Birthday Party

So, I'm writing this blog on the eve of my 40th birthday - just two and half hours to go before I leave my 30s and move on to the next decade.....

Number 31 on my #40before40 challenge list was to have a great big party to celebrate being 40.

The original plan was to have the party on Saturday 24th January, and make it a joint party with my brother-in-law, Dan, who turns 30 on that day.

We had to move it forward a week to 17th January as Dan is off snowboarding, but we decided a combined 70th party was the way forward.

I'd wanted to do a mini beer festival, so thanks to Mrs P's family's involvement with Truro Rugby Club, we managed to find a venue that would allow us to take our own beer in.

Once we'd got a theme in place, I set about ordering the beer and getting everything ready.

Invites were sent out, and as most of our friends have got children, we decided to open it up to save people the hassle of finding a babysitter.

As Dan works in Exeter a lot, I took responsibility for choosing the beer. A tough job.....

With numbers filling up I thought that four 18 pint polypins of ale would be the way forward.

I decided to contact Rebel Brewery, Skinner  Brewery and Firebrand and ordered 18 pints of Cornish Sunset (Rebel), 18 pints of Ginger Tosser (Skinners), 18 pints of Graffiti IPA (Firebrand) and 18 pints of Cross Pacific (Firebrand).

Once I'd arranged the venue, set up a Facebook event, ordered the pasties and beer, I handed over to Mrs P and the family to do the rest.

Mrs P made some amazing cakes for Dan and myself; the family provided the decorations and some embarrassing photos; and our friends and family turned up, celebrated with us, and drank 72 pints of beer in three and half hours and ate 68 pasties (we'd ordered 80, so my mother-in-law, Cathie, dropped the remaining 12 off to St Petroc's - the homeless charity).

As Dan and I had bought the beer ourselves, we decided to sell it for £2 a pint, with £1 going to the rugby club and £1 going to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust. 

My selling point was to encourage people to buy more beer as they were helping to support the Air Ambulance and save lives.....

Anyway, here's a selection of images from the build up and the night itself.

Cheers!

Creaking Backs Beer Festival artwork designed by MPAD's Matt Hollands

Collecting 18 pints of Ginger Tosser from Skinners Brewery

Collecting 18 pints of Cornish Sunset from Rebel Brewery

Setting up the real ale

Amazing birthday cakes made by Mrs P

(L-R) Me, John (Mrs P's step-Dad), Frankie (Truro Rugby Club) and Dan

Me and Mrs P drinking Cornish Sunset

Happy 70th

A fine selection of Cornish cheese

Olivia (left) with her friend Alice propping up the bar - a sign of things to come

Bryher with her big cousin, Tegen

What's a Cornish party without pasties

72 pints gone by 10.30pm

Stoptember

I am currently tucking into my first beers (first alcoholic beverages in fact) for over a month.

Man drink beer

I had my last drink on Sunday 31st August.

We were up in Yorkshire for Mrs P's auntie's wedding. which was on Saturday 30th.

I'd enjoy several pints during the celebrations, but somehow on the morning after, I had managed to put my back out when I placed one of youngest daughter's nappies in the bin(!).

So, while everyone was enjoying the post-nuptial celebrations, I sipped on two glasses of red wine in between back spasms and paracetamol.

I didn't have any plans to take part in Stoptober, as its the same month as the Falmouth Beer Festival; Bryher's birthday is in November, so there will be celebrations; Christmas in December; and my 40th in January.

I'm not really sure why I put being dry for a month on the #40before40 list, so it seemed to be a case that September was now or never.

I enjoy beer and wine and I've even brewed my own beer (Beardstroker) as part of this challenge.

Beardstroker

I drink a lot less than I used to in my 20s, especially since having children, and I like to think I am fairly responsible.....

Perhaps it was the test to see if I could do it.

I was slightly aided by my bad back.

As soon as we got back from Yorkshire on Monday 1st September I booked into see the doctor.

He prescribed me with some pretty hardcore painkillers (Codydramol) - well, they were pretty hardcore for me as I rarely take medicine.

The PIL (patient information leaflet) advised me not to drink alcohol with the medicine, so I didn't.

After four days, despite the drugs feeling great when they were working, I was still getting painful spasms in my back. Being woken up at 5.30am by three spasms is not a good experience people.

So, I went back to the doctors and got some more pills. I was also recommended to take ibuprofen.
I'd always avoided them as technically I have asthma.

But due to doing loads of running and exercise I've not had to take an inhaler for several years, so the doctor said to give them a try.

The drug taking carried on for another week.


The drugs do work

By the time I was finished the course of drugs, it was halfway through the month, so I thought I might as well carry on being dry.

Due to our hectic work and family life, the last two weeks of September flew by and I didn't miss having a drink.

One possible issue was that we were due to go to a fancy dress party in Penzance last weekend, but Liv was poorly, so we gave it a miss. I'd also decided to drive to help me in this quest.

However, I'm not sure if not drinking has made a massive difference.

