OK, so the Morris Oxford and the Morris Cowley are clear, but what is a Morriss-London? As can be seen here, there is a U.S. connection.
From the 1920 edition of The Motor Red Book.
A New Trappist Ale, In The UK.
"Monks have been given planning permission to build what would be the UK’s only Trappist brewery at a rural monastery in North West Leicestershire."
So states a recent article in the Leicester Mercury newspaper. Now approved by the local planning council, the monks of the Mount St Bernard Abbey plan to brew their beer in accordance with strict Trappist rules, thus becoming the 12th such Trappist brewery in existence.
We look forward to sample their ale.
To read the article - by Dave Owen - click here.
So, a buddy asks you to pick up a couple of Ankers of beer - how much beer do you need to pick up?
An Anker of beer is ten gallon, so a couple Ankers would be 20 gallons - that's a lot of beer.
From an 1899 book on British brewery accounting.
"You're Only Supposed to Blow the Bloody Doors Off"
A new book for your fall reading list. Producer Michael Deeley has written a book out the filming of his classic movie 'The Italian Job' (the first one, although the second on was a pretty good movie, too).
In the one scene where the team - led by Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) - is testing the explosives to be used to open up the armored cars, well it seen that in really life, as in the movie, they may have used a bit too much explosives.
Here's the story from the Daily Mail - click here.
And, On Today's Menu...
In the olden days, it is widely acknowledged, beer and ale were often substituted for water, the later sometimes tainted with disease. Folks, both high and low on the social ladder, were drinking a lot of beer. Here is an excerpt from the book "British Taverns, Their History and Laws," by Lord Askwith, 1928, detailing one day's allotment:
"The Court and the people drank ale. Witness the allowance given to Lady Lucy, a maid of honour [in the Court of King Henry VIII]. 'Breakfast - a chine of beef, a loaf of bread, a gallon of ale. Luncheon - bread and a gallon of ale, Dinner - a piece of boiled beef, a slice of roast meat, a gallon of ale. Supper - porridge, mutton, a loaf, a gallon of ale."
That an allowance of four gallons of ale per day, although one must remember that this ale was a weaker version, not the "strong ale" that was also being brewed.
Five Strange Car Names...
Yep, when you think about it these are some really strange car names. The author - Rowan Horncastle, over at the BBC (click here) - missed one, however. If you are a car person, and you remember this, then it will so your age. Anyway, remember when Chevy tried to sell a compact car down in South and Central America called the Nova, after the long running US Chevy of the same name? Well, in Spanish the phrase "No va" means "Does not go" So, as you can see there was some reluctance of Latin America drivers to be a car called a Nova.
19 Pubs in Leeds....
Well, I have never been to Leeds, and alas I don't see myself going there in the near future, which is a pity because after reading this article, and seeing some of the cool pubs in Leeds, I feel a trip is in order. Has anybody been to one of these pubs?
From the folks at BuzzFeed - click here.
Minis in the Monte Carlo Rally
Not exactly sure of the year, but a good video all the same. For some classic Mini rally action - click here.
Just Having a Quick Pint Before Dinner
This one is new to me - Carrig Brewery's Cael and Crede Irish Ale. Aged in oak barrels that used to hold Irish whiskey presents quite a fine flavor. Has anybody else been able to find this - or any other of Carrig's beers - over here? I found two bottle at a local shop - and bought both. Wise purchase.
For more about the Carrig Brewery and the name of this particular ale, please stop by the beer list.
Hint, it's a tragic Irish love story.
Is This The Happiest Place In The UK?
Now, I've been to a lot of places in the UK that make me happy. I can think of a small country pub that I used to frequent - after a nice walk on a great public foot path - that being there right now would make me very happy, indeed. To tell you the truth, I a pretty much happy where ever I am.
Anyway, here is a quick article on a place in Scotland that I would be very happy to visit.
The Best - and the Worst - James Bond Cars
Well, that is, at least according to the new Top Gear folks over at the BBC. The trouble is that the very first car James Bond drove - in the film Dr, No - was not even mentioned. Pop quiz: Do you remember what that car was. (I have always liked that particular car because over the years I have owned two of them.) In the movie Bond drove a later version of the car, as compared to the version of the car that he drove in the novel by Ian Fleming.
Anyway, click here for the story, and see if you agree.
Riley, Wolseley, Hillman, Jowett and even Triumph. Are These Cars Set To Make a Comeback?
Some are well known, and some are not so much so. The British automobile industry can count dozens of car companies that were once quite popular - and profitable - that are all but forgotten today. Is it possible that some of these are poised to make a comeback?
Click here for an article by Tony Middlehurst, over at the Daily Mail
Care for a Round of Bat & Trap, perhaps some Ringing the Bull, or maybe some Dwile Flonking?
Pubs, a few pints of ale and some good clean competition all seem to go nicely hand in hand. Depending on where your favorite pub is located, you may be keen to play some of the above listed games. Click here for a great article - "The Weird and Wonderful World of Pub Games" - by David Gilyeat, over at the BBC.
So stop watching the game on the television and play some games for real. You may just work up a sweat!
Dogs in Pubs Boost Business - Well Duh...
The Mortimer Arms is a dog-friendly pub in the UK. Stop by their website here.
If you are a Man City fan, well this is good. If you are a Spurs fan, not so much so. Last weekend, at Nissan stadium, Nashville TN.
If It Had Been Guinness, I Would Be Crying
So...A beer truck with brake issues was heading down the Wolf Creek Pass, in Colorado, when the driver took one of those mountain escape roads. Fortunately, the truck came to a safe and successful stop, only to then dump its load of 42,000 pounds of beer - Bud Light. I guess if you like Bud Light, you would shed a tear or two.
Here's the whole story from the folks over at VinePair.
OK, This is Hilarious...Air Traveller Checks a Single Can of Beer
A man flying on Australian airline Qantas was traveling fairly light - he only had a single can of beer, which he checked in as baggage. Dean Stinson was flying from Melbourne to Perth and as a stunt decided to check his single can of Emu Export beer. The airline obliged and the can was loaded as checked baggage. Click here for the rest of the story...
Stongcastle - Excuse Me....?
OK, so I must have missed this one. Or perhaps I noticed it, but am just too much of a traditionalist to have given it much notice. Anyway, it seems that a couple of years ago - this is an older article - the idea of mixing half Newcastle Brown Ale and half Strongbow Cider - 50/50 - came into vogue - the results being a Stongcastle. No, I have not tried it, but I will.
I know a Strongcastle sound rather weird, but imagine the reaction to the dude - or dudette - who mixed the first Black & Tan. Click here for the story.
Nottingham Pub Turns 777 Years Old
If you ever get a chance to pub crawl in Nottingham you will get to experience some great - and really old (olde?) pubs. One of these - the Ye Olde Salutation Inn - the Sal, to her regular customers - has just turned 777 years old. Not a bad run in business.
Click here for the story.
7 Day Quiz - Question #1: What libation has recently surpassed beer in the UK for the first time?
Every week the BBC posts a "7 Day Quiz," I guess to see if you are actually paying attention to their news feeds. So on 7 June 2017, they posted a quiz with the above listed question. Do you know the answer. I got it right, but it was a guess.
Click here to take the quiz.