A Dying Tradition?

A few lines on Cooking Lager’s recent blog post “The Puritans are winning”, about a workplace tradition which has fallen by the way side, served to remind me that this is one particular custom I don’t miss. I am talking, of course, about the Friday lunchtime pint; that one time of the week when whole work’s departments would decamp to the pub for a few jars, a quick bite to eat and the chance to let their hair down.

This practice was very much the norm in offices, shops and other workplaces up and down the land. If some of tales I’ve heard are true, it was even quite common amongst people who had no business mixing drink with the safety critical work they were supposed to be carrying out. I also remember, not that long ago (alright  it was actually 20 years ago), when I was “between jobs”, and working as a Christmas casual at the local  Royal Mail sorting office, my amazement on discovering that postmen could walk straight in after their shift and have a quick bottle of brown ale in the bar attached to their restroom.

Times have obviously changed, along with people’s attitudes, and I know Cookie was trying to put this argument across on his blog. No-one in their right minds would disagree that excessive drinking has no place in the modern workplace, but now it seems that many organisations have taken things a whole stage further and banned staff from consuming any alcohol during work time altogether.

An old friend of mine, who is a retired railwayman, used to regale me with tales of horror about five pint lunchtimes, and whilst him and his colleagues were thankfully not employed in “safety critical” roles, he openly admits that they were not exactly giving their best when they returned to their desks on a Friday afternoon.

Matters came to a head on the railways, following a number of fatal incidents where drink and/or drugs had been involved, and the authorities (British Rail in those days), quite rightly clamped down hard in a determined bid to stamp out a culture of drinking which had been endemic in certain parts of the rail industry. A total blanket ban was imposed on staff, prohibiting them from having so much as a shandy whilst at work.

Still the norm for many City workers

The ban applied to all staff irrespective of where they worked or in what role. If you were just sat behind a desk you were still barred from consuming alcohol, in exactly the same way as train, track or signalling crew were. If, for example, someone in your office was celebrating a special occasion; birthday, getting married, retiring etc, it was necessary to book the afternoon off, and take your coat, brief case etc with you to the pub. You were not allowed back in the office/booking hall etc, under any circumstances, that same day.

This policy was obviously sensible, and managed to call time, if you’ll pardon the pun, on an activity which had once been commonplace on the railways. But what about other industries and other areas I hear you ask?

I have spent my entire working life in the private sector, and there I have to report a rather mixed bag. However, even though none of the companies I have worked for over the years expressly forbade employees from having a “swift one” at lunchtime, it would definitely be noticed when people made this a regular occurrence or they overstepped the mark.

It was quite common when I began my career to go for that Friday lunchtime drink. Many workers regarded it as the start of the weekend, and it no exaggeration to say productivity  suffered on  Friday afternoons. In my second job after graduating, I got into the habit of going for a Friday.lunchtime pint with a couple of colleagues from the engineering department.  Except it wasn't just the one pint; three blokes, meant three pints, as we all felt obliged to get a round in, and I honestly can say my work suffered when I got back in the afternoon, and I’m certain my colleagues did as well.

A lunchtime pint whilst walking the South Downs Way

It wasn’t really until the early 90’s, when a forced job relocation saw me working down in Lewes, which was the best part of an hour’s drive from my home in Tonbridge. Thankfully there was far less temptation in my new place of employment, to sneak off to the pub for a quick lunchtime pint. The factory was sited on the edge of town, which meant a drive into Lewes would have been necessary in order to grab a pint. The factory also had a decent canteen, so there was no need to go off site in search of something to eat.

It must have been around this three and a half year period of my working life that I realised I didn’t miss lunchtime drinking, whilst at work.  I could also add I’m not a huge fan of it when I’m not at work either; with the honourable exception of when I am on holiday, or out on a ramble.

