Oban for the ferry to Mull

Who says that the Scots have made no contribution to international cuisine?  Battered pizza (aka "Pizza Crunch") is the future.  You can actually feel your arteries hardening (aka "Scotifying") as you eat it.  The ferry from Oban to Craignure (on Mull) was very quiet - we sat up on deck and enjoyed the bracing conditions.

Loch Lomond

On the way to Mull, we called at Luss (shores of Loch Lomond) and Inveraray (on Loch Fyne).  Dry for most of the journey, some clouds but plenty of blue patches too.  Ticked off another GBG pub in Inveraray!

Glasgow

Four star luxury in Glasgow city centre - don't panic, I got a 'deal'!  We arrived at about noon after an easy drive from Penrith, found the hotel really quickly and they were happy for us to check in early.  It was bit drizzly so we weren't seeing the city at its best.  We had a mission to tick off some of the many Good Beer Guide pubs in the city centre - we did about five.  In the evening we had a really good curry on Sauchiehall Street.  Off to Mull tomorrow.

Welcome to Scotland...

... unless you're a sassenach; yous can all pish off back to England.

Breakfast in Penrith

First morning of our hols. B&B is really nice with top notch breakfast. Last night I treated K to a pizza sat on a park bench then we ticked off two more Good Beer Guide pubs. Heading for Glasgow later.

Button and Brawn are Champions!

Jenson Button's finally done it!  He finished 5th in the Brazilian GP which was enough the clinch the title with one race still to go.  After starting 14th on the grid he demonstrated some brilliant overtaking to charge up the field.

It's a real fairytale of the highest order.  Brawn GP was raised from the ashes of the Honda works team.  In November there was no guarantee that Button would have a seat at all for 2009.  Now he's champion and Brawn have won the constructor's championship.

Click here for the full story.

1st Gainsborough Beer Festival

Saturday afternoon was spent at the 1st Gainsborough Beer Festival in the Old Hall - certainly the most important historic building in which I've got pissed.

My fellow passengers on the train from Lincoln included Mark R and Nick; and we were met in Gainsborough by Ross, Martin and Charlotte.

There were 44 beers on offer and we managed to sample 41 of them.  We were only prevented from completing the clean sweep by three selling out.  Most of the beers on offer were from Lincolnshire brewers including Bateman, Tom Wood, Poacher, Cathedral, Dark Tribe, Fugelestou and Oldershaw.  My personal favourite was Fugelestou's Marsh Mild.

We treated ourselves to chips and gravy in the High Street and were treated to a fight (also in the High Street) by the locals.  A bloke and woman were screaming at each other before she decided to start thrashing him and than stormed off in tears surrounded by her mates.  I'd like to point out that they had nothing to do with the festival, they came out of a ropey looking pub next to the chippy.  Apart from that fracas we had a very good afternoon and I hope it will become a regular fixture on the social calendar.

Curry and Ale in the Lincolnshire Wolds

See if you can guess from the picture where I was on Friday night.  Answers as comments please.

Went on the train from Lincoln, it was brand new, loads of leg room, spotlessly clean, quiet and smooth.  If only all trains were like this.

Arrived in my destination very early and so installed myself in the Red Lion which is a cracking pub.  Open coal fire, friendly staff, free haslet and chutney on the bar :-).  I had all five different real ales on offer, my favourite being the Tom Wood's Best Bitter.  At about 8:30 I met up with the missus and Mark & Lydia and the Gate of India.  Cracking food and service, I can't remember what I had which is probably something to do with the real ale followed by two pints of Lal Toofan.  Stayed over at M&L's for an all round great evening.

79 sausages in 3 days

K and I have spent the weekend in Munich with George & Andy, Clint & Emma and Steve & Patricia. The Bavarians love their beer and they love their sausages. Between us we've racked up 79 snorkers so far. I'll post some pics and video when I get back.

Grrrr

Is it just me or does this pasta look like an angy dog?

End Of An Era

For the past 18 years (give or take a couple of years in London and Hull here and there), I've been playing five-a-side football every monday night at 8pm.  Hundreds of players have come and gone in that time but there have been two constants; Paul "Smithy" Smith and Steve "Fresh" Freshney.  This week, they both retired - this leaves me as the longest serving, currently active player.  I felt old before, now I feel ancient!

There was a really good turnout for their final match, it was almost a testimonial atmosphere and we even let Smithy score from a Fresh corner.  Not bad considering they have a combined age of 163.

By their standards, I should have another 25 years of football in my legs - but I wouldn't count on it.

Laser Combat

It was James' stag do this weekend.  I was only able to make the tail end of it this afternoon.  The best man, Naz, had taken them all out in Sheffield on Saturday, they didn't stop until 5am and then they'd had to be up to get back to Lincoln for 1pm. and by the time I met up with them on Sunday lunchtime there were somewhat "tired".  Tired as newts!

We headed in convoy up to Frontline Laser Combat on the edge of Lincs Showground.  Matthew, the boss, does a great job up there and really looks after his customers.  I reckon everyone had a good time - even those that were sweating neat alcohol.  James and Karen get married on Halloween, we'll be on holiday so can't attend, hope he enjoyed his send off.

Normanby Hall

Played golf yesterday with Alan and Craig at Normanby Hall (Craig's the one in the slippers).  Reputedly it's one of the best municipal courses in the country and I can see why.  It was tough!  Then the wind started to blow... hard... and that made it even tougher.

I got one par, which is always good and scored 112, I was fairly happy considering the course and conditions.  Hit some nice irons off the tee.

Now the nights are drawing in I might not get that much more golf in so my good form will all drain away over the winter.

Dog Racing in Peterborough

Works outing to Peterborough Dogs on Friday night.  It's great set-up there - you can sit in what's basically a restaurant but with all the tables arranged in tiers so you can see the track.  People come to your table between every race to take your bets and deliver your winnings from the previous race.  Couldn't be easier.

I was making small bets in every race and won something in 11 out of the 14 races.  Unfortunately I wasn't winning very much and I ended the night about £5 down.  Had good fun for my fiver though.