Friday, 31 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The joy of...........old freinds.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The joy of...........old freinds.: The joy of old friends is the fact that you can pick up from where you left off, more or less anyway. An old friend stayed overnight and it...
The joy of...........old freinds.
The joy of old friends is the fact that you can pick up from where you left off, more or less anyway. An old friend stayed overnight and it was great to see her. Of course there was a fair degree of talking about way back when, but also about the parallels of life and naturally what our offspring are up to.
Had a very good dinner of African Peanut Stew ( a recipe Tara found on Kathy's daughter in laws website called 'It's a plant based life.' Follow this link to see more: http://itsaplantbasedlife.com/ ) , lentils & rice followed by peach and pear crumble then more conversation till after midnight. A couple of bottles of both red & white were consumed, no surprise there I'm sure and a very good evening was had by all.
Chrissy was on her way up to Manchester & will be coming by this way again so we will be seeing more of her which is great and we'll call in when we're down Kent/Sussex way as well.
Chrissy & I went to college, that's about 39 years ago, inevitably life takes you in different directions and we didn't meet for years, though did keep in vague touch with xmas cards. FaceBook has been very useful for keeping abreast of what's been happening and its one of the reasons I'm so keen on FaceBook.
We spoke about a couple of others who neither of us has seen for years, a get together is a possibility but not a certainty, who knows!
Anyway, good times. It was really good to pick up with an old friend.
Had a very good dinner of African Peanut Stew ( a recipe Tara found on Kathy's daughter in laws website called 'It's a plant based life.' Follow this link to see more: http://itsaplantbasedlife.com/ ) , lentils & rice followed by peach and pear crumble then more conversation till after midnight. A couple of bottles of both red & white were consumed, no surprise there I'm sure and a very good evening was had by all.
Chrissy was on her way up to Manchester & will be coming by this way again so we will be seeing more of her which is great and we'll call in when we're down Kent/Sussex way as well.
Chrissy & I went to college, that's about 39 years ago, inevitably life takes you in different directions and we didn't meet for years, though did keep in vague touch with xmas cards. FaceBook has been very useful for keeping abreast of what's been happening and its one of the reasons I'm so keen on FaceBook.
We spoke about a couple of others who neither of us has seen for years, a get together is a possibility but not a certainty, who knows!
Anyway, good times. It was really good to pick up with an old friend.
Thursday, 23 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Target for tonight: Wesel.The Rhine crossing 23rd ...
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Target for tonight: Wesel.The Rhine crossing 23rd ...: My Dad's penultimate operational sortie was to be part of the attack on Wesel to smash any German resistance so the 21st Army Group und...
Target for tonight: Wesel.The Rhine crossing 23rd March 1945.
My Dad's penultimate operational sortie was to be part of the attack on Wesel to smash any German resistance so the 21st Army Group under General Montgomery could cross the River Rhine. Montgomery was quoted after saying: ' the bombing of Wesel was a masterpiece, and was a decisive factor in making possible our entry into the town before midnight.'
Lancaster PA567 code U-Uncle took off at 19.30hrs loaded with 14x 1000lb bombs one of 14 aircraft from 106 Squadron joining the bomber stream of 181 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes of 5 Group Bomber Command. Pilots ( Flt/Lieut Mawer) notes state they bombed at 9900ft at 22.39 hrs on the southern edge of the red target indicators as instructed by the Controller. I well remember my Dad telling me he could hear the controller over the intercom telling everyone to be more careful as some aircraft were dropping their bombs short, possibly on their own men! 'You're going home tonight,' he said 'there're not!' 97% of Wesel was destroyed.
They landed back at Metheringham at 01.05 hrs after a 5.30 hr trip no doubt exhausted, they'd have been debriefed by Intelligence Officers & then no doubt off to the NAFFI for bacon and egg.
The war was nearly over though not for Flt/ Lieut Mawer's crew.
Lancaster PA567 code U-Uncle took off at 19.30hrs loaded with 14x 1000lb bombs one of 14 aircraft from 106 Squadron joining the bomber stream of 181 Lancasters and 11 Mosquitoes of 5 Group Bomber Command. Pilots ( Flt/Lieut Mawer) notes state they bombed at 9900ft at 22.39 hrs on the southern edge of the red target indicators as instructed by the Controller. I well remember my Dad telling me he could hear the controller over the intercom telling everyone to be more careful as some aircraft were dropping their bombs short, possibly on their own men! 'You're going home tonight,' he said 'there're not!' 97% of Wesel was destroyed.