There are two pubs within walking distance of where I work now, but I seldom visit either of them. If we have customers visiting, then it’s not unusual to take them for lunch at the larger of the two pubs. This is accepted and nobody bats an eyelid. I also know that should I wish to call in for a swift pint at either of these pubs, no-one would say a word. It would be different if I was to return the worse for drink, but I wouldn’t do it, and in fact don’t like going back to work after just a single pint.

I don’t know if it’s down to advancing years, but I find it difficult enough staying awake after lunch when stone cold sober. A couple of pints therefore would probably find me nodding off in front of my computer screen, so unless there’s a particularly good reason to go for a lunchtime beer (visiting customers, someone retiring etc), it’s nothing stronger than tea for me these days.

As I said above, I don’t miss going out for a lunchtime drink and, without sounding too sanctimonious, I feel my health and definitely my bank-balance are all the better for my abstinence.

Last Night at the Punch

It may not have been the wisest of moves, especially as I am still struggling to shake off this cough and cold, but last night I decided that a stroll down to the pub would do me good. My local West Kent CAMRA Branch were holding an open business meeting at the Punch & Judy in Tonbridge, so I thought I’d go along, get some fresh air and enjoy a pint or two in the company of friends.

It wasn’t too cold out, and after a fifteen minute walk down the hill, I arrived at the Punch; a former Whitbread pub tucked away in a side street at the back of the town’s Police Station. There was a fair mix of customers milling around the bar, and I could see my friends sitting around a couple of tables on the raised area at the rear of the pub. My heart leapt when I spied the pump clip advertising Harvey’s Old, as this rich dark seasonal ale was just what I needed to lift my spirits on a damp January evening.

I ordered myself a pint, and walked over to join my friends. My presence brought the number in attendance up to eight, and I sat listening as the various branch officers went through the salient parts of their reports. I noticed that most of the members sitting round the table were also enjoying the Old; a good choice on a winter’s evening, made all the better by the beer being in excellent condition.

Apart from the various reports, the majority of the discussions centred on the local pub scene, with news of one imminent re-opening and also of an inevitable closure. I won’t give further details of either at the moment, as things could go either way in both cases, but I will say that getting a pub listed as an ACV is no guarantee that it will remain open, and certainly no measure of its viability in remaining as a public house. Changing demographics and social habits will inevitably lead to the loss of more and more pubs which rely solely on their “wet trade”, and many will need to re-think their game if they wish to continue in business.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, although the attendance at branch socials continues to give cause for concern (changing social habits again?). When the meeting ended, the Tunbridge Wells contingent departed; no doubt to continue their drinking on home turf. The three of us remaining ordered more beer and sat chatting, putting the world to right and pouring our scorn on the Chief Medical Officer’s recent report that there is “no safe level of alcohol”.

Two of us are work colleagues and also scientists, so can see through the crooked thinking and manipulation of statistics which characterises this report. On top of this deliberate slanting of the truth, we all agreed the report fails to take any of the health benefits associated with moderate drinking into account. Socialising with one’s fellow human beings, in a relaxed and friendly manner must surely be good for body and soul, and consuming a beverage, brewed from wholesome and natural ingredients, rich in B vitamins and soluble fibre, must also be beneficial.

There were a couple of other beers on sale in the Punch, last night. Local favourite, and “must have” beer, Harvey’s Sussex Best naturally topped the bill, but here was also a new seasonal beer from Tonbridge Brewery in the form of Winter Solstice. This 4.8% chestnut coloured ale, "combines rich malt flavours and subtle cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger notes"; or so says the brewery’s promotional material. I stuck with the Harvey’s Old, but my two companions both gave the beer a go.

It was good to see the pub busy on a Monday evening. Apart from our presence, the numbers were boosted by participants in a local darts match. There were also quite a few people sat at the bar; the main topic of conversation unsurprisingly being the sad and sudden passing of rock legend David Bowie.It was also good to see a pub taking a chance and selling a couple of dark ales. According to the landlord,  both were selling well, thereby proving what most of us already know, that there is a market for dark ales; especially in winter.

