Something for everyone

I was out with some friends on Saturday night. We went to the small market town of Bungay, about 5 miles from my old home town.
The beer is good and the locals mostly have the correct finger to head ratio of 8:1 plus 2 thumbs.

We usually start in a pub called The Fleece and work our way through the town ending at The Chequers.
This night however, we were dropped in the centre of town and took a different route to The Fleece.
Walking up the hill I noticed that Bungay had joined the ranks of the open-minded society and now has specialist shops for all persuasions.

I'm told there is a brass plaque on the floor in one corner which bears the legend "Brace yourself"

Stress relief

I've had a bloody busy month.

How dare other people have holidays and time off for "Man flu" and "hurty tummies".
Wimps, wheres their fucking commitment.

Anyway, I managed to get away Friday afternoon for a bit of R&R at our lake. Yes those are my "wellies" and Dive, you paid for the top couple of feet of that rod with the cash you gave me for my birthday, thanks.


I am fortunate to have been a member of our little fishing club for the last 20 years. It is exclusive to employees and old Formula 1 team members.
The lake is in the grounds of the old hall where the race team had their headquarters in the good old days of World Championships with Andretti, Fittipaldi, Peterson, Senna, Mansell et al.
It's only 5 minutes from the factory and me and a few of the guys needed to unwind so we had a dangle in the lake....................... Then we went fishing.




It's very peaceful over there and one is surrounded by nature in all her finery.
As I sit contemplating life, the universe and everything, I am watching a kingfisher catching fry not ten feet away. Dragonflies are content to sit on my float, rod, feet or hands without any apparent fear, and a barn owl is hunting in the field behind me.

The swans didn't want me to get any closer than this though, as they thought their cygnets needed protection from me and a camera. "HHHHIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSS", they said.

That's the rear of the Hall on the far side of the lake. We left this end un-disturbed until later in the year so the swans can raise their family.

We do have a new arrival this year, an otter. I love to see them on our rivers and coasts but this one turned up at our lake earlier in the year and has killed and eaten most of the big carp.

We had several fish over 30lbs and at least 20 fish from 15 to 25lbs which have been found almost entirely eaten, just a few bones and scales are all that was left. If we were to replace these the bill would run into thousands of pounds and Mr Otter would get another fish buffet so we will wait to see if he moves on later in the year.

All we can do is get as many members to fish as often as possible this year and hope the human presence will be enough to encourage him to bugger off and eat someone else's fish.

Maybe I should ask Old Knudsen, I'm sure he could come up with a plan.

Tarka tikka kebabs anyone?

Mmmmmmmmmmm Beer

Spent the week end with an old work colleague who chucked in the rat race last year and opened his own brewery.

It's in a small converted out-building next to the old farmhouse he bought with his partner Rachel.

They have worked bloody hard since the middle of last year to get the business going and work on the house, so I thought I would offer my services for a bit of painting/moral support and so I could pinch some of his flints for the stream in my garden.

This is the church across the field which he uses as his logo (see wrought iron sign above). The vicar is a good customer!

So I spent the weekend staining and waxing oak beams, painting, building cupboards, eating nice food and drinking excellent beer at the village pub. Yes it came from Marks Brewery.

No time this week end but I hope to give him a hand with a brew some time soon which will be great. Finding out how the flavours are developed and the chemistry/alchemy which turns hops, yeast, sugar and his own underground spring water, along with some eye of newt and wing of bat etc into beer. Mmmmmmmmmm.