Lincoln Beer Festival

Last night we visited the Lincoln Beer Festival at the Drill Hall.

Mark & Lydia picked us up and we met, Nick, Amy and Jon inside. As usual, we managed to go on the night when they were running out of beer. However, there were still over 20 different ales on offer. They had run out of cider and perry and around 50 other ales.

Anyway, 20 beers is more than enough for one night and we all tucked in! Well, nearly all - Lydia was driving and K stuck to the wine as usual. There was some good ale, some good music, a couple of good hog baps and lots of very good banter.

Ted's 30th and Clint's 35th birthdays

It was barbecue-tastic yesterday as we descended on McGinn towers for a double celebration. Not only was it (nearly) Ted's 30th birthday but it was (just past) Clint's 35th.

The guests arrived for a lunchtime barbie cooked by Ted. There was a plentiful supply of beer and wine and the weather was helping. K and I walked round as the McGinns only live five minutes away.

At 3pm, those that were interested nipped inside to watch the FA Cup final on the big projector telly (Portsmount beat Cardiff one-nil).

It was an excellent afternoon and I think the lads both had a good birthday.

Paul Derry's 30th

Another weekend and another 30th birthday party in Cambridge! This time it was Des' turn. About 30 or so people had been invited to Parker's Piece (an open grassy park) in Cambridge for some picnic action.

K & I drove down at lunchtime on Saturday with all our camping gear. We met Clint & Emma and Martin & Charlotte in a campsite in Cherry Hinton (just outside the city). It was a nice place with lots of small enclosed areas rather than a big open field.

After pitching the tent, we taxied into Cambridge and met up with the sizeable party. The sun was shining and so the park was very busy with picnickers, footballers, cricketers, frisbeeists and general sun lovers.

As afternoon turned into evening, we moved ourselves to a pub called The Bakers. Paul had reserved some space inside but most people gravitated towards the terrace at the back. Lots more beer was consumed, drinking games were suggested and everyone went home well-oiled. One reveller had to ask the taxi driver to pull over so he could hurl in the gutter, but he shall remain nameless. Suffice to say, he'd have been punching his leg in embarassment.

On Sunday morning, the campers awoke to more hot sun and some thick heads. However, we discovered the magical properties of Barr's Irn-Bru as a hangover cure and soon got going. A game of boules was the order of the day (won by Martin, I think) before decamping and heading home.

Another top birthday weekend - thanks to Des and Daisy.

Harrison's 30th

Despite being hardcore rock star (see picture) - Mr Harrison's 30th birthday celebration was distinctly low key.

Falling (as it did) on a Wednesday, it clashed with the Harrows quiz night - an immovable feast if ever there was one! So Mark decided to locate his soiree at Hicko towers and make it an early evening affair.

Consequently, Mark, Phil, Martin & Charlotte, Nick & Amy and Keren & me all enjoyed crisps, nuts, beer and banter on the Hicko's patio. We were briefly joined by some neighbour who climbed over the back fence with her own glass of wine (she didn't spill a drop!).

Mark had brought along an impressive selection of Asda's finest snack foods and I was particularly impressed with the fusion of scotch eggs and curry. It's a landmark moment in modern haute cuisine!

Goldsy's 30th

May bank holiday weekend was also Mark's big birthday weekend. He was having a party near Cambridge and K & I were kindly invited.

We drove down on Sunday lunchtime and checked into a Travelodge just SW of Cambridge. We met Gareth & Helen there and Gareth drove us ten minutes up the road to the village of Fulbourn. Mark had taken over half of The White Hart for the afternoon and evening. It was warm day so many people were spilling out of the pub into the garden and this is where we set up base camp. All the usual gang were there except for Emma - Joel wasn't very well so she was looking after him, Clint nipped in for an hour but then went home to help.

Mark made a short speech where he thanked everyone for coming and said some very nice things about Naomi and all the hard work she'd put into organising the day. There was an big buffet with a huge pile of pork pies at Mark's special request. As it was his birthday, I thought I'd honour his wishes by eating as many of them as I could!

We got a taxi back to the Travelodge at about midnight - the party was still going strong, not sure what time they were kicked out. On Monday morning, K & I and G & H visited the "World Famous" Comfort Cafe for breakfast. I'm not sure that it is really as famous as it proclaims but they certainly know how to fry pig meat and all the trimmings. K & I took the country way home with the roof down all the way - the breeze meant we didn't realise how hot the sun was and we both got sunburnt but that didn't stop it being a great weekend.

Thanks Mark & Naomi. Looking forward to the 40th.

Lincoln 2 - 4 Wrexham

Lincoln ended their season with a typically poor defensive display. Despite Wrexham already being relegated out of the Football League, they still managed to breach the Imps' defense four times!

Highlight of the afternoon came before the match when the following message popped up on the scoreboard. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOLDSY - PUNCH YOUR LEG FOR THE IMPS" Well done Nick!