They landed back at Metheringham at 01.05 hrs after a 5.30 hr trip no doubt exhausted, they'd have been debriefed by Intelligence Officers & then no doubt off to the NAFFI for bacon and egg.
The war was nearly over though not for Flt/ Lieut Mawer's crew.
Monday, 20 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The Saturday Thai.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: The Saturday Thai.: Oliver arranged a family get together this evening at The Coconut Garden in Dunstable. We hadn't been there for years so it was a real t...
The Saturday Thai.
Oliver arranged a family get together this evening at The Coconut Garden in Dunstable. We hadn't been there for years so it was a real treat. Olly kindly drove us and Gary & Ellie there & we had a couple of beers in the Mulberry Bush first, Doombar, when I eventually noticed it anyway!
Met Tim, Ella, Julian and Laura there than then went across to the restaurant.
A veritable feast was partaken! Wheat free & veggie for Tara, if alittle heavy on the tofu. Our meal ( a set menu for parties over 8) covered just about all the meats,, from prawn to duck and lamb pancakes, chicken and beef curries , all washed down with a Changi beer or two.
A grand evening of chat and laughs as always when we get together. Still odd getting together without Alec & Laura who are apple & pear picking in Australia at the moment. Cab back home about 11.30 I think, Gary, Ellie, Olly & Laura hitting the town. A great night!
Met Tim, Ella, Julian and Laura there than then went across to the restaurant.
A veritable feast was partaken! Wheat free & veggie for Tara, if alittle heavy on the tofu. Our meal ( a set menu for parties over 8) covered just about all the meats,, from prawn to duck and lamb pancakes, chicken and beef curries , all washed down with a Changi beer or two.
A grand evening of chat and laughs as always when we get together. Still odd getting together without Alec & Laura who are apple & pear picking in Australia at the moment. Cab back home about 11.30 I think, Gary, Ellie, Olly & Laura hitting the town. A great night!
Wednesday, 15 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Another long run.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Another long run.: Another long run to Norfolk covering Burnham Market, Norwich, Lowestoft, Sheringham, Holt and Fakenham ended at The George Hotel near Norwic...
Another long run.
Another long run to Norfolk covering Burnham Market, Norwich, Lowestoft, Sheringham, Holt and Fakenham ended at The George Hotel near Norwich. Tired once I'd stopped but it was a productive day with a few things to follow up.
Pint of Adnams bitter was very well received then dinner of Gravalax starter then liver and bacon with bubble and squeak as a main. Liver was alittle over cooked for my liking, having had it cooked by a French chef at a very good restaurant in Dunstable called Chez Jerome (follow this link to find out more http://chezjerome.co.uk/) all else pales in comparison to be honest. However a good feed it was, went for a stroll and then bed by 10.30pm. A very nice full English at breakfast set me up for another day full of fun.
Tara has been working exceedingly hard to make her Avon business work for her, with managing a team as well she rightly won the Number One spot for achievement & was awarded a nice crystal thing to put stuff in ( crystal bowl!) and the certificate photo'd here. I am very proud of Tara, she is and always had drive and determination in the face of adversity with all the crap that Fibromyalgia flings at her. I am very proud. ( follow this link at Stores.ebay.co.uk/Grannas-Crafty-Attic to find out more)
Pint of Adnams bitter was very well received then dinner of Gravalax starter then liver and bacon with bubble and squeak as a main. Liver was alittle over cooked for my liking, having had it cooked by a French chef at a very good restaurant in Dunstable called Chez Jerome (follow this link to find out more http://chezjerome.co.uk/) all else pales in comparison to be honest. However a good feed it was, went for a stroll and then bed by 10.30pm. A very nice full English at breakfast set me up for another day full of fun.
Tara has been working exceedingly hard to make her Avon business work for her, with managing a team as well she rightly won the Number One spot for achievement & was awarded a nice crystal thing to put stuff in ( crystal bowl!) and the certificate photo'd here. I am very proud of Tara, she is and always had drive and determination in the face of adversity with all the crap that Fibromyalgia flings at her. I am very proud. ( follow this link at Stores.ebay.co.uk/Grannas-Crafty-Attic to find out more)
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| Gravalax starter. |
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| Liver, bacon with bubble and squeak. |
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| Taras certificate. |
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| Crystal bowl award. |
Sunday, 12 March 2017
The National Archive.
