tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349522892024-03-16T18:52:06.449+00:00GnawsNot so much a train of thought, more a replacement bus service of godless waffle, jokes and memes with a snifter of wine and craft-beer related stuff on the side..Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-11844475542591141942024-03-14T10:30:00.003+00:002024-03-14T10:30:00.131+00:00Top Choices<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Ygo7V_98o66MMdOZETbSV5lgeApCjV_9EFf3N0W8LX-L6tfMJT0E_Jpl6_e--ovrhg3ClbRw-2gPmZOKw893O5AYbkb6Kp5NWXBxfj_Hb3AYxlrxnFqxc_3Gmo_nnfMH9hg4fHYaHFNLxLNhOndqic_WYSDi2xoXtW5Lbu3Nh3WWFkipu9BAVQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2Ygo7V_98o66MMdOZETbSV5lgeApCjV_9EFf3N0W8LX-L6tfMJT0E_Jpl6_e--ovrhg3ClbRw-2gPmZOKw893O5AYbkb6Kp5NWXBxfj_Hb3AYxlrxnFqxc_3Gmo_nnfMH9hg4fHYaHFNLxLNhOndqic_WYSDi2xoXtW5Lbu3Nh3WWFkipu9BAVQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love Ridge wines and there's nothing like a horizontal tasting, delicious, top choices.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-82708760630310759142024-03-13T11:30:00.001+00:002024-03-13T11:30:00.131+00:00Reasonable efficiency..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIGhw56QlW2Zxpd9jb1td7SKmGnzvUul0AD-7yjUFaM3LxkOX2PMzXVMWkApIuVJsWZvmTxO7Ye_gFr-eeV12DXzO1FYsORzB5mfbvWEW7ppjhhSs6_szC_Wff1fCyrcOAeZPHZZd1DociErcYX3Hm0NqB3qsZWy3uEeAMySnDcn1tSQHduo4ZQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIGhw56QlW2Zxpd9jb1td7SKmGnzvUul0AD-7yjUFaM3LxkOX2PMzXVMWkApIuVJsWZvmTxO7Ye_gFr-eeV12DXzO1FYsORzB5mfbvWEW7ppjhhSs6_szC_Wff1fCyrcOAeZPHZZd1DociErcYX3Hm0NqB3qsZWy3uEeAMySnDcn1tSQHduo4ZQA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently "fibre" cable company operatives spend most of their working day standing around looking at their mobile phones. I wonder what ever happened to the O&M department in these large companies, i.e. those people that were focused on making sure that employees actually did what they were paid to do, with reasonable efficiency?</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-28662152822190417682024-03-12T12:30:00.001+00:002024-03-12T12:30:00.136+00:00Freeze?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitJe10XP6WbiYzH0RGEG6f4HGAbaiHRyx8bVHjveOZ3r90wI1xLb6UD6E7lIJg84MmgHPeqkvAA5beezCv-N7yEN-XpcHWdzchT5CzIBee-R2Ihc5FKwY6XLLLR8o-qdpzwsxoM3AmPcGmO2QBvqnSf987Ng10-f1IXDwSO72Cdi6wcH-8gtpb8A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitJe10XP6WbiYzH0RGEG6f4HGAbaiHRyx8bVHjveOZ3r90wI1xLb6UD6E7lIJg84MmgHPeqkvAA5beezCv-N7yEN-XpcHWdzchT5CzIBee-R2Ihc5FKwY6XLLLR8o-qdpzwsxoM3AmPcGmO2QBvqnSf987Ng10-f1IXDwSO72Cdi6wcH-8gtpb8A=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, don't know if the Tories realise this but pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs don't actually pay alcohol duty..</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-81621889710618946402024-03-11T10:00:00.001+00:002024-03-11T10:00:00.135+00:00New?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7GaWEDDPjmzV9onQl4D5pZeBkBR4TP86umekbTRwLInOAZu7fMq46RbYatUzMXSXPsu_0bJFWgW30MECVs1lkzBFbaZUsvFDb0Gt6tF87ADxIBKx4gy8AHA4xj8xDbk3OO2K0FXo012BtyYd_VqQb7BoNNM30jGg5gyD1MZl-3jZLXObl0v0GlQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7GaWEDDPjmzV9onQl4D5pZeBkBR4TP86umekbTRwLInOAZu7fMq46RbYatUzMXSXPsu_0bJFWgW30MECVs1lkzBFbaZUsvFDb0Gt6tF87ADxIBKx4gy8AHA4xj8xDbk3OO2K0FXo012BtyYd_VqQb7BoNNM30jGg5gyD1MZl-3jZLXObl0v0GlQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok help out an old curmudgeon here, please define "new" (I think I already own all these albums!)..