Quick weekend roundup

I had a legendry weekend last. The beer in the form of mild stout and
porter made it's mark as also did fine malts and bourbon. The house didn't
suffer too much at all considering the number of people staying with us.
Food and band were excellent on Saturday night and Dave was enthusiastic to
the max. I thought he was going to burn the pub down or at least people's
hair at one point when he got out his cigarette lighting implement for the
ballads. It was fantastic having people come over from Epsom Yorkshire and
Worcester plus my new found friends in Ipswich. The pub was rather full and
Dave hammered out a few tunes on the piano once the band had finished.

My most unusual gift was a brace of rabbits. They still have fur on but
we're going to cook the bastards in a few weeks for Sunday dinner with
celery, onions carrots and such other veggie that would compliment them.

I'm now on my way back from a demo in Warwickshire and will probably stop in
at dirty dicks in London for the first pint of Young's winter warmer of
2007.

Update

I didn’t get in to have the winter warmer as I was tired but made my way home to Ipswich and then to the Rose and Crown for a pint or two of Victoria Bitter and one of Harwich Town redoubt Stout. Road Kill came in with some booty from his French trip for me, then it was home for a curry and watching tv with Clare.

Work and Music and Stuff

I’ve had a busy time with work recently but did get in a quiet weekend with Clare. The next few look to be anything but with trips over to Bournemouth, Epsom and then to Dublin on the 15th of June.

I downloaded and have been listening to the latest DT album and my does it rock hard. I’ll be posting a review on the 5th of June when I’ve had more time with it. That’s also the release date but I don’t have any guilt. I’ve pre-ordered the standard and special edition of the critter from play.com

The Revenge buy the Allen Lande project is also worth picking up and has some killer tracks. It lacks some of the cheese factor that was so beloved to me from the first effort and is a more mature affair that takes a little longer to grow. Rustle Allen’s vocals are mightily impressive on this disk and better than the first.

Moving to this week I’ve been in London, South end and am now travelling down to Truro with stops in Winchester, Southampton and Exeter along with Bournemouth planned for later in the week.

I think I’ll plod the streets of Truro in an attempt to find a real ale pub tonight should we get in on time.

Clare's Birthday Weekend

Clare’s birthday weekend was the stuff of which legends are made, a superb example of hard whisky lots of mild and much story telling sprinkled with a little anguish as a result of the birthday girl losing her voice on the Friday night and shoddy taxi service from the up to now reliable Hawk Express.

After dumping my bags at home on Friday night I helped tidy a little before our guests arrived. In order to protect them lets just assume the pseudonyms of “pompous sod” and “Scatty Blonde” Because of scheduling commitments and late trains Clare’s dad arrived before they and kindly cooked a huge pile of fajita mix of which we were to partake later.

The girls not been able to wait we started on this just before PS arrived but left plenty for his capacious apatite. When he did actually turn up he did the nosh justice and even then demolished half a spicy pizza and some pasties and sausage roles. The young lad demolished around 2l of German beer and a quart of whisky to make his drunkenness complete and his requirement for much sleep was evident at 5:30 the next day as the birds were starting to chatter. Oh at around 3:30 AM He also got the erge for drunken running through old Ipswich town in the pursuit of a packet of fags which he couldn’t’ obtain in our neighbourhood at that time.

On the Saturday I awoke a little late but we all showered and then made our way birthday cake in hot pursuit to the Dove for a quick stop off which lasted approximately 8 hours. The banter was good, the chilli and beef in ale excellent and the beer impeccable. SB wasn’t impressed with her fruit wines but did like the Trekker and lots of vodka, an unusual combination but it suited her on that occasion.

After all that chatting it was time for the birthday girls wish to be granted as in a croaky voice she earlyer that day had demanded Eurovision on the TV so we slipped off to the back room to pretend not to enjoy this yearly freak fest.

Wersle and Chris turned up baring gifts and cards we all chatted and mingled happily until a Labrador of unknown ownership went for Jaid 3 times. I was forced to tell the bar staff who ejected the animal with owner as it was basically out of control when seeing jaid.

