Tag: pub

Happy St Georges Day.

23rd April 2010 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Any statement involving the words George and Dragon in the same sentence, elicits one of two responses in me.

1. Distress, when it refers to that truly terrible Chester “pub” the George and Dragon. Dire !.

2. Immense pride, and the celebration of British history.

I remember when we were at school, we were allowed to wear our Scout uniforms and badges on St Georges day.

All sorts of political agitators, have mad a big deal about Britishness, how its being eroded and all the rest (I always smile when I hear that quote, a patriot is someone who loves his country and a nationalist is someone who hates everyone else’s 🙂

A former colleague of mine (an American living in the UK) once said, the problem with you guys is the flag. In America, we have flags in Schools, Churches and at home. You guys are rightly proud of yours, but its only seen flying in public, when a significant football match is about to be played 🙂

For my 2 penny worth, being British, is to be resourceful, be basically fair and have a sense of responsibility.

If your British, wherever you are in the world, lets simply celebrate today with a pint of bitter (I’ll end up leaving most of mine, I only like Lager, but you get the idea !).

Birthday Plan/Friends

13th April 2010 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Before I talk about my Birthday and friends, I want to express my sadness at the passing of the Polish President. When I visited Poland, the people I met there were charming and helpful (as are my Polish friends here in the UK), and I just want to say how sorry I am for their loss.

On a more positive note, plans are well underway for my birthday bash here in Chester. It’s on Saturday the 8th of May, and a full Itinerary is available here.

One of the people I am most looking forward to seeing on my birthday is Jon Mallett. Lucky Jon, managed to get a away Ski-ing during the Easter Break. Above is a picture of him and his children.

Well done Jon. Planning is ever important in the pursuit of adventure, but the single most important thing, is to get out there and do it.

Civil (well, it looked a bit un-civil to me) violence in Bangkok, is in the News once again. As many of you know, one of my oldest friends Frank, and his lovely wife Na live in Bangkok. Frank got in touch yesterday, to tell me that they are both okay and everything is fine.

A walking civil war, all on his own, Danny Quinn, popped back to Chester over the weekend (some of you will remember that Dan left Chester to move to Nantwich (and having visited Nantwich, and seen just how dull and pretentious it is, I can imagine how easy it must be to become a celebrity around there :))

Dan asked me to point out his sunglasses in this Shot. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you think there worth 160 quid !.

One other thing Dan mentioned was an explanation of the phrase the whole 9 yards. It actually comes from American Bombers in the 2nd world war. A full belt of ammunition for an anti aircraft gun, would be 27 feet. If a Luftwaffe plane aggressively attacked the Bomber (how else would it attack, with whit and humour ?) , they would fire the whole belt at it, hence to give something the whole 9 yards.

Don’t forget my birthday. Most of you have been invited already by Call, Text or Email, but just in case, the full itinerary is here.

Food

13th April 2010 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Inspired by Matt Bridges Sunday Lunch I decided to have a go myself.

I’ve previously cooked Ainsley Herriots 30 min Sunday Lunch (featured in in 17 Things I like ) but I decided to have a go at a propper roast.

It took me 2 hours (well, it took the Cooker 2 hours 🙂 and this is the finished product, just before the Gravy came out.

I recently had lunch at Chez Jules (I used to go there frequently, but it occurred to me, that I hadn’t been, in nearly 2 years). The food was just as good as last time, I’ll definitely be going back (shame this picture, taken with my IPhone, doesn’t do the 2 hour lunch justice).

I decided to bob over to the Chester Food and Drink Show.

I had been a few years ago, but it was much bigger this time, newly sited at the Chester Race Course. One thing that did please me, was I remembered my Chester Residents Card, so I got in for only £4 (and extremely nicely off them, they let Amelia in for £4 as well).

I was a little disappointed, as I thought most of the suppliers would be from the Cheshire area. Right at the back, was a farm section and it was really small.

I decided to treat myself to an Ostrich Burger. Amelia caught up with some old friends (they used to ride horses together or something) so I decided to seek out an old friend as well. I found Frodsham Ales (locally based a few miles from Chester) and bought a pint of their “Iron Man” Ale.

This years the theme was Food and Drink and Lifestyle. I didn’t think much of the lifestyle section.

