Highland Adventures

We had a long day of sightseeing from the car yesterday. We left our motel in the pouring rain; though from the inside it looked like a nice day. We found food after making a major wrong turn and ended up outside BBC Scotland; then after a quick photo stop of the Rangers Ibrox stadium; we made our way through Grennock and over to Weymss Bay for the ferry crossing to Bute. Although there was a strong wind; it was still a dry day and we didn't have to wait long to board the ferry. It was a shame that we couldn't explore the whole ship as it was being painted; but we did see some oil rigs; castles; a lighthouse and plenty of windmills. On arrival in Rotherary; we soon found ourselves in front of its castle; which was used as a base fortress for the island while the battle wore on between the Scots and the Vikings for its control. Legend has it that Ulak the Viking scaled the wall with his two axes. We then pressed on to a quick lunch spot over a view of the Isle of Arran before visiting the church and secluded Abbey of St. Blane. A quick drive to the north side of the island saw us board the ferry back to the mainland; then we pushed on for a scenic drive through the Argyll Forest; reaching Carrick Castle just as a rainbow shone over the Glen and into the lock. Some windy roads caused us to rest and be thankful; then after a group meet-up in Inveraray, we arrived at Ardbrecknish House.

My cup of tea's behind door number two

I’m staying in a Travelodge! This morning we were up early and ready for tea but we had ran out of complimentary milk. Our monkey butler volunteered to scuffle over to reception to get some; and took the key card with him. Later we heard clicking at the door and I started to count how many times it took him to take him to open the door with the keycard. But after just one try the noise rattled away; though we did hear a faint knocking nearby. A short time later; there was a knocking on the door. It turned out that monkey butler actually tried the door of three other rooms before knocking on each of the doors; forcing one occupant to lock their door and another to open it while looking confused! Eventually he headed back to reception to ask what room number he was in! This was a man who clearly needed his morning cup of tea.

Bridget Jones' Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fielding’s take on the diarist results in a lovable, true blonde struggling to keep her wits about her as she attempts to balance her career with the peer pressures of being single. Bridget chronicles everything from her weight loss and gain to her alcohol intake and goals in her effort to find Mr. Right whilst retaining her feminist principles; whether it’s flirting with her boss following advice from her caring friends or attempting to master the latest technology. She offers so many insights on the theories of modern single life that just makes you want to go ‘aw!’ Her dysfunctional mother only creates sympathy for her in her own effort to battle her growing personal crisis with hilarious results; however determined Bridget is to resolve them; and she does not give up easily; however much is put in front of her. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and Bridget’s calm yet

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CAMRA in Parliament

Over the course of this year’s General Election, there were over 1,100 candidates nationally who supported CAMRA’s beer and pub pledges. On the back of this cross-party support; CAMRA has helped to draft an Early Day Motion to encourage MPs to show just how popular our British pubs can be; and to implement more support to protect and preserve community pubs and the British brewing industry.

In our Summer edition we reported that the EU demanded that the UK government remove the tax exemption in place for small cider makers; making production uneconomical for many producers and force them into closure. CAMRA began a campaign to support small cider makers; and a petition quickly grew in size to over 26,000 signatures which was presented to Downing Street in June. During the July budget announcements; Chancellor George Osborne pledged to keep the tax exemption in place, thereby protecting the British tradition of cider making.   

Things Fall Apart

This was a strange book with a disappointing ending. It tells the story of the yearly customs of an African tribe and how their society is broken down by the arrival of the Christian missionaries. The day to day actions of the tribe are way too detailed and mundane; it’s as if the author is actually writing recipes for yams as a subtext in order to fill pages. I also find that having characters whose names are spelt similarly loses the focus of the novel as the reader struggles to remember which character does what; leaving the whole narrative in a blur. The suicidal  ending leaves the tribe particularly lost as if their traditions really are falling apart and their moral is broken. I'm also baffled as to why the reader is left with the formation of the District Commissioner’s dictionary. I wonder if Achebe was a racist who experienced these issues within his Nigerian village?

