TOPIC:

As some of you may have realised from my signature, we are in the process of relocating from Scotland to Essex. I have started a new job as New Product Development Manager for a small company in Thaxted. I am three weeks into the job and it has been very good so far. This is a lovely part of the world and everyone is very friendly. Next Monday we'll be moving out of the hotel into temporary accomodation in Saffron Walden while we continue our house hunting in this general area. An essential requirement of our new house will be a suitable area for installing a brewing/sampling room. <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> We've sold the house in Scotland and most of our bits and pieces are in storage.

I've come to an agreement with the Dublin-based company that almost employed me in July. It isn't much but since I've made such a rapid recovery from that disaster it probably doesn't matter much. In fact I was also offered a good job with Boots in Nottingham so I definitely seem to be in demand at the moment.

I'm sorry to have left Scotland but I thoroughly enjoyed my 11 years there and I'll have plenty of excuses to return for visits in the future (such as Scottish Craft Brewers meetings <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> ). I'm also sorry that the plan to move to Ireland fell apart at the eleventh hour but hope to visit again at some stage in the future. I'm already in contact with SHED brewers of East Anglia (one member of which is an ex-SCB member so there will be one familiar face - coincidentally he is Irish!) and I know where the nearest homebrew shop is (Great Dunmow). I've also made the very important discovery today that the water in Saffron Walden is softened (this is generally a chalky hard water area) and costs 10% more as a result...

Obviously, life has been a bit chaotic over the last few months but hopefully things will now start to settle down a bit and I'll pay more regular visits here. Also I'd hope to update you on the process of me organising my new brewing/sampling room/shed when we find a suitable house and have gone through the purchase process. Last but not least, I have 6 cornies of beer in storage so it will be interesting to discover what they'll be like when I gain access to them again but they include 2 "authentic" IPAs and a completely over the top "Belgian 11" (OG 1100) concoction. It could be one hell of a house warming! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Thanks to all of you who provided support when it all went wonky. At least the Dublin thing meant I made some virtual friends here. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Cheers, Les (and Mara)

Glad things worked out for you Les. Sounds like a happy location in beer/brewing terms if nothing else! <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

I shudder to think what state people will be in leaving your house-warming with that Belgian 11! <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt="" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->

Good to hear it's all worked out for you Les. Sure maybe you can come over to Dublin for a visit sometime!

Bog Myrtle

Les,

Sounds like it worked out well despite you being let down in Dublin. It seems you will be well served in your brewing endeavours! Hopefully you'll get to meet your virtual friends at some stage, whether in Ireland, Essex or Edinburgh.

Well you certainly seem to have landed on your feet and I'm glad to hear it. I'll be interested in how those beers develop after their “cellaring” period. How long are they in so far?

Glad to here things worked out for you, what was the recipe for the Belgian?