#16 How many ways to kill a Slug in a Secret Garden?!

ART
There's so much art out there for everyone, it was hard to pick who this week. Over the last few months I've been introduced to so many different styles from all over the globe. But I've decided this week to give you something you can help finish the creation.
I introduce you to Johanna Basford. I discovered Johanna around this time last year just sat there on a bookshelf in Rheged. No wait, Johanna wasn't sat on the bookshelf, her book was! Except it was on the child's section. I was looking for a book for my Nephew and got distracted. Didn't realise when I picked up 'Secret Garden' that it was an adult colouring book. If you look at the ink work that has gone into it I wouldn't blame you for not actually believing what the book is. To this day I have not plucked up the courage to colour it in, but, I also have my own painting to finish 'colouring in'.
Based in Aberdeen Johanna is an Illustrator who has had work commissioned by H&M, Crabtree & Eveyln, Channel 4, Brewdog, Beefeater 24 Gin (watch the process for the B24G promo) and a whole host of other famous brands. If you want to find out more about Johanna have a look at this, one of her creations in progress.

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If you already have Johanna 'Secret Garden' Adult colouring book which over a Million of you do, her new book is out now. 'Enchanted Forest', is sure to be a winner too. Reminds me of that Ravensburger Board game I used to have hours of fun.

Is your job stressful and you can't switch off when you get home. Well I bet you half an hour of your time, that in half an hour of colouring in one of these books you will feel less stressed and have a good nights sleep. That is as long as you are sitting comfy and you turn social media off and the TV, just play your tunes in the background. Go on give it a go.

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BEER in a CAN!
Camden Town Brewery India Hells Lager 6.2%
An Indian Pale ale created to be a Lager. Interesting. Looking forward to this – only ever tried one craft Lager before and that was ours.
I sniff and I sniff and I sniff, it can be addictive when you can't pin the smell – sorry aroma. It's not that I can't smell anything, Hell I would be a fish if I couldn't smell these hops. I've smelt the smell before and I don't get a good vibe from it, the only fruit I can honestly say I tried once and didn't like (probably because it was in a can) was the Lychee. Think that's what I'm smelling. So I check the hops they've put in it. Four hops went into this, one hop gives off a grapefruit aroma the another hop a tropical fruit aroma. Not far off, there's a sweetish smell too, mix those three together and you get a Lychee smell don't you?? So to the taste. It is definitely fruity, and after the first sip I deduce this is really nice and delicious. It's light and smooth all the way down. That aroma – what aroma, I smell no smell. I could quite happily sit here all night sipping this as 'Dave' plays re-runs of Red Dwarf IV all night.
Moral of this story, never try a Lychee out of can, and never judge a can of beer/lager aroma on a wrongly presented fruit. What have I deduced from this? Try a Lychee in its natural state and BUY MORE INDIA HELLS LAGER!

Lister: I'm not going to get blasted Rimmer, just nicely drunk
Rimmer: Define 'nicely drunk' as 'nicely drunk' horizontal or perpendicular.

Find out more about the brewery built in the railway arches, Camden Town Brewery.

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COVERED IN WEEDS
The temperature outside is starting to rise now and we are starting to get more sunlight (sort of depends which part of the country you are from). The soil temperature is starting rise and the spring bulbs are either in bloom or just starting to poke through. Spring is definitely here when the Snowdrops and the Daffodils are showing their colours in the breeze. Except my back garden thinks its still Winter.
Whilst looking on various gardening sites to find out what I am supposed to be doing this month I took mental note that the Slugs will be out in force soon. It remind me of a conversation I had with a family member back in the summer. The best way to kill a Slug was the topic. She shall remain nameless but 'M' said she kills them with a stick – not even a specially sharpened one. Occasionally a fork will do!! I was in shock this must be classed as murder of the most sadistic kind. Should I be afraid for my life?! 'M' seemed to think that letting them crawl into a bowl of beer was just as bad. My argument was at least they were happy drunks when they passed away.
So how many less aggressive ways are there to kill a slug without killing everything else? Well I stumbled upon this book 50 Ways to kill a Slug by Sarah Ford whilst searching for more ideas other than Sticks, Scissors, Salt, Beer and Oatmeal. I may just have to purchase this little gem.

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MUSINGS
This weekend is Kendal Food and Drink Festival up here in Cumbria. Yes it's that time of year when around the country the town centres start to have lovely smells, bags clinking full of bottles of delight, the butchers, the artisan bakers and the candlestick makers are out in force and the dowdy town centre turns into an old style market, full of chatter, laughter and lots of individual crafters who you wouldn't normally see on the high-street.

As Eden Brewery Ltd this is our first year at the Kendal Food and Drink Festival, so I was up early this morning loading a van and then unloading it an hour later. If you are in the area come and have a peek and try some beers. I have it on good authority the Judith from KinVodka will be there too, and I am sure she will be letting you taste the scrummy Toffee Vodka. Mary Chappelhow will be there selling her lovely hand thrown kitchen wares. The Secret Garden Find Meat Company will be selling there rare breed pie's and sausages. I'll tell you them sausages are jam packed full of flavour and meat. I'm hoping Mr Vikki's will be there as I need some more of his delicious Banana Habanero to put on my crumpets of a Sunday morning. I'm eager to see who else is there, but I have a feeling we are all going to be busy and not able to go and wander for five minutes. Come and say Hello if you are around. If you are not in the area and there's a Festival happening near you this month, put on your woolly coat and hat, go discover that one hand made small company item that you'll love forever and a day.

Tunes for the weekend to chill out to or even to colour to my first ever favourite band A-HA. The next band I saw at The Leadmill in Sheffield many years ago. They were pretty good live and as a result I ended up buying both their albums back in the early 90's. I wondered what they were doing now and apparently they are still active, even found the lead singer on Twitter. Here's Drugstore with Say Hello. And finally My Mans contribution, he says this would make him want to colour in, or paint a wall, a bit of DubStep for you Sarah Machlan.

Have a great weekend and enjoy whatever you do.

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