Blog Tracker
27-12-2023, 13:40
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/12/well-thats-christmas-day-almost-over.html)
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So sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 52 years ago, but despite the half-century time lapse, it's still a question that's well worth asking. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are now over, and apart from confirming that the Bailey familyenjoyed an excellent roast turkey dinner, on the "big day," I want to take a look back at the year that is fast coming to an end, with particular emphasis as usual on the world of beer and travel.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIes0NTMk8FtB-ncQvcnB8bFo6BMovhnWEmDLF_1cN5NhRNz3GNETogXy200j4u3 f7WEDgEONDiIEQIB-yyd4ItUWbVIp8r_dF1arZ2mYR-s9i8yFOOJmqGwg3v04pAIsn7goPi6w-tgz9Rq-YAbBdt9r1ijpVVlbDxLf-g_TgSV0sDyMhAfUYG4MEDrY/w400-h210/Peveril%20Peak.%201.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIes0NTMk8FtB-ncQvcnB8bFo6BMovhnWEmDLF_1cN5NhRNz3GNETogXy200j4u3 f7WEDgEONDiIEQIB-yyd4ItUWbVIp8r_dF1arZ2mYR-s9i8yFOOJmqGwg3v04pAIsn7goPi6w-tgz9Rq-YAbBdt9r1ijpVVlbDxLf-g_TgSV0sDyMhAfUYG4MEDrY/s3809/Peveril%20Peak.%201.jpg)
After a brief respite on Boxing Day, the weather has returned to its familiar, damp and rather miserable pattern, so with nothing to tempt me outside, I want to use thetime to present my annual round-up and look back at the year 2023.I’ve been keeping some rough notes which suggest that Ididn’t achieve as much as I would have like to, in certain areas of my lifewith particular regard to pubs. I only visited 84 different pubs in2023, which was a lot more than I initially thought, but obviously pales intoinsignificance when compared to the exploits of pub-ticking legends such asRetired Martin, Si Everitt, LAF (Life After Football), and GBG completest overseveral years, Pubmeister. In mitigation, 23 of those pubs were new to me.
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Despite this low tally – only three up on 2022, I enjoyed visitingall these pubs, which ranged from town centre locals, unspoilt rural gems, moderncraft beer bars, to CAMRA National Heritage Pubs. The numbers were boosted bydays out spent in a number of towns and cities, up and down this fair land ofours. Places visited this year, were Norwich, Henley-on-Thames, Birmingham, Manchester, Chichester,and Macclesfield, I also spent time in Dundee and Cologne, and whilst these visitswere work-related, I still found time for a few beers.
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We said a sad farewell, at the start of the year, to Mrs PBT’s brother David, who diedunexpectedly in January, then, later in the year we had another family funeral to attend,this time it was Eileen’s aunt, who was just a few months short of her 100thbirthday! This meant a trip to the Bingley area of Yorkshire, for the funeral,and also to spend a few days with the Yorkshire branch of Mrs PBT's family. Ason a previous visit, we based ourselves at the Bradford West, Premier Inn,which is on the edge of Bingley, in an attractive, semi-rural setting. (The adjacent photo, shows David, sat next to me, in happier times, enjoying a summertime drink).
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Eileen is a big fan of this Whitbread-owned, hotel chain,and whilst I agree with her statement that “you know what you are getting,” Ipersonally prefer an independently operated, or even family-ownedestablishment, even though occasionally, it can throw in the odd “duffer.” Ashort, 1o-minute walk from the Premier Inn, takes you to the Airedale Heifer, astone-built pub housed in a former barn, that was once part of the Old EastRiddlesden Hall Estate. The Heifer, is also home to the Bridgehouse Brewery, withbrewing taking place in a separate outbuilding, behind the pub.
