Homebrew v 2.0 - introducing Old Gutbreaker

Cristal it aint..

The fermentation tub used to be for clean sock storage. I hope I sterilised it enough.

UPDATE - first pint was a decent tipple. The colour of run off from a Ukrainian nuclear power plan but with a warm malty flavour...

Haven't gone blind as yet!

A.

Quids in with the Grand National

Normally MB involves an incremental, drip feed of money into your pocket. It's rare that a pile of cash lands in your account in one go, normally it's enough to buy you a pint at a pub instead.

Today was different. I don't normally touch the horses as there's something called Rule 4 which seasoned bettors talk about. Scares the bejesus out of me, so it does. Still, with the Grand National today I thought Id try my hand at B3t 365's offer 'should net me a good £40 quid' I reckoned. I cocked it up (won't bother with the tedious story) so it didn't. It was only as I was taking Diz to the beach this afternoon I realised that Shergar had finished fifth so I won both the bets I made which usually cancel each other out! Result was me being £234 better off - approaching my usual MB take over a whole month!

E and I shared a veritable feast from the Indian tonight but the rest of the spoils will go on paying the bills this month. Its rare that good fortune can be so lucrative, but you gotta celebrate it when it is!

A.

MB - March 2015 £256.28

3 months in already! Would've hit my target but for a lazy bet on Real Madrid which lost (at 1.08!). March is Cheltenham month so the bookies threw some tasty offers. Refunds if the favourite won, regular enhancements - I need to get my head round horse racing to unlock bigger profits if I can.

A.

The Devil's Chimneystack

Cool, ominous and tumbledown, it still retains a desolate charm. Closed to the public now sadly, it will probably become overgrown and lost within a few years. 

MB - Feb 2015 £178.08

Below target for the month. Not much time to devote to MB as other commitments. Juicy refunds from Paddy's and 3 6 5. A mug punt on Real Madrid at 1.2 cost me a few quid though!

Her Ladyship at 3...

The kiddies on the Wishing Stone 14.3.15

Dizzy has turned 3. She has inherited her mothers' warmth and engaging nature, but also the iron will and stubbornness on my family's side too. It's a heady mix..

One day she can charm the birds of the trees. The next she can knock those same birds out cold with an indignant shriek when things aren't going her way! Case in point? Trying to extricate her from the soft play today when it was time to go:

I tried to put her boots on. She screamed and wrenched them off.
I tried to put them on again. Same response.
'Fine' I said 'No boots then, Dizzy'. 'I WANT MY BOOOOOTS!!!' was her banshee-like wail.
'You want to wear you coat, Diz?' I asked, carefully trying to guide her arm into a sleeve.
She wrenched it off her arm and hurled it to the ground with a gesture of disgust.

I followed this with a mixture of shock and amusement. Watching my little pocket rocket throw a paddy is still kinda cute. When will it make me want to throttle her? At 5? At 7?

Xander turns 10 end of this month. Being the unique little man he is, we approach him with a similar mix of love and patience. For Comic Relief he coloured in his nose red with a pen.... it looked like he had a new one grafted onto his face which was in the process of being rejected! He doesn't deal well with tiredness either, as I was reminded of today. Whereas most children will get morose and unresponsive, X barks at passing animals and drapes himself over street furniture. Such things simply remind me how unique my boy is. Infuriating but very unique and wonderful.

A.

Dinner on the bed. 12/3/15