I May Have Been Gone Some Time

Dear Reader. Forgive the break in transmission. I see it's a few months since I posted any news. Been very busy making beer but I'm feeling ready to get more done. I detect a build up of rants which will need to be aired before too long. More to follow shortly. MORE BEER !

Land Speed Heroes

How time flies. BMF Tail End September show at Peterborough this weekend.Managed to get over there today to catch some ace Flat Track action..
As it happens Chris Carr wasn't racing today - BUT - he will be Sunday 11th October. Quite some legend in the world of oval racing and one time motorcycle land speed record holder (350.8 mph), Chris is a keen follower and supporter of the UK flat track scene. Come to Peterborough 8th October and enjoy philosophical chat about English beer and how to make your bike go sideways faster than anyone else.
Just found this pic in the archives, Chris Carr #4 at Scunthorpe last year, #54 Peter Boast in hot pursuit with #76 John Lee planning his attack ! MORE LEFT TURNS !

V E Day

I feel the pipe smoking habit could very easily return. I have always enjoyed smoking a neat little Peterson, packed thoughtfully with some Erinmore Balkan Mixture or Players Navy Cut, but have often found myself feeling a little self conscious - unlike matey here ! Of course we can't smoke in the pub anymore so the prospect of upsetting somebody as you might a neighbour with a bonfire is no longer an issue. I had to try and capture this little scene at our local VE Day celebrations (news travels slow in these parts), the dancing was quite energetic and the beer tent was near at hand. Churchill made his speech at 15.00 hrs and all hell was let lose in the bell tower. Willys Jeeps ran amok and a Ferret complete with smoke grenades and machine gun was deployed by way of crowd control. You'll be pleased to know that the ARP warden won the fancy dress competition and left early with the larger of the land army girls.

Pointless Portals - Part One

I have stumbled across a few gateways to nowhere in the archive and it seems they need publishing in the hope that we can determine that, in fact, nowhere's just fine. We pass through entrances to shops, houses, offices, railway stations, churches and pubs as part of our every-day lives, often without giving them a second thought. I appreciate that our great unmitigated coleague has this patch well covered and hopefully we can all learn something from his observations on the subject. What I am exploring here is the opportunity we are given - by virtue of the fact that we are not distracted by the price of bread, remembering our host's name, panic at missing the train or deciding what beer we need - to actually appreciate the craftsmanship and pointlessness, speculate on the history and to-ings and froe-ings that these structures have witnessed. This particular gate way did originally serve a purpose in the late eighteenth century but now is more easily passed around than through. What is startlingly absent is the security intercom and opening mechanism that would have enabled his lordship to sweep through at speed, horses lathered and fearful, on his way to church with a well timed "bleep" from his remote switch.

Crow in Vane

Early morning shot of the local weather crow doings its job - light Westerly. I quite like the way his mate's waiting patiently for his turn. The sun was just making itself known over the wood-crested hill to the south, bathing the top of the spire and fields behind in a pink wash. Just out of shot is a fine public house where Timothy Tailor's Landlord used to be served to the order, "a pint of grumpy old bastard - please". A friend of mine fell into the fire in the bar and set himself alight, nobody'd spare their beer to put him out so he lost his Barbour coat and most of his hair.