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During our time in Yorkshire, we spent a morning in Howarthand then took a drive across the moors to Colne and Skipton. The scenerycertainly looked spectacular in the June sunshine, and we passed a number ofattractive looking, stone-built pubs nestling by the side of the road. Ourjourney home, saw us skirting Skipton and the edge of Harrogate, before passingthrough the attractive North Yorkshire town of Knaresborough, and then on tothe A1 and the road home.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u-MFnBu2YzJ_9PqQ87uaFlgnJEemxrW6JA7Ij9zMaq5NOxhwl8pK 576WmgN7yW6Zm2QPIXXMHd6NHQhrnkgJudhL9dqMZfFuZqDoxV 7v2N60g75vAyhNpFSgSFgpB-cVhAVxnmXz0wt3-a01pOPtcuUrFPCHFsU_LUy-9H8WUgMAPpwGhnUSjwHJyUk/w400-h300/Car%20being%20recovered.%202%20jpg.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u-MFnBu2YzJ_9PqQ87uaFlgnJEemxrW6JA7Ij9zMaq5NOxhwl8pK 576WmgN7yW6Zm2QPIXXMHd6NHQhrnkgJudhL9dqMZfFuZqDoxV 7v2N60g75vAyhNpFSgSFgpB-cVhAVxnmXz0wt3-a01pOPtcuUrFPCHFsU_LUy-9H8WUgMAPpwGhnUSjwHJyUk/s2048/Car%20being%20recovered.%202%20jpg.jpg)
Fortunately, the car behaved itself on this trip, which ismore than be said after what happened in September, when it startedmalfunctioning on the M25, during a drive home from Dorking. Having to berecovered from Clackets Lane services, was an indignity I haven’t experienced before,but after having the faulty fuel injector replaced, blow me if the same thingdidn’t happen again, on the Friday before Christmas. I limped the vehicle homethis time, and it’s going in for a diagnostic check in a couple of days’ time. Imentioned previously that I’ve been looking for a replacement vehicle, but withthe benefit of that wonderful thing called hindsight, I should have looked forone, earlier in the year.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2sI-fdbjh6ql7vbkHH2UhwgEhg4pIyUb3QB2jZtW_qvVkoyXIiOI53 w5C3mYm4n_pI5JMkC9USniGZbequRCmMdG1DL-M3wgfqiya3qeKTxzdB2JU3vimJN09rP0LTy623rDtVcHpMV8pw ngxVIbOR_pJvReK6JPTyubT425xXO_DLeOeawNuPwEkM/w400-h225/Star%20&%20Eagle.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2sI-fdbjh6ql7vbkHH2UhwgEhg4pIyUb3QB2jZtW_qvVkoyXIiOI53 w5C3mYm4n_pI5JMkC9USniGZbequRCmMdG1DL-M3wgfqiya3qeKTxzdB2JU3vimJN09rP0LTy623rDtVcHpMV8pw ngxVIbOR_pJvReK6JPTyubT425xXO_DLeOeawNuPwEkM/s4000/Star%20&%20Eagle.jpg)
One activity that definitely took a nosedive was bus trips,out to unspoilt and difficult to reach country pubs. I’m not how this cameabout, particularly as there was very little in the way of long-distance walkingbut trips out by bus were nowhere as frequent as the previous year. For the record I travelled out to Goudhurst – Star & Eagle, Eridge – Boar’s Head, Petteridge –Hopbine and Brenchley – Halfway House, Penshurst – Leicester Arms andEdenbridge – Old Eden, but that was it. This was despite my best intentions,and the fact that I’d compiled a list of “easy” places to visit by bus.
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2023 was a disappointing year for walking, being marred bywet weather, particularly during the months of March and April. This didn’thelp with my quest of completing the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk, a 27.5-miletrail that passes through a rolling landscape of ridges, valleys, smallfields, hedges, and broad-leaved woodland, as it skirts the town of TunbridgeWells. Lying within the High Weald AONB, the trail explores thediverse and beautiful countryside which lies on the borders of Kent and EastSussex. I have been following theofficial Kent Ramblers Guide, which divides the trail into fourconvenient stages, which vary in length from 5 to 10 miles, but so far, Ihave only completed two of the stages (Southborough to Pembury,and Pembury to Frant).
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Still to come are Frant to Groombridge (7 miles) and Groombridgeto Southborough (6 miles). These final two stages should be relatively easy,although the trail isn’t as well signposted as those along the North and SouthDowns. I aim to get started, once the wet weather eases up, and the days beginto lengthen again.
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Another feature missing on the walking front, has been thecomplete absence of CAMRA, related rambles. This follows on from the relocationto Portsmouth of one of the leading lights and driving forces of the WeekendWalking WhatsApp group. The garden also proved rather disappointing last year, and iftruth be known, I probably expended too much time and effort on it, for verylittle return. On the plus side, it has forced a reappraisal on what’sfeasible, or even worth growing.
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Highlight of the year, even if it was a longtime coming, wasthe (almost) three-week Mediterranean cruise that Mrs PBT’s and I embarked on,back in October. Not only did it take up a large chunk of the month, it alsorepresented by far the longest holiday that the pair of us have everundertaken. Even better was the fact that we didn’t fall out, not evenslightly, despite being in close proximity to each other for a long period oftime.
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There were many memorable moments, and some amazing sights,such as passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, as well as the Strait ofMessina, between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Anchoring in the collapsed caldera, that makes up much of Santorini,was also memorable, even if on that occasion, we didn’t get off the boat. Thenthere was my ascent of the Acropolis, overlooking Athens, and getting separatedfrom the tour party, when we reached the Parthenon.
