The Challenges of a First-Time Author

David shared his personal struggles in writing the book. He faced issues with finding the right voice and navigating the complex publishing world. Many first-time authors can relate to these challenges. His journey highlights the perseverance it takes to complete a thought-provoking book like The Imperfect Individual.

Exploring the Themes of The Imperfect Individual

The book raises important questions about modern society. Why is the West so confused and lacking direction? Why do we seem to value groupthink over individual insight? David explores how society has been influenced by powerful forces like media and large corporations. The book examines why many people follow external influences blindly and what dangers this poses. However, it also offers hope. David suggests that by embracing values like courage, authenticity, and freedom, individuals can regain control.

Reflecting on the Covid Years

We also reflected on the global impact of the Covid pandemic. David shared how the pandemic accelerated societal change. He noted how individuals seemed quick to follow government and media narratives without questioning their freedom or thinking critically.

Expectations and Hopes for the Future

We closed the conversation by discussing hopes for the future. David remains optimistic. If individuals reclaim their independence and embrace open-mindedness and truth, there is hope for a better future. Personal freedom and insight can once again guide society

You can purchase David’s book at Authorhouse

or on Amazon

David’s youtube channel is: The Imperfect Individual 

And you can contact David at theimperfectindividual@outlook.com

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Boris Yeltsin, the old Russian leader who often seemed ‘pished as a fart,’ is the subject of this hell-raising tribute. Boris was fun; he had that old uncle vibe who might embarrass you at Christmas, but was endearing nonetheless. Today, Russia has the much scarier Putin, a man who exudes toughness (with arguable homoerotic issues) and is a rather stark contrast to Obama’s ineptitude and classless moments (like that selfie during a commemoration).

Boris Yeltsin, born February 1, 1931, was the first freely elected President of Russia. His political standing soared after he led the protesters against the August 1991 coup attempt to oust Gorbachev. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, he remained in power as president of the Russian Federation. As a leader, he wasn’t the most effective; he faced criticism for his handling of Chechnya, rampant corruption, and rising prices under his governance, but hey, that’s politics.

But if you asked the average person about Boris, they’d likely remember his legendary, drink-induced antics.

It’s the Way You Tell Them

One of the classic tales is from a state visit to Washington in 1995. Yeltsin got so drunk he was found outside the White House in his underpants, trying to catch a cab for a pizza run. The next night, he was mistaken for a drunken intruder, stumbling around his guest house, trying to get back to bed. Imagine if the Secret Service had taken him out!

Groove Rider

Another memorable Yeltsin moment was in 1994 during a visit to Berlin. Meant to oversee the departure of the last Russian troops from Germany after WWII, Yeltsin, who had been drinking since midday, he found himself conducting a military orchestra where he just couldn’t resist trying to be a conductor, grabbing the baton, dancing like he was in a boy band, and singing as bad.

Then, during a 1997 conference on nuclear weapons in Sweden, Yeltsin kicked off with a champagne lunch. He rambled about Swedish meatballs and how they resembled tennis star Bjorn Borg, all while trying not to fall off the stage during the photo op. He even mistakenly praised Finland, which didn’t go over well with the Swedish hosts. Good man Boris.

Beer and Lots of It

Yeltsin also made headlines with his offhand remarks, such as proclaiming to reduce Russia’s nuclear arsenal by a third without consulting anyone back home, or urging Germany and Japan to dismantle their non-existent nuclear weapons.

In Ireland all the local dignitaries were looking splendid in their shiny suits waiting for the leader of Russia to arrive in Shannon airport. Its not every day  the head of such a great nation as Russia comes into town. The plane landed.

And they waited. And waited. And waited a bit more. This went on for a few hours. Then the plane left. This was all carried live on Irish TV, showing Albert Reynolds, head of the Irish government hanging around in the pissing rain, while Boris was on the plane getting pissed. Don’t blame him, made the right choice as well

Legacy of a Booze Hound

Boris Yeltsin passed away at 76 on April 23, 2007, in Moscow. Considering that the average life expectancy for a Russian male at the time was 58, Yeltsin lived a full life. He is remembered not only as the leader who oversaw Russia’s economic and political reforms but also as a larger-than-life figure with a legendary love for the bottle.

We salute you, Boris Yeltsin.

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A very nice and relaxing chat with Mary Fitzgibbon, who ran as an independent in Ireland South in the very recent European Elections.

Although Mary wasn’t successful in the Euros, she still did relatively well for a candidate that ran as an Independent and without any party backing – getting a total vote of 8328 votes – something that is very difficult to do in Ireland for a variety of reasons – money, support, lack of media attention and general voting apathy. 

We chat about the difficulties running as an Independent in Ireland, plus her views on the election results, immigration, the loss of our sovereignty and the family…..

Twitter: MaryforEurope2024 @MEurope20249511

Mary’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marye.fitzgibbon1666

Mary Fitzgibbon

Independent

I’m a Nurse, Midwife & Lecturer in Nursing & HealthCare Sciences. We’re experiencing rapid demographic changes with large scale emigration of our young people & falling birth rates. My EU focus is on sovereignty, immigration, neutrality, family life, the right to life, agriculture & small business.

