down the Line and I may pick it up eventually.

Cara Dillon was nothing more than enchanting. Her emotional voice and charming stories had the audience enthralled. Man, the girl even sounds sexy when she talks, amazing. She brought Clare to tears at one point and it was a moving and relaxing gig. I won’t forget it that’s for sure.

Our Hawk cab took us home and after a long and eventful weekend we crashed out as did the dogs.

This week is a packed one with all kinds of stuff going on with work. My parents are over in Ipswich next weekend and I’m in Yorkshire tonight.

Sympheny X & Dream Theater 10 Nov 2007

After a productive day in the office on Friday I made my way to Worcester
for a beverage or 8 with Dave in the plough Worcester's finest drinking
establishment. They have really pushed the boat out with the pub the
atmosphere food and drinks are all top draw. My local Malvern Hobson's and
Shropshire ales all went down too well as did the vegetarian scotch egg.
Dave says I'm not aloud these anymore, my constitution just couldn't stand
them to be honest but lovely they were.

We went back to Williams Mansions and demolished a third of a bottle of
Glenfarclas 105, listened to music and watched TV.

We both awoke on Saturday afternoon and made it to the fish shop but that
was about it. Steve B came and took Jaid for the evening and then we later
met up with another dolphin Dave who was a star all night and drove us to
the show.

Owing to a crash in Wolver Hampton it was a nightmare parking but this
achieved we cued and eventually got in to the hall.

Dave had made a pilgrimage to the crowded bar for beers so he missed a
little of Symphony X's first track but man were they good. Russell Allen
impressed with his powerful voice and brilliant stage personality, and
honestly they have made a few new fans with the 3 of us who went. They will
be back in Europe next year so a must show to catch. They had the crowd
moshing and the energy was simply infectious. I did rather enjoy the ballad
from the new album of the same name Paradise Lost.

DT came on around 9 playing a 2 hour set with a bunch of material from the
Systematic Chaos album but dipping back through the catalogue and including
a sensational extended version of surrounded. What can I say about these
guys that hasn't already been said. Breathtaking musicianship, a devoted
crowd ETC. For me one two many ballads but when they're all this good maybe
this shouldn't matter? James only really talked to the crowd once apart
from the odd 'come on sing!", could have been more interactive. What a buzz
though.

The balance during the show was top notch for both bands and this helped
make the night. Added to this I think it was all standing and this is
perfect for a metal show.
After the gig we wended our way to Subway then back home for Jonathan Ross,
a dram of the new Glenmorangie 10 and then some kip. Oh Dave introduced us
to some interesting and rifftastic music from bands such as 5 finger death
punch, thanks mate should you read this, we like mucho.

Jaid arrived back on Sunday but the day was just spent lounging around,
drinking Aberlour and Glenlivett and eating. Still it was nice to do
nothing much and just relax.

I'm now on First Great Western heading to the south east coast for a Braille
demo then it's back to Ipswich. I've got rather a lot on this week with a
good amount of travel.

Dublin to Ipswich

Satterday started with a thick head for me but brushing this aside I enjoyed the last day of our show at the NCBI training centre. The people visiting were happy and the banter between suppliers good.

I left around 2 PM in glorious sunshine and took a taxi to the airport. True to form the jet was delayed again but after a few hours waiting and poodling around airports I was back in Ipswich and heading off to the Rose and Crown with Clare for a pizza and a few good pints of damson stout and hobgoblin.

The atmosphere in the pub was lovely until just before 11 when two BNP national front old types from east London came in stirring up trouble. First it was banging on about gay people, as some of you know the pub used to be a gay bar, then the leering bullies were playing the race card. This didn’t go down well with Nigel and I so I had them talking as he called the police who escorted them from the premises. Evil bastards!

I’m now about to get sorted out and pick up my dog from James. Then it’s a roast pork dinner this afternoon cooked by Steve.

Dublin Day 2

Bugger me if it wasn’t warm yesterday. Apart from a few showers that coasted Alan and I in the city centre we had a smashing autumnal day

After setting up the stand we drank tea then drove in to Dublin for a spot of shopping. Alan purchased things for his kids and I snaffled a bottle of Bruichladdich 1973 at a stupidly low price from my usual emporium for malty delights in Ireland’s capital.

Our stand was teaming all afternoon and I love this. It’s so good to get involved with people and talk and banter and debate, it’s what makes my job really thrilling at times. Streams flew out the door and so they should because they rock.

