This week the number of people subscribed to this little newsletter more than doubled.
Thank you to everyone who's signed up, and to everyone who's recommended others do the same. I'm very surprised (to say the least) that you are choosing to read yet more of my thoughts, but grateful too. This newsletter has become important to me really quickly. If Twitter is me on strawberry laces and Buckfast, I think The Gulp is me on black coffee and Ferrero Rocher.
In other words, the me I wish I was 100% of the time.
I ran a workshop about tone and messaging at The Landmark in Burnley on Tuesday, and it was so far outside of my comfort zone that I made possibly the world's most convoluted powerpoint presentation to make up for the crushing imposter syndrome I had been experiencing all last week.
It went really well. Even the interactive bits. In the end I was unhappy that I'd managed to complete the whole task well, because it proved that fear is stupid and can be pushed to one side if needs be. It made me wonder how often I'd not bothered to try something new because I was scared.
Anyway, now I can add "public speaking, as long as it's about something I know back to front, as long as it's to no more than five people" to my CV now.
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In other news, I took my South African auntie to The New Inn in Clitheroe, and she has named it the best pub in the world. So remember that when you're collating your end of year lists, please.
Other Stuff
This blog post by Amber LeBeau at The Spit Bucket asks whether wine companies' marketing inexperience (or reluctance) is actually making it harder for people to say good things about their products.
These beautifully murky artworks by Sonia Alins really spoke to me this week. Try not to read too much into that, if you don't mind.
This piece in The Guardian about Black Appalachia covers a powerfully problematic subject with care, and turned my brain inside out for a little bit.
Kveik yeast as a mythical central element at the heart of a beery Norwegian fairy story. When writing is this good it makes you howl at the moon about how you wish you wrote it. Consider me howling, Claire.
I loved this by ATJ on saying boo to authenticity, and being your own Bourdain.
To prove I value and cherish your feedback, here is something about motorbikes: Road racing returned to Oliver's Mount last weekend, and Dean Harrison won both Classic races, making me very happy. Also John McGuinness and Jamie Whitam rode with Foggy, which made me a bit misty-eyed. If you don't believe me that this was totes emosh, this piece from Bike Sport News is almost breathless with excitement about the whole thing. Oh go on, here's a video too. God don't you just love road racing?
My Stuff
This week I ate some really good fried chicken in Whalley.
Nothing published this week by me -- look, I'm busy, okay -- but here's something about what makes our beloved pubs so great that I don't think I shared enough at the time.
Next week I'll be in London judging at GBBF and the World Beer Awards. If you'll be there, give me a shout! I'm going to be in town from Monday afternoon until 7ish on Wednesday, so if you fancy a pint, let me know.
What I'm Drinking
Eyes Brewery x Errant Brewery -- Landrace Norwegian IPA
Sonia Alins -- work from “Dones d’aigua III”
If you fancy buying me a pint -- they are more expensive in London, after all -- I'm always incredibly thrilled to receive tips through my KoFi account: www.ko-fi.com/shinybiscuit