Ash: It was the East Kent Golding hop harvest down on the farm in Ash today. The wheels of industry were turning rapidly early this morning and we were gathering large amounts of fresh hops for Gadds' Green Hop ale. A good crop this year? We'll have to wait and see, but the smell coming from the copper today suggests things should be just dandy.

Ash: Ladies and gentlemen; I present to you the Hop Picking Machine.

Ash: The hop picking machine hoists another vine skywards. There was a lot of romance in seeing a machine, used for many decades and for many harvests, cranking away. Did I feel safe? Yes, I think so.

Ash: Drying the hops over hot air. Eddie looks on lovingly.

Captain Dog's ears may be getting larger and hairier but they don't compare to this pooch. He'd have trouble trying to find headphones to fit him.

Singapore Noodles

Over the last four evening I have solely eaten Singapore Noodles (3 M&S dishes and 1 courtesy of Mr Charles Oniye). I had better learn how to cook this dish as buying ready meals costs too much.

250g rice vermicelli noodles
vegetable oil
150g pork fillets , cut into strips
12 raw peeled tiger prawns , fresh or frozen
3 garlic cloves , crushed
2cm piece ginger , grated
1 onion , cut into thin half moons
1 red pepper , sliced
2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
300g beansprouts
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 bunch fresh chives , chopped
4 eggs , beaten
2 red chillies , sliced
2 limes , quartered

Soak the noodles following the packet instructions and drain. Heat some oil in a wok and fry the pork until it is browned and just cooked through, tip onto a plate. Add the prawns and fry until cooked. Rinse out the wok.

Add a little oil to the wok and fry the garlic and ginger until light brown. Add the onion and pepper and cook until just beginning to soften, then add the spices and cook for a minute. Add the bean sprouts, noodles and about 2 tbsp water and toss everything together.

Add the soy sauce, some seasoning and chives and stir for another minute. Push the noodles to one side of the wok and drop in the eggs. Cook, stirring for 1 minute then stir through the noodles.

London: Beth with crisps and film.

Margate: Spent the last few days in QEQM Hospital getting Beth checked out. She hasn't been well and hopefully we are close to finding out why. Natalie, Linda and the rest of Rainbow Ward staff have been brilliant and hopefully it will be only a couple more nights before we are home.

Somewhere????

Popped to the Monty on Saturday night for a couple of jars with Strings and found this double rainbow- beautiful..

End of Summer / Future Projects

The summer seems to have fizzled out - intact I am not even sure whether we had a summer or not. However, I am really looking forward to the autumn months. I have lots of things that I am planning to keep myself occupied with;

1) The Isle of Thanet Yomp on September 17th is something that always challenges the body. Really looking forward to this and maybe we'll have some new yompers this year.

2) Improving my beer and brewing knowledge. We'll be brewing brews I have not seen or tasted yet like Dark Conspiracy and Green Hop Ale. Not to mention casking the Doppelhop.

3) I have just started my Linguaphone Spanish course which I bought 15 years ago and never started. The coursework itself was compiled in 1976 and really is quite different from 'modern' Spanish courses; it predominantly uses 'usted' rather than 'tu' and is very conservative. I am also listening to Radio Nacional de España each morning to improve my real flaw which is my listening/understanding.

4) I am hoping to start using my camera a little more in the autumn. With the trees turning all sorts of wonderful colours, it should present a good photo opportunity. Parkes also starts her camera course in September, so hopefully it is something we can do together.

5) Finally, we will be readying the house for the new arrival in February. Can't wait!!!

Bier festival in Antwerp. Something definitely to aspire to.

Ramsgate Brewery presents......Mr Clive "Atlas" Stow.

Dumpton Gap: Busy afternoon (and a band too!) at the Gap.

Scan

Parkes had her 12 week scan at QEQM on Thursday and got confirmed as being pregnant with kiddy number 2. Everything seems in order and we have another scan booked for October. Exciting times! Not sure how Beth truthfully feels about it but I'm sure it'll all work out. Beth starts school in a few weeks so I think her mind will be elsewhere.

Meanwhile, at work, everything is going really well. New seasonal brews are afoot and getting to smell and taste lots of new things.

Dumpton Gap: Little Trev 1 Fitted Wardrobes 0

Too much

When it all seems like a bit too much, just sit back, relax and catch some flies...

What's up Doc?

Dumpton Gap: It's a double first for Beth today. We picked up her glasses from the opticians earlier. She seems to be getting on well with them. Also, she is sleeping tonight without a nappy. Could be a wet evening but I reckon she'll be okay.

Ramsgate: this time last week I was up with the lark, selling my wares at the Haine Road boot fair. I made £80 which was pretty good considering the rubbish I had.

Broadband Ahoy!!!

And then there was broadband. And it was good. Finally we have a broadband connection at our house. God, it has been a long wait but finally our lives can continue as normal. It has been six weeks since our house move and we have done loads of stuff. Parkes has started her new job at M&S, which she seems to be enjoying. Beth and Parkes have celebrated their 40th and 4th birthdays respectively. I have been to the Kent Beer Festival and the Great British Beer Festival in London - both of which were thoroughly enjoyable. I have also been to the Open Golf championship which was wet and windy.

Beth starts school in September and we are in the process of purchasing uniform, shoes, name tags etc for the new term.