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Both Eileen and I weresmitten by the charms of Kefalonia, and have marked down this idyllic Greekisland, as a place we would like to return to before our days are out. Cruising doesn’t always get a good press environmentally andis said to be worsefor the climate than flying. There are other downsides too,such as limited time in each location and not experiencing the local hotels andnightlife, but the sheer joy of waking up almost every morning in a new ordifferent port, or anchorage, certainly takes some beating. Let’s end the yearon a high note then and await what 2024 has to offer us with a mixture of excitementtempered by a slight hint of trepidation.
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So sang John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 52 years ago, but despite the half-century time lapse, it's still a question that's well worth asking. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are now over, and apart from confirming that the Bailey familyenjoyed an excellent roast turkey dinner, on the "big day," I want to take a look back at the year that is fast coming to an end, with particular emphasis as usual on the world of beer and travel.
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After a brief respite on Boxing Day, the weather has returned to its familiar, damp and rather miserable pattern, so with nothing to tempt me outside, I want to use thetime to present my annual round-up and look back at the year 2023.I’ve been keeping some rough notes which suggest that Ididn’t achieve as much as I would have like to, in certain areas of my lifewith particular regard to pubs. I only visited 84 different pubs in2023, which was a lot more than I initially thought, but obviously pales intoinsignificance when compared to the exploits of pub-ticking legends such asRetired Martin, Si Everitt, LAF (Life After Football), and GBG completest overseveral years, Pubmeister. In mitigation, 23 of those pubs were new to me.
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Despite this low tally – only three up on 2022, I enjoyed visitingall these pubs, which ranged from town centre locals, unspoilt rural gems, moderncraft beer bars, to CAMRA National Heritage Pubs. The numbers were boosted bydays out spent in a number of towns and cities, up and down this fair land ofours. Places visited this year, were Norwich, Henley-on-Thames, Birmingham, Manchester, Chichester,and Macclesfield, I also spent time in Dundee and Cologne, and whilst these visitswere work-related, I still found time for a few beers.
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We said a sad farewell, at the start of the year, to Mrs PBT’s brother David, who diedunexpectedly in January, then, later in the year we had another family funeral to attend,this time it was Eileen’s aunt, who was just a few months short of her 100thbirthday! This meant a trip to the Bingley area of Yorkshire, for the funeral,and also to spend a few days with the Yorkshire branch of Mrs PBT's family. Ason a previous visit, we based ourselves at the Bradford West, Premier Inn,which is on the edge of Bingley, in an attractive, semi-rural setting. (The adjacent photo, shows David, sat next to me, in happier times, enjoying a summertime drink).
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Eileen is a big fan of this Whitbread-owned, hotel chain,and whilst I agree with her statement that “you know what you are getting,” Ipersonally prefer an independently operated, or even family-ownedestablishment, even though occasionally, it can throw in the odd “duffer.” Ashort, 1o-minute walk from the Premier Inn, takes you to the Airedale Heifer, astone-built pub housed in a former barn, that was once part of the Old EastRiddlesden Hall Estate. The Heifer, is also home to the Bridgehouse Brewery, withbrewing taking place in a separate outbuilding, behind the pub.
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During our time in Yorkshire, we spent a morning in Howarthand then took a drive across the moors to Colne and Skipton. The scenerycertainly looked spectacular in the June sunshine, and we passed a number ofattractive looking, stone-built pubs nestling by the side of the road. Ourjourney home, saw us skirting Skipton and the edge of Harrogate, before passingthrough the attractive North Yorkshire town of Knaresborough, and then on tothe A1 and the road home.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u-MFnBu2YzJ_9PqQ87uaFlgnJEemxrW6JA7Ij9zMaq5NOxhwl8pK 576WmgN7yW6Zm2QPIXXMHd6NHQhrnkgJudhL9dqMZfFuZqDoxV 7v2N60g75vAyhNpFSgSFgpB-cVhAVxnmXz0wt3-a01pOPtcuUrFPCHFsU_LUy-9H8WUgMAPpwGhnUSjwHJyUk/w400-h300/Car%20being%20recovered.%202%20jpg.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u-MFnBu2YzJ_9PqQ87uaFlgnJEemxrW6JA7Ij9zMaq5NOxhwl8pK 576WmgN7yW6Zm2QPIXXMHd6NHQhrnkgJudhL9dqMZfFuZqDoxV 7v2N60g75vAyhNpFSgSFgpB-cVhAVxnmXz0wt3-a01pOPtcuUrFPCHFsU_LUy-9H8WUgMAPpwGhnUSjwHJyUk/s2048/Car%20being%20recovered.%202%20jpg.jpg)
