Pies 1, Everton 0 & Chelski 0

The Dragonslayer and the Pieman headed to Goodison Park for the match against Chelski on monday night.

The Chelski team were a sight to watch with Deco, Ballack, Lampard, Cole et al in action. Passing, Poise, Probing and Pace in abundance with a multitude of skills and talent at their disposal.

If I was a Chelski fan though I would hang my head in shame. Big Phil has complained in the media today that the referee was too afraid of the crowd to make the right decision (in his eyes).

If a fan touches one blade of grass he is arrested on the spot, frog marched from the ground and charged. Meanwhile on the pitch an overpaid self important shameless "star" can harass, swear, bicker, scream, gesticulate and shout en masse against a referee usually without interuption.

Chelski are the worst offenders crowding the referee actively seeking opportunities to get fellow professionals booked or sent off and then squealing like little pigs when decisions go against them. There may be reasons why they behave like this but no excuses, their tactics last night deserved defeat at best and a draw at worst.

Any way onto the important news a new Pie found and tasted. A Balti pie was acquired under the Park Stand before kick off. A little overpriced but this is to be expected.

Tasty with a bit of a spicy kick but not "Bite Your Bottom" hot a welcome respite in the cold weather and empty stomach. We believe it to be a Pukka Pie but wait to be corrected if not.

Parallel Universe

A small City which has motorway, train & canal links, museums, a University, is a administrative centre, a thriving tourist trade and a population just over 100,000.

Can such a City build a 17,000 all seater stadium, produce a team to win the Premier league and compete in the European Champions League?

Surely only in a parallel universe I hear you Chester fans scream. It's not possible except in your wildest dreams. However in Holland yesterday AZ Alkmaar beat the mighty Ajax to go top of the Dutch Eredivisie.

Their two year old stadium is on the edge of town and very impressive with it's accompanying training pitches and purpose built youth academy. How long before Chester play at home in the European Champions League, I wonder?

Avete torta? Part 1

The Dragonslayer and the Pieman headed south for Grand Prix and Pie in sunny Italy at Monza Autodrome just a few miles east of Milan. We flew from Manchester on Friday afternoon and stayed in a small village called Boltiere not far from Bergamo.

What a weekend! The weather was abysmal it poured with rain everytime we approached the circuit and came down even heavier every time a car appeared on track. Yet despite or because of this we had a FANTASTIC time. We met some interesting, boring, fascinating, miserable, happy, fun, weird people and that was just the brits including the Subaru 3, the Brum 2, Billy no mate and Aberdeen Angus, who we understood less than the Italians.

The track is a classic with parts of the old famous steep banking hidden away but still there in places. It is set amongst a wonderful public park/woodland but does not cope with rain too well.

Our first day was spent finding our way round and selcting a site to watch the race from the following day. We watched the morning practise from the exit of Rettifillio chicane at the end of the Start/Finish straight. For the actual qualifying and race day we eventually settled on area on the inside of track at the braking area just before the Parabolic.

Who Screamed The Loudest?

The Pie Tribe headed towards Bala a couple of weekends back to the National Whitewater Centre. This was near Frongoch on the River Tryweryn. Mrs Pieman was to enjoy an afternoon Rafting down the River Tryweryn the flow of which is controlled by a Dam upstream.

The session is preceded by instruction and kitting out with wet suits, helmets etc .......This is followed by instruction in the boat on dry land with your fellow raftmates. You are then taken by minibus upstream with your raft for the first of four runs down the river.

We think the pictures amply illustrate how much Mrs Pieman enjoyed herself!! She definitely screamed the loudest when she went down the drop where the rest of the Pie Tribe were watching from. This was usually followed by laughter and a very large grin.

Holland Part 2

The search for quality pies continued but the best that Holland could offer was Cheese Pasties and various types of Sausage roll. A particularly favourite seem to be the lattice type with a strange Curry Sauce and Tomato ketchup stuffed variety as pictured!!

A first for the Pie Tribe were the eels we had at Einkhuizen at the Zuider Zee Museum. Smoked and very difficult to get rid of the taste, even after several brushings of teeth.



Many thanks to Rose Swamp who steered us in the direction of Kibling and huge quntities of Mayonnaise. Kibling being Cod and sold by the bucketload.

Other favourite's by the end of the trip were the Apple Pie, Gouda Cheese, the many Cake Shops, Belgium Chips, Chocolate dipped Ice Cream, Liptons Iced Tea with Lime, Cheap Supermarket Chocolate, Amstel Beer, Corn Bread ...........

Holland Part 1

We headed to Holland for our holiday this year and hired a house/chalet/gite on a lake just off the North Holland Canal in the Village of Nieuwe Nidorp about 45 miles North West of Amsterdam and about 15 miles from Alkmaar.

More importantly it was only 25 mins away from the Swamp family who were holidaying at the Dirk Swamp ancestral home(s) in the village of Andijk. After dumping our gear we headed over for a brilliant welcome to Holland. The Dutchies as ever were mad and loud. Many thanks to the extended Swamp family who made us feel very welcome.

Haben Sie Torte?

Mrs Pie headed to Germany at the end of the academic year to explore the Mosel region.

Instructions were given to locate Pies to delight and expand the waistband. I was assured that language would not be a problem. Pictured on the left is Mrs Pie and colleague Mrs Lindt.

However upon their return no pie was forthcoming. Upon seeing the photos from the Pie Trip it may be safe to assume that any Pie Purchased may not have made it back anyway!!!

I'm assured the music man was tucking into apple strudel but would you trust this man with your Pie?

Wie ben ik?

Dear Blog,

Sorry we haven't left a note for a while. We've been rather busy in the search of Pies. Since we last wrote the Pie Tribe has been to foreign shores searching for edible delicacies to feast and report on.

This has taken tribe members to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Wales and soon to Italy.

The photo above was given to all Dutch purveyors of Pies to allow them to hide all stocks of Pies to prevent the Pieman from finding any ....and I certainly looked!!

K9 & the Tall Ships 2008

The Pie Tribe minus Mrs But Including the Piester In Law headed for Liverpool Docks to see the Tall Ships Race.

Going by train and taxi we headed for the Seacombe ferry terminal in Wallasey and the Spaceport/Dr Who exhibition. An excellent exhibition both the space bit and particularly the Dr Who part.

From here it was into the cafe for the most anemic pathetic pastry offering experienced by the Pie Tribe in a long while. So much so it was nameless in origin!

Then it was onto the ferry a quick call at Woodside and across the Mersey to Pier Head. Although the predicted bad weather didn't arrive during our visit a racing tide and strong breeze resulted in a bumpy crossing.

Once ashore at Pier Head the place was heaving with the dock road closed and Canning/Albert Dock area absolutely jammed with people. It was'nt easy to see the boats but there were a few things going, music and street entertainers.

From here the Pie girls were keen to head into town and sample some shopping for clothes but not Pies unfortunately. They also started finding the Superlambananas and kept wanting to find more.

Potatoes Are Go! - Plot 109a Update

We have potatoes, lettuce and huge turnips. The first potatoes have been dug and have produced excellent edible offerings. The first lettuces were great but some have now bolted. Onions should be available soon followed by more lettuce, spring onions and Beetroot.

Chard is continuing to produce when not attacked by the noble pigeon.