Thursday, May 21, 2015

Ocho Reales gluten free ale

I recently heard about Ocho Reales gluten free beer via MexImport on Twitter and I was very pleased to receive a couple of sample bottles.

Ocho Reales gluten free Ale
The name was taken from the old currency 'Real de a ocho' - more commonly known as the Piece of Eight

Allergen information on the Ocho Reales gluten free Ale
Allergen information on the Ocho Reales gluten free Ale

I'm looking forward to trying them with a Mexican meal soon.

Check out the links below for more info.

Links:
- MexImport
- Ocho Reales

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free beer
Gluten Free
Coeliac

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

A special gluten free delivery from Udi's

It was very nice to recently receive a hamper of Udi's Gluten Free goodies.

A special gluten free delivery from Udi's

The hamper included bagel chips, cake mix, soft baked cookies, muffins and more.

The Udi's Tiger Bloomer was Highly Commended in the Bread Category of the 2015 FreeFrom Food Awards
The Udi's Tiger Bloomer was Highly Commended in the Bread Category of the 2015 FreeFrom Food Awards

The Tiger Bloomer is very good - I had it to hold together a tasty filling of jerk pulled chicken and slaw that Emily cooked up. Sorry there's no photo as I'd got in late from a minigolf trip and wolfed it down!

Do check out my Gluten Free Journey blog on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free have been operating in the USA since 1994 and launched in the UK in 2013. Do visit the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

Links:
Udi's Gluten Free UK
Udi's Gluten Free USA
- Udi's Gluten Free blog

Related blog posts:
- Udi's
Gluten Free
Coeliac

Princes Parade Pitch and Putt in Skegness

On Saturday 9 May 2015 we revisited the Pitch and Putt course on Princes Parade in Skegness, Lincolnshire. We previously visited the course in May 2011.

Princes Parade Pitch and Putt course in Skegness, Lincolnshire
Princes Parade Pitch and Putt in Skegness

The Pitch & Putt course is operated by Golfwise and is a 9-hole layout. It's only open during the summer season, so our visit in early May was probably a bit too early in the year.

Visit the Golfwise website for more information. They have a number of courses in London and Essex. Their Pitch and Putt course at West Park in Chelmsford is a great layout.

Related blog posts:
- Putting and a Pitch & Putt on South Parade, Skegness
Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast

Link:

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf in Skegness

A revisit to the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf course at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness.

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness
Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

In May 2011 we visited Skegness as part of a road trip along the Lincolnshire coast. In May 2015 we returned for some more fun and games in the seaside resort.

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness
At the Pebble Beach Adventure Golf in Skegness

When we arrived on the Friday afternoon we had a wander along the seafront to see what had changed with the minigolf courses.

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness
Unfortunately the course was closed when we first arrived. It was open all weekend though which was nice to see

Luckily the course was open to play on the Saturday. The fun little 9-hole course became the 362nd played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and our round was part of the Skegness Minigolf Championship that took place on National Miniature Golf Day!

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Pebble Beach Adventure Golf at the Pleasure Beach in Skegness

Related blog posts:
Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses in Skegness

A revisit to the Arnold Palmer Putting courses on North Parade in Skegness.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
At the Arnold Palmer Putting Course on the seafront in Skegness

In May 2011 we visited Skegness as part of a road trip along the Lincolnshire coast. In May 2015 we returned for some more fun and games in the seaside resort.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
Playing the Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness as part of our Minigolf Weekender

When we arrived on the Friday afternoon we had a wander along the seafront to see what had changed with the minigolf courses.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
There are three courses at the Arnold Palmer layout - a 9-hole and an 18-hole Crazy Golf, plus an 18-hole grass Putting course 

This time we played the two Crazy Golf courses as part of the Skegness Minigolf Championship that took place on National Miniature Golf Day! We returned on the Sunday to play the grass Putting course.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
  
Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
Emily didn't manage to Ring the Bell

The courses were originally the 234th, 235th and 236th played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
About to score an ace

Arnold Palmer Putting Course in Skegness
The grass Putting course at the Arnold Palmer centre in Skegness

Arnold Palmer Putting Courses are my favourite type of Crazy Golf courses. There's a certain something about them that strikes a chord with me. I really enjoyed seeing the scorecards in use at the course too - they carry a lot of minigolf history!