I didn’t feel quite so good at work today, and this was nothing to do with the moderate amount of beer I drank. This bug/virus does appear to take some getting over, and apart from work I will not be venturing out again until the weekend, when I plan to attend a social at a former branch favourite pub, situated at the northern extremity of our area. All will be revealed next time.

A Guide to Real Draught Beer in Kent 1975

Well, after yesterday’s rant regarding the latest nonsense from the Ministry of Magic, something a little lighter this afternoon. We’ve been having a bit of a tidy round and sort out at home and, as is normally the case with these purges, a number of unexpected items have come to light.

Foremost amongst them and buried deep at the back of one of the bookcases, is this 1975 “Guide to Real Draught Beer in Kent”. As you will see from the cover, it cost the princely sum of 20p – probably the price of a pint back then! It’s a thin tome with only 16 pages; although it does have a fold-out map of the county at the back.

With only 386 outlets listed as selling “real ale” (plus two late additions), for the whole of Kent, that map was probably jolly handy. The 1975 edition was the first of a series of guides covering the county; the last edition appearing in 1993. My own West Kent CAMRA branch was jointly involved with two neighbouring branches, in producing the award-winning “Gateway to Kent Pub Guide”, which hit the bookshops in 2009 but which only covered the west of the county. Interestingly, that particular guide also contained a fold-out map

It is worth noting that forty years ago there were only two breweries left in Kent; Shepherd Neame Ltd and Whitbread Fremlins – both based in Faversham. This was the result of a series of mergers, takeovers and ultimately closures, carried out primarily by London-based brewers, Whitbread; although Courage and Ind Coope also saw off a few other former independents along the way.

The introduction in this original guide points out, that whilst the majority of Shepherd Neame pubs sold the real thing; the opposite was true with Whitbread Fremlins. Cask-conditioned Trophy Bitter, dispensed without the use of CO2 gas, was a rare sight in Whitbread pubs four decades ago, although bizarrely the Whitbread name has now disappeared completely, not just from Kent, but from the whole of the UK as well.

Other brewers supplying the “real thing” into Kent were Bass Charrington (IPA and Draught Bass), Courage (Best Bitter and very occasionally, Directors) and Ind Coope (Bitter), plus there was also the odd outlet offering either Harvey’s or Young’s. Times have definitely changed for the better, as far as beer choice is concerned, but I wonder how many pubs in that original guide are still trading today?

Unlike today’s highly informative publications, the 1975 edition was nothing more than a list of pubs, sorted by location. Addresses were restricted to just the name of the road or street, and then only in towns. There were no phone numbers, no indication of opening times – although to be fair, pub hours were pretty standard back then. Breweries, and beers were listed in the form of a number of abbreviations and symbols (see photo opposite for an example of this), and heaven help you if you wanted a meal or a room for the night!

Still, for those wishing to seek out a decent drop of ale, served in the traditional manner, this early guide was invaluable, and today it provides a fascinating glimpse of what the beer situation was like in Kent, all those years ago.

Nanny Knows Best

Just one small mug of Butterbeer a day!

As I said in my previous post, the dreaded winter virus has been doing the rounds and has laid both my wife and I rather low. It wasn’t really what either of us wanted on our first week back at work following the Christmas break!

The bug’s been bad enough to keep me off the beer all week, and whilst I’ve no doubt that supporters of Dryanuary, will be pleased, so will the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies following the publication of new guidelines regarding what constitutes a “safe” level of alcohol.

Apparently there is no safe level, and people will be at increased risk of dying from all sorts of nasty diseases, including cancer, if they so much as look at a bottle of beer, or indeed catch the faintest whiff of the barmaid’s apron!

In a statement, which borders on farcical, this puritanical busy-body claims, “Drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone, but if men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of illness like cancer and liver disease low.”

“What we are aiming to do with these guidelines is give the public the latest and most up- to-date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking and the level of risk they are prepared to take.”