Eurovision over Chris Wersle and I went to Akbar’s and had them bring round a feast of a meal to the pub and Karen provided plates ETC for this spicy banquet. It was then time for cake, presents and champagne provided by the PS and some goodbyes and a last pint or two before getting our very late taxi home for: yep more beer and whisky, talking or in the birthday girls case croaking and squeaking before we buggered off to bed after listening to Mr Thackeray.

We missed our dinner in the greyhound on Sunday not as a result of sleeping in but because of shite service from Hawk and had to buy the birthday steak pie in the wetherspoons. Another example of at first shite service but this did improve, it had too. As SB commented ‘Ipswich is on a brain drain today’ we then dropped off PS at the train station for his journey back to the midlands.

The birthday evening was spent chatting eating crisps and other rubbish all topped off with a chocolate bun or two.

I was working with a nice bloke from Ipswich social services on Monday first thing and then went to talk with Action for Blind Norfolk/Suffolk branch and the young members of Ipswich blind society in the afternoon. Unfortunately the birthday girls cold had kicked in though her voice was returning so after work it was off to bed with her and hotel booking for me.

Today finds me travelling down to Kent.

House Warming in Worcester

Chris popped over on Friday night for some German beer and a natter. We also gave the bottle of W L Weller bourbon a hammering along with some other whiskeys including a 38 year old grain and a splendid 35 year old blend. We also had some very moderate fish and chips with Clare and it was lucky she woke me on the Saturday.

work on the Saturday was to take me to central London for a most enjoyable stint with Clare at the Blind Piano Tuners association annual conference.

After a busy and hectic few hours we jumped in a cab and drove over to Paddington and then on to Worcester and Dave’s newly purchased property.

The party was busy to say the least with around 17 people in his one bedroom flat. Around 50 cans of Guinness were demolished along with over 3 bottles of wine and many cans of Carlsberg export and some bottles of Cobra. It was really good catching up with old friends and everyone appeared to have a good time. I was up for whisky at the end of the night but mine host was slumbering on the floor so this really didn’t appear such a workable plan such was the noise of snoring reverberating the room from other sprawled out carcases.

Everyone rose on Sunday remarkably well and though one of our number had vanished in to the night Dell Dave Clare and I made our way to the Plough for Sunday dinner and a pint or two. It was lovely with the cathedral bells wringing and the food was splendid. The pudding really topped it all off as it was homemade and swimming in custard.

Dell departed and then the afternoon took a decidedly European flavour as we strolled along to Worcester racecourse to enjoy the beer and hotdogs at the German festival taking place over that weekend. Apparently most of the people behind the counters were Greek, the band Indian and the bar staff from Liverpool but never the less we drank ate and revelled in the music for a good two hours or more. The same fest will visit Northampton this weekend and it would kill a good bit of Saturday or Sunday so it could be one to try.

My apatite for European beer not yet satiated we went via McDonalds to the Austrian pub in Worcester. I enjoyed a pilsner and a dunkle beer and then we walked home.

I have work in Worcester today and then its London on Tuesday.

Jaidy Lady

Andrew Gower from GDBA came to talk to me today about getting another dog. Yep, Jaid’s retiring this year and I should have another wuffer before Christmas. Sad I know but life moves on and I know Jaid will have a smashing retirement. I just don’t want her to go through another working winter.

I took two and a half days off this week to prolong the bank holiday which has been unproductive but enjoyable. Next week looks to be busy with dems either booked in for each day or on the cards.

We have no plans for the weekend so I’ll stop drivelling and get stuck in to this pint of Banks’s Original.

Happy Easter

We’ve had a restful day. For some reason we couldn’t sleep so both up early and prepped a beautiful dish with beef and ale. It was cooked in the slow cooker so after the preparations were complete we had a bagel, Clare’s speciality and for me a cup of tea and then went up to bed to pass the time until the food was cooked. The Easter bunny visited us both which was nice and then we both had a kip.

Later we opened a bottle of amontillado sherry as a pre dinner drink and then had the food with a bottle of Australian bubbles. I’ll post our recipe tomorrow in case anyone’s interested. Still plenty of sherry left though so it should go down nice with some cheese on Monday.

The late afternoon was lazily spent with us both on the couch listening to music before the dogs were fed and I grabbed a dram of redbreast whiskey.

What a relaxing day.

More of the same

It appears as though my blog has mutated in to a bunch of weekly katchups that are a little samey, but hell its my life if you know what I mean.

