Beer Festivals in Bristol

Another busy week - trying to get so much organised at work before we go on holiday, dinner with Harry's work mates and our first beer festival - yes the very first for both of us. We weren't sure what to expect but after standing in a queue for a short time we entered the first ever railway station building built by Brunel - no longer used for passengers but for the 2009 Bristol beer festival. We didn't know what to expect especially hearing stories of the beer festivals in Europe - but we really did enjoy it. Acousticly the high ceilings absorbed most of the chatter so we could talk to the neighbours who had invited us without becoming hoarse. Not being seasoned beer drinkers we soon found half pints were a bit big if we wanted to taste a number of beers so gave our 6 vouchers to our fellow drinkers at the table, emptied the peanuts from a couple of plastic cups and sampled each of their choices - I think we got the better deal - we tried about 15 different flavours by the end of the night. It really was a bit of an education for us -we learnt some of the terms beer drinkers use such as 'high gravity beer', all about types of hops and why vegans don't usually drink beer. We tried Box Steam's Vanilla Porter (a dark porter), Durham's Evensong (a 1937 recipe and a deep ruby coloured bitter), Enville's Old Porter (golden bright, with subtleness and body), Harviestourn's Top Dollar (at least 4 types of hops used by this Scottish brewer), Kelham Island Pale Rider (dangerously deceptive strength), St Austell's Black Prince (with a faint taste of bubble gum and licorice), Spectrum's Old Stoatwobbler (good for vegans) and so on.
Nylan and Rebecca had arrived on Friday night and so on Saturday we took Nylan for his first trip to the Downs to see the Avon River at low tide (great weather) and we saw our first Peregrine in the distance - we wouldn't have known but we eavesdropped on a Peregrine watching group during our walk. We took a quick trip to Bath (not a good idea when Bath is playing against Newcastle - rugby that is - and the stadium is right near the city). We eventually found a car park near the Bath Spa Hotel and wandered into town through a park not previously explored by us and then had a coffee in the sun outside the cathedral (we have had a great week of sunny weather - we keep wondering what it will be like at home in a couple of weeks).

Sunday we went to Cheddar Gorge - one of the most spectacular pieces of scenery we have seen in England and wandered on the top around Piney Sleight - it is another National Trust property and one of the few nature reserves the trust owns. It was a bit early for the blue bells, but it was still pretty with the mosses and views over the Gorge. We sampled (lots) and bought (one) Cheddar cheese and also some red pepper and chilli jam.

To end the weekend we thought we would take our visitors to Wells (the smallest city in England) where we picnicked in the church grounds before exploring around the Bishops Palace and Cathedral. And now its packing time ... we are getting quite excited.

News this week

• Ireland won the 6 nations - the first time they have won the grand slam since 1948.
• An elderly woman who feeds the birds was given a £75 fine for littering by some over zealous wardens.
• A squatters group, has through the Freedom of Information Act, obtained lists of empty council and private houses - wonder where they will be living next?