The National Archive at Kew is a fascinating place. You can view such records as the passenger list from the Titanic to the muster roll for Nelson's Victory to cabinet papers and released official documents.
I've mentioned some of the records I've viewed in other blogs, war diaries from World War One, operational records from World War Two, also the divorce papers of my Grandmother from 1921 and some of my Uncle's Merchant Navy documents one of my Grandad's Royal Navy records and the other Grandad's army records and also the passenger list noting one of my Great Aunt's when she sailed from Liverpool as a 'Military dependant third class' in 1919 after she'd married a Canadian soldier.
There's a process, a slow process of gradually digitising all the records. This will take years and years. Emphasis was put on digitising the regimental war diaries from WW1 to coincide with the centenary of the war for easy access for researchers. I'd already looked at some of these before this was started. You request the record using it's record number and eventually a bod puts the item in a sort of cubby hole with your seat number on. It's from here that you collect the records and take them back to your place. Open the box and there you have the original documents probably written out just a few yards from the front line, if not in the front line. Another case of what I call touching history.
You'll lose all this of course as records do become digitised but it must be better to protect the original documents. If you go to Kew you can view any record free of charge, you can photo them, without flash again for free. Printed copies you have to pay for. You can go on line and download, for a charge records already digitised, though it's interesting to note when I was researching one of Tara's family who served in the Australian army. As his records were all in Oz I had no alternative but to view and download on line but the Australians do not charge anything at all! British government please note!
If you want to visit to see records you must apply for a readers ticket. You need to take along two items identifying yourself with your address as well, then you answer some bone headed questions on their site, questions like: 'Would you write on the records?' Put yes to that & I don't think you'd get a readers ticket! Security is taken seriously as it should be. You can only take in pencils to write with and all in a clear plastic bag that they supply, there's also staff who check you in and out of the reading rooms who look through anything you are taking with you to make sure there is no pilfering of the records. They also run talks and guided tours behind the scenes and have regular exhibitions. it's a very interesting place to visit.
I've mentioned some of the records I've viewed in other blogs, war diaries from World War One, operational records from World War Two, also the divorce papers of my Grandmother from 1921 and some of my Uncle's Merchant Navy documents one of my Grandad's Royal Navy records and the other Grandad's army records and also the passenger list noting one of my Great Aunt's when she sailed from Liverpool as a 'Military dependant third class' in 1919 after she'd married a Canadian soldier.
There's a process, a slow process of gradually digitising all the records. This will take years and years. Emphasis was put on digitising the regimental war diaries from WW1 to coincide with the centenary of the war for easy access for researchers. I'd already looked at some of these before this was started. You request the record using it's record number and eventually a bod puts the item in a sort of cubby hole with your seat number on. It's from here that you collect the records and take them back to your place. Open the box and there you have the original documents probably written out just a few yards from the front line, if not in the front line. Another case of what I call touching history.
You'll lose all this of course as records do become digitised but it must be better to protect the original documents. If you go to Kew you can view any record free of charge, you can photo them, without flash again for free. Printed copies you have to pay for. You can go on line and download, for a charge records already digitised, though it's interesting to note when I was researching one of Tara's family who served in the Australian army. As his records were all in Oz I had no alternative but to view and download on line but the Australians do not charge anything at all! British government please note!
If you want to visit to see records you must apply for a readers ticket. You need to take along two items identifying yourself with your address as well, then you answer some bone headed questions on their site, questions like: 'Would you write on the records?' Put yes to that & I don't think you'd get a readers ticket! Security is taken seriously as it should be. You can only take in pencils to write with and all in a clear plastic bag that they supply, there's also staff who check you in and out of the reading rooms who look through anything you are taking with you to make sure there is no pilfering of the records. They also run talks and guided tours behind the scenes and have regular exhibitions. it's a very interesting place to visit.
Friday, 10 March 2017
Crufts.