The Deeger

As I was driving to work in that lovely early hour when the sun was still rising; a strange creature caught my eye. I often spot rabbits, birds, deer, foxes and dead badgers and cats, but I just couldn't work out what this was. What I saw by the side of the road was a deer’s head and neck attached to the body and legs of a brown badger. The creature was trying to cross the road but headed back into the bushes when it saw the car coming. But just what did I see? Some rare glimpse of a new species? A deformed cross-breed escaped from a scientific laboratory out for its first taste of freedom? Or maybe I imagined it in my dozy state. Of course it might be perfectly possible for the badger to be standing in front of of the deer; hiding its face in the grass. What was even odder was that the sun was never seen for the rest of the day and it was completely overcast with drizzle. 

Big Issues on the Radio

It’s the big issues that are being discussed on the radio this morning. As soon as I tuned into BBC Radio Coventry, the importance of prime numbers were being discussed. Meanwhile, over on Radio One, the debate continued as to whether you should put your cutlery face up or face down in the dishwasher. It's fascinating stuff. It seems that these presenters have no interest in the world around them and have inadequate brainpower to form an opinion of current events. Why must we listen to these self absorbed people? Radio used to be entertaining and informative; these latter discussions do little other than to pass the time while the DJ sits in his box and sorts through the next record. It would be great to have a show where people could phone in and have a more meaningful discussion. But all these are hidden underneath the commercial music that drowns out any hope of finding other radio stations. 

GumTree

Does anyone out there sell stuff on Gumtree? My brother is selling a pushchair and thinks that he has found a buyer who wants payment details. I said that he can send it to my Paypal account and gave him the e-mail address to send it to. I’ve now had an e-mail pretending to be from Paypal but is actually from a different company who don’t even have a web presence. I then have to visit a money shop to send them money; and only when I have sent the receipt from a money shop to their customer representative will I receive my money. It’s a bit long winded, like me going to the corner shop and telling them; here’s my address; would you mind popping round to my mate’s house and pay him to take it over to me; he’ll give you a receipt to claim back the money I owe you today? Let’s stick to the rulebook here people. 

Ebbing Away

I am slowly ebbing away. I am really struggling to get everything back on track at the moment. I spend my moments at home absolutely shattered; or just in a state so comfortable that I don’t really want to move. Eventually I just doze off fully clothed and don't retire into bed properly. Every day at work just leaves me physically tired as it is constantly manual labour; picking items; loading items; transporting items and unloading them again only to return and repeat the whole process. I have to rely on a management team who struggle to uphold standards and discipline and seem more concerned with the tasks that are set them rather than to supervise any of their own team. I seem to spend my free time watching old YouTube videos; as even TV has given up on me as far as reception and content goes. I need to find a greater source of energy to get the job done. I need to break free.

Getting things done in the workplace

How exactly do you get things done in the workplace? And of course, if you don’t get things done, they will always have a knock-off effect upon others. We’re currently launching a home delivery service, and standards need to be a lot higher if we are to roll it out successfully on time. We need better quality stock control; both at the till point and at the delivery point. We need better control and care of equipment. And we need better service advice; making sure that everyone has everything that they need and understands exactly what is going on. And we need other people to do the same to ensure that they don’t create a delay for the next person coming onto shift. Of course, all this means a tightening up in our processes; and I honestly think that we don’t have the right people in place to handle it. And of course; the ultimate effect is the inevitable delay of getting things done on time.

On the World's Greatest Ale Trail (Part 1)

Have you ever been in your local pub supping a pint while a newcomer comes in and waves their phone in front of a wall? Well fear not; these people aren’t magicians looking for their secret portal home; they’re merely on the path of the World’s Greatest Ale Trail!

The trail is run by Cask Marque; an independent company that checks the quality, temperature, aroma and taste of real ales in pubs that join the scheme. Pubs that do join are assessed regularly to ensure that their beer is of a high standard and receive a plaque and publicity material to promote their involvement; and also a certificate which customers can scan with a smartphone to record their visit. Customers can also earn prizes by scanning these barcodes; from fridge magnets and clothing to brewery tours and commemorative glasses.