</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-50389152023373015222024-03-10T09:00:00.002+00:002024-03-10T09:00:00.140+00:00Fossilised Foliage<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSCNib50se3ToSPit8RCtdVHHxjxadKoPkH6WYN5Z46sFDpMIM4frSpYgU3D7PkjU7yh9LGYwtO7acm0BlSP4bZJ1HQUifeSAC7KGTKlxJTZLbdFVe9RyYrJrxvtFMomu7F7orlvI2PoVN2irQYMPS9tiGlhcAjDx5AyEhzat3CiWrHCc6JOWI-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSCNib50se3ToSPit8RCtdVHHxjxadKoPkH6WYN5Z46sFDpMIM4frSpYgU3D7PkjU7yh9LGYwtO7acm0BlSP4bZJ1HQUifeSAC7KGTKlxJTZLbdFVe9RyYrJrxvtFMomu7F7orlvI2PoVN2irQYMPS9tiGlhcAjDx5AyEhzat3CiWrHCc6JOWI-w=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fascinating story in the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68500649">scientific press recently</a> about a fossil forest found etched into an ancient cliff face in Somerset (Minehead) The fossil trees are thought to be around 400+ million years old (the Devonian period) and resemble palm trees. This makes sense as the UK (or at least some of it) at that point was positioned somewhere near the equator and basking in sub-tropical temperatures (oh we wish). It's amazing to ponder what journey our little island has been on, on a Human timescale it seems so solid and permanent, not so, it's wandered all over the planet in geological time.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-49181734376337165612024-03-09T19:33:00.001+00:002024-03-09T19:33:00.149+00:00Välkommen Sweden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXXX8TyDhTL9-RSvdW-tdfpGzg8ojz5xcjkqzcJEDN3nhSas6vrJ5UyZU4XymWAO0AWWEq3LKzFRDUk3G8kO1NqtQZVU4jj9KrvYRe6Muw5n_-ECdpZ0hO0QOz_mj95Ezw_qTVYSdXhsZXKbzD3m4KhsCnXpHYJ4aYYyEzdvCm8BZJ7wuluhbxeA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="959" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXXX8TyDhTL9-RSvdW-tdfpGzg8ojz5xcjkqzcJEDN3nhSas6vrJ5UyZU4XymWAO0AWWEq3LKzFRDUk3G8kO1NqtQZVU4jj9KrvYRe6Muw5n_-ECdpZ0hO0QOz_mj95Ezw_qTVYSdXhsZXKbzD3m4KhsCnXpHYJ4aYYyEzdvCm8BZJ7wuluhbxeA=w640-h309" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pleased to see that Sweden is now a paid up member of NATO, one more thorn in the side of Putin, with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland%E2%80%93NATO_relations">Finland also joining in April last year</a> that enables everyone in the West sleep a little bit easier.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-91936671842286256002024-03-08T13:30:00.001+00:002024-03-08T13:30:00.129+00:00Friday Smirk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLAufyr18tTOeTZL3ArtuMY3KofOAqtzzolMBKrZqiq7L_z0G-i-rKKERyrkstVtixfG2gQ1Q42NqqmuUmmFscP5DGZtjtf9gYjTBl1yWzHRoE23PY7y_buDoEW53a4mOaYn7a3wkEqo9GoXrs20MH3PHPdQAxf8ulfZXndl-TXBQ7ktGmBAVRuA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLAufyr18tTOeTZL3ArtuMY3KofOAqtzzolMBKrZqiq7L_z0G-i-rKKERyrkstVtixfG2gQ1Q42NqqmuUmmFscP5DGZtjtf9gYjTBl1yWzHRoE23PY7y_buDoEW53a4mOaYn7a3wkEqo9GoXrs20MH3PHPdQAxf8ulfZXndl-TXBQ7ktGmBAVRuA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Haha, <a href="https://www.jesusandmo.net/">Jesus and Mo</a> pointing out how "fragile and precious" some of our religious brothers and sisters can be sometimes, particularly the more zealous ones.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-12038921604128087862024-03-07T09:30:00.001+00:002024-03-07T09:30:00.166+00:00London Stories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9mxaKVx2Ha363-IoKfQiM0iBFje8CDtXz111UF6vUwbQ5YzrqrrKk7tXeo7tBnNixOxCIcjhBA3mr7xF_ySFExnwXlEsLi6bzNQSV-bj-4vjgLk0wVHoj2AfoATxrfwEUMkqtMklQw1i9opXy2w0pe-1dfx1lT3tihqmBDOUVrWBHh9uuXaffrA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9mxaKVx2Ha363-IoKfQiM0iBFje8CDtXz111UF6vUwbQ5YzrqrrKk7tXeo7tBnNixOxCIcjhBA3mr7xF_ySFExnwXlEsLi6bzNQSV-bj-4vjgLk0wVHoj2AfoATxrfwEUMkqtMklQw1i9opXy2w0pe-1dfx1lT3tihqmBDOUVrWBHh9uuXaffrA=w525-h640" width="525" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ah those Romans would be so proud with what we've done with the place..