Easter Part 1

My first Blog Post for a few weeks as since Miriam was discharged from hospital she has needed 24/7 care and my opportunities for doing anything have been nil.
It took a week to get a decent care package in place and for me to get help at home but things have settled down now and Mir continues to improve.
On Good Friday I'd forgotten to cancel the carer that usually comes in to sit with Mir when I go into work so I had an hour to pop down to the Gravel Pits. It was pretty quiet but I did manage to see my first Green Sandpiper of the year.

Friday night and due to the generosity of a friend who came and sat with Mir, I was able to visit the 2nd Tatworth Beer Festival. This takes place about 100 yards from my back door and so ranks, of course as my nearest 'fest'.
Andy J the organiser had put together a great selection of seven beers from seven counties.

 I started with Cornwall, and the Coastal Breweries - Merry Maiden Mild at 4.0%, this was the bronze winner at the Champion Beer of Britain contest in 2011 and was a delicious dark mild beer.
Next up was a beer that I'd wanted to try for a long time and had missed at festivals in the past. It was the Wiltshire entry and Stonehenge Ales, Sign of Spring at 4.6%. Its a light green beer, with supposedly the hint of Rowntrees fruit gums in the flavour, didn't get that but it was a very drinkable ale and the first to run out over the weekend.
Number three was the Bristol Beer Factory No.7 , a great beer with toffee/caramel overtones.
It was around now that the quiz started and our table did quite well and ran out the eventual winners.
Back to the beers and number four was from Devon and Hunters Half Bore at 4.0% , I'd tried Full Bore at 8.0% before but this was a good 'hoppy' ale with nice malty flavours.
Fifth beer was from Hampshire and the Longdog Brewery with Brindle Bitter at 4.0%. Its a proper best bitter with malty chocolaty sweetness.
Last of the night was an old favourite from Somerset and the Stocklinch Breweries Black Smock at 5.0%. Stocklinch is our nearest brewery and this is a lovely dark stout with hints of chocolate, licorice, coffee and blackcurrant. A great beer.
A fantastic night and I had tried six of the seven on offer and won the quiz. Many congratulations must go to Andy Jones who put together a cracking selection of beers.