Doug Robinson from Redditch is one of the country’s top thirty Cask Marque ambassadors who records his pub visits.      

Wye Valley Vibe of '85 at The Pelican, Gloucester

This week I happened to be in Gloucester, and after a long meeting I decided to seek some refreshment and grab this week’s Cask Marque scan before heading home. I have always wanted to visit the Pelican owned by Wye Valley as I really enjoy their beers. The walk from town was a lengthy one; though if I had more battery power to look at the route I probably could have found a faster one. I found the pub opposite an upmarket grammar school; but who was I to choose where they put their pubs? The closest entrance was through the yard and in through the back; where I made my way past the traditional display of random knickknacks on the wall and negotiated my way to the bar. There were two unfamiliar beers on the bar; but I went for the Wye Valley monthly special as it was a commemorative beer that might not be brewed again. After being charged a simple pound by an unwelcoming barmaid; I got my Cask Marque done and chilled out back in the yard, where the pub cat hung out with the locals. Though it was a pretty cat; it did not like to be petted; but simply cheered on its actions as it attempted to climb the walls of the pub’s beer garden. Then it got very dark so I began my escape; but not before the heavens opened and I got absolutely soaked on my return.

Badminton Blues

I’ve now managed to get back into badminton now for a straight two weeks in a row. During the first session I was performing very well, but in the second session I was really struggling to go for the shuttle. The attendance has also fallen dramatically, and often our group is reduced down to just the one court. Even the wizarding dinosaurs next door seem to have vanished, who we used to borrow a spare player. The trouble that we have now is a shortage of regular players. The guy organising the games is in his 90s; and is now preferring to coach as he really does struggle to keep up in pace in playing games. We really haven’t got the potential to spread the word; so the only way that we can continue is to create posters to market ourselves to a younger audience. Otherwise I cant see it lasting more than the end of this year.   

Sharp's Doom Bar at the Queen's Head, Redditch (Bromsgrove Road)

Last night’s venture was to see how things were going at the Queen’s Head in Bromsgrove Road, Redditch. On our previous visit some time ago there was a gigantic banner in the car park announcing St. Austell’s Tribute which bordered on the vinegary side which we drank politely but with resentment. So as soon as we walked through the door we acknowledged that this was very much a local’s pub as the first thing we had to do was to walk around the door as a giant dog was taking a snooze on the other side. However, once in, the pub seemed much cleaner than on our previous visit, and the Sharp’s Doom Bar was in great condition. There was a large TV which was showing the Ashes highlights; and they had made a real effort to tidy the beer garden and the pub surroundings. The only other disappointing thing was that our delivery of Pint Taken magazines was barely acknowledged; and the landlord failed to recognise or engage with us.  

Dodfest at the Park Gate Inn, Bromsgrove

Today’s visit was to the Park Gate Inn in Bromsgrove to see the pub back in action from a curry house. I had met the owners five days ago who told me they were running a beer festival over the weekend with sixteen beers rotating at any time. They were also opening from midday, which meant that I could get the bus up on my day off and do some proper sampling. Though it was a bit of a rush to get everything done in the morning; we made it as planned and assembled in the pub’s back room. Just seven of the promised sixteen beers were available; while meanwhile people were still busy with tables and tools setting up the festival. The remaining beers did come on during our visit and were pulled through in front of our eyes; but to me they were quite flavourless and seemed to have lost their condition. However, we did have an excellent time touring the pubs of Bromsgrove on our return journey; which was a rare treat in itself.  

Ambridge Sticky Dog at the Railway Inn, Studley

Last night’s pub visit started off as a quick drop-in solely to top up the local CAMRA magazine stand. It was an ideal time; the pub was fairly quiet and the diners had just finished. And then I saw a rare feat; one of the local breweries had their new beer perched up upon the bar. Now I had tried this beer before; but it was in bright form and not at its best. As I took my first sip, I struggled hard so as not to down the whole beer down in one. It was gorgeous! Light in colour and very sweet on the tongue, it took sheer willpower to drive myself on and continue with my deliveries. The landlady was very friendly, and I had a very nice chat with her about the cask marque ale trail and the SIBA scheme which allows them to sell a greater choice of beers through Punch. A very enjoyable pit stop for a weary traveller! Details here.