Later in the evening as we were shutting up shop we were joined by a blind crip and a young balding Irish basstard. I understand that Alan had partaken of beverages with them both in Galway earlier on. What a nice bunch of chaps, total piss heads but a good laugh and in to the beer food and jokes. We went to a Thai restaurant with them which was splendidly curry like and then they took us to some Dublin boozers.

The first bar which was called the Grand Central was nice and I understand the waitresses are all stunners. The music rocked and my Guinness was above average but not the best in the city. After 4 or 5 within we then went down a back street it was time for a proper drink in the town. The small clean localized and friendly hostelry reminded me of walking in to a local in England or the Slipper on the outskirts of Dublin. Everyone was friendly and we had a near silence on entry. Alan broke this by saying the darts team had entered.

Sorry about not naming, but I was asked not to by the regulars and our friends so this will be respected. What a pub, what beamish and what a night!

Happy Days

Alan and I just went for a most satisfactory beverage with Derry and Martha in Messrs. Maguire. It was bustling but not packed.

The imperial was strong and whisky like but probably not the ale to start off the late evening. Porter as usual and the rusty not bad. The company and then walk back to our hotel really were excellent though. We hope to catch up with Derry and Martha in Jan or Feb, Clare doesn’t know this yet but I’m sure will be lovin a trip to Dublin.

The ale in Maguire isn’t up to the standards of the PorterHouse but it’s still a second in my books when in this amazing city. If anyone has any other good tips then please let me know. I love a pint of beamish.

Dublin day1

the car stumbled through the Dublin traffic to arrived at Jurys Inn Custom House at around 8:15 last night. we were both bushed so went to our rooms, dropped off stuff then ate a passable meal in the bar. The Guinness was good though and it was quiet which created a nice dining experience.

Today Alan and I went to two of Ireland's premier educational institutions then took in a really nice tour of the NCBI Media Centre in Finglas.

We went to the Porter House North this evening and enjoyed a few drinks and some fab food. The place was dressed up to the arse for Halloween which is strange because pubs in England don’t really go in for that sort of thing but it’s big in Ireland apparently. It's a quick change now then a walk in to Dublin to find Derry Martha and Lotty.

Waking up in Wexford

I arrived in Dublin half an hour late and this delay was exacerbated by a bolshy bint in a wheal chair, or should I say the bossy bints daughter, they were both pests on the journey then as we disembarked. Jaid was missed by commuters on the train who must have seen her in the past and about 4 people asked about her on the journey to Liverpool Street.

Alan and I did some work in Dublin yesterday afternoon before driving to the Talbot Hotel a lovely place which was to be the show venue. It’s in the town of Wexford in county Wexford.

We met the guys from the other companies in the Ballast Bank Bar and Grill which the hotel’s WebPages inform me is based on an old bonded warehouse. Now I am unsure as to the meaning of this but it was relaxed high roofed and the black stuff was good along with my excellent tea,
A camembert starter and really champion piece of steak.

We chatted with Marry and a lady who works in a governmental office in Wexford town but soon decided that enough was enough. It had been a long day.

I’m typing this now just before breakfast. We have a full schedule today and move off to tullamore tonight.

Fab Friday Update

{That’s it, the end of another working week. I’m on my way home from Broxbourne now and apart from a few phone calls that’s me until my flight out on Monday.

This weekend will find me venturing once more in to the wilds of Essex to hunt out the fine liquid from the Nethergate brewery. Apart from that I have nothing else planned.

Public transport has been kind to me this week, I’ve acquired a cane as I won’t be taking Jaidy with me to Ireland. She’s going to have a weeks holiday with James, June and the husky named Shadow. These will be her new owners once she retires. Well, Shadow won’t own jaid but the people will.

The days are getting colder and soon the clocks will go back. That means winter, cold dark evenings and nearing the December festivities. It also means the cask strength peaty beasts and sherry monsters of malt will stomp out of bottles and titely lidded cartons to do battle with strong mysterious nourishing ales. Dark unctuous Olaroso sherry and complex port will watch from the sidelines waiting for the mince pies to come out and frolic. It means stews, roasts, jacket spuds and all kinds of British food. Basically this is a time of year I rather like.c 30 in a few weeks and am rather looking forward to it. I don’t think anything will change but I will reflect more on this later.

