Bible Stories

On the bus.

Did I mention L is reading the Bible? She's already up to page 4.

She's précising it for me. The story so far... creation of the world, Adam and Eve, a naughty snake, Adam and Eve have sex and have Cain (or was it Abel?), the favouring of one son (can't remember which one) = jealousy (and crap parenting) and hence murder (but jails haven’t been invented yet). There's a man with two wives and Adam and Eve have Seth to replace the dead Cain/Abel. Apparently it's Noah's Ark tonight. 

I pop to Derby Beer Festival at lunchtime, which is also the National Winter Ales Festival for the third and last time before it moves to Norwich next year. After a half of Dunham Massey Porter 5.2% and half of trusty Owd Rodger I’m fortified now for the afternoon and this evening’s rain soaked run.

Actually during my 14.2k run it doesn’t rain on me once which is a bit of a result.

Another Friday (sponsored by the Daily Mail) and Chinese Takeaway tonight.

(Friday 19^th February)

Moving On Up

L has the day off today to receive our various furniture deliveries and for the plumber to come fix our kitchen sink.

Naturally I’m sceptical that everyone will turn up and that they’ll deliver the right things if they do. I warn L that if a sofa turns up it’s not ours. It is Friday the 13^th after all.

I get the bus to work. As I get off the Red Arrow at Derby Bus Station, it pulls away and I watch it back into the Spondon Flyer. There are so many accidents in that bus station.

L reports that not only has the plumber turned up but that she’s agreed a price with him and he’s down on his knees as we speak. While she’s got him on his knees in the kitchen, she has another man upstairs plumping up the bed. Still no sofa though.

With the deliveries complete, L heads to her Mum’s and then meets me later at the Beer Festival.

Derby is hosting the National Winter Ales Festival at the Roundhouse. I’ve never been before, despite the fact it was also in Derby last year and a few years before that it had a stint in Burton.

L’s not a big fan of beer festivals and even I’m beginning to grow weary of them. I actually feel they are a bit redundant now because we have got such a good range of pubs locally with so many varied beers. In fact there’s not a lot on their beer list that I can’t get elsewhere.

So I’ve basically singled out Lees Moonraker, as you don’t see it very often. So I may just drink that all night or I would have done if it hadn’t already sold out.

R (halves)

1. Fullers London Porter 5.4%

2. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

3. Grainstore Rutland Beast 5.3%

4. Beast of Zeals 6.6%

5. Castle Rock Midnight Owl 5.5%

6. Bath Festivity 5.0%

7. Raw Anubis 5.2%

8. Raw Anubis 5.2%

L (thirds)

1. Dark Star Original 5.0%

2. Bath Festivity 5.0%

3. Bath Festivity 5.0%

4. Wentwell Amjeel IPA 5.8%

5. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

6. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

7. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

We get home and move upstairs. Although we’re not sure how Doggo will take to it.

He doesn’t.

(Friday 13^th February)

National Winter Ales Festival

On Wollaton Park today is the National Cross Country Championships, so the dogs and I disrupt that for a while. It’s massive and has taken over most of the park. We linger and watch three races.

Then in the afternoon there’s a match. Derby win with a late free kick against Bournemouth to continue their good run.

I drop into the National Winter Ales Festival on the way which is being held at Derby’s Roundhouse for the first time. 

I only popped in for the commemorative glass but at first they try and deny me that, saying they’re saving some for the evening session. I plead that this the only reason I came early and eventually I get one. 

We had thought of coming tonight but I doubt they’ll be much beer left by then and the already well depleted stocks seem to confirm that. I did manage to get a few nice dark ones whilst I was there.

Instead we spend the evening at the Horse and Jockey at Stapleford.

(Saturday 22^nd February)