Tiny Tim

It was the Sharpe series that I started with, and agree the Starbuck series was great. I enjoyed the Grail Quest series too.

I recently purchased a bottle of Tesco Finest London Dry Gin and was really taken by it. It's a very reasonable price and was very easy drinking. Some of the own brand stuff is really quite good. Hendricks Gin is another I tried quite recently and enjoyed.

Good books, I do enjoy Bernard Cornwell's work.

I bought a bottle of Ardberg a while back and on first few glasses didn't really like it. A month or two later I gave it another go and now quite like it. Not sure if it has had chance to 'breathe' or my taste buds have adapted.

I think Futtocks knows his food. I find my stomach rumbling at the mere thought of some of his meal descriptions. If he ever starts an open kitchen with the folk from TRL invited for dinner I am straight on the train. There's being a food snob and there's being someone who knows a lot about authentic good quality food.

I've been reading quite a few Raymond Feist books recently. Really getting into them. Just about to finish 'Rage of a Demon King' - 3rd (of 4) in the Serpentwar Saga.

Has anyone on here ever tried Japanese whisky, I've read about them winning various awards but never given them a try?

No snow in Sussex. We went for a nice walk this afternoon at a local Nation Trust place, it was cold but blue skies and sunshine made for a very pleasant walk.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/ruined-ski-holidays-put-smile-on-everyone-elses-faces-2014121793924

I love it when some moron at work decides to do something stupid 2 days before Christmas and I am left to clear up the mess

Bit extreme.

During the recent Amazon Black Friday week sale thing I bought a bottle of Johnnie Walker Double Black whisky. I do not normally buy blended whisky but after reading that this has lots of Islay in it I thought at £25 a bottle I would give it a go. I was actually pleasantly surprised, it's not a world beater but it's certainly very drinkable and one I would consider buying again.

GI Joe?

Hope you don't like it too much or is could be hard going back to the cheap stuff

I need to find decent pub with a good range of whisky and spend a pleasant evening trying a few.

What are your thoughts on Caol Ila or Lagavulin? Perhaps I need to arrange a holiday to Scotland to continue my education.

Not overly oppressed with Ardbeg 10 year old, not as good as Laphroaig or Bowmore. It's drinkable but lacking something. I might have to splash out on one of the other Ardbegs such as the Uigeadail or Corryvreckan as they seem to be rated highly....if I can figure out how to pronounce them.

I had a friend at uni who was from Western Super-Mare he played the trumpet and was rather good at it. Couldn't understand his accent but he seemed a jolly fellow.

Busking?

Yep, I bought a bottle of Bowmore 100 degrees last year and really liked it. I was tempted to go back and try another Bowmore but first wanted to try a few different Islays. The pub in our village is rubbish for whisky (Bells, Teachers and that sort of stuff only) so I find myself 'forced' to buy bottles to sample in the comfort of my own home.

I just ordered a bottle of Ardberg as the Laphroaig has all mysteriously 'disappeared', looking forward to trying something different.

For the best results you lick the backside of Mrs Thatcher.

Have a thought for the cleaner he's probably a RL fan.

I visited that distillery about ten years ago, used to be my favourite whisky but have moved on to Islay malts but still enjoy the occasional glass of Dalwhinnie.

No. HTH