Hi-DeHi

It's more than 20 years since Hi-De-Hi! that mishmash of slapstick and camp flickered on to our screens and Clare and I went to a celebration of the programme in Dovercourt Essex. The event took place in the Cliff Hotel and this was fitting as it had been the hotel used by the caste and crew of the show when filming in the quiet coastal town. I'm not a particularly big fan of this comedy but it’s authors Jimmy Perry and David Croft have written Some classics of britcom. examples are dad's army, you rang m lord, Are you being served?, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, It Aint Half Hot Mum and 'Allo 'Allo!.

This has to put them up with people like Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Steve Coogan, Peter Kay, Craig Cash, Caroline aherne ETC ETC as some of our best comedy script writers ever. For this reason and the fact some of the actors were also in da house it was an honor to be at the event.

On arriving In Dovercourt with Trekker guiding and the dogs lending a hand we found the hotel and made a slightly unorthodox entrance through the fire doors. Immediately we were met by the actress Sue Pollard who exclaimed that we must have traveled a long way, that we should have tea and cakes and ushered our bewildered selves in to a room full of VIPs and a loud parrot called Charley who it transpired Sue Pollard had spent time teaching to say F off!

All the actors such as Sue Pollard, Nikki Kelly Jeffrey Holland and his wife Judy Buxton were ever so friendly and all gave much time to us.

It felt strange being in a bar with Sue Pollard and some of the other cast members when everyone's slightly squify at 1:30 AM, but after a lovely dinner and much laughter and fun it was natural.

We had a cracking time with some lovely people and all preconceptions aside I really enjoyed the 24 hours we spent.

manningtree station

Clare and I are at Manningtree station just 10 minutes from
Ipswich waiting to change trains on our way to dovercourt. I was
really happy and surprised to find a small friendly local pub on
the platform Only gk beers but the old bob was on good form with
the locals watching the rugby game. The bar opens at 5 am on a
weekday for the railway workers to have a pint or two. This is
useful to know before a beer festival too.
I know the station is rather full of people getting on and off
trains in the week so could this be the reason?
another attraction is the bar sells home made food till 1 in the
afternoon and sandwiches.

I hope this gets to the blog as I am sending from my pk using
gprs.

Islay Humour

Duncan at Bruichladdich told us this joke and it's just been posted on the Islay blog.


A Farmer on Islay is working on a remote field somewhere in the north looking after his sheep when a shiny new Mercedes pulls over on the side of the single track road. The driver, a posh young man elegantly dressed in a Versace suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and a Rolex wrist watch leans out of his window and says to the farmer: 'If I can tell you exactly how many sheep you have walking here can I get one from you?'

The farmer looks at the yup and says 'All right, why not'.

The yup immediately grabs his Dell laptop and connects it using Bluetooth with his Mobile phone. He makes a GPRS internet connection, surfs to a NASA website and selects a navigation system to determine his exact location. He then sends the data to another NASA satellite, which scans the area and sends the yup a razor sharp picture. He opens Adobe Photoshop and sends the picture back to a laboratory in Hamburg that confirms the processing and storage of the picture. Using several complicated formulas the yup downloads and scans the picture and prints it on his mini HP LaserJet. He looks at the farmer and says 'You have exactly 1586 sheep'.

'You are right' says the farmer. 'You can select one sheep for yourself'

The yup steps out of his car, finds himself an animal and loads it in the boot of his car.

Then the farmer says: 'If I guess your profession, will you give me the animal back?'

The yup thinks and says 'yes, why not.'

The farmer says: 'You're a manager.'

'Unbelievable' says the yup. 'How did you find that out?'

'That was not so hard', says the farmer, 'you turn up here while nobody asked for it, you ask questions nobody is waiting for, you want to get paid for an answer I already know and you understand bloody nothing about my work. Now give me back my dog!'

Mixed Bag

We’re nearing the end of another week. Interesting work for the last few days and lots to do next week before my trip to natter with the good people in Ireland, get the malt out Derry!

Life is pretty quiet at the moment. Seann should be coming down for a birthday bash in Ipswich the weekend before me 30th in November and I’ve asked a few people over for that. Its probably going to be a few beers and malts and lots of food and details are being worked out at the moment so if anyone fancies it let me know because I’m sure to have forgotten to ask people.

Clare and I are off to a comedy night and expo thing on Saturday which I’ll blog about next week.

Dave and I made it on to the news section of www.whisky-pages.com which is rather cool.

