Washout!

We had arranged to go to the local pub's beer festival today and had said we would meet Paul and Sue and Richard and Michelle at 12pm to walk up.

Sophie should have been at Leeds Festival today but had had to cancel as she couldn't get any time off work. It was a good thing, though, as the person she was going to see, Fetty Wap, had cancelled at the last minute due to illness...perhaps he had heard Sophie wasn't going!!

We walked up with the others (Paul was out walking the dogs and joined us later) and the weather was lovely - very sunny and warm - and we just hoped it would stay that way! Keith Sophie and I went into the barn to select our drinks and I chose a half pint of a very dark beer at 6.1% called T'Owd Navigation. Sophie chose a bottle of lager as it was cold!

We joined the others who had set up two picnic tables under the marquee and right in the middle, which, we later found out, was a very good thing! Sue and Michelle went for Pimms and Prosecco while Richard had a pint of a sweet cider that looked very cloudy, but was nevertheless very good, he said!

We had a great time chatting and laughing and Paul joined us with the dogs, followed by Mike who had walked up after his shower. He and Keith drank the T'Owd Navigation while I went for a slightly weaker beer called Earnest Anarchist which was delicious.

After about an hour and a half it started to rain and then we had a series of thunderstorms that were very violent!

About 3pm when the storm really got fierce! Stuart (one of the Managers of the pub).

Son and father

Bailey hiding on Sue and Michelle's laps. It became very chilly!

We were so glad our table was right in the middle of the tent as several people had to move inside because of the weather!

Of course, the rain prevented us from going home so we all had more to drink then we intended to! Keith had four pints of very strong beer while I had four halves. He and Mike dashed home at 5pm as Keith wanted to watch Newcastle play on the television and Sophie and I followed half an hour later with the others once the rain had stopped.

We all agreed that we'd had a lovely afternoon, though, despite the weather and that the terrific thunder and lightening had actually added to the enjoyment!

I cooked pizzas and potato wedges for dinner after waking up the sleepy menfolk!