Why don't they talk proper ?

Berkeley Castle wasn't flooded this year either, so off we went with a tent, a load of beer, mead and Cider.  It was a nightmare trip down, queueing for an hour and a half on the M5, so we were late setting the beer tent up.

Better late than never though, and soon there was plenty of quaffing going on.

The weather was great for the public to watch the battle both days, but torrential rain at six both evenings scattered the crowds.  The food traders stopped providing food at six as well, so everybody buggered off into the town, leaving the beer tent dead until late both evenings.  TBH at four quid for a sausage butty, I think people would have gone to the town to eat anyway.

Ruddians & Oak

I went to Tonbridge again to judge beers of the south. I arrived at the Rose and Crown to find Barry finishing his dinner, and no-one else.  Thoughts of Deja Vu ?
There were no floods though, so a couple of pints in the Man of Kent before their quiz started, followed by the couple of typically terrible pints in the Wetherspoons rounded off the night.
Judging the following day was extremely difficult.  We had six milds to judge in the second round, and there was absoluteley nothing between them.  It is great to see a selection of milds of such a high quality, especially in the uncivilised south.

Down to Hatfield House on the Sunday for Folk by the Oak.  The beer tent was by Tring again, serving good, but flat and warm beer.  One day people will realise that chucking a bit of sack over a cask does nothing to cool it.

The line-up was fantastic. We started with Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts, who I have not seen for some time.  They had support this time with a double bass, percussion and keyboards, but I don't think they really need it, they have such a great sound by themselves.

Carthy, Hardy, Farrel and Young, although sounding like a firm of solicitors, were on top form, as was Fay Hield.

Lau were as insane as usual, having just travelled down from Scotland, and then, just when you thought things couldn't get any better, Kate Rusby took music to a whole new level.
The Oysterband finished off what is a fantastic one day festival, well worth the £30 ticket money.

Thick as two of them

Sunday night an I went down to London.

Although it was nice and sunny, it looked like it was about to rain when I left Rammy, so I took my coat.
This happens every time.  The sun came out, it was roasting hot, and I was carrying my coat about everywhere!

A couple of nice pints in the Queens Arms, and then it was round to the RAH to see Ian Anderson & bits of Jethro Tull performing Thick as a Brick.

Great stuff, but up at the top level of the RAH, the accoustics were not so good, and you could hardly hear the lyrics.  Either that or Ian's voice has gone.