Yeah right. Talk about patronising! Speaking on BBC Breakfast Dame Sally said: “My job as chief medical officer is to make sure we bring the science together to get experts to help us fashion the best low-risk guidelines.” 

Of course, just about everything reported by the media these days has to be the truth because “experts” say it is! These experts are undoubtedly the descendants of the same experts who categorically stated that the sun revolved around the earth and anyone who dared say otherwise was guilty of heresy.

Harold Macmillan famously said, "We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts.", but my personal favourite is this definition which states "An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing."

So is this “latest and most up- to-date scientific information” any different from that put out 20 years ago, when the last guidelines on what constitutes a “safe level of alcohol” were issued? I ask the question because the authors of that report later admitted they had “plucked the figures out of thin air”, because they didn’t really have a clue at where to set the limits. This whole thing would be quite risible, were it not for the fact that significant amounts of public funds have been wasted on coming up with this nonsense.

I shall, of course, completely ignore this latest Nanny State missive and continue to do what I have done for the past 40+ years, which is to enjoy a drink or two in moderation, listen to my body, take regular exercise and stick to a reasonably healthy diet. I do not need self-appointed health fascists dictating what I can or can’t do with my own body, and I especially don’t need them squandering my taxes on scaremongering nonsense such as this.

Further reading:

“Anyone who cares about scientific probity should be outraged by the Chief Medical Officer's behaviour in this report. Casting out decades of research in favour of a single claim from a single study is a shocking abuse of her authority. People have a right to receive honest and accurate information from the government. I would call for her to be sacked but she'd only be replaced by somebody cut from the same corrupt cloth.”

So says writer and researcher Christopher Snowdon in a lengthy, and well-argued post on his blog "Velvet Glove, Iron Fist". He goes on to debunk the report and to expose the pseudo-science and hidden agenda behind it.

Not the Best Start to January

Well it’s not been quite the start to January I was expecting, and certainly not the start I desired. In fact it looks like that, for the moment at least, I have signed up to Dryanuary! Actually, it’s down to a touch of man-flu, although I must admit it has definitely put me off my beer.

I blame my wife, as when I arrived back home from my short trip to Norfolk, exactly a week ago, she had developed a sore throat and a hacking cough. So far, I’m relatively cough-free, but I’ve got the sore throat from hell! The latter feels like sandpaper every time I swallow, but with a full in tray at work it’s the sort of thing I could do without.

So if anyone knows of any beer-related remedies, or even some involving spirits, then would they kindly let me know?

2015 - The Year in Beer

Rather than follow the crowd and go along with the “Golden Pints” thing (reminds me rather too much of boring beers like Bombardier Burning Gold and GK Old Golden Hen etc), I thought I’d take a look back at the beery highlights of 2015. I went through a similar exercise last January, but as there were so many beer-related high points in 2015, I thought I’d change the format around and list what, for me, were the crowning moments of a “Year in Beer”.

It’s worth noting that 2015 saw me undertaking far more overseas trips than I’ve ever done before. Turning sixty last year, was the excuse I offered myself, but really I don’t feel the need to apologise for going off in search of good beer. I had a great time, I visited some fascinating and often beautiful places, I met some interesting people and, most important of all, I drank some great beers. So before launching into the various categories here, in alphabetical order, are the countries, and places I visited.

Austria (Salzburg); Belgium (Brussels & Bruges); Czech Republic (Česky Krumlov, Jihlava, Prague – twice); Germany (Nuremberg).

Best Brewery Visits

I undertook three brewery tours last year, and it’s worth mentioning them all. The first tour (Bernard) was in the Czech Republic; the other two (De Halve Maan & Rodenbach), were in Belgium.

Bernard

Gleaming coppers at Bernard Brewery

The wet and windy late May day I spent  at the Bernard Brewery, which naturally culminated with a tasting of some of the products, was one of the highlights of the late spring  visit I made to the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, as part of a tour organised by MMK CAMRA.

