I once watched a drunk man, wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a smile, step barefoot from a porta-cabin toilet in to (...let's give him the benefit of the doubt here) 'definitely just mud' that went up to the middle of his shins. Assessing his surroundings, and taking a couple of seconds to enjoy... Continue Reading →
Iron Balls Gin; You always have options if you have balls
'Erm. This doesn't have peanuts in it does it? Oh, it does?...ah.' The now infamous line uttered by my brother, part way through his evening meal during a first date visit to a Thai restaurant, shortly before his face swelled up to leave him with lips that actress Leslie Ash (of former 'Men Behaving Badly'... Continue Reading →
Gin Jamboree
'For Fox sake'! I exclaimed with a sudden sense of panic and urgency... I looked over at my wife with a poorly disguised sense of childish anticipation, eagerly longing for a reaction... Nothing. Not a flinch. Perhaps this had something to do with the fact it was only around 2.30pm, and I was already on... Continue Reading →
Tinker Gin
To tinker; 'to attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way'. Now. I think it would be a fair assessment to say that I've never been the handiest of chaps when it comes to repairs or general DIY. Indeed, as a teenager, I once found myself locked out of the house... Continue Reading →
Ginposeum; A gin tasting experience with a difference!
Think back to that feeling that you'd get of literally being 'a kid in a sweet shop'... Wide eyed, open mouthed, and with an uncontrollable sense of excitement at the seemingly endless opportunities on offer within the 'Aladins cave' of 'pic n mix' treasures. With a little pin striped paper bag in hand, and tugging... Continue Reading →
Gin Festival; Blackpool Tower Ballroom
What springs to mind when you think of Blackpool? . Sticks of rock and donkey rides on the beach? . Winning a small fortune on the arcade 'Two Pence' slot machines, followed by a stomach churning ride on the Big Dipper? . Perhaps a low key 'Stag' or 'Hen Do' (...what happens on tour stays... Continue Reading →
The Wakefield Beer Exchange
'Hi! Come on in! Have some gin! I've put tea & biscuits in it!'. Ok, so I've had more conventional welcomes (though none have ever been quite so enthusiastic!). And I'll admit to perhaps being a little apprehensive. But if I'm honest with you... he had me at 'gin' and 'biscuits'... But first - I... Continue Reading →
Simpsons Gin Bar
We all know THAT theme tune... An angelic choir sings. A full orchestra plays. A school bell rings. As a self indulgent sax solo fades, replaced by the sound of screeching tyres and a car horn, one of the most famous addresses in the cartoon world appears on our screens; '742 Evergreen Terrace'. And the... Continue Reading →
Pothecary Gin
I can't watch '24 hours in A&E'. When 'One Born Every Minute' appears on my TV set, I'm watching from behind a cushion. I can't even watch 'Embarrassing Bodies' without cringing in horror! When I see white coats, scalpels and '10cc's' of something medical flash up on my screen I may as well be watching... Continue Reading →
Ten/Bar: The Magic Number…
Three. It's a magic number. Yes it is...Well, at least according to the 1990's smash hit from everyone's favourite hip hop outfit 'De La Soul' that is! But let's hold it there for a moment. How much can we really trust the opinions of 'De La Soul'?...Just how structurally sound are the foundations of this... Continue Reading →

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