Only Cardiff gives you Brains

YC visited Emma Duff at The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham where she is training for ordination.  After checking out The Wellington pub - 15 real ales on tap - we walked along the canal to Queen's which is in Edgbaston.  Friday evening was spent in the Common Room where Emma is in charge of the bar (vital ordination training). 

On Saturday we headed to Cardiff to see Wales v Argentina.  Supporting Argentina wasn't overly attractive and we didn't know their anthem, so Wales (My Hain Gwlad vern hadai...) got the vote.  It proved to be a wise move, as Wales ran in 4 tries to nil, winning 40-6.  2 of the tries - Mike Phillips and George North - were right in front of us. Before the game, we checked out The Goat Major  - a cracking pub offering Brains Bitter at only £2.64 a pint.

Sunday morning was spent at St Francis Church, Bournville, where Emma is to be placed for this year.  The Bishop of Aston was on hand for a confirmation.  After Sunday lunch in college and a stroll around the grounds, YC headed home reflecting on a good weekend. 

Remember readers - only Cardiff gives you Brains.

pre-match line-up

At The Millennium Stadium

Queen's Chapel

lineout

RYA Instructor Week

YC has spent the last week in Norfolk, training to be an RYA sailing instructor.  This has involved sailing yeomans (small keelboats) with the Nancy Oldfield Trust on Barton Broad - and very enjoyable it was too.  Techniques learned included lying-to, man overboard, and the RYA method of tacking.  YC, with Ian Bowmaker and Bill Bacon, emerged as RYA instructors at the end.  The next step is to pass on all this new-found wisdom on a Green Wyvern week - stand by one and all!

There was a chance for a minor celebration at the De-rigging Party on Saturday at Cantley.  YC would like to reassure readers that he didn't drink any of the lovely Reedham Gold (3.6% ABV) or wash it down at the end of the evening with a dark rum.

"The Ark" on Barton Broad

heading out of Neatishead

the new instructors - Bill, Jane, Ian, Fi, YC

Krakow News

James and family have moved to Krakow, Poland.  YC visited them at the weekend.  You can fly from Newcastle - so it's as quick as catching the train to London.  It's also appreciably cheaper than London - the local Zloty goes much further than a pound or a euro.   The weather was beautiful, with unseasonably warm autumn sunshine.

While there, YC joined the British expedition to climb the mound, played football in the garden with Matthew, and (under duress) forced the odd local beer between his parched lips.  

A jolly time was had by all, and YC can definitely recommend a late break to Krakow.  But be prepared - it drops to minus 20C in winter!

In Krakow Rynek Square

rooftop bar of Sheraton Hotel

jump to it

conquering the mound

Tynemouth Long Sands to King Edward's Bay in one easy swim

Have any readers been sea-swimming recently?  YC and Chris Smith took advantage of calm conditions to swim from The Long Sands to King Edward's Bay.  The sea was flat and the tide was high, meaning we could investigate the rocks at Sharpness Point.  Downwards visibility to the sea-floor was poor, but upwards visibility to the horizon was superb - as these photos from Chris show.  Afterwards, YC sang for his supper at Evensong (some great hymns and chants), then slaked the raging swimmer's thirst at The Tynemouth Lodge.  It's a tough life if you don't weaken...

YC leaves the Long Sands

following in Chris's wake

heading for Sharpness Point

Tynemouth Priory for a backdrop

Mimosa wins Yare Navigation Race

Mimosa stormed to victory in this year's Yare Navigation Race.  The crack (sic) crew of Andy Gordon, Dave Valentine, and YC worked hard for their victory.  The race is 32 miles long, with an out and back course along almost the whole length of the river Yare.  The idea is to take the tide down to the mark on Breydon, then the flood back upriver to the finish at Coldham Hall.  

Mimosa managed it spot on, hitting the Breydon mark at slack water.  In the end we won by several minutes once the handicap had been taken into account.  Skipper Andy "I don't have a competitive bone in my body" Gordon was not at all pleased with the result, and Dave Valentine definitely didn't celebrate with any beer whatsover.

The YNR is a big race (over 50 boats were entered) and all the top racing yachts (Mimosa included, naturally) were there.  YC has just one word to sum it up - Mimosatastic!

the winning crew

Dave & Andy on Mimosa

I'll name that church in...

1 From the photo alone
2 From the Northumbrian saint and king who lived 1400 years ago
3 From having driven past it lots of times on the Military Road, but never having stopped to take a closer look
4 From the battle of Heavenfield where the saint and king won the day (come on readers, that's lots of clues!)

Jacksons in Tynemouth and sailing on Stella

The Jacksons were in Tynemouth in August.  Brian & Gill were staying chez YC whilst Ingrid & Max were just around the corner with Philip & Angela.  The weather was surprisingly good - so it was straight down to the beach for Max to enjoy the Costa del Long Sands.  Andrew & Diane called round for afternoon tea - and Diane's old coffee table (now residing with YC) was wheeled out and put through its paces.

More recently YC has been sailing on the fine craft Stella Genesta with Mr & Mrs Old Salt.  The fine weather continued, with blue skies and a good breeze making for pleasant sailing.  Stella made it to Brundall, Beccles, and Oulton.  The best beer was to be found in The Waveney House Hotel, Beccles (Adnams Bitter) whilst the most reasonably priced beer was Greene King IPA at The Waveney, Oulton Broad (£2.50 a pint - hurrah).   The best mooring was on the yacht club at Oulton Broad with splendid isolation and a sunset - all available at a very realistically priced mooring fee (just add an 'R' to the previous word).

Ingrid, Max & Gill

Brian, Diane & the coffee table

sailing down Oulton Dyke

sunset on Oulton Broad