Funny

On Sunday I had lunch at my parents, along with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. During this time my brother was telling me about a work colleague of his, who had been fishing all week and hadn't caught a single fish.
My brother went on to say that he had come up with a new term for this "Extreme deck chairing". I used to fish a lot, but this tickled me.

No.5

Sir Bobby Robson

On Saturday 26th September it was Ipswich Town V Newcastle United at Portman Road, (Now know as the Sir Bobby Robson derby) and a work colleague had offered me a spare ticket for the match, which i gratefully accepted. Deciding to go by train with another chap from work, we arranged to meet up in the Grapes pub in Bury St.Edmunds after they had finished work. As usual a certain regular, and one of Bury's best known characters was in the pub too, and I couldn't resist taking a photo. (Thanks Corky).

We wandered down to the Railway station with a plan to catch the 15:23 train to Ipswich, but as we passed The Last Day of Raj, Indian restaurant, on station hill, we could see the train pulling out of the station...ooopps. So a quick look at the timetable and the next train is at 16:23 and will get into Ipswich at 17:05 giving us just enough time for the short walk to the football ground for the 17:30 kick off, also live on BBC2. So to help pass the hour a pint in the Linden Tree was had.

Once situated on the train, I got chatting to Ant and Dec (above). They disappeared off to the on-board toilet one at a time to gel their hair !

Arriving at the ground and I noticed that they had already changed the signage above the turnstiles ahead of the renaming ceremony due to take place at half-time of the North stand to the Sir Bobby Robson stand (following his death on July 31st).

Before the game started 40 Ipswich legends paraded around the pitch with the F.A.Cup and the Uefa Cup won in 1978 and 1981 respectively under the guidance of Sir Bobby.
I don't have to much to say about the match as we lost 0-4.
Returning on the 20:16 from Ipswich we got back to Bury at 21:00 and I decided to go and see the band (DirtyTrix) playing in the Grapes that evening. After chatting with one or two people I knew in there, I went and had a Kebab then wobbled home on my Bicycle.

No.5

Sloe Gin

Last year I made some Sloe Gin for the first time. I created it the same weekend of the year as I have this year. This will then be ready in time for Christmas. I've used one 70cl bottle and one 1litre bottle, both half filled with Sloe berries, 100 grams and 150 grams of sugar, added respectively, and 1litre of Gin fills up both bottles perfectly. So it should produce 1litre of Sloe Gin.

Just 24 hours after bottling, and the Gin is turning the crimson colour that it should, and will get much darker over the next few days. The bottles need turning on a daily basis for the first two weeks, to dissolve the sugar, then on a weekly basis, to mix up the berries and release flavour. Whilst keeping the bottles stored in a cool (not cold) temperature.
Last years batch produced comments like "that's the best I've ever had" and "spot on". So hopefully this years will to.
If you want to give it a go, this year seems to be a bumper crop/harvest of Sloe's for some reason, and its not to late to get some Sloe's in the next 3-4 weeks, before the berries start to shrivel.
Oh, and to strain it off, I use a coffee machine filter, for the clearest result.

No.5

Keith Floyd - Patrick Swayze

Whilst on holiday, in Greece, on the Monday, I was saddened when I had a text, from my brother, informing me of Keith Floyd's death. He was aware that my Ex and I had gone to see Keith, at Bury St.Edmunds Theatre Royal.
It was "an audience with..." style show, and as we took our seats, all that there was on the stage, was a chair and table. On the table though was a bottle of wine and a packet of cigarettes, typical of Floyd.
He had been given special dispensation to smoke, in the smoke free Theatre,before the smoking ban had come in, but doubt he would have been allowed to after.
During the first half he talked about his life, growing up, being in the army, and of course cooking. During the interval Keith had laid on a complimentary glass of wine for every audience member. The Ex being a non-drinker let me have hers.
Second half and Keith opened up to questions from the audience, "what would you choose for your last meal" ironic, "do you regret cooking a puffin".
Anyway, we had been inspired by watching his TV programs to go and see this charismatic man. I actually surprised the Ex (wife at the time) with the tickets, for her birthday. I'm so pleased we went to see him.
Also the same day sad to hear about Patrick Swayze's death on the news. He was my sister-in-laws favourite, and unfortunately her father also died of Pancreatic cancer, so I felt for her that day too.