There are days when I have felt really good for going a few weeks without imbibing in booze, but there are days when I feel absolutely shattered. This is mainly due to parenthood and having two little girls who like to wake up before 6am, as well as having to work late to catch up on my to do list.

What I have noticed is that, as the time went on, the smell of alcohol seemed to get stronger.

If Mrs P had a glass or two of wine I could really notice the aroma, or if I was near a drink, it smelt really strong.

On Wednesday 1st October, after completing 30 days off drink, I went to the Bottle Bank (a most excellent establishment) in Falmouth (following an event at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall) and treated myself to four beers.

Beer from the Bottle Bank

I was planning on drinking one, some or all of them in the evening, but I'd been on a team building event with a client, and by the time I got home at 10pm, I was tired and had a headache (not aided by the fact Liv and Bryher had both woken up at 5.15am that morning).

In fact I was feeling quite tired tonight, but with Mrs P out at a meeting and the girls fast asleep in bed, I decided to crack open one of the beers - The Mayan produced by Ilkley Brewey - a very dark chocolate, chipotle stout, and enjoy it while I wrote this blog.

This was quickly followed by another stout - produced by The Kernel and coming in at 7.1%.

So, would I do another month off? Well, yes. It was fairly easy. There was only the odd occasion, when the girls were in meltdown, that I thought I really could do with a drink, but other than that, the last month and a day have been fairly straight forward.

But, after coming back to beer, I think I may sleep well tonight!

Zzzzz.....

Beer 2: lotta bottle

On Tuesday (22nd April) afternoon I headed out of the MPAD office and down to Granite Rock Brewery to meet up with Driftwood Spars' head brewer, Pete Martin, to check on progress of our beer.

Pete had been in over the weekend with Dave from Granite to taste and start the process for bottling.

When I got there I found the beer had been transferred into six casks, with four of them high up on a rack with tubes connecting them to a piece of apparatus that made the brewery look like some sort of beer milking parlour.

Pete placing the bottles under the 'udders'

There were six 'udders' with bottles under each one, filling up with a beer.

Beside the equipment were three bottle trees with washed and sterlised bottles ready to take the brew.

Bottle tree

Bottling underway

Pete told me that he'd needed to add a 'hop tea' to the beer on Saturday before transferring to casks to help boost the flavour.

When brewing at the Driftwood, Pete adds loose hops to the mix and lets them stew, but as he was using different equipment at Granite Rock he decided to put the hops into three 'tea bags' to reduce the clean up process at the end.

It would seem that the tea bag process didn't allow the flavours to mix fully - a bit like the difference between loose leaf tea leaves and tea bags.

It was also the first time Pete had used Nelson Sauvin hops and he thought the Cascade could have hidden the flavour, and that if he brews it again on his own kit he may have to use even more of them to get the full effect. It might even be a case of substituting them for different hop in future.

Anyway, Pete made a tea using the Nelson Sauvin and Cascade hops to help the flavour.

It was great to have a small taste of the beer, and Pete was happy to have the initial bitter hit that then softened.

Once Pete had showed me the ropes I started getting into rhythm of sticking the bottles under the 'udders', letting them fill, removing them, adding another bottle, placing a cap on the bottle, putting into a case, filling the case, putting together another box, and repeat.

Me having a go at bottling the beer

Action shot - checking there's enough beer in each bottle

It was actually quite therapeutic just to focus on one job and getting it right. I could imagine Mr. Miyagi sat on the side repeating "bottle on, bottle off."

Capping the bottles and putting them in the case

The cases soon mounted up and the beer worked its way from five of the casks into around 360 bottles (one cask is being left to be split between our forthcoming MPAD party and the Driftwood's beer festival - May 2nd - 5th).

The cases starting to takeover Granite Rock's floor space

Pete with a full case

Pete was then going to transport the beer back to St Agnes where the bottles need to condition for two weeks: one in a warm room and one chilling, which helps the flavour develop.

That means it will be ready to go on 6th May, just two days before our party.

Pete did say that he will come over the office beforehand so we can have a tasting.

And all this in the name of work........

Beer!

I spent a few hours on Sunday (13 April) with the Driftwood Spars' head brewer, Pete Martin, at Granite Rock Brewery in Penryn.

The Driftwood's own brewery is being extended at the moment, so Pete had to become a gypsy brewer and find a temporary home.

Step forward Dave and Frances from Granite Rock, who played host to us while we created a special for MPAD's forthcoming party on 8th May.

When Pete and I had initially met back in February we discussed flavours and styles. A couple of days prior to the meeting I'd tried Brewdog's 5a.m. Saint, and been impressed by the flavours.

I found out during the meeting that this was down to the hops - Nelson Sauvin.

I arrived at Granite Rock at 9am on Sunday morning with my wellies and met Pete, who having already worked out a recipe, was busy measuring out the ingredients.

The recipe

Pete weighing out the malt

There was pale malt, chocolate malt, crystal malt and cara malt.

More malt

We had a quick cuppa while we were waiting for the water to reach its strike temperature. Once it was up to the correct heat we were able to add the combined malt and start mashing.

