Pasty Muncher

Carry on Camping

Source: Kim Mutton
Thursday 11th June 2009, 12:35pm

Is Carry on Camping the essential guide for happy campers?

Hey Ho Camping Here We Go

Last night I whilst devouring a monster pasty I stumbeled across a web site that nit picks continuity and thingy errors in well known films. Having just been asked if I felt like going away for a weekend and staying in a tent, I naturally checked out the site's critique of Sid, Babs and the Carry On crew in what has to be one of the best British films ever Carry On Camping

Camping or Glamping?

As a former boy scout (of the woggle variety NOT one who spots early football talent) I still abide by the motto Be Prepared and so this morning I went in search of stuff to make the camping trip a success.

Camping Equipment

Now as you know I am fortunate to have quite a privlidged lifestyle and the prospect of roughing it like some dirty festival goer simply does not appeal. Searching for camping equipment I was overwhelmed with the sheer range of accessories available - everything but the kitchen sink!

First things first Tents

Reading this feature about Glamping on the WindyPendant made me think about what type of tent to choose. There is an enourmous selection of tents but many of the cheap ones appear to be aimed at the dirty festival goers - practically disposable - so these cheap tents they are left behind littering the fields.

Fancy Tents or Commando Style?

Glamping suggests staying in a Yurt - a fancy tent - now in these parts if you were to tell someone your going to slip into a Yurt you'd be chased out of the county so in true British Gung Ho spirit I've ordered a traditional canvass bell end tent - thick guy ropes, wooden tent pegs and tarpaulin groundsheet.

What about the weight?

Not a problem - you don't think I'm going to lug all that camping equipment around in a backpack do you? No chance. The bentley is up and running again and the accomodating boot will take care of not only the tent but an array of other camping equipment - stoves, tables and chairs, portable toilet and fridge the lot.

What if its Raining?

Heh heh - contigency plan cunningly implimented - I already booked a couple of nights at a boutique hotel so should the conditions deteriorate we jus up stick and check in and enjoy a night in a proper bed.

Proper beds

In fact the prospect of sleeping on a camp bed is grim to say the least - why do we put ourselves through the misery of sleeping on temporary beds when we could show our support to the ailing UK travel industry and sleep in proper beds?

We set off Friday - will update early next week.

Toodle Pip

Permalink | 0 comments

Two Grand Scrappage - Is that all??

Source: Kim Mutton
Tuesday 19th May 2009, 4:44pm

Could be time for the Bentley to go to the great car garage in the sky but with only two thousand on the table from the goventments scrappage scheme - I'll munch over it a while

One of the most cherished possesions I have is the gleaming Bentley that I am fortunate enought to have been gifted.

car scrappage

Now I hear that my five litre beast is responsible for contibuting unecessary greenhouse gas emissions - climate change leading to global health problems - and that the Government is trying to encourage drivers of old bangers to scrap them with the offer of a paulty twoo thousand pounds off the price of a new car from the generous car scrappage scheme. Turns out the car doesn't have to be eco freindly just NEW - a cynical effort to boost the flailing British motor industry.

Support the Motor Industry

But its NOT just for British car manufacturers - no let them go to the wall - the scrappage offer applies to any car dealership desperate enough to reveal the outrageous profits they usually make on new cars.

Spain car hire - Book early

This is uncanny when we hear reports of a shortage of cars for rent accross Europe is predicted and car rental businesses failing to restock with new cars. In the major spanish resorts companies are already charging a non refundable deposit to secure a motor for July and August

What's the catch with car scrappage sheme?

The only catch as i see is that its being run and policed by the car dealerships - they decide which modles do or dont attract the scrappage bonus - and who can trust them?

Another "failing" is the requirement to scrap cars over 10 years old. That's all well and good if its a Nissan Micra but I drive a blloming Bentley - its a classic - and it would be a travesty to simply let Pikey Pete and his mates siphon out the petrol, rob the tyres then set fire to it ona backstreet.

Unlike the governments careful consideration of expense and allowance claiming it would appear to have been badly thought through.

