2303.12 FESTIVALS AND BED REST

It's taken some time to write up the last few weeks, I'll be going over that towards the end of this post. I've stated before that I want to be able to go out more and last month we managed to do just that (although it's left us a bit skint for the rest of the month).

1905.26 MORE ZERO FOR AN AF HERO

Last year I did a post about alcohol free beers. They've come a long way and there are more coming along all the time. I like the odd beer but sometimes it's not appropriate for me to drink alcohol, or sometimes alcohol just doesn't agree with me. Since then I've tried more examples of this emerging craft.

1809.21 TRYING TO BE A HERO WITH A ZERO

Most know that I like a beer occasionally but most of the time I prefer to abstain. I find I have to be in a complete relaxed state to enjoy a glass of ale, a state I'm rarely in if I'm honest. However I do find myself in a pub occasionally and I might not be in a position it partake. I don't need a drink to enjoy myself but there is only so much carbonated soft drinks one can take.

1808.29 MY HAPPY PLACE ...NOW WITH ADDED SEA MONSTER

There are few that understand what I'm talking about when I talk about my happy place. I have come to believe that there is a place for everyone in this planet and it will resonate at the same frequency as the person - you know when you've truly found it. Don't get it? You've yet to  find yours, some people are lucky enough to live in theirs. I'm not that lucky - yet!

1808.23 MY POSTCARD FROM CEI NEWYDD

Bore da! It's time for my annual post card from my holiday in my beloved New Quay on the Welsh coast. I'll be brief since I don't want to waste too much time...

1408.19 THAT LONDON

We aren't having a holiday again this year. As a bit of a diversion, and because the opportunity arose we (Morticia & me) decided to have a day in London. As before we made a b-line for Camden Town, an amazing place that I totally get.

I have a list of London pubs that I got from a web article some months ago that I want to visit so part of the trip we decided would take in a few of these.

Camden Eye - This one disappointed (although I'd like to see it at night) and was very pricey)

Brewdog Camden - This bar was a revelation. A totally different drinking experience. We ended up staying here for a while and grabbed a bite to eat. I recently found out there's one of these in Sheffield which I must visit soon.

I love London, the vibe, the Underground, the way it is it's like a different country. I'll be back soon.

1401.19 CHRISTMAS ALES

I had a variety of ales over the festive period. I love the variety of beers that are available these days, all have their own specific charms. I think my overall favourite out of the selection I tasted this year has to be Shephard Neame's 'Christmas Ale', a strong dark and flavourful brew. A special mention has to go to 'Old Speckled Hen' which I had a keg of, it was great to have beer on tap (£13 for a 5 litre keg from Tesco).

1111.19 MY BIG DAY OUT

I've previously said that I almost never spend much time alone. So when Morticia planned a day out with her Mum and the kids I jumped at the chance to to go out and about on my own. We are staying at my Mother-in-law's so my day out, unless I planned to jump on a train or bus, would be in the town of St Neots. The town centre is only 20 minutes walk, it was dry and a little misty which made for a lovely walk.

I'd been looking forward to the idea for weeks, it's not a big deal but the solitude was really therapeutic. I had lunch in the local cafe, a mooch around the charity shops and visited a few pubs and sampled a few ales. Reading my cycling magazine in the pub whilst drinking ale all on my own was absolute bliss.

I returned and followed my big day out with a visit to the chippy, mmmmmm.

For those interested in the ales;

Elgood's Black Dog (3.6% ABV) - A proper English mild, smooth and flavourful.

in the Coach House, St Neots.

Potbelly Brewery's Potbelly Best (3.8% ABV) - Easy drinking bitter.

in the Pig & Falcon, St Neots

Young's London Gold (4.8% ABV) - A light refreshing ale.

in the Cambridgeshire Hunter, Eynesbury.

1108.30 BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

As we sometimes do, the family decided to go south to visit Morticia's mother in St Neots. Even though I'd already returned to work I considered this part of my holiday. I booked a couple of extra leave days and we went down Thursday evening. We were late setting off because I had to take Morticia's dad and his dog to the vets.

On the Sunday Morticia's mother and her partner took our girls to a local air show. This gave Morticia and me some time together. This almost never happens, we decided to go into town - they were having a little festival or fayre.

There's a pub in St Neots called the Pig & Falcon, we've been past it a dozen times and I've always fancied popping in. Today we could, and did. It was a lovely little ale house which was full of character and looked like it had live bands on at weekends. Whilst there I sampled a couple of local ales;

• Potbelly Best
• Citra

We decided to stay an extra night so we could return and sample the atmosphere of this place on a night out. Sadly Morticia's ME kicked in and pit paid to our plans.

Whilst down there I love to rummage in the local charity shops. Managed to bag myself Stephen Fry's biography for £3.

The original plan was to come home on Bank Holiday Monday. In the end we left on the Tuesday.

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1108.25 ALES OF WALES

I always buy a few bottles of local ales on my holidays to remind me of my time there. This year's haul includes;

• Tomos Watkin Cwrw Braf
• Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf
• Brains Rev James
• Brains Original Stout
• Felinfoel Double Dragon
• Rhymney Dark

Whilst in Wales I enjoyed;

• Brains Bitter
• Brains SA
• Brains Black
• Gold Wing

I've discovered that Morrisons are going to be selling Rev James, so that I can now get Brains SA, SA Gold and Brains Original Stout here in Yorkshire. I'm also intending to order some ales via mail order from Tomos Watkins with whom I've been conversing with on Twitter.

I'm Recording my real ale adventure on an iPhone app called 'Brewski Me'.

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1104.24 EASTER EGG

So the big bunny came and I had the best Easter in a long time. No tension, completely relaxed. Perfect.

Yesterday I mentioned my purchase of a couple of books from a charity shop. One of them was 'Adrian Mole- The Prostrate Years' by Sue Townsend. I remember being 14 and reading the original Secret Diary and follow up Growing Pains. I was never very comfortable being a teenager and identified with the character. I couldn't resist the book when I saw it and started reading it as soon as I got back. I've ended up reading it within 24 hours (something I haven't done in a long time). Although I don't share much with the character I do find myself still relating to him. A boy who becomes a man who always feels slightly out of sync with the world around him. I feel like that often. Sue Townsend is a genius that somehow understands the male mind.

This evening Morticia, her mother and the girls took a walk to the local pub for a pint. It was the first time since I've been coming down here that I've visited any of the locals. I had a pint of Wells Eagle IPA in the Cambridgeshire Hunter. It was getting cold so we headed back (plus Rags was getting tired).

We go home tomorrow which is a real shame since I'm so relaxed at the moment. I'm currently settled on the settee enjoying a pint of real ale.

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