Xmas 2010

Booted and ready to go. The snow has melted and its nice and wet, ready for sproglet to go playing in the mud and rivers no doubt followed by a pint in the tunnel end.

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Weird freaky snow shit...

After weeks of severe sub zero temperatures, even the snow is suffering. It looks like Jack Frost got a crystal growing kit this xmas. Never seen snow like it... Freaky...



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Brrrr...

Minus 7 at 4pm in the afternoon? Wtf? Is this the start of a new ice age or something?

This cold snap seemed to start around use time we said we would buy a house which is heated by a wood burning range... Coincidence... I think not.


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Go on luv, you can push it over...

A week before xmas and spaceflower decides to pound the snow and ice and its only a balmy minus 5. Good to see the stretching... I would have joined her but I had a pressing engagement with a bacon and egg butty.



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Working from home is the future...

A snowy afternoon forces the office to be abandoned but it has its advantages.

A wee glass of lovely cockburns special reserve port... Instigated by space flower of course!


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Spaceflower's new record!

Leeds abbey dash 1.03:03 fantastic! Knocked 5 mins off last 10k run.

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Wet feet give inspirational idea for xmas present

So spaceflower decided to go horse riding... Sproglet and I decided to take the monster for a walk in the upper upper colne valley.

Lots of mud and water makes sproglet appreciate the wonders of waterproof practical footwear. Chrismas present sorted.

Having parked right outside the tunnel end, it would be rude not to pop in for atleast 1 pint. Here we have a pint of flowers original. Nice pint and it must be cold outside as Gary's beer doesn't taste as cold as it usually does. Cracking pint grommit.

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My Favourite TV Show

Received this surprise beauty through the post today from one of my inside contacts at utv in Belfast

UTV's answer to eggheads.... Brainbox. Late night quiz shows dont get any better than this.... Maybe this could inspire tonights questions.... What could you drink out of a mug?

Click here for a typical night on Brainbox... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5VIBhqg8yA




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There's no place like home...

Well, there is the tunnel end inn where we visited earlier this afternoon, but this comes a very close second. Your's for a snip of only £180k.

Here we have a nice glass of pinot grigio. I'd love to tell you about its terroir and its characteristics but they are lost on me, would rather have a pint!

Pictured here is dog drying out after nice walk up Wessenden valley this afternoon.
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One reason to buy the house down the road

Ok, this could be our new local. Could, perhaps should be our new local, only reason it won't be is that its too expensive (the house) and no parking.

Taking advantage tonight of 2 meals for £12 at the excellent navigation in dobcross. Seems to be back to its best tonight. Last few times we've been its been a bit iffy but here's a nice pint of Tribute from Cornish brewer st austell. It's come a long way but its a worthy trip.

Also making an appearance tonight is tiger rutt last tasted here last year. Smells of cannabis, tastes of cannabis if I remember correctly.


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His & Hers....

She used to drink pints but since ditching the ale, she's turned into a veritable Elle McPherson...

Whisked Elle away for a romantic night in lancashire (if such a thing exists). Ok, it was a bit of a bargain but she's not to know. The amazing Waddington Arms, excellent food, dog friendly, lovely rooms, very friendly staff.

Sadly, first pint was off, I love it when I'm right... Second pint was the last out of the pump before that was changed... Then there were 3... Pedigree, golden pippin and Celtic gold - the later shown here. Hopefully we'll drink them dry of this and they'll have to stick another barrel on!

Gordon's and slim for Elle till sound down.

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The orange tree, kirkby lonsdale...

Home of the kirkby lonsdale brewery company though looking at the orange tree's website you would never know it.

The Orange Tree is a new recommendation from this years (2010) bible. Both this pub and the sun inn (listed in 2009 bible but not 2010) pubs also feature in a new website I discovered last night called www.doggiepubs.org.uk

Nice pint of monumental blonde here, they also advertise a 5.8% beer conditioned in old whiskey casks! Think spaceflowers father will be eyeing that one, he'll have to be careful going back up the m6!!

Very dog friendly, the monster sat quietly under the table while keeping her eye on movements around the ever increasingly busy bar.

Best sub £5 burger i've had for a long time. The Monumental Blonde was very nice indeed.


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Ready for sundown....

Feels like we have been away for weeks, but still 2 days to go.

Tonight we take full advantage of free wifi and a nice cold pint (jarra - which I have been told twice by locals that I can pronounce perfectly) of tropical.


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Cotillo tapas...

This weeks Blog comes from a swanky tapas bar in el cotillo in fuertaventura.

Strangely occupied by lots of Brits but not in a chavy way. The local beer is called dorado, got 24 cans from the supermercado for 12 euros!

Great meal, they just brought us a selection of tapas including beef stew, spicy chicken, baby squid (the barman reckons!), tatoes and a fish dish.

I love it when people just bring us food... You would never believe mother used to say I was a fussy eater!



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Howard arms, carlisle

Great pub, last here for rhod Gilbert in April.