Permalink | 0 comments

Eggs Lower Blood Pressure?

Source: Kim Mutton
Thursday 30th April 2009, 11:59am

Its no yolk eat more eggs and help lower blood pressure.

Fried eggs for breakfast could help keep blood pressure down, say researchers.

Until just a few years ago the British Heart Foundation advised people to eat no more than a measly three eggs a week.

Eggs lower blood pressure

Scientists have discovered that eggs produce proteins that mimic the action of blood pressure lowering drugs such as Ace inhibitors.

Great news if like me you love to dip a little soldier into a lovely chucky egg first thing in the morning.

But the British Nutrition Foundation has concluded that it is healthy to go to work on an egg

It is saturated fat, rather than the cholesterol found in eggs, that is the main dietary culprit in raising cholesterol levels. Smoking, being overweight and lack of exercise also influence blood pressure, blood fat and cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.

The ingrained misconception linking egg consumption to blood pressure, high cholesteroland heart disease must be corrected.

The UK public do not need to be limiting the number of eggs they eat.

They can be encouraged to include them in a healthy diet as they are one of nature's most nutritionally dense foods.

If eggs can help lower blood pressure then I'll have two with my bacon and sausage fry up!

Permalink | 0 comments

April Showers - London Marathon

Source: Kim Mutton
Wednesday 15th April 2009, 5:18pm

Drip Drip Drip . . . .

April Showers

The London Marathon is a charming April Event however we cannot be compalcent whhich traditionally escapes April Showers - don't forget the London marathon showers from Paula Radcliff.

My application once again seemed to be overlooked - running around London in a giant pasty costume would have surely got the money falling into buckets.

Wii idea - London marathon - nintendo wii fit game

Why don't the clever chappies at Nintendo develop a London marathon Wii game - just think you could choose a costume and select running mates. Save both money and running shoes with a wii fit london marathon game. Other than the yet to be aired pasty costume I quite fancy doing the Cutty Sark section in a Rhino costume but will give Paula Radcliff plenty of room for her splash zone

I will apply early for the 2010 London marathon and if successful finally the pasty costume will be on display in full glory

Permalink | 0 comments

Beer Brewers and Pasty Makers of the South West - Tourism relies on you!

Source: Kim Mutton
Wednesday 18th March 2009, 4:41pm

Q: How do you increase travellers to the region

A: Hold a guess the weight of a giant pasty contest

Them clever London marketing types have succumbed to the lure of the pasty by offering travellers to guess the weight of a big pasty at mainlin train stations.

A: Tempt visitors into the South West with Beer and pasties

New Local Beer in Cornwall - Jobs Created

One of the newcomers to the South West Brewery brigade is the Penpont Brewery who are still trying to break into the lucrative "think global drink local" market by offering locally brewed beer for Cornwall and Devon

By supplying locally brewed beer the vrewery can claim that it is making less carbon emissions from transportation to help reduce greenhouse gasses and the effects that they have on global warming

Less than six months old the brewery in Altarnun, Cornwall already has three ales regulalry on offer and supplies many nearby pubs. One of the very first pubs to begin selling St Nonnas was the Rising Sun which I link to here however the website would benefit from being refreshed by someone who had a glimmer of web savviness.

Its not just local drinkers who favour the Penpont ragne the ales are winning the hearts of those further afield too - watch out Bovey Tracey here comes the beer.

South West Economic Climate Change

Food and Drink

On the whole the celebration of food and drink in the region is good - fine local foodstuffs and as already mentioned beer. Even in times of recession new bakeries breweries are appearing. There is even rumour that a specialist luxury gift service that will make and send food hampers and flowers from local suppliers.

Massive pasty grabs the headlines

I have to admit I was very disappointed not to see any of my top pasty makers mentioned - where were you Hartnells - the monster pasty was built and baked by Malcolm Barnecutt who will no doubt see his sales soar thanks to a link on the BBC news website. Well done Malcolm - why not- get ready for a visit later in the spring.

Permalink | 0 comments