Marstons New World at the Blue Boar, Binton

To ensure that my Cask Marque Ale Trail was making progress, this week I decided to call in at the Blue Boar Inn just outside Stratford. It’s a country pub in the middle of no-where, but it is also being listed in Binton, Temple Grafton and Alcester! Not knowing what to expect; I had a vision of a foody pub with a handful of weary locals. As I came in the car park was packed, but as I entered the pub I heard the throngs of an acoustic guitar as the evening’s entertainment was being set up for a local open mic night. I soon found my way to the bar, where the locals were very friendly and got to know everyone who came into the pub for a drink. The only problem was that they were perched right outside the cask marque certificate that I wanted to scan; which was the main reason that I chose to visit the pub! But despite being tied to Marstons; the beer was in excellent condition and the atmosphere was very pleasant. Try it yourself:  

IOS 8.0

What’s going on with iTunes? Ever since this new upgrade; it’s become really hard for me to play my music. The entire library seems to have been corrupted with each picture of the songs that I’ve ripped, while meanwhile I can’t seem to play a whole song that I’ve bought off iTunes. And what’s this new member service that’s come in? It’s all too confusing and not enough is explained of what is going on. It’s probably hidden in the gazillion pages of terms and conditions that I’ve agreed to; but if they made a simple summary of the new changes things would be a lot easier. My computer doesn’t like my iPad either, so I can’t even upload my PDF files to the book store to read. I thought that Apple was well designed but this seems to take a step backward. There’s also 4G, which is now available in my area but my iPhone doesn’t have that option. And Siri’s none the wiser. If only Mr. Jobs could see it now…    

Grazing

I’ve become a Grazer. I get healthy snacks through the post once a fortnight. They are varied and wide-ranged; from kernel  sticks and nuts to popcorn and brownies. It’s quiet a varied range as to what they send me; and the first few boxes are freebies. But when I do pay, it works out at around £1 a snack. It’s a bit strange as often they expect you to eat the whole box in one go; as they’re dying to know if you enjoyed the contents of your box. I do enjoy the surprises; especially now that I’ve got the hang of microwave popcorn (I had to bin half of the first packet as it got completely burnt). But some of the cakes and sponges with tea are actually quite plain. I wonder what would happen if I was to order four items of the same thing in the box?    

Shared Living

One of the constraints of living in a shared household is of using facilities. I don’t usually have much choice of seating in the living room and am constantly turned out of chairs and rarely have the freedom of what is on television. I usually then have to resort to my own set; which quite often struggles to receive anything owing to the reception area or flickers whenever some other being decides to move. The kitchen is also a problem in the mornings; having to wait for people to move to gain access to simple items such as a bowl to get my day going. Then there is the bathroom which we all seem to want to use at the same time; whether to clean it or to maintain it; without giving proper notice of each other. It really irritates me to have to work my way round other people’s schedule without being told when I am paying for these services; especially with the constant unannounced interruptions and no personal respect or privacy. I need a better place to live.   

I've got Simon on the brain

I’ve been convinced for ages now that Simon Helberg from The Big Bang Theory makes a guest early appearance in the movie Ten Things I Hate About You. I’ve checked it out on the movie databate imdb.com and also Helberg’s Wikipedia page; and it seems to be unlisted and an unacknowledged credit. Simply googling the question doesn’t get any straight answers either (but then you never expect to). It’s quite early on in the film, when the AV guy is introducing Cameron to the groups of teenagers outside the main entrance to the school. I’m sure that Helberg just walks past, not that much taller than he is today. Either that or he’s hanging out with a small group of guys on the edge of the screen. I’ve since tried to spot him again every time the movie is on; but I’ve failed to spot him a second time. No-one else seems to agree with me. I’ve obviously been watching too much The Big Bang Theory to have Simon on the brain. 