Situated in the small town of Humpolec, Bernard have long been one of my favourite Czech breweries; their beers having an excellent reputation, both at home and abroad. It was good to be able to enjoy them on their home turf.

De Halve Maan

The new at De Halve Maan

And the old

Unlike the other two brewery tours, I haven’t written about my visit to the De Halve Maan Brewery in Bruges. Situated right in the heart of this historic city, the brewery is a strange mix of both old and new, with the state of the art Steinecker Brew-house, contrasting with the much older original brew-house, which now functions as a museum.

Our attractive and informative guide took us all over both plants, culminating in a vertigo-inducing climb to the top of the old brewery, from where we had one of the best views imaginable over the rooftops of Bruges. We also had an excellent lunch, with beers chosen to match, in the brewery restaurant; all this being courtesy of the local “Visit Flanders” tourist agency.

Rodenbach

This tour was also courtesy of “Visit Flanders”, who organised one of the post-European Beer

Historic maturation vats- Rodenbach Brewery

Bloggers Conference excursions. The visit to this fascinating and historic brewery took place after dark, but we had the privilege of being shown round by legendary Brewmaster Rudi Ghequire.

The highlight of the tour was walking through the world-renowned maturation halls, where the beer ages and ripens in a series of massive oak vats or “foeders”. There are 294 of these vessels, and some are 150 years old. As I wrote at the time, “the visit to Rodenbach will certainly live on in my mind as one of the best and most fascinating brewery tours I have been privileged to have been party to.”

Best Beer Festivals

I only attended three beer festivals in 2015 (must be slipping!), and I list them in reverse order; starting with the most recent event.

Spa Valley Railway

West Kent CAMRA branch’s own festival, run in conjunction with Heritage Railway group, Spa Valley Railway is always a good one, albeit a logistical nightmare for those running the event. Although I wasn’t involved on the organisational side this time around, I am pleased to report the festival was a roaring success offering an excellent range of beers, spread over several locations, all linked by vintage trains running through some of the most attractive countryside the south east has to offer.

Kent Beer Festival

The famous cow-shed - home of the Kent Beer Festival

What could be better than a day out on the farm, sampling a fine range of beers which includes examples from every Kentish brewery? No visit to the cow-shed is complete without the obligatory thunderstorm, although this time the rain held off until we were back in Canterbury. The bonus of the festival was bumping into Erlangernick from Franconia, and then joining him on a visit to a couple of excellent pubs in the city.

Fränkische Bierfest

Waiting for the crowds to arrive - Fränkische Bierfest

It had long been an ambition of mine to visit this festival which showcases beers from around 40 of Franconia’s finest breweries. Held in the incomparable setting of the castle moat, against the backdrop of Nuremberg’s massive and imposing Imperial Castle, I spent a most enjoyable day here in the company of the aforementioned Erlangernick who, armed with the knowledge only possessed by locals, acted as my guide.

In over 30° of heat, I drank far too much beer, but I enjoyed soaking up every minute of the fantastic atmosphere which characterises this festival. I enjoyed it so much that I am arranging a return visit; this time taking a group of friends across with me.

Best Beer on Home Turf

A difficult one, as I have drank many excellent home-grown beers over the course of the past year. The one which really stands out is:

Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale

I’ve always been a huge fan of this seasonal dark ale, but because Harvey’s appear to restrict its availability to their own tied estate, I rarely come across it. The vintage coach trip I embarked on with Maidstone

Harvey's Old available here

CAMRA, back in October, took us to the unspoilt Hatch Inn at Coleman’s Hatch, on the edge of Ashdown Forest.

It was here that I drank the first of this winter’s Harvey’s Old, and it was pure nectar! I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a pint in a pub, quite as much as I enjoyed that one. Pure “class in a glass”, and just the thing on a drab, damp late-autumn lunchtime.

 

Best Beers Abroad

Three beers really stand out; the first one is an old favourite, whilst the other two were new to me.