No.5

Nikiti, Sept 9th - Sept 16th 2009

We departed from Gatwick Airport at 6am, having been picked up from the Moreton Hall Pub at closing time, by a Taxi for six of us. A seventh person who booked independently was also driving down and meeting us there.

No delays and we arrived at Thessaloniki Airport, in Greece, and found our transfer to our hotel (for all Seven of us) a bright Green Volkswagen van, driven by Roberto. Interesting piece of driving us having been up all night, I kept one eye on the road. Anyway the journey took about an hour for the 60 odd kilometers to get to our Hotel/Taverna.

On arrival we crash at a table that will seat seven of us, and order the same number of beers to quench our thirst, before worrying and our rooms. Having drunk our drinks we get our rooms allocated and get rid of our holdall's, change clothes, and head back out to explore the area.

Turning left outside the front of our Hotel we wandered along the sea front, and found this beach bar, run by a guy called Costas (apologises if that's not how you spell it). A few drinks here (and a few complimentary) and we head back to our Hotel to shower and change.

Recommended the Marina (name of Hotel) T-bone steak, I thought I'll have some of that, and so did some of the others, and it just melted in the mouth, well happy.

Next day and the sun is out, so off to get some Sun..she..ine. I've got some tunes on my phone and we're all enjoying them, and I'm reading Tony Adam's auto-biography. A walk along the jetty, and the picture has three of the lads sitting on their sun loungers on the beach. I've also brought along a snorkel and goggles to take into the sea to look at the fish.

Friday (flat out friday)*, and we wander up to "down town Nikiti " high street. There is also a market (not Meercat) going on. We stop off to change up some Sterling into Euros, before having a look around it, then head back to the sea front, about 10 minutes walk.

Now, before we left, it was obviously known that it was going to be someones birthday, while we were out in Greece. Since January it has been a feature of the Moreton Hall Pub regulars, that on they're birthday they must wear the "birthday hat". So it came along with us for Mr Mikey Z's on 9/11. Also the Usain Bolt "pose" appeared in quite a few of our pictures as well. Here we have birthday boy with 1. birthday hat 2. my snorkel 3. his fave team shirt 4. the sea 5. Usain bolt "pose". *(flat out friday) is everyone in football shirts boozing all day. I fall asleep on my bed and miss the lamb kleftico that I've ordered for dinner ! (But i was back out, and the last one home).

Next morning, and its raining, my friends still felt that they had to go and smoke outside, just like our legislation's here. So here is Steve (Meercat) having a ciggie under the phone box in the rain. Possibly in his Pyjama trousers and flip-flops, across the road from the Hotel.

This view looks back from the harbour to our Hotel (centre) just behind the trees.

The sun going down, around 7pm, from the terrace of our Hotel, across the Marina which is being newly built.

Everyone has gone to bed, and I just have a little wander around the front of the Hotel. On the road I spot a Cricket about 2-3 inches long. I've got my camera in my pocket, so I try and zoom in with it, to get a picture to show everyone. After I've Zoomed in, I realise I need to get a bit closer, and stoop down a bit, at which point the Cricket jumps up into my hair ! I scream like a girl and brush the Cricket out of my hair, and it drops back onto the road. At which point a "stray" cat, darts out of the bushes, grabs the Cricket in its teeth (with a crunch) and runs off ! And I never got a picture.

The last evening we are there, all seven of us spend it with friends relations and their friend's. From left to right, Paul, Julia, Craig, Mikey, Cliff, 2 ppl i don't know, Pat, Me (No.5), Stephen (Mini)and Stephen (Meercat).

Happy Days !

No.5

Nikiti - Halkidiki - Greece

I only have to work 4 hours tomorrow (Saturday) morning, then I have 2 weeks off work, and during this time I shall be spending 7 days with 6 friends in the above named place, on the Greek mainland.
Its just a small village located on the middle peninsular of the 3 in the Halkidiki region, and we have rooms at Hotel Marina, a small Taverna.
Hopefully it will be a great place to chill out and relax with friends, after my divorce 8 weeks ago, but during the week there we have an England world cup qualifier and 1 of my friends has a Birthday.

No.5