</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-54759108888055685302024-03-06T20:02:00.004+00:002024-03-06T20:02:40.757+00:00HBDG<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLvO8DZdBbNncqo73-Jx3pp1mq0W3nD17V8gyEX4fXuMCE-B-ZNqumtqZUX5XvSKIGJ3tmykg24V7E7jXGRCws3SOezdTw24K-kCBehnhdwdrGvy7hysIJtnnWbw62JefPY6eXTZHXaVu7gBL5L5MnVb-YIPmNXU5r7GbciXeQO5Udp01pr1uc8w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLvO8DZdBbNncqo73-Jx3pp1mq0W3nD17V8gyEX4fXuMCE-B-ZNqumtqZUX5XvSKIGJ3tmykg24V7E7jXGRCws3SOezdTw24K-kCBehnhdwdrGvy7hysIJtnnWbw62JefPY6eXTZHXaVu7gBL5L5MnVb-YIPmNXU5r7GbciXeQO5Udp01pr1uc8w=w347-h400" width="347" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy birthday David Gilmour!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-43228713040012535612024-03-06T14:21:00.003+00:002024-03-07T19:30:42.132+00:005 Years<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_9zRCDsTKlo0so-Kst5gZC3KpDFpyX2IeuqtPpFPRBJn-YMseNhFjH6sqQ8pE_BtjFPDBXGfj83yZLRDijqaV7uFh_AGS-TKvLVzVwcSQ_UB68TBQfTrN2Fq6R83khv2JoZNJJswJCdhnk2sBIZsU5b6knTiSPS7imBf6YOqToIbauK_5yoz0Cg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_9zRCDsTKlo0so-Kst5gZC3KpDFpyX2IeuqtPpFPRBJn-YMseNhFjH6sqQ8pE_BtjFPDBXGfj83yZLRDijqaV7uFh_AGS-TKvLVzVwcSQ_UB68TBQfTrN2Fq6R83khv2JoZNJJswJCdhnk2sBIZsU5b6knTiSPS7imBf6YOqToIbauK_5yoz0Cg=w285-h400" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Its the <a href="https://borthwis.blogspot.com/2019/03/challenging-week.html">five year anniversary</a> of my Dad's death today, miss you pops, where has that time gone?</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-60891771793892030262024-03-06T10:00:00.004+00:002024-03-06T10:00:00.135+00:00London Stories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7VDspSpH-Ul1_3iE7PcuO4cW03NwYQWgPkTGGWfEqKZvgA608yFWCFw9zgNpkRPkC4k24H2YjFsEBvnxMX4KCQfxbgUb0Fj6iZ6CoFOE-wiWj-JuV3XJp4S2YUgMd5pc9Ug4eJINskkBJ7sOUh4DEgX7JPTFIekDvAlifvOGtz2hqwGmPcdtnVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="969" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7VDspSpH-Ul1_3iE7PcuO4cW03NwYQWgPkTGGWfEqKZvgA608yFWCFw9zgNpkRPkC4k24H2YjFsEBvnxMX4KCQfxbgUb0Fj6iZ6CoFOE-wiWj-JuV3XJp4S2YUgMd5pc9Ug4eJINskkBJ7sOUh4DEgX7JPTFIekDvAlifvOGtz2hqwGmPcdtnVA=w640-h614" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>If you walk from St. Catherine's Dock Eastwards along the Thames towards Wapping you come across a some steps with a jetty at the base that leads down to the river, they're called "The Alderman Stairs" and have been there giving access to the water since at least the 1680's. Back in the day these steps would be buzzing with watermen ferrying people across the river and cargo brigs loading and unloading all kinds of goods for the metropolitan markets.<p></p><p>On first inspection they don't seem much but the history here is seeping from every stone block. On the 7th June 1851 a report was published in the Illustrated London News of several accidents on these very steps. Captain Artus of the Brig Melbourne, in attempting to ascend the steps missed his footing and fell into the river, he drowned. Around an hour later Captain Downie of the ship Mentor moored just off the base of the stairway fell overboard and perished. Then at 3pm that same day a boat containing two men and a woman was swamped and the female, Mrs Coghlan, was drowned. Three deaths on the same day, and many more reports of similar incidents over many decades, riverside life must have been hazardous in times gone by.