TT 3-4 July (and early 5th July)

Synchronicity is a funny thing. Call it a Fellini moment if you're so piscine inclined, but sitting in Auckland airport opening up Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" and reading the forward dated 3 July 2005 suggested, to me at least, that this was a good reading choice.

So thank to the lovely Patricia for the loan of this. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
This section of the missive comes to you from Hong Kong. That came as a surprise to me, for some reason I thought the flight went through Singapore. Oh well. 

I'm currently stuck in traveller's purgatory, transit. Further investigation revealed, although signs were notably absent, one had to pass through Departures in order to get to the duty free shopping. So I did. Only had 40 minutes to fill in, it was a very brief stopover after-all, so didn't really do any shopping, just sat around and read my book.

Flight from HK to London was fine, for some reason even tho' the flight time is less than to Auck to HK it always seems longer. I guess that's because I sleep form Auckland. Food was good and I managed to get a bit pissed over lunch while heading in to London. Either the steward was really nice guy, or he was hitting on me. I expressed interest in the pinot noirs (good NZ selection) so after the third one, he wandered off to Business class and found the ones they had there and brought them to me. Woohoo.

Landed in the UK and fought my way through UK customs which has become more of a nightmare than ever. On the plus side I was one of the first off the plane so only had a 40 minutes wait. Then tube to Kings Cross to find Andrew, who didn't recognise me with the hair. Result!
Dropped stuff off at his place, had a shower (oh god, better than sex, well some sex, oh ok, it was a nice shower), and headed to the pub. Oh go on, pretend to be surprised!! Drank a bit, met up with Alex - who also looked shocked. Heh. Good plan that one.

Went home, watched some Braniac while we ate dinner then I fell asleep just after 9pm. Rock n roll bruvva.
Writing this from the train to Edinburgh on the way to Glasgow, there are bugger all directs to Glasgow on Saturday and this one was quicker than those anyway. Yeah go figure. But again with the 1st class, they bring me coffee (which is, to be very charitable, adequate), free wifi on the train which is awesome, but the power socket doesn't work so I only have about 40mins of battery time left. Dammit. And I can't charge my phone, which is also dying. Oh well I've texted Neil that so hopefully he'll still turn up to find me...
We just went past a bunch of anglers sitting on a river, masses of them, all looking intently at the river. Quaint. Oh yay, trainspotters, quite a sizeable bunch of them in Doncaster. Right, mental note to avoid this place :)

Right well I'm going to blog this one, and will catch up with you lot in a day or two.

me x

It's been relaxing

I've been off the last couple of days after a hellish couple of weeks. And it's been relaxing.
I've watched a lot of:
* Peep Show (up to Series 3)
* NCIS
* War (enjoyed this movie, pretty cynical, I liked that)
I've cleaned the house, I've organised booking references, checked out various distilleries for visiting with N and HD, done a lot of washing. I organised my clothes and stuff to pack, that took 10-15 minutes. Goddamn I'm great!!! Admittedly still need to finish putting them in the bag, but meh, it's all done.

So basically all I have to do now is to much around, relax, listen to music, nibble on dinner, and head off.
It'll be good to drink some ale off tap, catch some bands, chill out, see the Lovely A-team (and end up buying them beer and delivering their NZ purchasing requests), and most importantly find cheese. Glorious cheese.

me x

The Scotch report: Edradour

This months tasting at Regional Wines was Edradour, probably my favourite distillery. There's an earlier blog (Nov/Dec last year) with pictures of the place.

Expectations were high for this tasting, the 24yo I have is divine, and the 13yo I tried last year at a tasting was exceptional. So here's the list of what we had, my notes, scoring and comments.

10yo 40% natural colour: this is their bottom of the range which I hadn't tried. Light nose, butterscotch, sweet, white wine notes. Taste: sweet, liquourice, smooth, clean, very short finish. 5/10

Ballechin 46% Series 1 2002-2006 50ppm phenol Fresh red Burgundy casks, no chill/colour: Nose: smokey, bacon, rubber, phenol, big!! Taste: salty/phenol Finish: peaty, very long 7/10

Straight from the Cask 11yo 58.6% Hogshead 21/1/96-4/5/06 Cotes De Provence 4/5/06-30/4/07: Nose: red wine, big, high alc., older more complex Palate: cask str., gorgeous, sweet, caramel, sherry Finish: sherry, long 9/10

Straight from the Cask 10yo 58.8% Sherry butt #84 25/2/97 - 15/1/08: Nose: red wine, caramel cream Palate: interesting, sweet, inc alc, spicey, Finish: big long smooth 8.5/10

Edradour Cream Liqueur: I'd had this at the distillery with Neil, as we figured we'd be hitting the tasting room for the 'good stuff' later, so why not try something different. And it's very good. I prefer it to Bailey's, it's got more going on. Bit hard to rate in comparison with whisky, but on it's own 7/10? It is very very drinkable.