Grabbing a quick bite today, cheese and pickle bagette for £2.90! Bargain! Nice pint of deuchers too!


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Always wanted one of these....

Spaceflower once received a BigTrak as a Xmas present when she was a kid but it got sent back to the catalogue (pmsl). Dont know if its better to have had and lost, or never to have had? Currently for sale at play.com, maybe i should cash in some gift vouchers...

We are now cruising at 1500ft...

Gentle Sunday stroll in the chew valley near saddleworth.
Amazing scenery, huge valley and a man made reservoir at the top of it.

We were last here in April and climbed up through the snow line. No snow today, not much of a breeze. The cloud finally lifted around 1pm ish and revealed the most amazing views. Not many walkers out, nice to be out in the peace and quiet - apart from the planes coming in to land at Manchester airport.

Click here for the route: http://bit.ly/cJVTea


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A walk to Yorkshire & Back

Camping in the forest of bowland again. Walked to north Yorkshire and back again today.

An alleged heatwave with temperatures in the 30s they said, sadly no one told the lancastrians. Damp, humid, overcast and muggy but that was just lancashite. Much nicer in Yorkshire, but hell, when isn't it.

Here we have a pint of hen harrier from the Bowland Brewery served at the mountain bike mecca of the dog & partridge in tosside. thanks to the pubs staff for a cracking lunch and a big bowl of cold water for the Monster. Good pint, reminds me of something else i've had somewhere else but buggered if i can remember. It will make the 4 mile walk back to slaidburn much easier.

For the 15 miles route - see this link http://beta.mapmyrun.com/route/detail/19717614/

Good omen?

Wow, first kitkat ever to have no wafer biscuit inside! Hope its an omen that we'll win the lottery tonight!



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A new disciple for the bible?

The robin hood inn, cragg vale. Been on the hit list for a while but never got around to getting here. A nice surprise, a few comments I had read suggested it was dog friendly and it turns out it is. 3 real ales on, weapon of choice landlord shown here. Its slimmer sister golden best and an ossett ale, Yorkshire blonde on offer.

Lovely bar setting, smells of coal fires even in the middle of summer, reminds me of fitting the flue on the fire at home and being dumped in soot from the chimney.

Good value menu on offer - no credit cards accepted.

Would be worthy of inclusion in the good beer guide.


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Last minute plans are always the best laid plans...

3pm we had no plans, 4pm we we're packed up and raring to go. Back to the forest of bowland.

Travelling light this weekend, well ok Saturday nite only, but here we have mini tent, mini chairs and big bottle of gin!! What more could a girl want? Bbq lit, beer flowing, nandos infused chicken ready... The nite is young.....


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Creature comforts...

There's no place like home, a quick 10 minute walk from marsden gets us to the excellent tunnel end inn. Knock out pub, pint of bass and landlord shown here. Best pub in the valley bar none....

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Next stop Marsden

Ok, so we were going to take on the head of steam however we couldn't take the dog on the pub so had to go round the back. In the absence of any seats, a swift run to the next train sees is in sunny marsden.

Now the railway pub. I've eyed this up several times. The blackboard of guest beers always looks appetising but today, I'm left disappointed. A marstons beer monk something is ok but nothing to write home about. Despite its proximity to the platform, the pub needs to evolve somewhat to cash in on the real ale trail, ok they may get a pint out of it but I doubt whether they'll get much more.
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3 is the magic number...

Well it might be but think that this might be one to miss on the real ale trial v2. Dunno, its ok, but not a patch on the last pub. A theakstons pub, the navigation, wouldn't go out of my way to return, here's a pint of theakstons black bull.

Next stop on the real ale trail is head of steam on Hudderfield platform or maybe we should go back to dewsbury?

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Yorkshire legends...

r.I.p Fred trueman, a true legend. I'm sure he would be happy knowing he was watching over such a busy bar.
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3 minutes down the track....

Its the banging west riding bar. Not more than 20ft from stepping off the train! Now that's what I call handy. I thought the pubs at huddersfield station were pretty good but heah, this place pips them. Full of lovely memorabilia. Some cracking beers including a pint of lightyear, last seen on spaceflowers birthday.
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The dog eating cat from batley

A hop, step and jump from the platform is the cellar bar with its dog eating cat!

Molly's far too interested in the beer to even acknowledge the cat.

Here's she's seen drinking saltaire's red lion ale. England vs USA later tonight, needless to say, everything has flags on it, I'm sure it won't be the first England themed beer we are today.


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Ding ding round 1

Real ale pub 1. The kings head, huddersfield platform. Next train in 10 mins....

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Nature bites back

Well, sunny weekend camping in the forest of bowland. What a little jem, despite the fact that its in wankyshire (Lancs).

Cracking 15 mile walk in glorious weather, stumbled across a footpath closed because of the potential injury to walkers from, of all things, eagle owls!

Plenty of wildlife up here, more curlews than I've ever seen, woodpeckers, trout in the smallest streams.

