Today's run was a rather pathetic attempt. But I do plan to do go for a long one tomorrow.
Really can't be bothered to say anything else.
Today's mileage = 2.25
Total Juneathon mileage = 95.29
Tag: rubbish
Posted with BlogsyMy Mum had a clear out (Part 3)
Yes, you're right! I have managed to drag out yet another blog post all about some 'stuff' my Mum had given me. We began with some Charlton related bits and pieces, then moved on to some primary school reports, and yes, you've guessed it, we now have my secondary school reports.
My secondary school education was in the early 80s, lots of things have changed. Not least fashion. No longer are you forced to wear leg warmers and walk about in big trousers saying 'you can't touch this!' – or was that just my old school? I think the first thing to say is that there are no predicted grades, just an effort grade, an attainment grade and a postion in class…
Year 7….Form 1N….1982….
My form tutor was Mrs Warren, I vaguely remember her. She was a 'home economics' teacher and always wore a white tabard. I seemed to work pretty well, “…worked hard….worked well….satisfactory….works with interest..” Although I had a few issues when it came to exams, “…examination was disappointing…result lower than expected…does not do himself justice in examinations…”
Year 8….Form 2R…1983…
My form tutor this year was Mr Richards, Art teacher. After a disappointing first year in secondary school I think I began to get the hang of it, although still a bit up and down: “…shown improvement…improved this year…begun to do some work…relaxed his efforts of late…” Mr Richard's comment sort of summed the year up….
Year 9…Form 3R…1984…
A few selected comments…
- English – “could work harder…needs to set himself a higher standard”
- Biology – “does not take his work seriously”
- French – “satisfactory but unremarkable”
- Physics – “casual approach to learning”
I'm hoping having picked options at the end of this year my reports will improve.
Year 10…Form 4P…1985…
I think the teachers have been a bit harsh….
“Philip needs to make greater effort”
“He would do better if he put more effort in”
“Philip has a lot of hard work to do to improve his standard from this unacceptably low level”
“Room for improvement”
This end of year report had As and Bs for effort and As and Bs for attainment. So slightly disappointed to have so many negative comments. Final year coming up, it's not too late to turn it around!
Year 11…Form 5P…1986…
I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that things didn't get any better. My Chemistry teacher summed it all up pretty well:
“Philip's apathetic attitude has produced predictable results”
I left school with 9 O Levels: 4 As and 5 Bs. But it probably could have been so much better….
Landlord #decembeer
Tonight's entry, #12, into the #decembeer hall of fame is Landlord….
I've had various comments from people that seem to suggest that I haven't really liked any of the beers so far this month, and that in fact I don't actually like beer. If you are one of those people you may want to look away now….
Landlord by Timothy Taylor's Brewery is a 'strong pale ale', the first pale ale of #decembeer, and although perfectly drinkable, it is not one I'd bother trying again. It had a very citrusy, refreshing, very hoppy aroma. Which was ok – nothing amazing – but ok. And even the initial taste was ok – nothing amazing – but ok. It was the twangy aftertaste that put me off a bit. It sort of hung around at the back of the throat – to quote Billy Bragg – like a fart in a Russian space station.
I think I need to return to Tesco's 'dark and full-bodied' beer shelf in an attempt to bring back a bit of positivity to the blog. Something like the 'Old Perculier' tastetastic variety.
Ten down…. #decembeer
The whole #decembeer shananigans has turned me into a creature of habit. After school I head to Tesco to pick up a bottle of beer and also treat myself to a Snickers bar (I'm a sucker for a bar of Snickers). So you can imagine the shock when Tesco, in the space of the last couple of days, changed the way they market their beer. No longer do you have to peruse the shelves, examining bottles, in an attempt to find what sort of beer you are after. They now have handily labeled shelves that help guide the weary #decembeer participant:
- Light & Refreshing – from subtle fruit to lightly hopped, golden or pale, these ales are more delicate in flavour.
- Full Flavoured & Characterful – typically amber in colour.
- Darker & Full Bodied – defined by a more intense flavour.
So I picked a beer, can't actually remember what shelf I got it from, brewed by Skinner's Brewery in Cornwall…..may I present 'Betty Stogs'….
This beer is apparently named after the “wonderfully wicked West Cornwall folklore character” and is described as having a “light hop aroma with underlying malt”. It is quite a light refreshing beer, has a subtle smell of malt, and is an easy beer to drink. But, I think, lacks the flavour of some of the others I've tried. This beer will be easily forgotten.
Bring on #11
Spitfire #decembeer
The monthly challenge enters its second week, and after yesterday's pretty disastrous #decembeer effort, it's nice to return to a well-known, and apparently well-loved beer. Shepherd Neame's most popular and biggest-selling ale…..Spitfire….
As is normal with this month's challenge, a quick visit to the website for some background information. And the winner of the 'most nonsense about a beer's taste' goes to Spitfire:
“wonderfully generous aromas of tangy malt, soft raisins and sweet oranges,
freshened by the floral, grassy notes of three different hop varieties”
Soft raisins (yes 'soft' raisins), sweet oranges, floral grass? And all this just the aroma! Once they start describing the taste you could be mistaken it's a rollercoaster:
“the finely balanced flavour opens with a blast of rounded malt before the rousing,
almost spicy hops follow through to provide a complex, multi-layered finish”
After reading such descriptions you can imagine I was expecting something very special. Was I impressed? Well actually it was quite nice – very refreshing – more hoppy than some I think.
As you can see, 8 days down and I'm beginning to sound like an expert. But in all seriousness I think I may be able to tell the different between a hoppy beer and a malty beer. As for all these amazing different fruits I should be able to taste – not a chance!!!!
Dedication…. #decembeer
Day 7 of #decembeer
Tonight we have a rather disgusting offering from Ridgeway Brewery, ‘Bad King John’…..
I went for this beer for one reason only, I am feeling slightly poorly and was hoping a ‘knock your head off’ 6% strength beer would help shift it. This beer, on first taste, actually doesn’t taste that bad, that is until the aftertaste develops. This is not a good beer and it hasn’t made me feel any better….
So after week one of #decembeer I have the following to report:
- ‘Bad King John’ is bottom of the list.
- ‘Old Peculier’ is at the top.
- Considering it has been a very busy week at school I’m pleased to have completed week one.
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