Another idea, was that you could pay £20 and get 4 days full access to the event. It also meant that you could camp at the event for free.

That might not sound like a particularly good idea, but think about it for a minute. That would effectively give you 3 nights accommodation in Chester. That’s probably the cheapest way to visit and stay in Chester that I know off !.

Meanwhile, Amelia and the Hoorays had moved on and found a nice pub.

Years ago, I worked in Corporate IT. One of the things that attracted me to working in such a pressure cooker environment, was international travel.

After nearly 8 years, while working for Corning, I was scheduled to visit their head office in Hickory.

Put simply, Hickory is a town in the US, that makes a lot of wooden furniture, hence it being called Hickory. Its also one of the most boring places in the world (where do you think the name “Hick” town comes from ?).

Well, the new bar that’s opened-up on the water front, is called Hickory’s. All I could think about was a depressing week in America with work.

Also around 8 years ago, my brother took me to a new sports bar in Manchester. They had booths, with personal table’s that you could book, and you could be served food and drink while you watched Football or whatever with all the atmosphere of a “bar” game, but none of the interruptions.

Always a bit slow to catch up, Chester now has one in Hickory’s. They also do traditional smoked BBQ (whatever that is). It may turn out to be popular with visiting Americans.

All Change

23rd February 2010 admin Uncategorised 1 Comment

Danny who I’ve known for 8 years, is leaving Chester. We’ll still keep in touch, but he’ll be 50 miles away, and nipping out for a spontaneous pint, wont be an option. Its basically the end of the “reprobate” period of my life.

Dan is quite a reserved and private person for the most part, and some people can mistakenly take this for arrogance, which it isn’t.

In the time that we have known each other, life has had its ups and downs (especially over the last 2 years) during all of this, Dan has always been around. Whilst not particularly providing tea and sympathy, his straight talk has always been helpful.

he also gave me his old computer, with 8 gig of ram, and 4 processors, its the best one Ive ever owned, given at a time, when I couldn’t possibly have afforded one myself.

We are having a bit of a lads night on Wednesday at 7pm in the Commercial hotel, if any of you are free, give me a shout.

On subject of old friends, Ben Orford (who made my woodlander knife) has setup a new website. www.benorford.com

Dan leaving Chester, isn’t the only recent change. My lodgers of the past 2 years, Jude and Nath (many of you will remember Nath, as the long suffering barman, from my local the Frog and Nightingale) have decided to move out, and get their own place.

In addition, Nathan has setup a really smart cafe on Garden lane. Ive been there 3 times, its excellent.

The next few months are going to feel really strange…

Badly run pub, IPhone Tv’s and Fish Finger butty’s

17th February 2010 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Couple of weeks ago, Dan and I went into a particular pub on the Canal-side, here in Chester.

The cooler was broken, so we were poured flat warm beer (we weren’t advised in advance that the cooler was broken, we just got them, and we were told we had to pay for them).

Suffice to say, that we didnt drink them and left with little intention of ever going back.

Last night, I was out with a few friends, and met up with an old mate, Glenn Miller (he’s heard every joke about Jazz Musician’s missing on planes already, so leave it out).

For some reason we ended up going into the same pub, to watch United (getting in as much goal hanging experience as they can, in anticipation of their next game against City).

Halfway through the game, the TV stopped working. Everyone in the pub was shocked, but the management didn’t seem to bother. Outrageous behaviour you might say, but too the rescue, came Glenn.

He actually has a Sky subscription on his phone, and by positioning it on the bar, around 8 of us, were able to continue watching the match.

In the picture above, you can see the TV, which had been turned off, as nobody seemed to know how to operate it.

Contrast this, with the Mill Hotel, which we visited later.

After a couple of pints, I invited the Lads back to my house, for that staple of the drinking man, Fish Finger butty’s. But whats this, I didn’t have any bread, and all the shops had closed.

I spoke to a member of staff at the bar, explained my plight, and they went to the kitchen and brought me a whole loaf of bread.

Back at my house, the evening was complete.

Jokes aside, at a time when we are enduring the worst recession in 80 years, and many businesses are fighting for survival, which one of the 2 pubs do you think we will be going back to next week ?.

Adventure Chatter.

14th January 2010 admin Uncategorised 1 Comment

A new Sports Bar has opened in Chester called Club Globe. I visited it the other evening.

