Catching the curry fever

It was my birthday recently and it coincided with one of my regular Leicester business trips. The Khyber is my go-to Monday night standby, but there was chance to go somewhere different for a change. It was time to (re)catch the curry fever!

The manager suggested I try a "Kenya Tusker" and when I ordered veg paratha, chicken shashlik and "black" daal he quietly said "good choice", and smiled. The food (which is classic Punjabi) was outstanding. I need to catch the fever more often in future

The Beer Engine

We missed Wednesday night's club run but I managed to get over for a quick pint to the Beer Engine in Skipton. The Engine has been dubbed Skipton's first micro-pub and I was very impressed with the friendly welcome we received, the great selection of beer on offer and the quality of the beer. Highly recommended! 

Fells and Bells Blonde

Fells and Bells Blonde is labelled and ready for our big day 

Appletreewick

Last night we drove up to Appletreewick through the Bolton Abbey estate looking out for lambs and little owls. We saw a few lambs in the fields just beyond where you drop down to the Cavendish Pavilion. There'll be many more very soon

There was no little owl where we hoped to see one but I spotted one in a new area. He was amazingly well camouflaged and apparently quite happy to sit staring at us from 30 feet or so away

Appletreewick stands a little away (and above) from the dale. It is the home to a fantastic and highly popular campsite plus two of the best pubs in the county. Tonight we went to the New Inn. Drinks were taken, steaks eaten and cards played by the fire. The village is stunning with barely a brick to be seen and also the most amazingly clear skies after dark. There's very little light pollution and the night sky has to be seen to be believed; especially in winter. It really is a special place

Dry

We've not had a drink this year. Stef had a dry January last year and extended well into February if I remember correctly, but there are very few days I don't have something to drink. I joke regularly that I don't really have anything to drink much other than tea and hoppy beer, and there's a large degree of truth in that. I've often thought about stopping drinking (for several reasons) and maybe after 30 years of guzzling now is the time? ODAAT as they say

Jack Bloor fell race

It was a perfect evening last night for the Jack Bloor fell race. I'd forgotten how runnable the route is after the initial steep climb and I think I did my second best time for the event assuming Bob Wightman's provisional results were correct. Stef had a good run and enjoyed the bogs and tussocks especially! 

Results should be up later here and there are already some photos up on the Ilkley harriers web-site. The specially commissioned Jack Bloor beer courtesy of Ilkley Brewery was excellent and I seem to have ended up with three bottles after getting Stef's and Karen Ballentine's because she doesn't drink