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-24480907661186894852024-03-05T09:00:00.002+00:002024-03-05T09:00:00.138+00:00When we smell it..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA9k_kw7II0ODY0kHxoE9IZQh3HT1pVHcRqX96YCPIakLkmzuO8RcTysl3BQ_Mbht2ofY2WTmYGGIMB4Wm_DIK8H599h0-2I-rei-RPxrCRTyF8roPXzXoN1MSdMZ6MkGMnDyVQ0PAhsWUDSlxZYte6mNYc0xwhCrCJrCyZXUbVkMLSJ_yBjMBGg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA9k_kw7II0ODY0kHxoE9IZQh3HT1pVHcRqX96YCPIakLkmzuO8RcTysl3BQ_Mbht2ofY2WTmYGGIMB4Wm_DIK8H599h0-2I-rei-RPxrCRTyF8roPXzXoN1MSdMZ6MkGMnDyVQ0PAhsWUDSlxZYte6mNYc0xwhCrCJrCyZXUbVkMLSJ_yBjMBGg=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68471568">Well done France</a>, who yesterday enshrined the right of Women to have an abortion into their constitution which has become the 25th amendment to France's founding document (last one was in 2008). The usual suspects are objecting to this move, but, these days we all know hypocrisy when we smell it.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-63364894502804539642024-03-04T19:58:00.002+00:002024-03-04T19:58:45.061+00:00Monday Mirth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbbUpTkSZTC32n17f7_I0tRQ-tCDt9ybZ_hIsssnjvyvkpEAjBCLOtNurEuE9yYchQJS_5bdHxsethOJYzluZX_Y-kvibiFIz3mFYmalrvo_ai9FUliaQUhS7RtyyhyYqgTCzzgaRiSgk8vHZTAPfvAcnVoTKKcesVZ-YLqxDDY5KcmurB0FL9A/s680/GH1PLCPXMAAZlqy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbbUpTkSZTC32n17f7_I0tRQ-tCDt9ybZ_hIsssnjvyvkpEAjBCLOtNurEuE9yYchQJS_5bdHxsethOJYzluZX_Y-kvibiFIz3mFYmalrvo_ai9FUliaQUhS7RtyyhyYqgTCzzgaRiSgk8vHZTAPfvAcnVoTKKcesVZ-YLqxDDY5KcmurB0FL9A/s320/GH1PLCPXMAAZlqy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Too soon?</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-38299487149091957132024-03-03T22:08:00.003+00:002024-03-03T22:08:52.924+00:00Chicken Soup Beer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5YWPO5NJ6yaLuPbrIu5-lrQ5LPwo-5tGLyi3EunPaGen95jfm88Cydcnb-qK5WWegd7KP0qrpUbNy-Btc5gNIABf3kJ-hpEff0UkU4laAyw2R5uEsnbWwbI983ikeD_5QNvctSa0-I6wqh4on2EibfrUhhd77DS7Qjw4olE3X-lDuBq3S8zgHVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5YWPO5NJ6yaLuPbrIu5-lrQ5LPwo-5tGLyi3EunPaGen95jfm88Cydcnb-qK5WWegd7KP0qrpUbNy-Btc5gNIABf3kJ-hpEff0UkU4laAyw2R5uEsnbWwbI983ikeD_5QNvctSa0-I6wqh4on2EibfrUhhd77DS7Qjw4olE3X-lDuBq3S8zgHVA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I shared a can of this year's release of PuTTTy from Verdant on Saturday evening with my Son who's down doing some work experience, an amazing beer, looks like chicken soup but tastes fabulous, Azacca and Citra hops working together to deliver a tropical, dank and citrus hop bomb, nice job!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-32472333348121403552024-03-02T13:26:00.000+00:002024-03-02T13:26:04.162+00:00Really?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4dGhW1lURCFXP0uA7bWyLLjEV1rz0zQGIo01rfoCOOI0JflbvuTkGLxK-5QBUSVfDVb85eOzdFGA4VG79-92P6CQLvTFfWJ3VD2W1i-CMmESW1A3erbIw9rcD07CI52vOQ9TPMixo4Pesd4h7adyeKlyRey76Sl9CEsKeEsc22ck-fKajWJ1ngg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="680" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4dGhW1lURCFXP0uA7bWyLLjEV1rz0zQGIo01rfoCOOI0JflbvuTkGLxK-5QBUSVfDVb85eOzdFGA4VG79-92P6CQLvTFfWJ3VD2W1i-CMmESW1A3erbIw9rcD07CI52vOQ9TPMixo4Pesd4h7adyeKlyRey76Sl9CEsKeEsc22ck-fKajWJ1ngg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Simply can't believe that this blowhard idiot is back in UK politics as an MP, shady character doesn't really cover it! Here he is pictured with the head of Hamas, a man who is on record as claiming that the massacre of Jews on the 7th October was a "good start"..