Ballechin 46% Series 2 2002-2007 50ppm phenol Fresh Madeira Puncheons no chill/colour: Nose: rubber, peat, bacon, smokey, cask str. Palate: phenol, very light taste Finish: nothing 5/10

1994 7/6/94-17/12/07 cask 272 56.3% decanter 510/774: Nose: caramel, dark, sherry, dusty, age Palate: caramel, red wine, gorgeous, buttery, very complex, muscatels,   incr alc. Finish: long so very long 9.5/10

Definitely worth the cheap entry price ($50) mainly as they didn't have any of the 24yo's which are the expensive buggers. I was very disappointed with the Ballechin's which have been hyped a bit. Nick and I chatted about it and we both felt they lacked age, the phenol was too dominant and overpowering any complexity that may be hidden in there. Given they are only 4 and 5 years old it might be worth waiting til they release a 8-10yo? the SFTC range is, as usual, wonderful - and a bit cheaper as they come in 500ml bottles, in an attractive wooden box. I've had a couple of them before (Neil? what ones were they?) and was more than happy :) 

Their 10yo, as you'd expect from the bottom of the range, was an adequate scotch to give people who don't know better. 

It was the 13yo that hooked me last year, and the 13yo this year (the 1994) was something else. Its like drinking syrup, and yet still cask strength. Ooohhh baby. All the complexity and interest of the 24yo, but with more ooompphh. Oh and half the price. Bottles at the tasting were being flicked off at NZ $135.  

I'm interested in spinning the 24yo and the 1994 to compare the taste, I suspect the 24yo will provide more subtlety but that it will be very very close as to which is my favourite...

Actually I think Nick is wandering in tomorrow avo, something like that may happen, watch this space boozehags...

Slainte, b

Orson would be proud

The bears are coming.
And they have camo.

Apparently polar bears (I keep writing beer, i want a beer, not a bear) have been spotted in Iceland. Some considerable distance from their natural territory. Actually bears is exaggerating, a polar bear has been spotted in Iceland. I think it's time for a rename, the bear formally known as polar, or TBFKP.

B x

Lets have a positive blog - food and beer

I was going to rant about what a pain in the ass I am currently. But those of you who know me will already know that, so let's go for a positive spin. I apologise for the copious amount of offence I'm currently causing.

I decided not to do any work this evening after realising during a phone call from S that I'm in no frame of mind for anything.

So dinner tonight consisted of paua, green tea soba noodles, kiwifruit and dressing which I stole from the Sunday Star Times. The recipe went something like: cut crap off paua, rub off most of the black and chop very finely, cook noodles, drain, rinse in cold water, flick sesame oil through noodles. Peel and thinly slice kiwifruit and dump on top of noodles. Mix lemon juice and soy sauce. Fry paua in soya oil (hot) until slightly brown. Dump on top of noodle + kiwifruit mix, dribble sauce over. Eat.

I washed it down with a very very good Indian Pale Ale from Three Boys. Very refreshing, strong citrus notes from the hops, lovely after taste tang. I could drink this stuff a lot. Very refreshing summer drink, even if it frickin freezing out there.

In a tip o the that to the prog-brigade, I'm watching the DVD to Trick of the Tail.

Hahaha a friend just pointed out if I'm having beer then it won't be soba noodles. Thats awesome!

me.

Gigs

Well top marks to the Salmond lad for his sense of timing - oh and to Alex as well :)
Whilst over in the UK for their forthcoming nuptials I shall get to see:
* Spocks Beard - supported by Frost*
big ups to the Psychochicken for organising that and I get to have a couple of beers with the chicken and HippyDave, who I haven't seen for a long time.
* The Pineapple Thief
ups to HairyPatrick for organising that one. One of my favourite bands, and new album, Tightly Unwound, could quite easily be my album of the year. For anyone who hasn't heard them which is most of you, think Coldplay but with originality.
* Tom Waits
Thanks to the Salmond lad himself for this one I cannot overestimate how pants burstingly exciting this is. Waits has been on my 'must-see' list for years, but I'd pretty much given up seeing him - as he hardly ever tours, and never to my neck of the woods. So I get to drink beer in Dublin and then meander to a gig by Tom. Woohoo.

there's a chance I'll get to see Marillion as well, but I'm less worried about that, as Ive seen them a few times now.

Otherwise I'll sink some beer and see what else I can find to listen to. I'm hoping a trip can be organised to the whisky society (go on N ...!!!).

Having the day off with the flu so I've been listening to music all day, currently have Frans' Rogues Gallery on (thank god for the internet). Thinking about dinner now, although might just quit on cooking and have some fruit salad. Tasty!!!

I probably shouldn't have some whisky, but the temptation is certainly there. For health reasons of course...

me

Speaking of Keith

here's a video of Thru and thru from VoodooLounge.