Well here's the thing. I've watched Crufts for years with Tara and been along twice but always while we 've had dogs. We haven't any more. It's a different gig now, in some strange way I didn't realise how much I loved our dogs until we didn't have them any more. I completely understand how people can become obsessed with dogs. They are good buddies. It doesn't matter how you feel or what you think, a dog is always welcoming and friendly. They see the good in people even the b"**!:-'s that abuse them. Dogs are great. Dogs Rule!
They do take over your life but in a good way, we always had to think after a few hours, is anyone available to let them in the garden etc and of course they are a tie, not having to watch the clock now is great but not having that great greeting when you return home is terrible, tragic. It reminds you of what you have lost.
So sad was I when we lost Leo and Ralph that I said I didn't want another dog. Not because I didn't want another dog but because I didn't want the heart ache of losing another dog even though I realise it's a short sharp grief compared to the years of fun and good stuff you have had. We'll get another dog, another addition to our family because that's what it is, but I'll always remember with love and fondness dear old Leo and Ralph. The first dogs I really had anything to do with. They were great lads.
They do take over your life but in a good way, we always had to think after a few hours, is anyone available to let them in the garden etc and of course they are a tie, not having to watch the clock now is great but not having that great greeting when you return home is terrible, tragic. It reminds you of what you have lost.
So sad was I when we lost Leo and Ralph that I said I didn't want another dog. Not because I didn't want another dog but because I didn't want the heart ache of losing another dog even though I realise it's a short sharp grief compared to the years of fun and good stuff you have had. We'll get another dog, another addition to our family because that's what it is, but I'll always remember with love and fondness dear old Leo and Ralph. The first dogs I really had anything to do with. They were great lads.
The joy of..........cutting both your thumbs at the same time
You may find this one difficult to believe. I was at a trade show this week and was demonstrating a kitchen gadget called the 4 in 1 grater. The graters are acid etched steel and incredibly sharp. I knew this. I was demo-ing it to a customer & before I knew it I'd pushed the blade the wrong way & cut my thumb, bleeding thus began. The product is mainly white the demo station was white, you can imagine the rest, anyway, trying to laugh that off and continue talking at the same time I did it again to the other thumb!
Luckily the customer had a couple of plasters & no, they didn't buy it! I now have to have a note from my wife, counter signed by my boss to allow me to go near anything sharp or pointy.
Luckily the customer had a couple of plasters & no, they didn't buy it! I now have to have a note from my wife, counter signed by my boss to allow me to go near anything sharp or pointy.
Sunday, 5 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Bomber. 5th March 1945.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Bomber. 5th March 1945.: Seventy two years ago tonight at 17.35hrs my Dad, then a 19 year old Sergeant in the Royal Air Force took off in Lancaster LM211 (code Z-Zeb...
Bomber. 5th March 1945.
Seventy two years ago tonight at 17.35hrs my Dad, then a 19 year old Sergeant in the Royal Air Force took off in Lancaster LM211 (code Z-Zebra) of 106 Squadron to attack the synthetic oil plant at Bohlen near Leipzig.
It was his third sortie, his job was Mid Upper Gunner. I remember him telling me that this was very near the Russian front at that time, in case they had to bail out they were given a silk Union Jack to wear round their necks, hopefully this would stop the Russians shooting them!
106 Squadron sent 14 Lancasters to join the other 235 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes from 5 Group Bomber Command to flatten these factories.
The National Archive at Kew holds the detailed reports from individual aircraft, squadron and group on these & other actions all still marked 'secret' at the top of the page. I can tell you that Lancaster LM211 bombed at a height of 12900 feet at 21.56hrs carrying 1x 4000lb bomb ( known as a 'cookie') and 9x 500lb bombs. The pilots comments state they were bombing on complete cloud cover so the target was marked by the Path Finder Force with 'Wanganui' sky marking flares, flak was described as 'moderate.' After bombs were dropped the pilot had to keep the aircraft steady for another 30 seconds (I think) for a photo flash to go off detailing where their bombs were dropped. At the National Archive there are many such photos including one taken from my Dad's Lancaster on tonights attack though as they bombed on cloud cover, that's all it is, a photo looking down on clouds! But the important thing is these records will be there for generations to come to see what their ancestors did.
They returned to base, Metheringham in Lincolnshire landing at 03.05hrs having been airborne for nine and a half hours, my Dad's longest trip. All from 106 Squadron returned but four other Lancasters did not. I don't know the fate of those four but with seven to a crew it's a potential 28 to include with the 56000 Bomber Command aircrew killed during the war. Their life expectancy was as short as an officer in the trenches of the previous war.