</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-46133849085773807892024-03-02T09:25:00.005+00:002024-03-02T13:27:14.810+00:00Hype Train<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC0XlXXiO6gLWNdbrBD006Cr6MJ3jcGVuR8ps2ugE8GBVnzVW88jyKISJduiGFtHXXx5_qwR_d8z-GKrbObmOvGbNkByQa7zswEPDVngxrh8XCpNQj2XvchFFY-dCcTGp9wkD_COtTPZU6XAPmKnM7hjtDfUeUD-QibxwzLVKqYQgzmoGSaVxq-A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC0XlXXiO6gLWNdbrBD006Cr6MJ3jcGVuR8ps2ugE8GBVnzVW88jyKISJduiGFtHXXx5_qwR_d8z-GKrbObmOvGbNkByQa7zswEPDVngxrh8XCpNQj2XvchFFY-dCcTGp9wkD_COtTPZU6XAPmKnM7hjtDfUeUD-QibxwzLVKqYQgzmoGSaVxq-A=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every year Verdant produce a beer called "Putty" it's a very hopped and hyped double IPA that is kinda famous in craft beer circles, apparently this year it sold out within 19 minutes of it's launch. Anyway, I've <a href="https://borthwis.blogspot.com/2024/01/putty-2024-time.html">blogged about it before</a> and I tried one at the Fox in Caversham earlier in the year. At the Verdant event on Thursday they had the big brother of Putty, called Puttty for sale in cans (see top shelf, middle above) Puttty is a triple IPA version of the original beer and is pretty much the same except amped up in all dimensions, it's nice but at £12.50 per can I doubt anyone except the most hardened beer geeks will be rushing out to buy it, all aboard folks, the hype train has pulled into the station!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-41409376425565036612024-03-01T09:30:00.003+00:002024-03-01T09:30:00.124+00:00Friday Smirk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieB7jqlhJ9JLiI0lGrnFeCThQ8lDWPYtGI_6DJ1Mabk68PL8apCQu_MQhIKmqFSa0o63kUfNauglvrMs6tL496eqrdtC-SWBG_yaaJbYAqCyLNJPRRW7JC1bfolGlM69CdLA8MRQo7ol7MVfx_qDJk9piFo2X8tWVZwbL1TdlRUfFQB2F0etOORw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieB7jqlhJ9JLiI0lGrnFeCThQ8lDWPYtGI_6DJ1Mabk68PL8apCQu_MQhIKmqFSa0o63kUfNauglvrMs6tL496eqrdtC-SWBG_yaaJbYAqCyLNJPRRW7JC1bfolGlM69CdLA8MRQo7ol7MVfx_qDJk9piFo2X8tWVZwbL1TdlRUfFQB2F0etOORw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://www.jesusandmo.net/">J&M talking about the cure for Islamophobia</a>, scare them into submission, it's the only way..<br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-86528601684508114132024-02-29T22:35:00.001+00:002024-02-29T22:35:26.066+00:00Craft Royalty<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7NkdI-Ix8r5ZivHiCAp1QTXAmUVsoccS_DzrqzDr8OFpkLsPqQJjgP0rE6jjU7HP3vZ23scuKpFnUfPlDrUbzmyrphHD3sXPizn_Cb6ZAcxs9vk5iJ2BTBABDAfxA8UsO-jVa1OH1sfTHU1rRYxec9UvSvhKJIB4zhyphenhyphenyC_hD2Cc5Ji5DlxAJWA/s4032/IMG_4974.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7NkdI-Ix8r5ZivHiCAp1QTXAmUVsoccS_DzrqzDr8OFpkLsPqQJjgP0rE6jjU7HP3vZ23scuKpFnUfPlDrUbzmyrphHD3sXPizn_Cb6ZAcxs9vk5iJ2BTBABDAfxA8UsO-jVa1OH1sfTHU1rRYxec9UvSvhKJIB4zhyphenhyphenyC_hD2Cc5Ji5DlxAJWA/w480-h640/IMG_4974.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Craft beer royalty in the house this evening, James Heffron giving a talk and and answering questions to Siren fans at the Siren tap yard. James is the owner/founder of Verdant down in Falmouth, Cornwall and creators of many a legendary craft beer including titles such as Neal, Sharks and Putty. Doesn't get much bigger than this and I can confirm that in pre-seminar conversation he's a thoroughly nice chap! </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-82534419224752278122024-02-29T09:54:00.000+00:002024-02-29T09:54:03.731+00:00Leap logic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlNbGPHWOR3N5heKc-2Q0ZHuMIy7fpHbrWWFsT4m71vaI7GtMnbRbilBGDYd6RDCUGGu1Y4cnQbZ-ZQfb--gYBPb1kx8TeqM4dAvZdeD1Z5DTkThueBMIdAMBxPB4YqbIyoTKCe9EuTTGNzuKvEsRH3WhLLW2IPMuVRVSOD9ZQk4aEJ_AXhXhWEQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlNbGPHWOR3N5heKc-2Q0ZHuMIy7fpHbrWWFsT4m71vaI7GtMnbRbilBGDYd6RDCUGGu1Y4cnQbZ-ZQfb--gYBPb1kx8TeqM4dAvZdeD1Z5DTkThueBMIdAMBxPB4YqbIyoTKCe9EuTTGNzuKvEsRH3WhLLW2IPMuVRVSOD9ZQk4aEJ_AXhXhWEQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I always wondered, on this day of the 29th February, how flat Earthers account for leap years?