Day 23 – a proper job

The more astute among you will recognise the title as a lovely IPA made made by the St. Austell Brewery in Cornwall. It is my way of introducing the main topic of today’s post – the links between alcohol and work. Work culture has changed significantly in recent years so it is no longer the norm for workers to have a few drinks at lunchtime before heading back to the job. This of course has major benefits in terms of increased productivity, a healthier workforce and big reductions in accidents at work. Alcohol and machinery do not mix. Alchololol ant keyborts dont mix ether.

Continue reading →

Day 22 – there’s something a brewing

I wrote yesterday about some of my favourite pubs in London and said that I would write today about some of the actual beers I have enjoyed in those pubs. However, having done some extensive research today into the history of London beers, I found it all a bit complicated and overwhelming. The city has been a hub for beer brewing for over 350 years and many companies have come and gone during this time. Giants such as Fuller’s, Truman’s, Courage, and Charrington’s have merged with other breweries and/or have been taken over by much larger corporations. The old Truman brewery in Brick Lane is now a business and leisure complex. Young’s brewery was founded in 1831 in Wandsworth but its beer is now brewed in Bedford in partnership with Charles Wells’.

Continue reading →

Day 21 – maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner

I call myself a Londoner these days even though I was born in Croydon. In those ancient times Croydon was part of Surrey, but it was moved to London in 1965 when local government boundaries were changed. It was already in my blood because my paternal grandfather was a true Cockney. I remember how we had to learn to speak differently and develop a taste for cockles, whelks and jellied eels. I never did. But on the brighter side, we could drink all those lovely London beers! Er, when I became old enough, of course. And now, when I feel rich enough – the average price of a pint of beer in London is currently £5.67.

Continue reading →

Day 20 – empty glasses

I have returned to my photograph of empty glasses for the featured image today. My thinking was that they symbolised both my state of mind and my physical energy levels. I had no idea what topic I would choose for today’s post. The posts over the past few days have entailed a lot of research on my part and they were pretty heavy in places. My physical energy levels are quite low today as well. I thought that cutting out alcohol would lead to an increase in zest, but maybe this has been compromised by a bug or just the passing of the years. Sadly, I will not be able to follow Brigitte Bardot’s example – “Champagne is the one thing that gives me zest when I’m tired”. Maybe a twist of lemon is what I need.

Continue reading →

Day 19 – a question of balance

Yesterday was all about fun and games and a bit of thrill seeking. We spoke of clowns. There is a darker side to clowns and many people have a morbid fear of them. Think of Pennywise in the film “It”. Today I want to consider the other side of the coin – the negative aspects of drinking. After looking at the reward side of learning theory yesterday, what you might call the carrot side, today I want to look at the punishment side, or the stick side. I like a bit of learning theory, me.

Continue reading →

Day 18 – welcome to the pleasure zone

There seems to be a theme developing here – yesterday’s featured image was of a clown on the beach at Calais with a plastic bottle of wine! This clown has travelled, even as far as Blackpool. Twice. The first time was to attend a conference and the second time to experience the famous illuminations with my daughters. Ten kilometres of illuminated kitsch and more than a million bulbs – and we ain’t talking daffodils here. But it is all great fun, and Blackpool has for many years attracted thrill seekers and hedonists. Which leads me to today’s topic – pleasure.

Continue reading →