So there you are,a moment in history seventy two years ago tonight.
It was his third sortie, his job was Mid Upper Gunner. I remember him telling me that this was very near the Russian front at that time, in case they had to bail out they were given a silk Union Jack to wear round their necks, hopefully this would stop the Russians shooting them!
106 Squadron sent 14 Lancasters to join the other 235 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitoes from 5 Group Bomber Command to flatten these factories.
The National Archive at Kew holds the detailed reports from individual aircraft, squadron and group on these & other actions all still marked 'secret' at the top of the page. I can tell you that Lancaster LM211 bombed at a height of 12900 feet at 21.56hrs carrying 1x 4000lb bomb ( known as a 'cookie') and 9x 500lb bombs. The pilots comments state they were bombing on complete cloud cover so the target was marked by the Path Finder Force with 'Wanganui' sky marking flares, flak was described as 'moderate.' After bombs were dropped the pilot had to keep the aircraft steady for another 30 seconds (I think) for a photo flash to go off detailing where their bombs were dropped. At the National Archive there are many such photos including one taken from my Dad's Lancaster on tonights attack though as they bombed on cloud cover, that's all it is, a photo looking down on clouds! But the important thing is these records will be there for generations to come to see what their ancestors did.
They returned to base, Metheringham in Lincolnshire landing at 03.05hrs having been airborne for nine and a half hours, my Dad's longest trip. All from 106 Squadron returned but four other Lancasters did not. I don't know the fate of those four but with seven to a crew it's a potential 28 to include with the 56000 Bomber Command aircrew killed during the war. Their life expectancy was as short as an officer in the trenches of the previous war.
So there you are,a moment in history seventy two years ago tonight.
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| Sgt George Henry Morgan. 106 Squadron RAF. |
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| Crew standing by a Stirling bomber at 1660 Heavy Conversation Unit, Swinderby, December 1944. George Morgan second from right. |
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| Remains of Bolen synthetic oil plant March 1945. |
Saturday, 4 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Musical interlude.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Musical interlude.: End of the week, at last, been a busy one as usual. Though I listen to music in the car there's nothing like relaxing with a glass of so...
Musical interlude.
End of the week, at last, been a busy one as usual. Though I listen to music in the car there's nothing like relaxing with a glass of something & both listening at home.
The old CD player has a new lease of life, it was pretty well on its last legs and the sound quality in particular wasn't that good, then one of Gary's friends was getting rid of a couple of speakers, nothing wrong with them but they were heading for the dump so Gary tried them & eventually we got them. With Tara's help we got them fixed up to the main CD player and the sound is brilliant! The machine itself does play up abit sometimes. The CD compartment doesn't always open first time & it has a mind of its own when you try to play the CD's on a random mix, but having said that when its working properly it sounds great!
This evening I'd put on 'Cautionary Tales' by TRADarrr. This is a folk group made up of Marion Fleetwood, Greg Cave, Guy Fletcher, PJ Wright (both formerly of 'Little Johnny England') & Mark Stevens with guest appearances by Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg & Ric Sanders no less, of Fairport Convention fame. They are a great mix of traditional folk tunes from the like of Ralph Vaughan Williams & Morris tunes in the shape of the 'Upton Stick Dance.'
Tara said we saw their first public performance as TRADarrr at the Cropredy Festival, all accomplished musicians in their own right put them together and it sounds brilliant.
From one extreme to the other as we followed this with Judas Priest's 'Defenders of the Faith.' Originally recorded in 1984 in the days when Rob Halford, the singer, could hit all those high notes the title track is a fave of mine. JP are not top of Tara's list I have to say though she'll always give different bands a try, more so than I do!
Third CD was one by WASP that is 25 years old this year called 'The Crimson Idol.' We are going to see WASP in October & to celebrate this album they are going to play it in its entirety for the first half of their set so its an album we need to get into. It's a very good album, the singer Blackie Lawless has a great gravelly voice it should be a great gig!
After this we watched the last part of the adaption of Alex Hayley's 'Roots.' Talking about this we both decided as brilliant as it was, it was kind of wrong to say that you really enjoyed it. The violence was so vicious and so random 'enjoyment' just isn't right. It made for compelling viewing & incomprehension as to how nasty humans can be to their fellow humans.
