In other news, BrewDog. 'Administrators have said that no equity holders - including those who invested in the brewer's Equity for Punks scheme - would get any return from the deal'. Well, that leaves a bad taste in the mouth... just like all their beers from the past couple of years. RIP.

If you smell a faint unexpected odour of burning plastic you might want to check your electrical sockets. This is the inside of a switched fused socket, the live had been shorting, fortunately it was a slow melt & no fire resulted. Being unable to extract the fuse or use the switch was helpful clue

First book of the year completed. A page turner and certainly feels like it's a Bond adventure. Shame it won't be a film.

Disappointing that Traitors Uncloaked didn't talk about the 'Stop Mum stop!' Instruction on the boat during the coffin in lake challenge... and just said the big reveal was the VT segment where it was revealed.... almost 10 mins later in the show! (And surely other people in the boat also heard??)

... and heres a photo of the inside of the doors with their little messages

Just left withthe To-Do list now :)

Day 24: A crafted and Hawkstone branded bottle opener. Its a nice thing but would have preferred this being an earlier door and finishing on a drink 😀

Day 23: Hawkstone Lager. Another repeat from the first week of doors but it's a nice evening tipple.

Day 22: Hawkstone Cider. Another repeat but its still nice 😀

Day 21: Hawkstone 3.8 pils again. Still a fine session pilsner.

Day 20: Hawkstone Harvest IPA, another repeat but still give it 3.75

Watching "The Holiday". One very jarring point was seeing the old Google search page... and the results page. Wow. That was from the days when they still had the 'Don't be evil' motto.

As we had the funeral of Gary "Mani" Mounfield today, we also learned that Chris Rea has passed away today. RIP Chris Rea ❤️

So, apparently over a dozen Epstein photos that were released have now been removed from the release. Oops, too much info and damning evidence that got overlooked? Either way, release it all!

Day 19: Hawkstone Gin. 5cl bottle. Again, as per the Vodka, leaving this one until the Christmas period, will report back.

Day 18: Hawkstone Bounder. A nice crisp and refreshing golden lager. Sweet, malty with fresh bread character, light bitterness. This would be great on a hot summers day! 4.0

Day 17: Hawkstone Hedgerow. Another repeat but it is a nice cider.

Facebook to require payment of you post more than 2 links post month? Could this be the end of Facebook as a well used social media site? www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

Day 16: Hawkstone Session Lager. I've had this back in summer. Gave it a 3.5 rating noting that it's an 'okay sessionable lager but wished that it had some more malty character and sweetness'. Label says 'Tastes better when chilled' and I agree.

Day 15: another pint glass. Unexpected/unusual in a calendar (unless they expect people to break theirs after 2 weeks??) Anyway, it's a fine glass so now I have a pair of them.

Day 14: Hawkstone IPA , another repeat. Though they don't have a large range so not surprising. Fine midweek tipple.

Day 13: Hawkstone Rhubastard. Another repeat, though its a fine rhubarb juice infused sour beer, 3.75

Day 12: Hawkstone Lager. Had this before and its a good lager. Rated it 4.0 on untappd. 'Nicely balanced' and when chilled it has a sweet finish

Day 11: Hawkstone 3.8 Pils. Had this back in summer, gave it 3.5 on Untappd noting that it was a 'light easy-drinking Pils'. Would be a very sessionable Pilsner.

Day 10: Hawkstone Vodka. Putting this one aside until later in the festive season. Will report back.

Day 9: Hawkstone Harvest IPA. First time I've had this. Nice light sessionable farmhouse IPA with tropical and stone fruit notes. 3.75

Day 8: Hawkstone Hedgerow cider. Already had and 3.75 in my untappd - noted its blackcurrant and blackberry juices and that it was better than eg strongbow dark fruit

Day 7: Hawkstone Black , a 4.2% 'Smooth British Stout'. Not had this before. Its OK, creamy, roasted coffee and chocolate notes.

Day 6: a Christmas tree bauble in beer tankard shape

Nice 6.30am 5k fun run at #TechEx25 #internet2 . GPS tracking lost first few hundred meters due to the high rise buildings

Day 5: Rhubastard . Not had this one before. Cider with Rhubarb juice. Good Rhubard character on a dry Cider. 3.75 rating

Day 4: Hawkstone Session Lager. Another 3.5. 'Okay sessionable Helles style lager, would prefer a bit more malty and sweetness'. At 4% its a nice light lager though.

Day 3: Hawkstone Cider. Had this previously in a 'taste of the farm' selection. Rated it 3.5. Noted that although its listed as dry out has a subtle sweet flavour and is better than all those mass produced ciders on tap in pubs. This bottle being 500ml fills more of the pint glass too 😀

Day 2. Hawkstone IPA. Had this before, I gave it 3.5 on Untappd , its OK but the old Cotswold IPA at 5.2% was better

Day 1. Hawkstone Lager. And a pint glass. Well, guess you might not have one and it's better than the ones being stolen from The Farmers Dog and being sold on ebay(!). As for the beer, I've had it before. Rating I gave on Untappd was 4 - "Nicely balanced, will try the next one slightly chilled."

OK, I didn't go full artisan/local. I chose the Hawkstone offering. It contains beers, cider and spirits.. and helps support UK farmers at least. Seemed to be good value for money but we'll see as I post my advent updates (there will be a few breaks due to work commitments).

Years ago I bought my first beer advent calendar. It was from BrewDog and filled with a rather nice collection of beers, It was great, awesome even! and real VfM. For years I bought it but its now just filled with a selection of their basic cans. So this year I went elsewhere.

Indeed. If not supporting your local independent brewery then at least do this rather than pay for the global mega-brew output

Italy to now introduce age verification law for'adult content' sites (with all the privacy issues, promotion and movement to VPNs etc that entail) . Nice of them to just provide a list of all sites within scope though! 👌 www.agcom.it/provvediment...

Wow. Big flashback. Look what arrived in the post today! 😀

Firing someone purely for their political affiliation is illegal and is a violation of free speech.

Massive price hike for Game Pass. Used to have ultimate but have cancelled it as the cost is now too much.... oh, and no increase for other countries? Why can't eg Germans and French pay more too? The UK is not a cash cow and the number of cancellations will prove that. Bad move Microsoft.

£14.99 up to £22.99 for Gamepass Ultimate...😂 Over a 50% increase! Yeah, you can jog the fuck on Microsoft. *Cancels Subscription*

Illegal killings ordered by a criminal regime.

Nope - still not burning to the ground. 🤦‍♀️ #Portland

Last day of Glastonbury. Just over 2 hours of music left.