I grew up with two elder brothers and so my childhood TV viewing consisted of Bottom, Red Dwarf, and, of course Blackadder. The third series, set in the Regency period, with Hugh Laurie as the magnificent, bonkers Prince George, is the best. And the episode “Nob and Nobility”, about the French Revolution is pure gold: ‘Ah, le Adder Noir, come … Read More The French Connection
Well, I’m a month in as a full time, freelance cider talking person. And I’ve still got a bit of money in the bank so I’m gurning like an idiot! I am, however, entirely aware that this is the honeymoon period and that I might well not be as spritely in 3 months’ time. But, it’s already apparent that the … Read More Dribble Tests and BBC Requests: The Life of a Ciderologist
Well, what an anti-climax. Apparently I, and my apple-based vocation, are of zero interest to the authorities and before I know it, I’m in Chicago. It’s my first time in this fabled city and I’m keen to see if it lives up to its Windy City billing having had resided in Windy Welly for a while – technically the windiest city in the … Read More Global Cider Tour Part 3: USA (United States of Apple-fermented-beverages)
This time of year in The Shire is proper lush (quite literally, in fact, with the warm, wet days we’ve had). I departed the UK on the 29th March, leaving behind bare hedgerows, a nip in the air and the last of the Dymock Daffodils festooning the woodlands and hedgerows like a vivid, 1970s shag pile carpet. Upon my return, some four … Read More Global Cider Tour Part 1: Debbie & Drew
I went to Switzerland last week to see a friend from New Zealand. One day, after cosuming a beautiful carafe of Chasselas (Switzerland makes wine – who knew?!) and eating a meat-heavy lunch in the hills above Lake Geneva, I decided to take a constitutional to kick start the digestive tract. On my wander, I spotted something familiar but entirely unexpected: … Read More In Praise of Perry Pears