Terry Clasper found out that attaching a USB extension to the PK will let one use a memory stick in the device and that is a rather nifty thing to be able to do with the little beastie.
I was in Epsom on Thursday evening having a drink with Don and Andrew and fun was had. This does however lead me on to commenting on the Rising Sun a year since the re-opening.

They have totally ruined the pub. Walked in to a room full of suits and was told by a uninterested robotic eassten European bar made the only beers they had on were bitter special and bombardier. Totally sad, and naff. Chris and Mark weren’t even in the place which says something. Young’s you are naughty naughty naughty!

I expect the food is still top but I won’t be returning. Bland in the extreme.

Moving back to last week Clare and I went to a free Sonday dinner at the Rose and Crown in Ipswich which was lovely cooked by Mary and everyone had a fun time. The beers were varied and the jokes and good humor were much in evident. Nice one Nigel!

Islay and Bruichladdich Report

My holiday on Islay with two dear friends was a magical experience and I've
got a few memories to share.

We touched down on Sunday evening and were met by our taxi driver Stuart
Doyle who was to be our savior that evening once refreshments had been taken
in some of Islay's hostelries. He drove us to the academy house and we were
met with offers of tea, coffee, beer and whisky so after dropping our things
went outside for a dram of Brichladdich 12 year. The air in Islay is
something else and when you're at bruichladdich it's salty and crisp as you
are virtually on an Atlantic beech in the warehouses you can feel this damp
wind and it must influence the whisky especially after 15 years in cask in
these conditions and I for one believe it does. Whisky is lost through the
porous wood and air enters.

That evening we ate Islay steaks and scallops at the Port Charlotte Hotel
and then went to the ebullient Lochindaal Hotel
http://www.lochindaal.freeserve.co.uk/ and chatted to it's fun barman Iain
Maclellan with a few more drams and beers.

Back at home Dave and I went drunkenly out in the lashing wetness to have an
explore and nearly got lost as the battery in the GPS gave out. It was fun
though and something different. The idea was for a midnight dram beside
Lochindaal and had we known that just by standing outside the distillery
we'd have been in the correct spot things would have been simpler for us.

Monday saw us taking in a well done tour at Laphroaig, a lovely dram of
Lagavulin finished in rich sherry casks offered to us by Kirsten as we
passed by the distillery and then dinner at Ardbeg along with a drop or two
of the local Islay Ale.

We found out that from now on Ardbeg is going to be matured on the mainland,
well a large portion of it anyway because basically LVMH are too tight to
build more warehousing for the stocks. Will this change the taste? Maybe,
but we were told that Islay and mainland stocks would be blended together so
nobody should know the difference. This to me is a disappointing attitude
for a company as rich as LVMH who offer luxury and exclusivity

We then went for a superb tea at the academy house and up above a cliff with
Duncan McGillivray the manager and our academy friends for another very
windswept dram Life couldn't get better. Thanks also on the Monday for
Emma's lift.

The academy was wonderful I won't go in to huge detail as people can find
all this on the web but everyone was amazing. Dave and I were in the thick
of it moving casks, filling, mashing, lobbing in the fruity smelling yeast,
distilling and sniffing spirit with the Budgie and working in the bottling
hall.

I enjoyed the filling with Grant and the crew. We were filling 1998 Laddi
in to Madera drums after it had been vatted in one of the huge tanks. This
will probably go to make up a batch of Bruichladdich Waves a whisky I noted
a month or two ago. It will be interesting to watch this expression over
the next year because it's getting a little older.

We also were able to taste some amazing casks in the warehouses including a
brilliant Macallan aced in a Red Ridge zinfandel cask, a Glenlivvet 1977 and
a sinewy 17 year old Glenfarclas from second fill sherry which for me made
time stand still in the damp and lovely smelling building.

Thursday was the day of truth and it was decided between Dave and I that we
would purchase a cask of Bruichladdich spirit aged in first fill bourbon
from the buffalo Trace distillery in the USA. Its cask 1066 from 2007 and
was looking and smelling lovely as we fondly patted its wooden rump. Jim
McEwan had personally selected this cask for us but may have bashed in the
bung a little too hard as Duncan managed to brake the little wooden critter
in two as he extracted it for Dave and I to pay homage to the spirit so we
now have half each. Phil Dave and I then went to a top secret
installation and tried some extremely peaty Bruichladdich called Octomore,
with Duncan the distillery manager. These warehouses were up on a hill in
Port Charlotte and very old. Jaid had a wale of a time scampering around
the sellers snuffling and sniffling.

Everyon