Last Friday I arrived in before 9 and had a drink or two in the dove before returning home and watching the Lennon documentary with Clare. Rather interesting I thought but I don’t know what he saw in Yoko.

Emma Dale and Holly came around on Saturday afternoon and we spent a pleasant hour and a half chatting before they gave me a lift to tesco to pickup one or two bits for the night ahead. Chris wersal and glennis came over and Clare cooked a proper mean Chili and garlic bread. Everyone brought ales and wine so we had such a selection to go through and though we all partook of way too much I still have rather a lot left. What did for me though was the Western’s Organic Cider. Purchased from tesco this is in a wine box and tastes more like real cider than anything I’ve ever had from a shop before.

After a quiet Sunday we went out on Monday evening to a pub quiz in the Woolpack which was enjoyable and we put up a reasonable showing. Our aim was to eat a nice meal in town but because of all the chatter we didn’t leave until late so were left with the unfortunate proposition of Bobs burger van. Absolutely horrible. Never risk it. Honestly, I don’t like to tell you what it did to us but we’ll be returning no more.

The cab driver kindly explained to us on the way home that we should have gone to Perry’s van on Tower Street but we weren’t to know.

I went over to Worcester on Wednesday afternoon as I had work in Hereford the next day and my train from Ipswich wouldn’t have allowed me to get in to the city on time for the start of work. Suffice to say that Dave and I went out for a few drinks and then ended up in a curry house. The Plough has turned into a real gem with smashing staff food and a good selection of ales. Its just so friendly. The Dragon on the other hand appears to have slid a little bit now that Richard and G have moved over to Richards new pub in Sheffield. Its still by any standards a corking pub but not the same though Steff keeps things on a good kilter.

Wednesday’s training went well and I visited my two favorite brewery owned pubs in the city and picked up a rake of bottled stout in the Barrels which I delivered back to Williams villa.

Once more the sun was out to greet us on Thursday and we spent most of the day outdoors with Trekker and really had a lovely day. I then returned to Worcester and popped in to the plough and the dragon before making my way back to Dave’s. we supped brews and ordered the best takeaway curry I’ve ever ad. Ok, I did have a tandori mixed grill but the snap was done to a turn and presentation impeccable. Mints, hot towels, napkins plastic plates and even a rose which I should have brought back for Clare. It sounds a bit tacky but it was like bringing the restaurant home with that quality of food and my own drink, even though it was tea.

It took over 5 hours traveling on Friday but I arrived home and slept after eating the traditional good Friday fish and chips.

I treated myself to a Western Digital 160GB Passport hard drive. These just plug in to the usb port and are powered from the same. They’re also tiny. This will be fantastic for transporting large amounts of data with me. Also grabbed my parents a good kettle something they’ve been lacking for years.

I have to pop in to town now so will shoot off.

That was a good week that was

Last Friday took me over to Norwich for a Trekker demo then I finished the day working at home. I then received a call from, well, lets call him G saying he’d be late in to Ipswich. I decided to fortify myself with a large haddock and chips for with G around the stars were aligned for a heavy evening.

When I eventually met him in Ipswich station we took a taxi to the crowded fat cat. Of interest was the posh sounding bloke behind the bar and the range of imported beers not that large, but budvar and other German beers along with a range of 12 or so ales from the UK made a good showing. The ales were none too interesting though so after one pint for me and a huge Scotch egg for he we found ourselves in the Dove.

The beer selection was much improved really because of the range of beers on offer and by this I mean styles. Golden ale, porter, stout, old ale and bitters were all evident and supped by the both of us. We were then joined by some of my Ipswich drinking mates and had a cracking night.

We finished off by ordering a curry and getting a taxi home with the grub. More beers were sunk and the nosh consumed. I even remembered to bring Clare some beer back!

Saturdays’ breakfast was balti peanuts and a coffee beer picked up from the ale shop on Ipswich station and then G departed.

The rest of the day was nice and quiet as was the weekend really. Clare went out to a gig on Sunday night so I went in to town for a few hours but nothing else of note happened.

Tuesday found me making a quick journey up to Scotland for literally 6 or so hours for some Trekker dems and then Lucy and I drove down to a lovely little hotel near Workington as we were to toil in the area on the Wednesday. That could be my last time up in Scotland for work but more on that in a future post.