Scorsese and the Stones

I think the biggest question concerning the new Scorsese movie about a Stones concert (Shine a light) was why it took so long to make it. As every other reviewer of the movie has noted, the Stones have been a staple musical choice for Scorsese movies for years.

A packed Embassy theatre was an ideal venue to watch it, and they'd turned the volume up so it felt like a rock gig. Great stuff. The gig itself was in the rather nice Beacon Theatre in New York. Scorsese wisely choose to not interrupt the gig too much using the occasional old (rare or amusing) interview footage between songs. Beginning with a long discussion about what the set list would be with little Marty getting upset cos he couldn't plan shots as the Stones (well Jagger) wouldn't tell him what they were playing. Nice touch that. I'm sure you can find the set list out there in web land, so I won't bother about it. But it was good, nice collection of the tracks they *have* to play and some rare stuff. The guest spots were excellent, Jack White (white stripes) was a perfect choice and Buddy Guy was fantastic - allowing Jagger the opportunity to play his harmonica - which he should do more of... If there was one aspect of the music that really came through it would be the blues side of the Stones is very much underrated. Given the level of Blues fanaticism within the band, it's not surprising, but most people call them a rock band whereas Blues might be more appropriate. Even Christina Aguilera was good. Not stunning, but good.

Scorsese does do music gigs rather well doesn't he?! He'd obviously decided the band were the focus of the show and therefore the audience were hardly shown at all - which given the number of celebs presumably there, was a nice touch. Although in true rock n roll style, the entire front row consisted of hot babes which came across as a bit cliched, but still funny. The cameras were well placed, with many of them at crowd height so peoples heads would occasionally float across the lower portion of the screen. All adding to the feeling of a real gig.

Music: it's the Stones. It's good, dirty blues rock. I've always been a fan of Keith's singing so thoroughly enjoyed the two tracks he sang on. And it's worth going for his intro... The band appeared to be having a lot of fun, which came through in the playing too.

All in all, great movie, I loved it and the brunette I went with, who later admitted she's not a big Stones fan but went cos Scorsese was involved, came out of it more a fan of the Stones than she went in as.
Recommendation: see it 9/10 (although I have no idea wot a perfect 10 for a music movie would be...maybe The devil and Daniel Johnston or Scott Walker: 30th Century Man).

Ironman, 21 and other movies

Ironman: definitely a cut above what I thought it would be. Robert Downey Jr is excellent as Ironman, and given how much the film revolves around him - he had to come through. Character driven movie, with even some emo issues explored without being sappy. I came away impressed, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed it - 7/10

21: based on the book of the MIT students who were counting cards - the book is better. The movie limps along, it's not bad, but it's lacking a focus. Aspects of the book were left out, which meant the psychological drive for the characters was never really explained. It's not a bad movie, just not a good one. Kevin Spacey is good, but again his drive is not really explained. the book, from memory, wasn't that well written, but it was better. Rating: 5/10 - wait for video.

In the name of the King: Dungeon Siege 2 directed by Uwe Boll, well known for his 'quality' straight to video releases. Now this one has a particularly steller cast, god knows why tho', the script, story, acting, directing etc are hammy beyond belief. We loved it. Nothing made sense, people with their eyes open and in the process of sitting up were asked 'Are you awake?' Ray Liotta is the bad guy, and awww he's adorable! Smiling all the time, making hammer horrors look well acted - he almost stole the show from King Burt Reynolds - who we suspected was drunk for most of the movie. John Rhys-Davies - of dwarf tossing LOTR fame - was a magi, it was a tribute to his Shakespearean acting skills that he managed to deliver *any* of his lines without losing it - respect! Jason Strathem 'Farmer' is the hero, and for a turnip farmer (yeah you couldn't make this stuff up!) he weilds a mean sword. Go Jas!!! All the chicks were hot, so there were some positives ....

The movie is painfully long (2 hours) but excellent entertainment value, presuming you like hammy crap 7/10

Shaolin Dolemite Rudy Ray Moore (Dolemite) over dubbed some kung-fu movie and inserted himself into it. The big question, why? The fight scenes were slow, repetitive, unconvincing and badly overdubbed. great! Rudy popping in occasionally to make racist comments was priceless, as was the dub where the Wu Tang and Dolemite monks were going for each other, oh and there was a character called Tupac. Too much!! Certainly not a great Dolemite, but enjoyable. Sadly too long (again!), but worth spinning if you like RRMoore. Although he's not in it much. 6/10

me x

Weekend Beer Review

Been a reasonably sober weekend, in contrast to the week. But a couple of British ales. First up: Badger Tangle Foot quite a nice wee ale this one. not too heavy, nice tang (kinda citrus flavour) light colour, reasonably well hopped and very drinkable. Would be very keen to try this off tap - so might have to keep an eye outl

Next was bought on name alone - Cornish Knocker, another champion ale. I liked it, very malty nose, quite a zesty flavour - possibly not as drinkable as Tanglefoot, but it was nice. I'd be keen to drink more.

B.