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?.......

Rock Solid Race

The first big challenge on my 40 before 40 list has been done. 

Number 8 on my list was compete in a Tough Guy / Tough Mudder event. 

Yesterday I headed up to a very sunny Escot Park just outside Exeter with my support team (Rachel, Olivia and Bryher) to tackle the Rock Solid Race. 

The 10k obstacle race, which I heard several people say was actually 12k, took in mud, water, mud, water, more mud and some bonkers obstacles. 

After a warm up with a military fitness instructor, my wave set off at 1.20pm. 

The obstacles are now a bit of a blur, but we started with haybale hurdles (the big round ones), before heading off into the woods. 

At first I tried to avoid the mud and water, but after five minutes the only thing to do was to embrace it (my white running socks will never be white again ). 

Crawling on your stomach through muddy water and under barbed wire certainly got the adrenalin going, as did diving under a giant inflatable tube in a murky pond. I made the mistake of opening my eyes before surfacing, and can still feel grains of dirt under my eyelids as I type. 

The biggest challenge for me was the vertical cargo net. The height was okay, probably around 15 feet, it was the fear of falling that got me. 

I did it though, but the fear of falling off an obstacle wasn't helped by seeing a guy strapped into a stretcher waiting for an ambulance by one of the eight foot walls.

Tyres, more haybales, more water, wading through waist-deep mud, rope climbs, crawling through mud under a net, tunnels and more walls all were tackled, and enjoyed. 

I even took some strange enjoyment in diving into the skip full of iced water that resulted in the worst ice cream headache ever!

As I came into the final stretch I could see Bryher in the distance running around in her bright red all in one suit, before I saw Rach and Liv. 

This spurred me on for the final push where I jumped over fire, took on volunteers with Gladiator-style pugil sticks before, in true Rocky style, climbing haybale steps to cross the finish line. 

Having checked my time this afternoon I did the race in 1.50:08 and finished 271st out of 1880 finishers. I'm pretty chuffed with that for my first effort. 

I've also raised around £130 for CHICKS so far, which is the reason why I tackled this event. 

As well as my support team, I'd like to say a huge thank you to Felicia Sheingold, who has pushed me to my limits in my training sessions since January. The extra fitness made a huge difference. 

Bring on next year's race!

Post race burger in Exeter. 

 My race number, dog tag medals and Rock Solid T-shirt. 

Squash

Number 15 on my list was to try a new sport. 

So tonight I headed to the Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre in Truro and played squash for the first time. 

I was repeatedly beaten by my opponents and tutors, Ben Jones and Christian Ziar, and in the six or seven games I played I think I won about eight or nine points.

Three was the most I picked up in any game. 

I played a lot of tennis and badminton in my youth, and it did help a bit. But getting used to ball warming up and hitting ii off the side and back walls felt unusual at first. 

Despite my losing streak I did enjoy the game and will definitely play again. I liked the way it gets your heart pumping quickly. 

Thanks Chris and Ben (nice hat btw!)

Take part in a Tough Guy / Tough Mudder event

Number 8 on my 40 before 40 list is to 'Take part in a Tough Guy / Tough Mudder event'.

It was during a catch up meeting with one of our clients, the charity CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids), that I noticed the Rock Solid obstacle race in Exeter on the charity's new event planner.

I had thought I would have a few months, to get in some training and prepare mentally for the event. 

Instead, I decided there and then to sign up and make sure I have no excuses for not doing an event like this over the next 12 months. 

So rather than a few months, I've now got just 13 days before I head to Escot Park just outside Exeter to tackle 10km of mud, barbed wire, mud, hay bale mountains, mud, fire, mud and running around with a sand bag. 

The running bit is fine, but I feel slightly nervous about the obstacles (my personal trainer has recommended that I head to my nearest DIY shop, buy a sandbag and walk / run with it for a few days to help with training!). 

It's good to know that there will be other CHICKS' runners on the day, so I'll look out for the yellow vests so we can support each other on the way round. 

Here's a video of the event, as well as some pics of my CHICKS' running best and some shots from today's off-road run.

Rock Solid obstacle race film

40 before 40 - The List

In no particular order, here is the list.

There are 21 things on there so far, so suggestions for the other 19 are welcome.

1. Sort finances so we can have a road trip to the USA (east coast) in 2016, as well as buy a bigger home
2. Tone up*
3. Complete second leg of the Classic Quarter quicker that 2013
4. Run 850 miles in 2014
5. Define my role within MPAD
6. MPAD to grow by 10% in 2013/14
7. MPAD to grow by 20% in 2014/15 (the financial year will end after I hit 40, but most of the work will be in place)
8. Take part in a Tough Guy / Tough Mudder event
9. Clear garage
10. Sell old toys on eBay
11. MPAD to achieve ISO14001
12. To win more national contracts
13. Take Liv to watch her first West Brom game (preferably at the Hawthorns)
14. Have a coffee (it's been over 10 years since I drank my last cup)
15. Try a new sport (I'm thinking squash)
16. Christmas Day swim
17. Brew my own beer
18. Go vegan (for a period of time - week or month perhaps)
19. Back, sack and crack wax (suggestion courtesy of Kelly Rowe!)
20. Learn to play Liv's ukulele properly
21. Grow a beard
22. Drive a tank
23. Swim around the Cribbar in Newquay (via Richard Wadman)
24. Sign up for a Donor Card
25. Give blood
26. To score a goal in a competitive football match
27. Be teetotal for a month (depending on how hectic life and work is)
28. List and document the things I've achieved while in my 30s
29. Write a short story (and get it published, if that is possible in the timescale left)
30. Use email less at work and other means of communication more e.g. phone calls.
31. Have a great big party to celebrate being 40
32. Take part in a fell run in Yorkshire
33. Watch The Wire

* Pink = work in progress and not a finished task.

The list has begun

Here is the beginnings of the list.

There 21 so far, and a couple of there are fairly mundane, but they are things that I just want to get done.

I'll post the list on another page so I can chart its progress and update with new challenges.