More local stuff

Saturday night I decided to check out the Brook again, and sure enough, they had live music again.  This time we had the Johnny Friendlies. Spent some time talking to phil, and Stuart who used to be in the Rythmaires about why the Ramsbottom Blues Festival is no more. Maybe we can try to start it up again ?

Old Music, Old Beer, Local Music, and raw beef!

Went to Radlet on Wednesday to see Elkie Brooks. Thought I'd call in at the Cat n Fiddle as I jhavn't been there for about 10 years. Had a ridiculously expensive pint of Black Sheep that was probably still on from ten years ago. I can't remember the last time I had a pint as bad as this. The barman had made a sharp exit, so there was no-one to complain to. Left the filthy horrible beer on the bar and went to see the music.

Elkie Brooks was fantastic, and still has an amasing voice at 65!

Called round at the boat (remember the boat?...) on Friday and the rear door and hatch are on, but with Brass runners. Went to see my mate Darby who set about making me some nice stainless runners.

Wandered down to Bury on Friday and saw Tiny Tin Lady. A very young band, but what a superb sound.

    Excellent evening, excellent music, and excellent lyrics.

"This town, this town is sick of me,

"And I think it knows that I feel the same...

Saturday night I had a night in, and decided to get a takeaway from the curry house round the corner. Just for a change I thought I will walk 3/4 mile to the Brook in Helmshore and have a quick pint.

 When I got there I found Big Lix were doing a gig. I haven't seen them for a couple of years, and they were superb. Quite a few Deep Purple numbers were better than I remember Deep Purple doing them.

Several Pints of Black Sheep Bitter (in excellent form - quite the opposite of the Cat and Fiddle) later, I had missed the closing time at the Indian - Ah, well, I suppose that will help with the diet!

Went to the Brown Cow in chatburn, as somebody had said the Sunday dinner there is good. Started with a very nice soup. Problem is, when I ask fo Roast beef, I expect it Roasted, not still alive, doing breast stroke accross a plateful of blood, with an audience of overdone and tastless veg. When pointed out to the bar staff, they weren't particularly bothered. Typical of the attitude of most places today. It cost a pound more than the superb dinner we had last week just down the road as well!

All over the place...

Spent a day down near Hereford at a hop farm. It amazed me the amount of work involved before you can grow something like this. There is a huge amount of poles to be set in the field, and wirework between the poles for the hops to grow up. Must cost a fortune to set up a new field for hops.

Another thing I didn't realise about hops, is that an entire field of one type of hops is cloned from the same plant.

One hop plant has cutting taken from it again and again until there are enough plants to fill the field. The hop plants grow back each year, and some are thirty or more years old.

If a plant is grown from a seed, then it will be a new variety of hops, with different flavour characteristics.

This is Pridewood farm, where the drying sheds have been rebuilt since a fire last year.

Stopped at the Talbot at Knightwick while I was in the south west. This fantactic pub has its own brewery, Teme Valley, producing the main range of beers, This, That and T'Other.

Superb food in the evening, and a fantastic breakfast with home made black pudding.

I went down to Greenwich comedy festival to see the Bad Shepherds. The ticket said 7:30, but the band didn't actually start until 9:45. I think the biggest comedy about the Greenwich comedy festival is the Farce of the orginisation of it!

Rather than waste 2 hours wandering around London waiting for the band to start, I thought I would make best use of my time eating food and drinking beer. Got some (very expensive) beer from the nearby Meantime Brewery, and Rump of Herdwick marinated in Meantime Hospital Porter. Mmmmm!

The Bad Shepherds came on stage and were superb, especially the bit where Troy Donockley fell off the stage!

Friday, and its back up north to see the Family Mahone in an open air gig in Chester. When we arrived, the band were just eating at the bar, and they had the Bad Shepherds playing on the CD player!

Went to the Black horse at Pimlico with Lady P to try out their new Fish Menu. Ended up having Roast Beef Sunday Dinner - and superb it was too! Superb beef, and freshly cooked veg, yorkshire pudding and gravy.