From its previous incarnation as a private members club, it had some pictures and framed posters on the wall.

What a co-incidence, I saw this one, about the Col De Voza in St Gervais, in the French Alps. In the Winter its a popular Ski destination, but in the summer its popular with walkers and mountaineers.

It was the first hill I ever climbed in the Alps. How co-incidental is that ?

I was reading recently that Trip Advisor’s 10 best destinations for 2010, actually includes the Scottish destination of Nairn (they normally have loads of places like the Galapagos Islands on their list).

I cant argue with that here, in the UK, the pound is pretty awful against most currency’s in the world and definatly the the Euro. I’ve often enjoyed weekends in the lakes (I can jump in a car straight after work, check into my room, and be enjoying a pint and pie and mash by 10pm) and although Scotland is a bit further, it certainly has travel simplicity on its side.

The other thing about it, is although cottages seem expensive at first (like the one I stayed at recently in Anglesey) once you get there, you can cook your own food and buy cheap drinks from Supermarkets, which drops the cost down massively.

Trying to make the most of the Weather (a bit ironic, since most people are staying indoors) I have been pottering around Delamere Forest, practising my navigation. The train costs £3.30, Sandwiches cost practically nothing, and I take my own flask for hot drinks.

Another travel tip Ive picked up, is that Tesco Clubcard points, can now be used to purchase Air-miles

I haven’t done any Bushcraft training or activities, since April last year.

One thing I have really enjoyed recently, is a series called Victorian Farm. Its absolutely amazing the way they run the farm, whith a mixture of simple living and “high tech” Victorian contraptions.

Apparently Ruth Goodman runs classes in traditional living. When life returns to normal, I hope to get involved (I also want to get back to Woodsmoke, feels like ages since I was last there).

NYE (the “yoof” word for New Years Eve).

31st December 2009 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Its said that you should spend the special moments of your life with the people you love. Since I love Dr Who and Family Guy, I’m going to be spending one of mine, with them.

Yes, for the first time in years, I’m actually going to be staying in on New Year. The reason. Well, its a mixture of things:

1. Money is tight and even local pubs seem to be charging an entrance fee.

2. I can’t ever remember in my life, a NYE that lived up to expectations (a lot like watching the sun rise/set over the worlds most beautiful sights, in that respect).

3. Although Amelia has “seen off” my collection of Carlsberg, I still have some Wine, a nice Pizza, and when I’m ready to go to sleep, I only have a few metres to walk.

Well, I’ll be up early tomorrow, finalising my plans for 2010. It reminds me of something that happened last New Year.

I was talking to a friend, and commented the year had been probably the worse one of my life. My friend asked which foreign places I had visited that year. I replied Bangkok, Koh Chang, Borneo, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, St Petersburg and various destinations in Morocco.

After a pause, he said, for just about everyone else in this pub, it would have been the best year of their life !. It gave me a bit of perspective.

I’m not being a complete Social Hermit though, this afternoon, I’m off to meet the Excellent Ralph and Aud (who I first met on the Adventure Company’s trip, Pyramids to Petra).

Over Christmas, I popped up to spend time with my family. It was really nice being able to spend time with them, and get to know my niece a bit better, who I hardly ever see.

Dave and Leigh made some really nice food, mum didn’t comment on my increasing weight and impending baldness and the following day, I went to see Avatar 3d. Overall, an excellent experience.

In the evening, we watched a program about Steve Coogan. During his stand up, he said “why do people criticise David Beckham because he isn’t intelligent”. After a pause “Nobody criticises Stephen Hawking, because he cant play football”. Hilarious.

Next day, we all meet up, and I get to spend time with Lee and Susan, 2 of my oldest friends.

Of the many interesting conversations, one about Political correctness.

There is nothing inherently wrong with Political correctness says Lee, only that some individuals have hijacked it for their own purpose.

I reply that its like a compass on a ship or sonar on a ship. They are there so that in times of confusion or poor visibility, the ship could still be navigated.

The idea was never that on a sunny day, everyone looks at the monitors, and nobody looks out of the window.

Which of us is right. I have no idea, but that’s why I love discussions with these 2 !.

Christmas Day.

