I looked at my webstats today and was genuinely surprised at the figures I saw (I haven’t been keeping track of the stats as it isn’t a business site). I didn’t realise it was quite as popular as the numbers suggest…

It started off with 258 visitors in its first month and that has been increasing steadily. During August 2010, it had 772 unique visitors, resulting in an amazing average of 80 visits a day!

The stats throw up some weird and wonderful search phrases being used to find the site. I wonder who it was who used Google to search for “how do i meet men from swanton morley barracks” and surely the person looking for “free wine samples” was getting a bit desperate!

However, despite the blog’s apparent popularity, the story is still the same as I found on the old website… NOBODY WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE! Apart from one post where people got involved and discussed the town at great length, the comments are very few and far between.  Are you shy?

So it looks like Wetherspoon wasn’t looking at the old Godfrey DIY premises after all. If you peer into the windows, you’ll see loads of bathroom fittings. This is probably a good clue. Unless ‘Spoons are now serving pints in bidets, a new bathroom shop is opening there.

The ex-Evolve shop in Norwich Street is also opening again. The decorators have been busy during the past few days and it’s about to evolve itself into a new retailer. Things are looking positive again. Watch this space.

OK – it’s sweepstake time! Any ideas as to the premises they’re considering? Could it be a takeover of The Hungry Horse? Could it be the old Godfrey DIY building by the town sign? Possibly the ex-Learning Centre premises?

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

140 people have  frozen to death during the last weeks in Poland. 226 flights were cancelled at Frankfurt Airport.  Switzerland closed its alpine tunnels to lorries. Local power cuts and public transport disruption is forecast this weekend for Germany, where one area in the southwest has seen 300 car accidents – they also have a shortage of grit. Hundreds of trucks were stranded when French authorities closed the road near the German border due to snow.

See – it isn’t just us! Let’s stop spreading this misinformation. It happens all over.

The full article can be found on BBC News

Sorry, couldn’t resist. It was taken on my way to work this morning.

Back in the 13th century, it was a Belgian ale called Stout Porter, being named after an old stout porter who worked at Waterloo. This beer, being the original, was 100% true to style – which is strange, as it was a completely clear liquid (this was due to the Belgian Purity laws which dictated that all brewing had to be totally transparent).

In the 14th century it was brought over to Britain, but the style immediately became less than 100% true due to small mammals being added to the mash to provide extra fizz and fermentation (English brewers had misheard the Belgians’ accent as “stoat porter”). No matter, because the Danish brewers of Northampton quickly went to court and stopped this ale being sold due to it being too like their own lager – almost colourless, fizzy and with a slight whiff of polecat wee.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that the beer took on the dark colouring we associate with it today. Brewers had started adding clinker to the mash, which gave it a smokey flavour. Coal Porter, as it was known, became a success. Inspired by this, more variants were invented: Nyree Dawn Porter, which came to the UK from New Zealand. Gail Porter, which had a great body and a smooth head. Stout Yeoman, made with freeze-dried mashed potato, and finally Alec Guinness – which looked quite weak, but had a force which was strong.

As you can see from the photo, I found my favourite Fuller’s London Porter at Waitrose, Swaffham. They have a nice choice of beers on sale, especially from the Fullers stable. All I need now to quaff over the Xmas holiday is a bottle or two of Schlenkerla Rauschbier (yes, smoked beer really does exist, although it isn’t called ‘Coal Porter’).