<p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-41515234522259283522024-02-29T09:00:00.001+00:002024-02-29T09:00:00.130+00:00Nailed it..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhde0kwpwn221iwzvDqBI2i_F2B58nCbSmtyMTMYueH6-RMnrPPAqPpK3qJPhKni_hn4jVT8IQVvi_Pad6iDyjEsdvGLRx4t_GSoJ5CBTU3DJYmXqYhuhaGJ-JqxwAHDcXhWJoeN5abAjBVN6tiSCO_uRJbmY976HjMo9TAXJhuDwOsYSbV6PKiig" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhde0kwpwn221iwzvDqBI2i_F2B58nCbSmtyMTMYueH6-RMnrPPAqPpK3qJPhKni_hn4jVT8IQVvi_Pad6iDyjEsdvGLRx4t_GSoJ5CBTU3DJYmXqYhuhaGJ-JqxwAHDcXhWJoeN5abAjBVN6tiSCO_uRJbmY976HjMo9TAXJhuDwOsYSbV6PKiig=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Loads of people are really freaking out about the Israel/Gaza war, George had it nailed years ago.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-31294392987415865772024-02-28T09:00:00.172+00:002024-02-28T10:44:51.005+00:00Six-bob Knob<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmBKRfpMr5tLtGuknnfs_c1iyJi0w6Bwk6lBqZfGJYHUZq5z0ca4Csj6u7vJbOfSWEhhNez_M5wySUbFeTNuxyhCHeduPYkc6j86HdAFzpvZsR0J0B27axiAK26htsU2Z0kzjKJTmNr7lYSwLfj_NvG3OxdqRn8czN5r-MOtMNhxM2-IDahs9JBQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="207" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmBKRfpMr5tLtGuknnfs_c1iyJi0w6Bwk6lBqZfGJYHUZq5z0ca4Csj6u7vJbOfSWEhhNez_M5wySUbFeTNuxyhCHeduPYkc6j86HdAFzpvZsR0J0B27axiAK26htsU2Z0kzjKJTmNr7lYSwLfj_NvG3OxdqRn8czN5r-MOtMNhxM2-IDahs9JBQ=w340-h400" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, 30p Lee (Lee Anderson) is in the news lately, he made a jibe about Sadiq Khan, the Lord Mayor of London, who he claimed was in league with "Islamists". A right old barney has erupted and poor old Lee has lost the Tory whip as a result, his critics claiming that his comments were "Islamophobic" and "racist". Now, I'm certainly no fan of 30p Lee but I don't know if he is a racist and him making a remark about "Islamism" doesn't help illuminate the answer to that question in any way, shape or form; especially since Islam isn't a race!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The lefty progressives at the BBC may well be getting their knickers in a right old twist over this but back in the real world "Islamism" is a political movement and, as are all political movements, is an idea and, unlike people, has no "rights" at all and can be criticised completely legitimately. The question that should be aimed robustly and squarely at Lee (but I am yet to hear from our media outlets) is, what evidence does he have or what linkages can he show that suggests his comment is true? I for one would be very interested to know if Khan has links to Islamists, in much the same way that I'd like to know if Rees-Mogg has links to the Elders of Zion. It's simply a matter of public interest, a matter whose illumination would greatly help people vote accordingly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a big lie and/or delusion sitting at the core of this argument, many liberals in this country seem to (deliberately?) confuse religion (as per scripture) with culture (i.e. WRT to a regional and/or temporal implementation of