26th December 2009 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Christmas day. Up bright and early, I finish off a few last minute things, and then head of for my Christmas dinner.

Its a beautiful winter morning. I’m heading out towards Saughall and since its such a nice day, I decide to walk along the canal.

The water is frozen solid. People have tried to break it with bricks. When they haven’t succeeded, the bricks appear to “float” on the Canal.

I meet various poeple along the tow-path and wish them a Merry Christmas. After a few miles, I see this barge, listing heavily. The windows are open, and its half filled with water. I’m glad I didn’t sleep in there last night !.

My hosts are Tony and Lorraine (and baby Daisy).

Most people know, that I’m not big on things like cars and houses. Tony’s house however, was demolished and then rebuilt just the way he liked it. I have to say its impressive.

Presents are opened (most of them are for the baby). A sort of bedtime elephant, that says nice things in a slightly patronising voice is my favourite.

Dinner is put in the oven, and we head to the local pub (a 15th century establishment, called the Greyhound).

For a village pub, I was expecting to find old George, an Alsation dog and the landlords teenage son/daughter with their entourage of friends.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was absolutely packed to the rafters. Whilst there, Tony introduced me to some of the village people (I mean the people who live locally, not a group of gay men dressed as red Indians/policemen/sailors etc.)

Three really nice girls were there (I mean that they were really friendly and not, not that they were attractive (although it has to be said, that they were attractive as well, but that wasn’t where I was going with this)).

The kind girl on the left, had actually baked cakes, and was handing them out. I had one of the fairy cakes, and they were delicious.

A couple of pints, and then back home for dinner.

A feast of a meal awaits, with the ubiquitous can of Fosters.

In the evening, we drank red wine and watched a variety of television, ranging from Eastenders (and Archie’s demise) right through to Citizen Kane.

I thanked Tony and Lorraine for entertaining me on Christmas day. Lorraine (who’s whit can be likened to Obsidian !) joked and said I sounded like someone on Oprah Winfrey !.

Overall, a brilliant day.

Cold weather arrives.

7th December 2009 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Thanks to everyone who came out on the 13th of November, to celebrate the completion of my bluelist. Between Land-rovers, waiting at airports and trying to sleep on planes, I had been travelling for 30 hours, but I still found the energy to stay out for a whole evening with my friends.

A couple of people asked me what I was going to do now its complete. Well, in the short term, I want to sort out my house, the bills, spend more time with friends/family, and stuff like that.

Once things get back to normal, I have another interesting idea, that I’m exploring at the moment. I read in the travel section of the Mail (in between articles on British values and broken society !) about someone who visited a different city for a weekend break, every month for a year.

The idea, is that if you don’t actually mind where you go, you can travel really cheaply.

I want to do that for a year, while I plan a 2nd bluelist. Places on my mind at the moment, are Cuba, Israel, Washington, San Francisco. If your reading this and you know somewhere cool to visit, then give me a shout.

Well, if the recession is biting, it certainly wasn’t showing on the streets of Chester on Saturday. They even had a chap doing ice sculptures.

A friend recently gave me a TV (he didn’t need it any more, and it was a lot better than the one that I had). I was immensely great full and I remembered a film some years ago called pay it forward.

The idea, is that you do a good deed for someone, and they pay it forward, to someone else, and so on and so on. My previous portable TV (which the “new” one replaced) was more reliable than one that belonged to another friend. Using a shopping trolley, I popped over with it the other evening.

Its Christmas after all, and even when times are hard, there is always some kindness that we can show.

Happy birthday to my old friend Lee Sawbridge (he was with me on my first adventures around the Alps and Europe 20 years ago, and more recently, dropped me at the Airport for the last of my bluelist journeys).

I wont be able to make it on Saturday Lee, but I sent you a card, which I actually chose myself.

In my local the other night, were a band called Severenth. Heavy metal isn’t really my thing, but there music was pretty catchy, and I found myself singing along to it.

It would be fair to say that the band and their fans (who completely filled the pub) weren’t exactly dressed for a job interview and that many of them, you wouldn’t have wanted to meet in the proverbial dark alley.

The thing that surprised (and frankly shocked) me, was how polite they were. People would say excuse me to get to the bar, hold the bathroom door open.

Just goes to show, that appearances can be deceiving. Several times a year, hundreds of suited “gentlemen” arrive in Chester for the races, and cause mayhem. Give me the HM crew any day.

