The Hop Vine

My morning was spent with some old friends, a coffee in Verve with the rather hungover gang comprising of Brad, Hannah, Jen, Joe, Claire and Michaela. As I always say, it was so lovely to catch up with everyone and see what they have been up to. I cannot believe how quickly the wedding date is coming around for Hannah and Brad; I cannot wait to see them get married in November! It seems a very long time ago that I first met Brad, the first of the group that I knew, but at the same time it still feels like only yesterday even after seven years. Time flies when you’re having fun I guess!

But this doesn’t explain why I have a picture of this rather scrumptious looking burger as my Blip for today. I know some people are loath to post a picture of food as a Blip, but I really feel like this sums up my day pretty perfectly. It also showcases the skills of a certain independent pub a little while away from my house, The Hop Vine, that not only serves amazing pub food but also brews its own real ale…ale that is so smooth, and so nice that drinking does not feel like a sin. If you are interested, this is my meal in the photograph…a blue cheeseburger, with homemade chips and a Jack Daniels dipping sauce. Of course, there is the ubiquitous pint of The Hop Vine…pretty much the only thing that everyone drinks in here! I went, of course, with my parents since I hadn’t been in over a year, and the occasion…well, it was raining outside. I think that would be the perfect excuse for most things right? To make everyone a little more jealous, of course I had to have a pudding…a sticky toffee one with homemade vanilla ice-cream. Perfect.

In other news, I think we might have found the sofa for the newly redone living room after making a random visit into the furniture shop just down the road from the pub. Perhaps it was the ale, but they’re going to come along at some point over the week and see if it will fit through the door. Nothing like split second decisions after a pub visit. Mum and I think that it is a slate blue, Dad has decided it is beige…we may need a second viewing.