The old CD player has a new lease of life, it was pretty well on its last legs and the sound quality in particular wasn't that good, then one of Gary's friends was getting rid of a couple of speakers, nothing wrong with them but they were heading for the dump so Gary tried them & eventually we got them. With Tara's help we got them fixed up to the main CD player and the sound is brilliant! The machine itself does play up abit sometimes. The CD compartment doesn't always open first time & it has a mind of its own when you try to play the CD's on a random mix, but having said that when its working properly it sounds great!
This evening I'd put on 'Cautionary Tales' by TRADarrr. This is a folk group made up of Marion Fleetwood, Greg Cave, Guy Fletcher, PJ Wright (both formerly of 'Little Johnny England') & Mark Stevens with guest appearances by Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg & Ric Sanders no less, of Fairport Convention fame. They are a great mix of traditional folk tunes from the like of Ralph Vaughan Williams & Morris tunes in the shape of the 'Upton Stick Dance.'
Tara said we saw their first public performance as TRADarrr at the Cropredy Festival, all accomplished musicians in their own right put them together and it sounds brilliant.
From one extreme to the other as we followed this with Judas Priest's 'Defenders of the Faith.' Originally recorded in 1984 in the days when Rob Halford, the singer, could hit all those high notes the title track is a fave of mine. JP are not top of Tara's list I have to say though she'll always give different bands a try, more so than I do!
Third CD was one by WASP that is 25 years old this year called 'The Crimson Idol.' We are going to see WASP in October & to celebrate this album they are going to play it in its entirety for the first half of their set so its an album we need to get into. It's a very good album, the singer Blackie Lawless has a great gravelly voice it should be a great gig!
After this we watched the last part of the adaption of Alex Hayley's 'Roots.' Talking about this we both decided as brilliant as it was, it was kind of wrong to say that you really enjoyed it. The violence was so vicious and so random 'enjoyment' just isn't right. It made for compelling viewing & incomprehension as to how nasty humans can be to their fellow humans.
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| CD player and Tara's Bacardi and Coke, plus crafting stuff. |
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| My glass of red and assorted CD's waiting to be played. |
Friday, 3 March 2017
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Shropshire again.
An idiots guide to an Idiot: Shropshire again.: Two nights away this time instead of my usual one. I got more appointments booked so really needed another day in that neck of the woods. St...
Shropshire again.
Two nights away this time instead of my usual one. I got more appointments booked so really needed another day in that neck of the woods. Stopover on the first night was the Lion Hotel in central Shrewsbury. It's very nice, the food is usually good and so is the beer. It's also quite near a pub I've found that has rock bands on a Tuesday night, I fully intended to look in but to be honest after driving 320 miles and after eating I was too knackered to be bothered!
The bar at the hotel serves the excellent Butty Bach by the Wye Valley Brewery, its 4.2% in strength so not exactly a quaffing beer, it's a mid coloured brew and has a sweetness I like. For starters I had garlic prawns. They were nice, if abit boring, it should have been served with bread I think to mop up the garlic liquor but it wasn't. Couldn't decide on a main. I regularly go for a steak but wanted something different tonight so I went for the 6oz burger with bacon. This was very good, served with chips and salad A good tasty burger in a proper bread roll, not an airy white thing. That consumed with another pint of Butty Bach I retired to my room & was in bed and asleep by 10.30!
I've had the continental breakfast here which is fine. Thought I'd treat myself to the Full English which was bit of a disappointment. I generally have a poached egg (its healthier you see, never mind the heart attack on a plate that the rest of a Full English is!!) and it was abit watery & their sausage was obviously a cheapo make so I rather wish I hadn't bothered, I won't in future.
To the next day then which was all in Shropshire. It's a lovely county very hilly and picturesque with some interesting towns and villages though working there I never get a proper chance to look round. It's all going from one place to another for the next appointment, really need to go back when I'm not working to explore places like Ludlow and Oswestry and Bridgenorth when I have the time. Anyway, having said that & having called on all my appointments for that day my stopover was The Fox at Much Wenlock. We have been here before & looked around the ruined priory dating back to 680 when King Merewalh of Mercia built an Anglo-Saxon monastery. The Fox is a 16th century building and to say the floors in the bedroom were uneven is an understatement! You walked more or less uphill to get to the far side of the bathroom & the bed needed propping up by two quite thick books under the legs one side to make it horizontal! It was great!