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Altes Lokal - Schlenkerla, Bamberg

This world classic beer needs little in the way of introduction. I enjoyed a couple of Seidlas (half litre glasses), of this superb coal black beer with its intense smoky aroma and taste, in the timeless surroundings of the lovely old Schlenkerla Tavern, right in the heart of historic Bamberg. What’s more I managed to get a table in the left-hand bar, known in German as the "Altes Lokal". It is here that the beer is served, direct from oak casks, perched up on the bar.

Westvletern Blond

I enjoyed this excellent and refreshing blond, Trappist beer at the In de Vrede café, right opposite the Abbey of St Sixtus where Westvletern beers are brewed. Although over-shadowed by its stronger stable mates, Westvletern 8 and 12, the Blond, at 5.8% was just right for sitting at a table, outside the café in the company of fellow beer Bloggers. I would say it is one of the finest beers of this style I have tasted.

Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln Weinachtsbock

It was third time lucky as on my two previous visits to the legendary Augustiner Bräustübl in Salzburg, the Christmas Bock was unavailable. At 6.5% it is not really a beer for drinking by the half litre, but by God it was good. Rich, malty and strong enough to taste the alcohol this beer doesn’t take many prisoners, but after a walk up to the monastery, on a cold and frosty night, it is just the ticket.

Bucket List

The trip I made with my son, back in October, to Cesky Krumlov, meant I could cross another item off the “bucket list”. I had desired to visit this medieval time-warp town since first reading about it in CAMRA’s first Good Beer Guide to Prague & the Czech Republic. Published in 1996, and written and researched by CAMRA founding member, Graham Lees, this book really wetted my appetite, so when the opportunity for a return visit to the Czech Republic arose, we combined a stay in Prague with a stay of equal length in beautiful Cesky Krumlov.

The town did not disappoint, and I would urge anyone who appreciates great architecture in a spectacular setting, to take a trip to this lovely South Bohemian town.

Best Locations to Enjoy a Beer

Without a doubt, Tunbridge Wells in the UK. A read back through posts I have written over the past year, will reveal just what an excellent choice of beer and drinking establishments this nearby spa town possesses.

Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln

Overseas, Bruges, Cesky Krumlov, Prague and Salzburg, all delivered in terms of fine places to drink in, and in many cases fine beer to be enjoyed there as well. I would have added Bamberg to the list, but my fleeting visit back in June, didn’t really do justice to this lovely old city and its excellent pubs.

Best Days Out

Two superlative days out crown my year in beer, and are days I remember with much pleasure and fond memories. They represent a fitting climax to my beery adventures in 2015.

EBBC Post-Conference West Flanders Excursion

Beer bloggers outside the Hop Museum, Poperinge

There is so much to cram in here that it would be best to refer to the two blog posts I wrote about this post-conference trip. The highlights were lunching at the Belgian Hop Museum in Poperinge. Visiting a working hop farm, complete with its own brewery. Sitting out in the late August sunshine, sampling the legendary Westvleteren Beers at the In de Vrede café, right opposite the Abbey of St Sixtus, and finally the aforementioned visits to both Rodenbach and De Halve Maan.

Visiting a few of Franconia’s finest Bier Kellers

This was definitely the highlight of the year for me; being taken on a tour around the idyllic Franconian countryside, on one of the hottest days of the year, by someone with good local knowledge of the regions best Bier Kellers.

Spargel

Erlangernick was my guide, chauffeur and companion for a wonderful day out, which introduced me to some excellent local beers and some equally fine places in which to drink them. Starting at Roppelt’s Keller, we moved on to the tiny village of Aisch, where we sat out in the small shady beer garden opposite the Rittmayer Brauerei & Gasthaus. It was here that I tried Spargel (white Asparagus), for the first time.

We then visited two Kellers, both perched up on hills overlooking some really attractive rolling countryside. Herrmann Kellerbier from Ampferbach, and Müller Kellerbier from Reundorf, were the beery

delights at these two stops; the latter beer being enjoyed in the grounds of the substantial Schmausenkeller, high on a hill.