Rumors continue, that the renowned internet sleuth Dave Mandy (aka Dizzy Dave) was somehow involved in the death of Micheal Jackson.

Speculation is based on Dave, having information about the death, before anyone else in the pub that night, despite a large portfolio of Smartphones being represented.

For the record, it was a HTC Android device that got there first, with 2nd place going to several IPhones.

Its was with a mixture of elation and regret, that I watched the final episode of the crime “drama” monk.

It ended on a high note, altough it was easy to work out who the murder was (or was that because Ive watched it so often, and got onto the “wavelength” of the writers).

For several years, I used to watch it on Saturday mornings. I really will miss that show.

Other drama, is that the rather excelent Doll House, has been cancelled. It was commented that this might be because nobody watches stuff on TV any more, everybody downloads, and because it usually misses out the adverts, the producers werent making any money.

I cant really comment, as I dont know the industry that well. Downloading certainly seems to have effected global tv listings. It used to be that house would shown in the UK, 4 months after it was shown in the use. These days, House and dozens of other shows are on less than a week later.

One thing that has shocked me, is the closing down of Mininova (a popular torrent site for downloading music, tv and films, for people that dont know). My suprise, hasn been the close down of the site itself, but the demographic of people who have emailed and called me about finding an alternative site.

I don’t praise or condemn downloading, but I know about technology. The people who contacted me, were mostly, the very last people in the world I would have expected to be “torrenting”.

I recorded Dr Who and the waters of Mars, while I was away in Capetown. I didn’t think it was as good as some of the other episodes Ive watched. That is of course from a story perspective. David Tarrent was as excellent as he’s ever been, playing a kind of manic Dr, who knows his days are numbered.

One other things about the episode, was that it raised a point Ive considered hundreds of times while watching Dr Who over the last 30 years. The question always arises, who doesnt the Dr just put the people who are in danger into the Tardis and “fly” away.

I know all the stuff about one of the people he saves might give birth to a future Hitler, and all the rest, but there and then, it must have occurred to him sometime, to put the present, before the future, and just help the people who are right in front of him. That question was answered for the first time in Waters of Mars.

Two other things Im watching at the moment at Mad Men (a brill program I started watching on the Plane back from Capetown) and season 4 of the Unit. I cant believe they stopped making that series, its amazing.

Near and Far have a great Christmas. The search for adventure continues (although its mostly at home for the time being :)…

Update

4th November 2009 admin Uncategorised 2 Comments

The cold is certainly starting to set in, here in the North of England. If like me, your keen to save money on energy (not because I’m tight, but because I can think of loads of fun things to do with the money I could save) have a look at this Quick energy saving checklist.

Another link worth having a look at (recommended by my old friend Matt Bridges) is Zen Habbits. They have a really interesting article on light/simple packing for travel.

I’m not big on “organized” parties, but I popped out the other week with Dan, and we ended up at the Frog and Nightingale, where they were holding a Halloween party.

What can I say, its probably the best night out, Ive had in the Frog, in 3 years. They had a band doing covers, who were themed on the Wizard of Oz (with cowardly Lion, Tin Man, the whole lot).

Some of our other friends turned up attired for the evening (although Bilge, was trying to look like a Pirate, consensus within the pub, was that she looked like quite a Gypsy).

Overall, a brilliant evening.

A friend of Amelia’s called Letty was there. I promised I would show her where to find the money saving expert flight checker. If you reading this, it can be found here.

For £3.30 and the time it takes to make a packed lunch, there are few days out to compete with Delamere Forest.

I keep going back and back, and now, I actually have an ordinance survey map of the area, so I can explore loads of cool places off the beaten track.

Winter is a brilliant time for going out walking, as there are a lot less people about, and the air is crisp.

I do sometimes cheat, and pop into the Cafe, for coffee, rather than doing the “proper” thing and drinking out of my flask.

An orange bivvy bag, is an essential. Not for emergency’s, for which it was designed (although Im sure its pretty good for that too) but folded into a square and used as a seat.

The above picture, is of the rocks overlooking the forest. Apparently, they have rock concerts there and everything.

Whilst wandering around, I saw a superb and rather unusual shelter, which I have added to my list.