Feeder Update

The new feeder rod has proved very successful for the Pieman with half dozen 3-4lb Bream taken in the last week from the Shroppie.

Even one with a sizeable chunk taken out of it by a collision with a Pike, Perch,Cormorant, Heron or mink I'm not sure which? Sweetcorn has been the bait of choice so far but no sign of the carp.

Porg In A Pie???

Many thanks for this delightful and interesting sign found on a recent trip to Bath & Longleat by the Dragonslayer and family. What a curious filling for a pie?

A quick trip to wikipedia confirms the pictures story and reveals a bit more about Sir Jeffery Hudson.

"On his 7th birthday, in 1626 Jeffrey Hudson was presented to the Duchess of Buckingham as a "rarity of nature" and she invited him to join the household. A few months later the Duke and Duchess entertained King Charles and his young French wife, Queen Henrietta Maria in London.

The climax of the lavish banquet was the presentation of Jeffrey to the Queen, served in a large pie. When the pie was placed in front of the Queen, Jeffrey arose from the crust, 18 inches tall and perhaps dressed in a miniature suit of armour. The Queen was delighted and the Duke and Duchess of Buckingham offered Hudson to her as an amusing gift." For the expanded story of his life click here.

What's the most Curious Pie filling you have come across?

Pink Peril Goes to The Zoo

The Pieman and the Pink Peril enjoyed a day out at Colwyn Bay Mountain during this weeks school break. After enduring wind, rain and fog en route the weather broke out into a gorgeous day.

Favourites of the day were the penguins, talking Macaw, Red Panda, Otters, Sealions, Ostrich (minging!!), Chimps ..........

After walking up and down a hill for a couple of hours lunchtime was very welcome. Unfortunately the standard of catering left a bit to be desired. The Pies on offer were woeful. So bad were they that the brand name and price were not known. Cardboard with a vacumn was the best way to describe the Pieman's lunch.

The Don Strikes Big

This weekend the Pieman tested out a new feeder rod (Appropriately named for the Pieman!), reel and alarm combination with assistance from the "Don" of shroppie fishing.

The result a 3lb bream for the Pieman on the second cast with several nice roach to follow in a short session! The next day from the same spot the "Don" weighed in with this colossus. A 20lb+ Mirror carp after a 15 min fight.

The weight is conservative as the scales broke!! But it was more than big enough for a few pies.

Cathedral of Consumerism

Bank Holiday weekend trip to The Trafford Park Centre (Deep Joy). This principally to allow Pie Daughter No1 to spend birthday money burning a hole in her pocket.

Highlight of the trip though, quite apart the "People Watching" and purchasers, was the visit to the Selfridges food Court! Several individual pies were available for purchase the most interesting of which was the Lamb & Mint. The Selfridges own Gloucestershire Pork Pie look worthy of attention but seemed a tad expensive.

Also noted was the Sushi bar which was very very busy. The idea of sitting watching food go past on a conveyor belt is quite appealing, tempting and demoralising all at at the same time. Eventually food purchases were made in the scrum that is known as the Great Food Hall and not a pie was seen.

The Pieman left the temple of materialism wondering why it is so popular when so many people there look so thoroughly miserable!!! Or was it me just focussing of the fellow pie eaters waiting outside of the umpteenth clothes shopping for ..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert De Niro sings Happy Birthday?

Many thanks to all those who sent a present , a card or best wishes for the Pie daughter no 1 birthday this week.

Due to weather barbeque inside with one member of the family coming in fancy dress.

Please note Robert De Niro ( Travis Look-a-Like) in the centre of the picture! Many thanks to Cousin Pie for making the extra effort to make the day memorable.

Pie In The Sky

A belated Christmas present for Mrs Pieman on sunday was a Birds of Prey experience in the middle of Cheshire. The day was split into two with the morning being a "Meet The Birds" session and the afternoon a "Walk on The Wild Side".

In the morning Mrs Pieman was introduced up close to six different raptors including an African Eagle Owl, Buzzard, Harris Hawk, Ferruginous Buzzard(pictured below left), Bateleur Eagle (pictured above left) and a Steppe Eagle.

There was a short break in the middle to get some lunch. A lovely Steak & Onion Pie being located by the pieman quicker than a hungry Falcon (200mph+). After lunch it was off for a trek through the local woods with a couple of Harris Hawks to scare the local rabbit and bird population.

Mrs Pieman escorted a male Harris Hawk ( called Tyler) to the woods who before the end of the session went AWOL he was enjoying himself so much!

Both sessions were led by interesting and obviously well informed Falconers. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for the birds was infectious. The weather and conditions were fantastic and a memorable day was had.

Nearly Plastered

The thought of household chores led to a loss of concentration during a recent handball practice. Net result another visit to the Royal Infirm of Purpose by a member of the Pie Tribe.

No plaster as yet but with Infirm of Purpose in charge this situation could change. Torn ligaments and a tiny fracture in a finger. Three hours not too bad and pie eating hand still intact.

Wanted Urgently

Urgently need two man , easy to put up, tent for weekend away. Can anyone help? Please contact Pieman or Mrs Pieman.

House Of Pie

Excellent website for discovering what your Representative is up to. Speeches, voting record, questions, topics of interest, Most recent appearances in Parliament, Register of members interests, expenses ........

There is a section called numerology where various statistics are provided to judge how there performing.

ie " This MP's speeches are understandable to an average 17–18 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score. " - Christine Russell MP for Chester.

You can email your MP from this site and keep track of what they are doing with various feeds.

ie "[David Taylor in the Chair] — Cross-border Transport (Deeside) (6 Feb 2007)
“That is absolutely true. However, there is a close inter-relationship and synergy between north-east Wales and west Cheshire today, except on the odd occasion when there is a local derby between Chester and Wrexham—it might not be quite as harmonious then. As has been said, it is significant that well over 80 per cent. of all the journeys that begin in the Deeside hub area end within the...”

You could email them to drop the Vat on Pie Purchases for the well being of society in general, farmers and over eaters like the Pieman.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/