This snapshot of some of Franconia’s best beer and drinking establishments really was the highpoint of 2015’s “Year in Beer”, and my grateful thanks are due to Nick for arranging it.

So there we have it; it’s going to be difficult to top that little lot, but who knows what beery delights 2016 may have in store.

Norfolk Again

The time between Christmas and New Year (Twixmas), is always a slightly strange one. I have an enforced lay-off from work, as my company shuts down from Christmas Eve until New Year. It’s not as if they carry out any maintenance or other essential work, but close it does and staff have to keep back 3-4 days, depending on how the Bank Holidays fall, from their annual leave to cover this.

On several occasions in the past I’ve used this time off to take a short break (2-3 days) in a European destination; normally somewhere cold, and on one trip even experienced some of the heaviest snow I have seen in my entire life. More recently, I have taken the opportunity to visit my elderly parents in the wilds of Norfolk.

Mum sadly passed away, back in February, and now dad has had to move into a care home, due to the worsening of his Alzheimer’s. I don’t have to remind anyone about what a cruel and devastating disease this is, as it not only robs people of their memories, but as time goes on it increasingly destroys someone’s personality. Their interaction with other people also starts to fade, as they gradually start to retreat into their own private world.

They say that Alzheimer’s is often worse for loved ones, and for others close to the sufferer, and having seen dad I am pleased to report he is being well looked after and has settled in well at the small, specialist care home close to where he and my mother were living until quite recently. He also appeared in good spirits, quite content with his lot, calm and certainly not distressed in anyway, so this is a comfort to the family.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a blog about beer, so it is worth referring to the two pub visits I made whilst in Norfolk. The first was on the journey up, whilst the second was whilst staying overnight at the family bungalow.

I know the route up to Norfolk like the back of my hand, and this year have made the journey a record number of times; first to visit mum in hospital, then for the funeral, and then to visit dad. I take the well-worn route of M25, M11 and then A11, before skirting round Norwich via the A47 towards Dereham - the nearest town to the family home. As I wasn’t in a hurry this time, I decided to stop off on the way for a spot of lunch, and a crafty pint.

Chequers Inn - Thompson

I debated where to stop, before setting off; settling in the end for the unspoilt 16^th Century, thatched Chequers Inn at Thompson; a small and intriguingly named village in the heart of Norfolk’s Breckland area of sandy heath-lands and extensive pine forests. I had been there once before, along with my wife, young son and American brother-in-law, Ernie. This was about twenty years ago, when Ernie was still stationed at nearby Lakenheath with the United States Air force.

During the course of his 13 year stint with the air force, Ernie had developed a distinct liking for English beer, and had also sussed out many of the local pubs. He also, of course, had met and married my sister. She didn’t accompany us, on that visit, having recently given birth to my nephew Jack, but Ernie had promised us a look around the airbase, and had thrown in a visit to this rather splendid, country pub as a bonus.

As you can see from the photos, the Chequers is an attractive looking building with a steeply thatched roof which seems almost to reach to the ground. I don't remember that much about the pub from that first visit, because we sat outside. Our son was only around four years old at the time, so we were unable to take him inside. It was a nice day, so enjoying our drinks in the open air was no problem. I do recall the pub serving an excellent pint of Adnams though.

This time around, without the assistance of my brother-in-law to guide me, the pub took a bit of finding. This was despite me having an OS map in the car. It’s not very easy trying to read a map, and drive at the same time, and although I had memorised what I thought was the way, I still ended up taking a couple of wrong turns.

Perseverance pays off, and eventually I noticed a sign, right in the centre of the village, directing travellers along a narrow road to the Chequers. The sun was shining as I arrived, and after parking the car I walked across towards the entrance, pausing first to take a few photos.

