mmmm beer....

There are seven pubs that have been in every CAMRA Good Beer Guide since it started in 1974. We've decided to tick them all off this year.

In January K and I went to the Roscoe Head in Liverpool with Richard and Jen. Then, over our Olympic weekend in London, we found time for the Star Tavern, Belgravia and the Buckingham Arms, Westminster.

Today, we're in the Queens Head, Newton near Cambridge. That leaves us with three to go. We're going to try to tick off the Square & Compass, Worth Matravers (Dorset) and the New Inn, Kilmington (Devon) when we go to Dartmouth in October so that will leave just one.

I need an excuse to go to Netherton in Northumberland so I can visit the Star Inn. I feel a random day trip coming on...

London 2012

Just finished watching women's basketball in the Olympic Park.

Turkey beat Angola and then Croatia put up a strong but ultimately fruitless fight against the USA.

Then watched the Murray brothers lose to a pair of Austrian chancers. That was on a massive screen by the river running through the park. A nice lady from British Airways gave us a Union Flag rug to sit on. That's going straight up in the window when we get home.

Now enjoying an early evening bevvy, still in the park, just watching the world go by (have seen Ewan Thomas btw).

Portugal - Friday

Last full day in the sunshine :-( and we've spent it doing nothing :-) although we've been very busy doing nothing.

We started with breakfast on the terrace then followed it up with a 'triathlon' of snooker, tennis and swimming. We'd worked up an appetite so that meant some lunch (on the terrace again) and then an afternoon of reading and sleeping by the pool. I've now finished all three of the books I brought with me.

Now having a glass of wine while we get ready to go out for dinner in Vilamoura.

Portugal - Thursday

Today we headed East for the first time and visited the historic town of Tavira. We had a drink in the a cafe which made Fawlty Towers look organised. Three times we had to ask for some milk for K's tea - by the time we got it, the tea was almost cold. We were watching other tables and everyone else was also getting the same exceptional service - we just laughed about it... and didn't tip!

Tavira itself was very pretty and the castle offered some terrific views of the town; as well as a shady flower garden that K enjoyed photographing.

After Tavira, we headed along the coast to Santa Luzia and then Pedras d'El Rei. SL was a sleepy place but very pretty, we had a walk along the front then sat on a bench warming our bones. In Pedras, we walked out to and island nature reserve called Ilha de Tavira - it was very pretty and peaceful. The marshy land reminded us of a hot version of Blakeney!

Dinner was in the hotel restaurant with a drink in the bar afterwards. I don't know whether it's the big meals, or the heat, or the fresh air, or a combination of all three but we're done in by the time we go to bed. Lucky we can lie in!

Portugal - Wednesday

We're relaxing around the hotel today, just finishing our breakfast on the terrace. Later we've got tennis, gym, snooker and swimming lined up! Last night I did 1km in the pool - my toes are starting to web.

Yesterday, we were in the mountains around Foia and Monchique. We just got up there before the clouds obscured the immense view. The rest of the sky was cloudless but there were a couple just covering the mountain peak.

Service round here has been fantastic. You expect it in the Hilton but it's across the board; everyone seems super-friendly and eager to please.

It's the end of the world as they knew it

This the view east from Cabo de Sao Vicente (Cape St Vincent) which is the southwestern point of mainland Europe. It's very bleak and windswept and deserves it's Portuguese nickname 'Fim do Mundo'.

Ola Portugal

Flight was very good. Jet2 seem to be slight less 'budget' that CryinAir or DifficultJet. Car rental company not so impressive, I won't be using GoldCar again but you live and learn.
Drive to the hotel only took about half an hour and we found it very easily. The Hilton is massive! Five pools, four restaurants, umpteen bars, gym, spa, snooker, tennis, golf simulator, the works. It's very quiet as the season hasn't started properly yet.
We ate in the main restaurant last night and it was delicious. Keren's already found a Portuguese dry white that she's partial to so it's all good.
We're having a quiet day today exploring the local area.

Bye bye to Blighty (for a week)

At East Mids waiting for our flight to the sun. Just had a very unsatisfying meatball panini, it was £4. If I wasn't in holiday mode I'd be kicking off! They've had a very lucky escape.

Happy birthday Richard!

Enjoying a selection of mini desserts in the Hilton Liverpool.