Rotherham Beer Festival.... nearly

We almost went to Rotherham Beer Festival for the third year running.  That was the plan.  It's just a shame that Northern Rail didn't share our enthusiasm.

I met Mark R at Lincoln Station at about 9am while the other four members of our merry band (Clint, Dicko, Nick and Ross) were en route to Gainsborough and Saxilby International.  I went to buy tickets for everyone to be told that there was a problem on the line and our train (the 9:27) had been cancelled.  Bugger.

A quick telephone conference later and we all met at The Ritz (the Wetherspoon's in Lincoln, not the other one) for a warming breakfast Guinness.  Our phones told us that the 10:27 was also cancelled and, when we returned to the station for the 11:27, that had also been axed.

We decided to cut our losses and create our own real ale tour of Lincoln.  We'd already ticked off the Ritz, next stop was the Green Dragon followed by the Jolly Brewer, Widow Cullen's, the Strugglers and finally the Prince of Wales - from whence we were collected by a couple of wives (our own).

We had a good day out despite the best efforts of Northern Rail.

Britain's Bingoing Mad

Bingo lingo clickety clicks, it's time to take your pick of the six.
Eyes down.
Housey.
Two fat ladies.
Etc

Emma, Tariq and Leila... and Jo

Emma, Tariq and baby Leila came to stay with us this weekend.  We had a lot of fun asking Leila to find her toys by name - pretty impressive for someone that's not even one yet!  She can assume the crawling position but hasn't quite got the actions mastered - won't be long though.

On Saturday night, Jo came round too.  She was visiting Granny Annie while Tony was away with work (although skiing not working).  We had a curry and watched Total Wipeout - sweet!

On Sunday we had look at the ducks and swans on the Brayford and then popped to the Green Dragon for lunch.  Had excellent food and even better service, will certainly be going back there soon.

E&T headed home at about 2:30 and K and I decided we'd have a quick snifter in the Tap and then walk home.  Our plans were thwarted by the pub being closed (how dare they not be open at our convenience!) so we headed to the Brewer instead but got side-tracked by The Collection.  I'd never been in there before (disgraceful for a local resident isn't it?) and was very impressed.  We still nipped for a drink in the Brewer but, by the time we came out, it was started to rain and we decided the bus was a better option than shanks' pony.  What a great Valentine's Day.

Olli's First Birthday

It was all round to Grandma's for Olli's first birthday.  He's getting really big and was showing us how well he can stand (with only a few wobbles).  He got lots of presents but obviously his favourite is the piano from Uncle Mark and Auntie Keren.  Looks like we might have a budding Gary Barlow... or Elton John!

R2 Breakfast Show Sporting Challenge

Check out the body check at 1:05, makes me laugh every time.

Birthday in York

It was my birthday on Wednesday but Keren was away working in York so I postponed it until Friday and went up on the train to meet her.  We had two nights in a little B&B that had great reviews on Trip Advisor and we weren't disappointed - it was superb.

On Friday night (after opening all my cards - thanks everyone) we went out for a tour of GBG pubs and a curry (who'd have expected that?!).  On Saturday we embarked on the sight-seeing.  We visited the National Railway Museum and the Minster before embarking on an amble around the walls.  We then visted the Richard III museum (see pic, right) which was laughably awful.  It basically consisted of a plethora of printed and laminated pieces of paper stuck to every wall and surface.  It's the only museum I've ever been in that didn't actually have any artefacts.  Saturday night featured more GBG pubs and a burger and chips - I sure know how to treat my wife!

On Sunday, we climbed Clifford's Tower before visiting York Castle Museum.  If the Richard III museum was poor then YCM sure made up for it - it's the best museum I can remember visiting.  Full of interesting stuff from Roman times to the present day and all really well laid out - highly recommended.  We left York at lunchtime but, on the way home, called at Cusworth Hall near Doncaster for lunch and a look round.  It's another museum focussing on local history and well worth a look if you're up that way.

Had a great weekend all in all.  What a nice birthday.