I was closer to home in Chelmsford on Thursday and then in London and the office for Friday. I had a teleconference with Lucia this afternoon which was as always with her pleasurable

We have friends coming over on Saturday evening and I’m probably going to go for a quick pint when I return to Ipswich at around 9:15 tonight. I couldn’t face the rush so took a taxi from ST Pancras to Liverpool Street, yep a copout but well, as Steve would say, ‘the dog was tired.’ Its true, I was walking between the stations and Jaid actually dragged me in to a cab as a lady was getting out. It wasn’t even at a rank. I guess after living in the south for over 3 years she’s twigged as to what they look like and enjoys riding rather than working across London. Anyway, we’re now a quarter through 2007 and spring will be springing soon, so time to be happy. Oh, and I've also sorted out my bloglines this week and have a stack of feeds of interest to a Yorkshire man in exile in East Anglia.

March and District Museum

Our trip to the March and District museum was most enjoyable yesterday and only a few minutes walk from our hotel.

We were shown around by a knowledgeable and patient guide called Charles who with much attention explained the history of the town through the many interesting exhibits on display. It would be not unfair to suggest that Charles himself was a fascinating gentleman coming from Droylsdan and working in the RAF fixing and maintaining bombers on the Cambridgeshire airfields during the second world war.

The museum is volunteer staffed and has charitable status for funding. I guess you could say it was quaint with people who obviously care about their past attempting to preserve a long gone history for others to enjoy and learn from. In any case the visit made an interesting and in many ways fascinating few hours entertainment.

Oliver Cromwell Hotel March

Clare and I arrived at the luxurious and homely Oliver Cromwell Hotel in the Fenland town of March yesterday afternoon for a weekend away. Our rooms are large and well appointed but three locked doors off our mane suite have me a little concerned that something mysterious is afoot.

Upon entrance we took advantage of the swimming pool, steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi but gave the gymnasium a miss maybe today or Sunday? then retired to the bar for a couple pints of real ales including brews from Abbeydale of Sheffield, Occam of Peterborough and Nethergate# from Essex. Clare also had a budvar and then we fed dogs ETC.

The grub in the hotel is fantastic and we each demolished a sumptuous 4 course meal and had a laugh with our waitresses. One cool thing, they were playing the female fronted goth metal band Within Temptation which I found just sensational as we ate. Not loud but just in the background and it worked rather well with Sharron Den Adels enchanting vocals complimenting the food.

It was then time for comic relief and a bit of kip. We intend to visit the March Museum today and also recover from our breakfast.

Beer in Bury

As expected my parents landing last weekend was an orgy of food and ale. Seafood in the Woolpack on Friday evening, a roast dinner out on Sunday and dinner in the highly polished and gastro style Old Cannon Brewery in Bury ST Edmonds on Saturday.

I’ve wanted to visit this town and the Cannon for a few months now and neither disappointed.

The cannon was large and airy with plenty of hooray henrys eating by the time we’d gone with their little Jemimas and Justins tagging along.

The best bitter was a treat but the blonde bombshell a little eggy and thin, kind of a let down for what should have been a hoppy fresh golden ale. The highlight was the Gunner’s Daughter which though a strong brew hid the strength well and was full bodied.

I took the opportunity to try the dark seasonable beer, the name escapes me but to my pallet it was just evil. Somehow plastic tasting if that makes sense with a beautiful TCP note.

The food was expensive but top draw with my Gunner’s Daughter sausages, mash home made Yorkshire ETC going down a storm. So a mix really but its nice to find a brewpub in the middle of GK land.

After this we walked around the market town and found a lovely café shop down a side road with splendid coffee and home made cakes.

That’s my kind of Saturday!

update 1

This should have uploaded last Friday but for some reason it didn’t. Backtracking to the last Friday of February I met up with Paul in Cambridge and we toured a few pubs together but I arrived home in time to help Clare prepare tea which was a bit ST David's day themed. Lamb steaks, pork and leaque sausage new potatoes and leaques. We do this on occasions like ST Patrick’s day, Chinese new-year ETC just for a bit of fun.

Saturday was a big day for me in a peculiar way. I've banked with Nat west for 29 years according to my mum and opening a new main current account with the Halifax was quite sad in some ways since I'd had the piggy banks and all from the Nat west over the years but the bate of a much better interest rate plus 100 quid for opening the account was just too strong.