While cooking breakfast, we were subjected to an aerial bombardment of blue tit fledgings. Indeed, one hit the car door and nearly ended up on the stove. It managed to seek sanctuary on the roof of the tent. Bullet tooth Tony had to move swiftly to rescue it to a nearby wall. Hope it makes it.


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Spooky fish

I walk the dog up here most lunchtimes. There are so many trout in here its mad. It never gets fished but the fish are so spooky. It doesn't bode well for my clumsy wading style when I'm actually trying to catch them!


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Beer from the coast

Our lass brought us this back after visiting southwold in east Anglia. Even better, she managed to wangle a discount from the brewery shop!

Hottest weekend of the year in the very high 20s. Hope its nice and got next weekend when we're camping.
Oh and the beer, yeah pretty good, follows a bbq with king prawns nicely!


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A cloudy pint & a sterile environment

This place was recommended to us, the carriage house above marsden.

We were led to believe its dog friendly, not when we visited.

The black sheep golden sheep arrived cloudy, perhaps not sat for long enough?

The place is just sterile though, no atmosphere at all, maybe its too big? I don't know. No friendly welcome from the landlady, she would learn a lot from the owners of the tunnel end inn. We had big hopes for this place. Plans for a 10th anniversary bash taking over the place... I don't think so.

All in all, a very disappointing visit, no incentive to return.


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Cracking Fish Grommit

Caught on a home tied gold ribbed hares ear nymph. This cracker was sat in the fastest of water, i'm sure it didnt have much time to decide whether to grab my nymph or not - they are obviously irresistable!! Took a good 10 mins to net it... Phew...

Caught on 22/4/2010

Cuckoo cuckoo

Cuckoo day in marsden. Blue sky sunshine screaming kids, beer.

A lovely pint of summat special from the swan.

Last year we actually heard a cuckoo on cuckoo day, not this year though. Just screaming kids and bands playing. For more explanation on cuckoo day, just google it!




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Big night out in carlisle

Almost forgot to update Blog with beer ramblings as consumption is reduced as of late in an effort for spaceflower to get fit and lose some excess inches. Gladly that's been achieved now so the beer consumption can resume.

In carlisle to see Rhod Gilbert live and was recommended to visit the Howard arms on lowther street. Cracking welcome, served within 20 seconds despite being busy. Landlords have been in camra's good beer guide for 20 years and their deuchers ipa is a cracking pint. Off to see rhod now, hope to be back here after the gig.
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No dogs in the pub...

Same old argument at the bull in brigg - ooh no dogs allowed in the pub, people eating. Not even allowed to access the beer garden through the pub with the dog - are mere 10 yards?

Brigg's a nice market town, cracking pint of batemans gha, bit of an odd pub, previous entered in the bible but missing this year. Maybe the clientelle lost them the entry?

Ding Ding Round 2...

Never heard of this brewery, but this is a pint of Glentworth Lightyear. 3.9% of pure summer in a glass. Lovely stuff!!


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Oz Clarke's Stomping Ground

Huddersfield Railway Station, as featured in Oz and James tour of Britain, here we have The Head of Steam in Huddersfield Railway Station.

Crossing the newly renovated square in front of the pub, you might be mistaken for being in Milan. But no. Huddersfield of all places. It's copped a fair bit of slack for the cost of the development but its prety impressive nonetheless.

Our neighbout has the luxury of hanging out here for a pint while he's waiting for his evening train home. Even now I can see a train on the platform through the window in the back of the pub. Suddenly public transport is very appealing.

Now it's spaceflowers birthday today and after a very mediocre steak at a highly rated Argentinian restaurant, its nice to get back to a nice pub and an even nicer pint. Only a half today as driving but its a cracker! Sam smiths old brewery best. Great temperature and very smooth. Spaceflower has a swift birthday port and a half of westons old Rosie scrumpy at a mind blowing 7.3%! Before singing to The Communards in the car on the way home...

Lessons learned today...

1. Never go to a top rated restaurant on trip advisor you'lll only end up disappointed.

2. Try and use public transport more, especially if it passes through huddersfield railway station.

3. Sam smiths, always a cracking pint.


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Company meeting down the ship

Here's a pub I never knew too much about. The ship in brighouse. Featured in the bible and while i've been past many times, i've never been in.

What a surprise, not bad at all, bit of a real ale den.

Shown here is a pint of adnams broadside. Not bad at all!

Think we might have to visit again, they even have a thursday tea time special, £4.45 for a pint and pie and peas.... Bargain!

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His'n hers at the Dog & Partridge

Another good beer guide local pub which we sorely neglect the dog and partridge at sowood.

The best pint of landlord i've has this year, proudly shown here in his and hers glasses.

Interesting letter on the wall here written by the queen's lady in waiting dated 1995 while on board the royal yacht Britannia.

A real treasure of a pub. They don't make them like this any more, I just wonder how long it will stay should frank the landlord decide to sell up or retire.
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