Hatton Country World

Barely a week back from Kefallonia, and I was treated to another excursion; this time to Hatton Country World. After nearly missing the turning and navigated down a narrow country lane; we soon arrived where a giant peacock hissed us as we approached the entrance. After receiving our wrist bands (the kid’s price was more than the adult), we headed straight for the guniea pig farm ahead of all the school parties. My niece was a bit scared of playing with the animals; but she really enjoyed looking at them and kept asking me to take a picture. We also rode the giant helter skelter together, though it was a bit hard to hold onto her and stay on the sack at the same time; my elbow still has a nice scab. She was a bit nervous when it came to the plastic dinosaurs and was certain that they weren’t real, but was still a

scared to have her photo taken with them. There was also sheep racing which was great fun to watch, as well as welly wanging and a giant inflatable slide for us to slide down. It was a great day out for all the family.

My Dad the Don

My old man has been playing snooker for quite a while; and each week he goes to the local social club to practice. Lately, each week the club’s attendance is getting quieter and quieter to the point of desertion; and rumours of closure have emerged. In the last few months he still goes down but gets free drinks just playing, and the barman even arranges free pizzas and kebabs for his and his team mates at the end of the night. Just lately there’s been rumours of drugs at the club, and it’s even been raided twice by the police. At the first raid it was shut down while the landlord was being investigated; but Dad has been back since; though the free food has gone. The following week they decided to use a different club; but recently they’ve been back again, only for the club to be raided the next day. A secret Don perhaps?

Introducing...the iKettle

So with the development of new technology, we now have… the iKettle. You can use your phone to send a message directly to the kettle to start brewing, and it will tell you when it has reached the correct temperature. Surely technology hasn’t replaced the walking down the stairs that you would have to do anyway? And if you put the kettle on first; by the time you’ve worked out where you left your mug and got the teabags ready it’ll be boiled anyway with a usual rapid-boil kettle. There’s even a ‘share with friends’ feature, but wouldn’t you have to put it back on again by the time that they get your message and pop round? You can even buy skins for the kettle as well as a white hoodie with the word iKettle on it. I can't really see the benefits as opposed to the iOven or the iHeater. I don’t really need one. But it would be nice if someone else bought me one as a gift.

Bromsgrove Beer Festival (Part Two)

We would also like to thank our volunteer staff who worked extremely hard to keep up with demand over the course of the weekend; and without their goodwill and hard work we would not be able to run a successful and enjoyable event of this nature.’

The festival was a double celebration, as it also marked the fortieth Anniversary of Redditch and Bromsgrove CAMRA. A special gathering of former branch chairmen took place on the Thursday evening of the festival to launch a celebratory bottled-conditioned beer named Fortitude from Birds Brewery. Ambridge Brewery in Inkberrow brewed a special Indian Pale Ale for the occasion; while Weatheroak Hill brewed a German rye ale also named Fortitude. There were also tutored beer tastings, where visitors learned about the different beer styles available.

Visitors to the festival voted Single Speed Rakau brewed by Fixed Wheel (Black Heath) as the Beer of the Festival, while cider lovers favoured Clent Cider and Whistly Cross with their Whisky Cask. The festival also saw 70 people join CAMRA, and over £550 was raised for the Worcester, Bromsgrove and Droitwich Canal Society.

Bromsgrove Beer Festival 2015 (Part 1)

A record breaking 2,850 people descended upon Bromsgrove at the end of June to sample 125 beers and 78 ciders and perries at this year’s Bromsgrove Beer and Cider Festival. A mixture of fine weather, a greater choice of food and additional live entertainment saw a 50% increase in attendance on Friday, and ‘bright’ (unconditioned)  beer and cider was brought in on Saturday in an attempt to quench the thirst of the visiting public. But the sun shone throughout on one of the hottest weekends of the year; meaning that the festival had to close early on Saturday as supplies ran out.