Fortunately, the car behaved itself on this trip, which ismore than be said after what happened in September, when it startedmalfunctioning on the M25, during a drive home from Dorking. Having to berecovered from Clackets Lane services, was an indignity I haven’t experienced before,but after having the faulty fuel injector replaced, blow me if the same thingdidn’t happen again, on the Friday before Christmas. I limped the vehicle homethis time, and it’s going in for a diagnostic check in a couple of days’ time. Imentioned previously that I’ve been looking for a replacement vehicle, but withthe benefit of that wonderful thing called hindsight, I should have looked forone, earlier in the year.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2sI-fdbjh6ql7vbkHH2UhwgEhg4pIyUb3QB2jZtW_qvVkoyXIiOI53 w5C3mYm4n_pI5JMkC9USniGZbequRCmMdG1DL-M3wgfqiya3qeKTxzdB2JU3vimJN09rP0LTy623rDtVcHpMV8pw ngxVIbOR_pJvReK6JPTyubT425xXO_DLeOeawNuPwEkM/w400-h225/Star%20&%20Eagle.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpa2sI-fdbjh6ql7vbkHH2UhwgEhg4pIyUb3QB2jZtW_qvVkoyXIiOI53 w5C3mYm4n_pI5JMkC9USniGZbequRCmMdG1DL-M3wgfqiya3qeKTxzdB2JU3vimJN09rP0LTy623rDtVcHpMV8pw ngxVIbOR_pJvReK6JPTyubT425xXO_DLeOeawNuPwEkM/s4000/Star%20&%20Eagle.jpg)
One activity that definitely took a nosedive was bus trips,out to unspoilt and difficult to reach country pubs. I’m not how this cameabout, particularly as there was very little in the way of long-distance walkingbut trips out by bus were nowhere as frequent as the previous year. For the record I travelled out to Goudhurst – Star & Eagle, Eridge – Boar’s Head, Petteridge –Hopbine and Brenchley – Halfway House, Penshurst – Leicester Arms andEdenbridge – Old Eden, but that was it. This was despite my best intentions,and the fact that I’d compiled a list of “easy” places to visit by bus.
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2023 was a disappointing year for walking, being marred bywet weather, particularly during the months of March and April. This didn’thelp with my quest of completing the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk, a 27.5-miletrail that passes through a rolling landscape of ridges, valleys, smallfields, hedges, and broad-leaved woodland, as it skirts the town of TunbridgeWells. Lying within the High Weald AONB, the trail explores thediverse and beautiful countryside which lies on the borders of Kent and EastSussex. I have been following theofficial Kent Ramblers Guide, which divides the trail into fourconvenient stages, which vary in length from 5 to 10 miles, but so far, Ihave only completed two of the stages (Southborough to Pembury,and Pembury to Frant).
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Still to come are Frant to Groombridge (7 miles) and Groombridgeto Southborough (6 miles). These final two stages should be relatively easy,although the trail isn’t as well signposted as those along the North and SouthDowns. I aim to get started, once the wet weather eases up, and the days beginto lengthen again.
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Another feature missing on the walking front, has been thecomplete absence of CAMRA, related rambles. This follows on from the relocationto Portsmouth of one of the leading lights and driving forces of the WeekendWalking WhatsApp group. The garden also proved rather disappointing last year, and iftruth be known, I probably expended too much time and effort on it, for verylittle return. On the plus side, it has forced a reappraisal on what’sfeasible, or even worth growing.
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Highlight of the year, even if it was a longtime coming, wasthe (almost) three-week Mediterranean cruise that Mrs PBT’s and I embarked on,back in October. Not only did it take up a large chunk of the month, it alsorepresented by far the longest holiday that the pair of us have everundertaken. Even better was the fact that we didn’t fall out, not evenslightly, despite being in close proximity to each other for a long period oftime.
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There were many memorable moments, and some amazing sights,such as passing through the Straits of Gibraltar, as well as the Strait ofMessina, between Sicily and the Italian mainland. Anchoring in the collapsed caldera, that makes up much of Santorini,was also memorable, even if on that occasion, we didn’t get off the boat. Thenthere was my ascent of the Acropolis, overlooking Athens, and getting separatedfrom the tour party, when we reached the Parthenon.
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Both Eileen and I weresmitten by the charms of Kefalonia, and have marked down this idyllic Greekisland, as a place we would like to return to before our days are out. Cruising doesn’t always get a good press environmentally andis said to be worsefor the climate than flying. There are other downsides too,such as limited time in each location and not experiencing the local hotels andnightlife, but the sheer joy of waking up almost every morning in a new ordifferent port, or anchorage, certainly takes some beating. Let’s end the yearon a high note then and await what 2024 has to offer us with a mixture of excitementtempered by a slight hint of trepidation.
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