They had two real ales on today, Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold was one. A very light coloured beer, 4.2% in strength and quite nice, their other offering I preferred which was Wainwrights Golden Beer.4.1% in strength and beautifully refreshing, a really good beer though quite light in colour to my usual preference for a mid coloured brew.
Dinner! Jack Sprats was my starter. Small fillets of sprats fried in a light batter and served with home made tartar sauce & salad. Tasted very much like Whitebait which was fine by me! My main was pork belly served with black pudding, mash and veg. Again really good and very filling, interested to find out that they have gluten free bread available and will adapt recipes where possible to accommodate wheat intolerance. Not only is this very good to hear but it also means they have a proper cook who doesn't just get things out of packets. Dinner was excellent! I will bring the Memsahib here at some stage.
Retired replete, had a nose on FaceBook & emails etc and called it a day. A proper Full English was served next morning that stood me well for the day. All very well cooked and delicious. If I have the 'works' for brekky I tend not to have lunch, I don't really need it! Anyway that's it, a couple of places I will stay at again.
The bar at the hotel serves the excellent Butty Bach by the Wye Valley Brewery, its 4.2% in strength so not exactly a quaffing beer, it's a mid coloured brew and has a sweetness I like. For starters I had garlic prawns. They were nice, if abit boring, it should have been served with bread I think to mop up the garlic liquor but it wasn't. Couldn't decide on a main. I regularly go for a steak but wanted something different tonight so I went for the 6oz burger with bacon. This was very good, served with chips and salad A good tasty burger in a proper bread roll, not an airy white thing. That consumed with another pint of Butty Bach I retired to my room & was in bed and asleep by 10.30!
I've had the continental breakfast here which is fine. Thought I'd treat myself to the Full English which was bit of a disappointment. I generally have a poached egg (its healthier you see, never mind the heart attack on a plate that the rest of a Full English is!!) and it was abit watery & their sausage was obviously a cheapo make so I rather wish I hadn't bothered, I won't in future.
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| Welsh hills with snow atop on my drive through to Shropshire. |
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| A pint of Butty Bach in there somewhere! |
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| Burger for dinner. |
To the next day then which was all in Shropshire. It's a lovely county very hilly and picturesque with some interesting towns and villages though working there I never get a proper chance to look round. It's all going from one place to another for the next appointment, really need to go back when I'm not working to explore places like Ludlow and Oswestry and Bridgenorth when I have the time. Anyway, having said that & having called on all my appointments for that day my stopover was The Fox at Much Wenlock. We have been here before & looked around the ruined priory dating back to 680 when King Merewalh of Mercia built an Anglo-Saxon monastery. The Fox is a 16th century building and to say the floors in the bedroom were uneven is an understatement! You walked more or less uphill to get to the far side of the bathroom & the bed needed propping up by two quite thick books under the legs one side to make it horizontal! It was great!
They had two real ales on today, Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold was one. A very light coloured beer, 4.2% in strength and quite nice, their other offering I preferred which was Wainwrights Golden Beer.4.1% in strength and beautifully refreshing, a really good beer though quite light in colour to my usual preference for a mid coloured brew.
Dinner! Jack Sprats was my starter. Small fillets of sprats fried in a light batter and served with home made tartar sauce & salad. Tasted very much like Whitebait which was fine by me! My main was pork belly served with black pudding, mash and veg. Again really good and very filling, interested to find out that they have gluten free bread available and will adapt recipes where possible to accommodate wheat intolerance. Not only is this very good to hear but it also means they have a proper cook who doesn't just get things out of packets. Dinner was excellent! I will bring the Memsahib here at some stage.
Retired replete, had a nose on FaceBook & emails etc and called it a day. A proper Full English was served next morning that stood me well for the day. All very well cooked and delicious. If I have the 'works' for brekky I tend not to have lunch, I don't really need it! Anyway that's it, a couple of places I will stay at again.
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| Jack Sprats for starters. |
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| Mmm. Looks good doesn't it. A pint of Wainwrights. |
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| Pork Belly, black pud, creamy mash and veg. Fit for a king! |
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