the religion) and then again with people (who interpret and action, or not, the cultural derivation). As Sam Harris once said, "Islam, i.e. what it literally says in the holy books, is the motherlode of bad ideas". From the perspective of "Western Values" this is obvious. In the West, since the Enlightenment, we have evolved ideas and values around equality (of sexes for example), freedom of speech, justice and tolerance that in extreme Islamic countries, if broken, can still be punishable by death. The values codified in Abrahamic texts are not compatible with modern Western, or British values, to claim otherwise is asinine. Of course if you could rewind the clock a couple of centuries then the "Christian culture" prevalent in the middle-ages would be utterly familiar to hardcore "Islamists" today, i.e. more sudden violent death than you could shake a stick at! Islamists are simply people that wish to spread some literal version of Islam throughout the globe, usually accompanied by the threat of violence, it's not as if the "message" makes any sense after all. Fortunately we no longer live in the middle-ages and most people in the "West" have no desire to return to those "dark ages", Islamic, Christian or otherwise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are lucky that the majority of people in "Muslim cultures" don't follow their religion literally, there are variations of course, much in the same way that the vast majority of people in "Christian cultures" don't follow theirs either. Then you have people who, especially when living outside of their original culture have a tendency to assimilate to whatever culture they wish to thrive in, again, this is an obvious and natural Human condition and has been happening for centuries. The problems tend to arise when particular cohorts of immigrants are numerous enough to become "ghettoised" and because of this don't assimilate at all, retaining many of the "literal" edicts and dogmas of their original culture, this is especially noticeable when there are large differences between core values, like how homosexuality is dealt with or how Women are treated or how far people can go in criticising or lampooning any religion or political idea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is certainly a debate to be had in this country around this topic of "cultural ghettoization" when it comes to certain places and events, for example the grooming gangs in Rochdale or the drug gangs in Tower Hamlets or the racist chants outside Parliament. We either stand up for our values or we don't, personally I value the enlightenment far too much to see it wither on the vine at this late stage, I don't want literal Islamic values implemented here any more than I want literal Christian values implemented here, and that means Islamists who hide behind "Islamophobia" and use faux "offence" as a way of shutting down much needed discourse on these matters should be exposed.</div></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-54694945907496002432024-02-27T10:44:00.006+00:002024-02-27T10:44:00.125+00:00London Stories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN9dWDZCxIL0mG1EU-ekMTvul0ZfPN45RJL0c2iUg8B8CV3sZ_1TZKA-DiceTaB28ckd7rLJo-cs2EguQJNsetpZEi9T0EYmiim305mdKay4ufSEjLeMU6Sk-3HL-WnUVr4GFIBiIOyTAOItJi-dTHfdUCpn9qGf-vGZUJmBq2wMEgObtOh3OCbg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiN9dWDZCxIL0mG1EU-ekMTvul0ZfPN45RJL0c2iUg8B8CV3sZ_1TZKA-DiceTaB28ckd7rLJo-cs2EguQJNsetpZEi9T0EYmiim305mdKay4ufSEjLeMU6Sk-3HL-WnUVr4GFIBiIOyTAOItJi-dTHfdUCpn9qGf-vGZUJmBq2wMEgObtOh3OCbg=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fab drone shot over Blackheath