Schools OUT

To raise money for school funds and to celebrate the end of term the PTA of Cherry Grove School arranged a night of live music at Boughton Hall Cricket Club

The Loose Kites, The Stops, The Invisible Wires and various combinations performed to a sold out audience. Top of the bill was the Loose Kites who have two teachers from Cherry Grove in their line-up drummer Mr Stark and singer Mr Poole who is offspring number 2's teacher.

They were excellent!! Check out the songs at their Myspace site and in particular the track Called "Radiation Vibe". The evening ended with the dancefloor overcrowded and lots of money raised.

The only down side of the evening was the lack of pies available. However a pint of Extra Cold Guiness managed to distract us from our Dreams Of Pies.

Get Fit For Pies

Spring has arrived, the clocks have gone forward and it's time for some serious exercise. Lose some weight and there's more room for Pies! So with due diligence the Pieman set of for a walk through the fields and woods around Burwardsley on Sunday afternoon.

Fantastic weather, fantastic views and a few calories burnt off. Unfortunately a Snugburys ice cream and a pint of mead at the wonderfully located Pheasant Inn negated all the good effort!!

No pies consumed but checked the excellent menu available at the Pheasant Inn which has a good reputation for its fodder.

However Steak, Weetwood Ale and Mushroom Pie under a puff pastry lid , served with hand cut chunky chips and garden peas @£9.45 seems a tad on the pricey side. As it has a lid does this qualify as a Pie????

However if anyone wishes to sponsor me to test this gastronomic offering I'll give it a go. Alternatively various wildlife was spotted which could be used in the making of a home made pie such Cows, Sheep, Masses of Pheasants, Squirrels......?

YFriday - Live

Pie offspring number 1 heads for Liverpool by coach on saturday night to Wavertree for a concert consisting of YFRIDAY, 29TH CHAPTER(Pictured), HOOLIO & AD-APT, SENTINEL7 & PURE CREATIVE ARTS. Returns home late and tired.

No pies spotted or consumed just craved!! Music described Rap/Hip Hop/Rock ??? Review from No1 Pie offspring "Very loud" and "Really Good"

Crowded House Reform

The same night we were watching Tim Finn at the Lowry in Manchester his brother Neil was leading a newly reformed Crowded House back on stage in Bristol for their first gig with new drummer Matt Sherrod.

To find out about the NEW album and subscribe to their newsletter just click on Crowded House above to take you to their site.

Although their disposition to Pies is currently unknown. Crowded House are the only band the Pieman can recall eating food onstage during a gig. Smoking, drinking, flowers (The Smiths!), Spouses (Mrs Bono) have all been paraded on stage but no pies or other food.

However Crowded House are the only band witnessed eating on stage during a gig. Again in Manchester at the Academy, Nick Seymour stuffed and consumed a whole Chocolate cake prior to a rendition of the song of the same name. Very impressive, one of those Chocolate logs all in one go.

Tim Finn Live

Quay Theatre at the Lowry, Salford Quays Manchester. The Pieman and Dragon Slayer were lucky to secure tickets for Tim Finn's first Concert tour in the Northern Hemisphere in thirteen years.

An excellent evening with New Zealander Mr Finn playing from his whole repertoire including selections from his solo albums ,including his latest Imaginary Kingdoms, Split Enz, Crowded House and other collaborations.

He played excellent versions of Six months in a Leaky Boat,Couldn't be done, Parihaka,Midnight Coma,Poor Boy, Unsinkable, Dirty Creature, Songline, Not Even Close, So precious, Persuasion, Chocolate cake.......Encore 1: How will you go, Shark Attack Encore 2: Astounding Moon, It's Only Natural

The venue we were visiting for the first time and were VERY impressed. It's fairly new you so in very good condition with very pleasant facilities/layout and reasonable prices at the Bar! The staff were very helpful and informative.

However when searching for fodder the on site cafe was found to be poorly stocked with not a PIE in sight.

The only downside of the night was that the REDS were playing at home and went to extra time resulting in a scrum when the concert finished. So along with an accident on the motorway on way home it was a late return home with no Pies. However an intimate excellent venue with a brilliant performance overshadowed the transport issue.

French Pie Famine

On a recent visit to the culinary centre of the world, according to our French cousins, a Junior member of the Pie Tribe resorts to entering a Spar (Alpe D'Huez ) in search of a Pie.

Upon spying what looked like a Pork Pie on display in the deli area our pie starved offspring dived in. Unfortunately her french not yet being sufficient, the Pie has remained unidentified. It had pastry, with a slight amount of jelly and a meat filling.

However, having previously eaten a Donkey Sausage unwittingly (I thought the donkey logo was the producers company logo!!!!) we can only assume that this was indeed a Pork Pie. As with the picture the the outlook was pretty but bleak when it came to pies.

Year of The Pig

Fireworks, parades, funfair, sideshows, music, food (but no Pies!), displays, great weather........... and a great time had by all celebrating the Year of The PIG with not a Pork Pie in sight.

In disgust members of the party retired to a traditional cafe for apple pie.

Thoroughly recommended as a trip out for all those looking for something free to do whilst saving the pennies for the serious pursuit of Pies. However don't forget to take an emergency pie with you just in case.