The afternoon was spent with Robin and then in the Dove at which point we met up with Wersle and Glenda for drinks and a fantastic beef curry at home.

Work wise I was stationed in the north all week but ended on Friday working around the south coast. My parents were over last weekend which will necessitate a few meals out I would venture.

Cambridge Capers and Crawl

The plan was to arrive in at Cambridge for 1 in the afternoon of last Saturday but owing to the merriment of the evening before we actually got in just after 3. The wet whether hit us as we walked out the door in Ipswich and boarded the bus to the Train station. Unfortunately we just missed a Cambridge train so went to Keo’s delicatessen on the platform and purchased sandwiches organic fruit juices, homemade Scotch eggs and other delicacies. I selected homemade chicken curry and bhajis surprisingly and then washed it down with a bottle of Bishops Tipple a strong hoppy brew from Wadworth’s purchased from the Wine Buffer’s store next door. This repast was taken on Platform two of Ipswich Railway station after which we got on the train and for an hour said little but listened to music and \slept.

We walked with the aid of our 4 legged friends and the GPS to the Live and Let Live, Cambridge Camera pub of the year but it was shut until later that evening so we taxied to Paul and Tinas house to drink tea eat nearly out of date mince pies and dry out. Paul then took us on a mammoth crawl through Cambridge at which we walked around 4 miles and took in many good pubs the best of these was for me the St Radegund. This small boozer features beers from the local Milton brewery and the easy drinking sackcloth bitter was a delight.

We then hit the Champion of the Tems at which the landlord would I’m sure have asked me to leave if Paul were not around. I made my views known on Greene King ales and this didn’t go down too well.

The next stop was the Live and Let Live which was ok but not as good as I’d expected, and then on to the Kingston Arms, a large airy pub followed by the charming Cambridge Blue who’s beers were all in tiptop form.

The curry bug then hit and just after 11 we hit the Curry queen for a slap-up binge of spicy nosh. The owners were reluctant to let us in with the dogs but with some tact I tipped the balance in our favour and we will be welcome back any time along with the dogs. Well, they would welcome us back for £90 going in the till I guess.

The party was to continue back home with Clare hitting the whisky and me going for organic ale and ahem, some of Clare’s whisky. Paul put on a good show and we listened to Lemon Jelly and the snores of Steve.

Bacon was the first thing assailing my nostrils at half 1 on Sunday afternoon and the cooked breakfast Tina provided was sensational with bacon, snorkers, eggs, tomatoes, beans, toast and tea but the snorkers a speciality.

Not wanting to waist our time in Cambridge we went to King’s College Chapel for evensong. Now I’m not at all religious or a god botherer but the quire and building are world renown and provide the setting for the BBC carol service broadcast on radio each year. The chapel dates from the 1460s and is grand in scale with dimensions that put many cathedrals to shame. Basically funded by king Henry VI and the next few after him the structure is ornate and the windows world famous. For me it was a privilege to be able to touch the 550 year old organ casing and here the magnificent instrument and angelic quire. The acoustics of this place have to be listened to in order that one can take in the utter brilliance of the sound.

After the service we went to the Eagle pub and I endured more Greene King ale. Interestingly One of the back rooms has graffiti scrawled by WWII fliers in the soot of candles onto the ceiling. Watson and Crick discoverers of
DNA allegedly pronounced the 'eureka' here over a pint. If only the pub were that interesting these days. A wetherspoon like place with prices not to match and a Greene King monster pub.

We had planned to watch a jazz combo back in the St Radegund but owing to Tina’s beautiful roast lamb and much cheese, beer, wine and Gin plus good conversation and malt we gave it a miss and had a lovely night in.

So it was back to work on Monday and a big thanks to Steve Paul Tina and Clare.

Happy Beerday to the Dove

The birthday party of the Dove went with a bang. Clare Steve and I fought wind and pelting precipitation through the streets of old Ipswich town to attend this most prestigious of events with all three dogs. On entering at around half 7 the bar was nearly full but we obtained a table lest Steve and I were to partake of too much falling down water. I stuck to the Mighty Oak Mild most of the evening but took a quick detour over the hills to Thwaits land for a quick pint of the bitter which was lovely and probably better than anything I’ve ever tasted in Preston from that particular brewery.