common with a big chunk of London laid out on the horizon. The City (financial centre) is the cluster of buildings on the left, Canary Wharf (Docklands) in the centre and the O2 arena middle right. I loved the way the clouds are casting shadows onto the turf, you can just imagine those shadows moving across the landscape with the prevailing wind. A typical weather scene in the UK, although, I fear we maybe headed into an era of more rainfall and less blue sky, meteorological records for such things seem to be being broken ever more frequently.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-55360972482195724072024-02-26T09:30:00.006+00:002024-02-26T09:30:00.246+00:00Tart Treats<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLha1Sln6qL3RZDcxFsENewP5y7hIfyPGdi5ojZ5syK5y6BG2zQVYg72wrtW_Sf4Ti0dAXrN1c6r41a6_HNIkl9clEd8g6G_A1Sax1UfwAHRH9xOh1WXVbR8OJUow7AxmqCAV1ePYC1McYt0SMq_0yfy_oDUTL2Lw0JsXvOYYW_txVmAAvg6atTQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLha1Sln6qL3RZDcxFsENewP5y7hIfyPGdi5ojZ5syK5y6BG2zQVYg72wrtW_Sf4Ti0dAXrN1c6r41a6_HNIkl9clEd8g6G_A1Sax1UfwAHRH9xOh1WXVbR8OJUow7AxmqCAV1ePYC1McYt0SMq_0yfy_oDUTL2Lw0JsXvOYYW_txVmAAvg6atTQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Had one of these on Saturday evening, it's a new beer from the Siren barrel store called "Burst Into Song". Aged in a mix of white wine and rum barrels this sour ale was a tart treat! Oranges and citrus for days and an addictive sourness that made for a refreshing change from the usual mix of pale ales that most craft breweries crank out these days, vive la difference!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-13337594589350133072024-02-25T13:05:00.002+00:002024-03-06T20:10:34.512+00:00Big Thames<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAl34Cn96I5yIQvc8lUYJwLPwsKwQvlM99XEeAkITuAC8R53Viq_JGjTvCG0EXcQe9Vrv2LzP14qC3DwccqkKVDkr-9WMB48IooDUTDINbt1KBQwd6nCV7Froufw3X0o5CUy0cPCdErNAqNSlHx4-7dwv2qob0Xmv8wopn18wP_neLXuR8yYohhA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAl34Cn96I5yIQvc8lUYJwLPwsKwQvlM99XEeAkITuAC8R53Viq_JGjTvCG0EXcQe9Vrv2LzP14qC3DwccqkKVDkr-9WMB48IooDUTDINbt1KBQwd6nCV7Froufw3X0o5CUy0cPCdErNAqNSlHx4-7dwv2qob0Xmv8wopn18wP_neLXuR8yYohhA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking back to the station from the Fox on Friday, I snapped this picture of some swans on a severely bloated Thames. Normally the edge of the water is a good 10 feet from where it is at the moment, I think if I lived in a house on Fry's island (in the picture) I'd certainly be a little concerned!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34952289.post-45229100709299553872024-02-24T11:15:00.008+00:002024-03-06T20:09:22.738+00:00DEYA Day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb-EpslNg7bZ7pp177GK6oUizl2MtUHcpfFwiFIfwCYwC9f9tCfOU7OdZ7iTGfbKbJIM-cBvpfGWYW2l-BNIoVFsr11mqL-W6PUyWlxfQkjh5_8awCS0uw87DWvFw2mwm1Iv11WOyU6a0AIgwR2pDUqr52xYAe_SUwmNsn1VVkldQNYcxmzdLQ1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb-EpslNg7bZ7pp177GK6oUizl2MtUHcpfFwiFIfwCYwC9f9tCfOU7OdZ7iTGfbKbJIM-cBvpfGWYW2l-BNIoVFsr11mqL-W6PUyWlxfQkjh5_8awCS0uw87DWvFw2mwm1Iv11WOyU6a0AIgwR2pDUqr52xYAe_SUwmNsn1VVkldQNYcxmzdLQ1A=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favourite breweries in one of my favourite pubs, it's a DEYA tap takeover at the Fox & Hounds (Caversham, Berks) We spent a delightful couple of hours here on Friday evening, post shopping, with the kids (we still call them that even though they're both 20 something year old adults now!). We played darts and sampled the beers before hopping on a train and home for dinner, a top day.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0