Festival organisers Richard Wood and Charlie Ayres said: ‘We were a victim of our own success. Our festival volunteers planned the event months in advance; but no-one could predict just how quickly the barrels would run dry. We would like to apologise to people who travelled far and wide to be turned away from the festival doors on Saturday afternoon. We are already discussing plans to prevent this from happening in future years. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

So this is it. After nine years of following the adventures of Harry, this is the book that answers all of the questions. In a thrilling tale of both action and reflection, Rowling finally merges the past with the present and ultimately decides the fate of the boy who lives once and for all. This is a very dark tale as Voldermort’s new regime begins to take over and our wizarding trio are still faced with a number of mysteries to solve. The title immediately draws you in, as throughout the series this is the first time that the Hallows has been mentioned; although the instruments have been present from the very beginning. And there is still plenty of conflict between the protagonists who all slowly unite just before the grand finale. It’s not all happy endings; there is a constant throng of woe and suffering caused by Tom Riddle and his Death Eaters. Forget the films; the books make it a lot easier to understand the plotline and are far more enjoyable!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Even though the comic inventions are approaching the thinner side; this book starts to weave Rowling’s carefully woven tale together. As Harry progresses into yet more magical education; Dumbledore starts to reveal his plan to us of how Lord Voldermort can be defeated and order restored to the world once again. Friends begin to turn into foes and vice versa; as no-one is sure of who to trust and which plan should be followed through. I just love the start of this book; it’s so original and it’s also a great way to recap the action of the previous five books. As well as plenty of high school rivalry and misfortune; we learn yet more history of the wizarding world and of how our favourite foes came to be. The tragic twist at the end was never expected; though for me it was given away as I was in America when the book was published and I wouldn’t dream of adding a book that size to my luggage allowance. Anyway, a ten year old spoilt the whole twist for me. 

Jelly Bomb!

While sitting in a plane with a packet of fruit gums; I had the good fortune of being bought a cider. As it was a long flight with little entertainment and not much thirst; I decided to do a little experiment and put the two together. Would I be risking my life as well as my fellow passengers? Probably not. But I was very tempted to see what the reaction would be; whether an explosion or a mess; or a traveller wearing a lot of orange. And so the two merged. There was a good amount of fizz for about ten minutes while the fruit gum began to absorb the cider; and at first I thought that the fruit gum had begun to swell. Unfortunately it just turned out to be the glass; and when I took the fruit gum out it just seemed to be soggy with a bit more juice added to the flavour. I wonder what other sanctioned items there are that you could take on a plane to create a more interesting reaction?

Katherine

Seton’s Katherine is a fascinating tale of life in the fourteenth century. It looks at the noble people of England and their everyday struggles of the Black Plague, peasant revolt and the Sovereign history of our fair land, all with a twist of romance in between. The novel is very well researched, although some of the dates and historical time spans do need addressing. The only major downfall is that the plot is just so predictable.  We have a very naïve young girl who obeys the order of the royal court and serves society despite her best wishes; and it is only through maturity of age that she makes a very solemn attempt to dictate her own life away from the direction of society. And in a million to one chance; of course our heroine gets the happy ending  she desires. The only mystery that remains in the tale is of the motive of the squire who does the foul deed. 

The travel chair!

Earlier, as we prepared for all the travelling we had to do today, I explained to my brother it would be much easier if we were just put into a giant push chair which we could fall asleep and just wake up at home. Instead of having to queue in lines to put luggage onto a bus then take it off again to queue to check it onto the plane then queue to go through passport control then queue to get on the plane only to repeat the whole process in reverse upon landing. He thought it was rubbish. Later, as we were queuing for passport control I asked him if this was still a dumb idea; with the fact that in cases of congestion the push chair could be fitted onto a track on the building’s roof, and access would be through a ramp when needed. Identity tracking would be done completely electronically; and for an extra twenty quid you could be wheeled to your door. He only conceded it was worthwhile doing if you had a TV built into your chair. To which I realised; it’s already been dreamt up by Pixar in the film Wal-e. We just need someone to come on board to build it.