A latched door led straight to a central bar, but there are rooms leading off on either side. Both were furnished for diners, but as there was sufficient space in the low-ceilinged bar, and I liked the cosy feel of the place, I decided to remain there. Greene King IPA and Woodforde’s Wherry were the cask ales on offer, and I opted for the latter. I have never been a huge fan of Wherry, but the pint I had was exceptional, and had I not been driving I would definitely have had a second.

Sensibly, I stuck to the one and ordered a ham baguette for my lunch. This too was excellent; the thick slices of tasty home-cooked ham in a large crusty white baguette being just right to set me up for the rest of the day. I liked the feel of this small middle bar as well. It was populated by country folk, and the talk was of country pursuits, such as shooting – clays as well as game. There was a well-spoken young lady, dressed partly in tweeds, enjoying a drink with both her father and grandfather. She was home from university and was talking across to the young lad behind the bar, swapping tales about their various shooting experiences. She seemed a little upset though when her grandfather told her, in a very matter of fact way, how he had despatched a fox, using both barrels of his gun. Country life obviously isn’t “jolly hockey sticks” all of the time!

One other point about the bar which I couldn’t help noticing was the rather low beam running directly in front of the bar counter. One hapless chap, presumably not a regular, managed to crack his head on it no less than three times whilst ordering his drinks!

As I said, it would have been nice to have stayed and enjoyed another pint, but I continued my journey, cutting through along the rural roads through Watton and then on to Dereham. Dad was looking OK when I arrived at the care home, and the staff told me he had settled in nicely. I stayed for a couple of hours, even though the conversation didn’t always make a lot of sense.

I then headed for the family bungalow, which felt cold and empty inside. I turned the heating up and made myself at home. With no food in the place I decided I would eat out that evening, so after sorting a few things out I set off down the road to Darby’s; the pub at the other end of the village. I have written previously about Swanton Morley's two hostelries, and whilst the Angel is the nearest one to dad’s bungalow, and the one I usually frequent, it is very much a locals’ pub. Darby’s it was then, so I set off along the more or less straight road which runs the entire length of this linear village, reaching my destination some 20 minutes later.

A welcoming log fire at Darbys

The pub was bustling, mainly with diners, but still not quite full when I arrived. I found a space at the end of a long table, having first ordered a pint of Lacon’s Legacy. I remembered this excellent hoppy, straw-coloured beer from my previous visit, and it was every bit as good this time round. Also on tap, were Adnams Bitter, Bullard’s No. 3 ABV 4.7% (brewed by Redwell- the brewery which got into a spat with Camden Town over the use of the term "Hells"), plus a couple of seasonal specials, (one from Wolfe, and the other a 4.2% beer called St Nick’s from Lacon’s).

I tried both the Bullards and the St Nick (halves only), preferring the latter due to the hint of spiced orange peel combined with the citrus notes from the hops. Food-wise I went for the battered cod with potato wedges and petis pois, which was just right. The early diners gradually drifted off, although a few latecomers did take up some of the vacant places. I was fine, sitting close to the welcoming log fire, and before going ordered another pint of the excellent Legacy. The landlady told me it was now a regular beer behind the bar, and one of the pub’s top-selling cask ales; deservedly so in my book.

I said my farewells and set off to walk back to the bungalow. It is nearly all uphill going back, but fortunately the moon had risen, meaning I had little need of a torch on the return trip.

I expect I shall be going back to Darby’s; at least until the bungalow is sold, for the hard financial truth is that care home fees are not cheap and there is no help from government for people like my father. People like him who have worked hard all their lives, paid their taxes and provided for their families by buying their own home, are then expected to hand everything over to the state; whilst the work-shy and ne’er-do-wells have everything given to them on a plate when they reach old age. Such is life in modern day Britain!

On a more cheerful note, it was a good couple of days. The Norfolk countryside was looking pretty good in the winter sunshine. The pubs, the beer and the food were all good and, most important of all, I can relax in the knowledge that dad is being cared for and is being looked after well. He is in a place of safety where I know he can live out his final days in peace and contentment.