Arnold Palmer Putting Course Scorecard from Skegness
Of the Arnold Palmer Putting courses listed on the reverse of the scorecard we've visited Camber Sands (now demolished), Mablethorpe (now Pirate themed), Southend (one of the two courses still exists and is in good condition), Tynemouth (demolished), Cleethorpes, Canvey Island (9 of the original 18-holes remain), Great Yarmouth (the courses have been amended since our last visit), Hastings (home of the World Crazy Golf Championships) and Margate (the two courses were in the Cliftonville area but were part demolished in 2014)

Related blog posts:
Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield

Visiting the Pirate Adventure Golf course at the Galleria in Hatfield.

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
A view of the Pirate Mini Golf course from the gallery at the Galleria

On Tuesday 19 May I headed over to Hatfield, Hertfordshire to meet up with my old mate and Dodgeball rival 'Rowdy' Russell Fenner for a game of minigolf on the Pirate Adventure Golf course at the Galleria Outlet Shopping Centre.

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
There's a HUGE octopus/kraken on the minigolf course

Unfortunately the course was closed. We'd planned to have a round after work at 6pm, but the course was closed from 5.30pm.

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
Visiting the 599th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

It had been open when I first arrived. While the Galleria is open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays, the Pirate Adventure Golf course is only open 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays. Looking on the website it does state that the last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
There's a big shark on the course

The swimming shark on the Galleria's minigolf course!

The result of our contest was put down as a no-score draw.

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
Me and Rowdy Russell were unable to have a minigolf battle on the course

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
So no pirate treasure went to the winner

Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
And the loser wasn't fed to the sharks
  
Pirate Mini Golf at the Galleria Shopping Centre in Hatfield
The course itself is an 'Eternit' type of miniature golf, with a felt surface

For more information on the Pirate Adventure Golf course and the Galleria shopping centre check out the links below.

The course was the 599th visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

In June 2014 we played a similar layout from the same group when the course was 12-holes.

Related blog posts:
- Indoor Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf courses
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Course visit #560, course played #336
- Sharks
- Eternit

Links:
- Pirate Mini Golf website
- The Galleria Outlet Shopping centre website

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Indoor Mini Golf at the Lost World Adventure Park in Skegness

Visiting an abandoned theme park and derelict crazy golf in Skegness.

Lost World Adventure Park in Skegness
Visiting another abandoned minigolf course

On Sunday 10 May 2015 we visited the Lost World Adventure Park on North Parade in Skegness. Unfortunately it'd closed down. The Lost World had been home to an indoor Jungle 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf course.

Indoor Jungle 3D Mini Golf at the Lost World Adventure Park in Skegness
One of the remaining indications that the Lost World Adventure Park was home to a minigolf course

Lost World Adventure Park in Skegness
Through the fence you could see one of the dinosaurs and a caveman 'golfer'

The course location was the 598th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Lost World Adventure Park in Skegness
A view of the Lost World Adventure Park from the car park beside it

Luckily there are many other miniature golf courses to play in Skegness.

Related blog posts:
Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf Courses on the Lincolnshire Coast

Link:

New Free From Cakes at Tesco

I noticed that Tesco has some new gluten and wheat free cakes in the Free From section!

Free From Cakes at Tesco
Tesco's Free From range now includes Chocolate and Madeira Celebration Cakes

I'm looking forward to an occasion to try them out.

Related blog posts:
Gluten Free
Coeliac
Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
Tesco Free From
Coeliac UK

Monday, May 18, 2015

The America Ground in Hastings

Finding out about the America Ground in Hastings.

'The America Ground' painting on Robertson Passage by Jon Cole, Susan Elliott, Pete Thompsett and Benjamin Gough
'The America Ground' painting on Robertson Passage by Jon Cole, Susan Elliott, Pete Thompsett and Benjamin Gough

I've been visiting Hastings, East Sussex since 2007 and spend quite a few days a year playing Crazy Golf there. On my most recent trip for the British Minigolf Championships I stayed in a hotel on the seafront in the old Victorian Town Centre for a change. While walking back on Friday evening I noticed a big painting and a plaque on Robertson Passage with some very interesting history on the area!

'The America Ground' plaque on Robertson Passage in Hastings
'The America Ground' plaque on Robertson Passage in Hastings

The area - formed as a new piece of land after storms hit Hastings in 1287 - was out of the control of Hastings Borough and in 1822 had become home to around 1,000 people. In defiance of action by Hastings Borough to collect taxes and rent, the residents of the area declared themselves independent from Hastings and the 24th US State!

You can read more on the roots of the America Ground on the America Ground Hastings website.

Links:
- America Ground Hastings

Related blog posts:
- Hastings
- Plaque-ing Interesting
- The Piece of Cheese Cottage in Hastings