Half Blind And Curious

Alan Ferguson

From politics to pies, from history to how we live.. I'm alan, a half blind man who wants to know a lot about a lot. This is a place where I want to share the knowledge I fancy gaining at the time if I can successfully record it. For now at least, I'm going to do most if not all of the recording for This podcast on my phone because it's spontaneous and in my opinion more interesting. If you want perfect audio quality with highly polished production this won't be for you but if you just fancy going on an audio adventure with me then let's go.

Episodes

  1. 07/21/2019

    Giovanni, The Craft Beer Kitchen

    I was sitting with Isla one day when she told me about https://www.stewartbrewing.co.uk/craft-beer-kitchen where you can go and get help to brew your own beer. Our friend Isabella was coming over here for her birthday and wouldn't you know it, Isabella loves good beer. Isla doesn't but she does like science so it was a no brainer to make this a sort of birthday present from us. We decided to brew a coffee and vanilla stout and call it Giovani after a goat from a real life scenario in the world of Isabella that all 3 of us somehow turned into a Mafia gangster. In this podcast you'll get to hear our experiences brewing it, told after the fact because it would have been too noisy to record at the time. Secondly you'll hear me interview James, the brewer who helped us turn our idea into something people could drink. Then it's a trip to Stewart's Dockside Tap https://maps.app.goo.gl/3YKkHRQrDn8d69Ty8 to taste the beer with the manager Joe Crookshank who knows his stuff when it comes to beer. Lastly it's a skype call with Isla and Isabella who is back in Austria. Finally the two beer drinkers of the group could have some Giovanni at the same time. Thanks Isla for coming along even though you don't like beer or coffee. Thanks Isabella for coming along and liking beer and Coffee. Thanks Joe for agreeing to record the tasting, the Dockside Tap is my favourite local by a mile. Lastly a special thanks to the people at the Craft Beer Kitchen. We felt welcomd by friendly staff, Angus in particular gave me some good advice on the phone which came in handy and of course thanks James for helping us brew and sharing your knowledge. We loved it and we'll be back.

    Giovanni, The Craft Beer Kitchen
  2. 08/10/2018

    New Zealand

    A few weeks ago I went to New Zealand with my fiancee Isla in order to attend the wedding of her brother Charlie to a New Zealander called Jo. It was a lovely wedding but I never asked for permission to record any of it so I can't bring you any of that which is a shame. On the other hand, some of the recordings I did get were cool and interesting and bring back fond memories of a country I miss already. Firstly you'll here a recording from the back garden of the first place we stayed in Auckland, a peaceful wee place right in the city centre. Next is a recording of the induced eruption of the Lady Knox geyser. Induced yes but no less amazing for it. Our tour of Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland really gets going and Isla, the real star of this show, really hits her stride with some reading from the info scattered throughout the park and her wonderfully evocative descriptions of what we find. All this being said, no description could ever do it justice. If you ever get the chance to go, you won't regret it. Lastly, after a brief interlude to hear the sound of New Zealand traffic lights, Isla then describes what she can see at Takapuna beach back in Auckland. A standard beach? Yes but not quite. I hope you enjoy these recordings. Feel free to respond on here or on my Twitter. I'd like to thank Charlie and Jo for inviting us to their wedding, i'm so grateful I got the chance to go. I'd also like to thank Isla's parents for driving us round New Zealand. That was much appreciated.

    New Zealand

About

From politics to pies, from history to how we live.. I'm alan, a half blind man who wants to know a lot about a lot. This is a place where I want to share the knowledge I fancy gaining at the time if I can successfully record it. For now at least, I'm going to do most if not all of the recording for This podcast on my phone because it's spontaneous and in my opinion more interesting. If you want perfect audio quality with highly polished production this won't be for you but if you just fancy going on an audio adventure with me then let's go.