Carl and one of the pianists from Jewel’s Holland’s band were doing a set of jazz standards in the back bar, so I went with Jaid to watch a little of the good performance.

Just after 12 we were all moved back against the walls as a troop of the regulars danced through the pub in Egyptian costume and rather good they were according to Clare who appeared to get her own little show at one point. History was made after this when Adi proposed to his partner in crime for more years than they care to think about Karen. What a fantastic moment and its good to know that Jaid will be going to live with people who aren’t living in sin!!

We all got home around 1 and after scrimmaging for food and ale went to bed for Cambridge loomed on Saturday.

Beery Weekend

Work took me to Norwich on Friday last so when all was done I took advantage of the situation to check out one or two of the best ale houses in norfolks principle city that is blessed with some outstanding pubs.

First was the Duke of Wellington which was like a gentler version of the Dragon in Worcester but with more ales and even some of the lovely German beers I used to drink in the Riser. This place was just so friendly and it owns the Woolf Brewery but doesn’t overly push its ales instead letting two or three sit along side an impressive range of cask offerings from other brewers. This place is well worth checking out and was my favourite of the two pubs Clare and I visited. Many of the regulars enjoy going to the Dove in Ipswich so a clientele of good taste. You’re not going to be out of pocket after a night in the Duke either. This wouldn’t matter a jot but when added to the general ambiance of the pub really takes it over the top. Beware bearded CAMRA types!

The Fat Cat Norwich is a sister to that found in Ipswich but to me at least was more welcoming and the beers from the Fat Cat Brewery located in the CiderShed pub within the city were smashing, especially the 5.6% Marmalade. Staff were also attentive. A special mention goes out to possibly the best pork pies in Norfolk. They had around 20 beers on cask plus were willing to give tasters and advise even though it was starting to fill up. What a pub but pipped for me by the above.

Taxis are a rip-off in Norwich but we will be heading back to check out more recommended hostelries in the near future.

We then headed back home and found our way to the Ipswich Fat Cat for comparison at which were two of the beers from the new St Jude brewery. The Ipswich Bright was frankly terrible but the slightly stronger Coachman’s Whip was lovely but still not earth shattering. I think they have some work to do but wish them well. I’ve noticed a dip in the cat over the last few months but it appeared to be picking up again last weekend.

We then walked just under a mile to the Dove Inn and were warmly welcomed. Many brews were sampled by myself and by the time Emma came along I may have over indulged. certainly by the time Clare and I walked to the bus stop to go home I had definitely over-indulged to the point of swaying around and talking shite. Karen and Adi have possibly the best pub in the country with the Dove and this is backed up by the short-listing along with 3 others for the CAMRA pub of the year. They’ve already taken the Publican cask ale pub of the year 2006 so are doing rather well at the moment. It also looks like Jaid will be setting up home with them later this year.

I awoke on Saturday with a rotten head but managed to have pics taken by the local paper then Clare and I went to the Woolpack for some lovely seafood and for me an Adnams.

The afternoon was spent in the Dove with just a couple of beers this time talking to a biker and his missus. We took in a curry that night from Akbars which really hit the spot and thus ended a perfectly enjoyable day.

Sunday is traditionally always a time of dining with family and with this in mind we took Colin and Sue out for a byte to eat in the GreyHound a lovely Adnams pub with really good home cooked food. Apparently the pie was like Clare’s Nana makes so all was well and the Explorer ale citric with American hops.

I spent the afternoon cleaning up my Shuttle SFF PC and am giving it to Emma so she can get some net connectivity. I hope it will help Holly with her schooling and get me Cuz online.

Clare and I also racked a batch of homebrew and dry hopped it in to cask. Its Woodfordes bitter which is renown for its quality if brewed correctly and I think we did a reasonable job but only time will tell. We should know in two to three weeks.

I was training in Sutton yesterday and I’m now travelling to the midlands for more of the same.

Links

http://www.wolfbrewery.com/
http://www.dukeofwellingtonnorwich.co.uk/
http://www.fatcatpub.co.uk
http://www.fatcatipswich.co.uk
http://www.dovestreetinn.co.uk
http://www.greyhound-ipswich.com