Adding the malt to the hot water

Mash

Me doing the mash

Once this was done I had to make a hasty retreat in order to take or eldest daughter to her third birthday party in three days, and so I left Pete and David to tinker with the machinery and chat about all things beer.

Having survived the party, I got back to Granite where the boil was taking place and the first set of hops - Admiral (for bittering) - had been added.

I'd only been in the building for a couple of minutes when an egg timer went off and Pete handed me some rubber gloves so I could bung a teabag full of Nelson Sauvin and Cascade hops into the mix. These were for the flavouring.

A 'teabag' of Nelson Sauvin and Cascade hops

There were also some other tablets that were added in here, I think it was something to do with protein, but there was a lot to take in and I forgot!

Once this was done, we waited and had another cuppa.

The egg timer went off again and it was time to add the last teabag of hops - Nelson Sauvin and Cascade for aroma - and turn off the boil.

Once it had cooled slightly, pipes and pumps were rigged up to a cooling system and the liquid was transferred into a fermenting vat (FV).

We waited for another 15 minutes for the liquid to cool down and for the yeast to be activated.

Before adding the yeast, Pete drew out some liquid and put it to one side to rest. He was then able to test the gravity (1043) and work out that the beer will be around 4.3% to 4.4%.

Dave from Granite Rock checking the gravity

The yeast was added, mixed around and the lid added to the FV.

Pete adding the yeast

It will now do its own thing for around a week when Pete will return, taste it and start the bottling process.

He's worked out that it will give us 400 bottles for our party, as well as other events, and leave the Driftwood with two kegs for use at the pub.

In terms of style, it was a little bit darker than Pete initially thought, but we decided it will be an 'American and New Zealand mix with a Cornish twist'.

An idea of what the beer will look like when finished

'What about the name?' I hear you ask, well Pete joked about calling it Admiral Nelson, due to the hops, but the you'll just have to wait until our labels are produced before you get to find that out.

It was a very interesting day and fun to get involved, and for anyone into their real ale I'd recommend giving it a go.

But, I think the most fun will be reserved for when we can actually sample it.....

Huge thanks to Pete from the Driftwood, and Dave and Frances from Granite Rock. 

They're just round the corner from Raise the Roof, so drop your kids off and go and try beer!

Rebuilding momentum

So, I'm only three months into the #40before40 challenge, but I feel like I need to start building the momentum again in order to a) get 40 things on my list, and b) start to do them.

I'm a bit of a lists persons and like to tick things off. I often let myself be ruled by my to do list at work and sometimes it's more of a case of crossing things off rather than actually focusing on one task at a time and enjoying it.

Rock Solid was a brilliant experience, but I feel like I ran out of energy after it, so perhaps having a little break has been good.

I also feel like I need to build momentum in the #40before40 blogging. I tend to have more time in the evenings when the girls have gone to bed, but after a day of work or Daddy Day Care, it's easy to put it off.

There's also been the distraction of some good TV lately, like True Detective, that has kept me otherwise engaged.

There had also been a couple of things that seemed like they might not happen, which have played a part in the lack of momentum.

Firstly, it seemed like I'd be unable to do the Classic Quarter again, and hopefully beat last year's time.

For those that don't know The Classic Quarter is a 44 mile ultra marathon that goes along the coast path from Lizard Point to Land's End.

You can either do it on your own, as a pair, or in a team of four. Last year I ran in a team of four and tackled the second leg - just over 13 miles - from Gunwalloe Church Cove to Perranuthanoe.

It took me around 2 hours 30 minutes to complete the route that had lots of steep climbs, two beach sections and lots of mud after pre-race torrential rain and lightening.

My plans to beat last year's time for the leg seemed to have come to an end after our team leader, Richard Wadman (who took on the whole race in 2013), went to register and found the race was full.

Gutted was not the word.

The second thing to make a dent was down to some good fortune for one of clients - the Driftwood Spars in St Agnes.

I'd meet the Driftwood's head brewer, Pete Martin, a few weeks ago and started to plan out a brew day.

We're currently refreshing MPAD's brand and having a party at the Driftwood on 8th May to unveil the new look.

As part of this event, as well as a #40before40 challenge, I was going to brew our own special beer.

Initial dates were set and I was about to undertake some serious research to work out what I wanted to create.

In the meantime the Driftwood had been successful in a plan to expand their brewery. In order to do the work they've had to temporarily close the brewery, right in the window of opportunity for creating the MPAD beer.

So it seemed like no run and no beer.

But just when I thought I might have to cross these two activities off my list without completing them, things picked up.

I received an email from Classic Quarter organisers, Endurance Life, to say that extra spaces had been made available on the Classic Quarter and Richard had booked us on.

Then a couple of days later Pete emailed to say that he'd arranged for us to set up a temporary home at Granite Rock Brewery in Penryn.

I went from gutted to excited, and feel like I'm getting some momentum back in the challenge.

Now, what do I do first - beer or running training?.......