Priorities

• Immigration

  Ireland is experiencing unprecedented migration both legal and illegal and it is threatening social cohesion, impacting services, health & housing.

• Defence

  Ireland is a neutral country and we need to be at the forefront of efforts to bring about peace. War is a defeat for humanity. Let’s work for peace.

• Agriculture

  Irish farmers are struggling with over-regulation, environmental unfairness & removal of the nitrates derogation. I will prioritise farming in Europe.

  Read my other interviews with the great and the good here 

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A lot of disappointment but truth be told no surprise, with some positive signs as well.

We did the preview, now lets looks at the review. 

Again with the brother as we look back at the results, somewhat shocking results,  of the European elections, and also a brief review on the locals, that were on Friday, 7 June 2024. 

Some minor positive results for the “others” – i.e us – but the Irish sheeple continue to vote in politicians that forever rip them off. The nation suffers from a severe bout of Stockholm Syndrome. 

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An overview of the upcoming Irish European and Local elections

Good chat with my the brother as we look at the runners and riders in the donkey derby that is the European elections, and also a brief view on the locals, set for the Friday, 7 June 2024. 

We look at all the parties going, talk about the evil “Far Rioght” amongst other things, and why we think the only way to keep sane and vote well is too choose a candidate on the Nationalist side………………..

Part one

Part two 

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www.islands-edge.ie/

Brewed by Heineken Ireland
Style: Irish Stout
Cork, County Cork, Ireland

Typical! I go drink a beer intending to do a cool and interesting review, leave my write up for a bit, and after a year or two the beer has only gone and got pulled from the market! HA! So this is more a requiem!

Island’s Edge Irish Stout was Heineken‘s Cork based new effort of a stout, one to rival Guinness, or even Murphy’s or Beamish. A tall order in a land where stout drinkers take their tipple VERY, VERY seriously. Brave for sure to take on the big boys in a very selective and notoriously difficult market to crack.

Anyway back in 2022 there was massive advertising of this stout on the TV with millions poured into their marketing campaign and a really big push, a new beer with an exciting “new Edge“, hence the name, and so I went and bought a few cans of it what with all the hype and all.

Apparently they said their stout was  “aimed at people who don’t drink stout” which was a little worrying……. and so they “created a stout that’s less bitter”, less bitter than a Guinness for example, and for the 18-35 age range, the young ones who might be converted to give it a try…..and not the old fellas like myself! All a little bit disconcerting, and I definitely was not the intended market here. Basically a training drink for non stout drinkers, a watered down stout for the shandy and lager drinkers! And they thought this would work……in Ireland! Ha.

They were looking to hit 10% share of the stout market, a very ambitious plan and with it several million spent on advertising, but after it just two years it was pulled. I can be happy in the knowledge that at least I was one of the very few that gave it a go! 

Review: 500ml can of Island’s Edge Irish Stout 4.0% vol.

Was to be found throughout the country in supermarkets, off – licenses, and in bars and pubs, where it could also be got on draught. 

Now as I am writing this, I did manage to find some Island Edge Irish Stout in my local supermarket store, so I am guessing there is a bit of old stock still floating about, I guess, so don’t be surprised to still find this out there, for the time being at least. 

Nice logo and can. Colourful and different. “Edgy” I think is what the cool cats call it! Clever.

The brewers added tea and basil to it which was to dilute the strong taste of a regular stout, as apparently tea kills the bitterness of the hops! They still don’t know why exactly this happens but there you go!

Smells good, like a Guinness aroma, a nice roasty coffee and chocolate smell and dark malts, a good start. 

Onto the pour, I get a very nice and creamy tanned head with the expected pitch black colour. Like the smell, its pretty similar to a Guinness. Head is decent, all is well, looks good.

Head maintains well enough. There are a few bubbles and holes appearing amongst the lacing which is a little ominous, but when it all settles down it is not too bad at all, and the thick creamy wholesome appearance is still there to the end.   

The taste is very creamy on the tongue, a good full bodied taste for sure, its not bad and is similar to a Guinness, at least initially, but on the long stretch it doesn’t have the kick of a Guinness and perhaps that’s what they were looking for…… a light, smoother version of a heavy stout. if that’s what they were going for then they have achieved that, but for me, a man who does like his stouts, then its not so good. 

Getting the dark roasted malts and the milky chocolate, and, like all stouts, it is creamy, very creamy in fact. What I didn’t find was the tea, affirming what the brewers had said that the tea’s sole purpose was to hid the bitterness of the stout without affecting the general taste. 

It is very manageable, very smooth and easy to drink and its not bad, and it is very creamy, but its a cheap imitation without the sparkle. Ok but no kick and without that kick the taste is just blah, like a watered down Guinness! A bit boring truth be told, a bit like the young ones today so…..ha….

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madriexcepcional.com/en-ie/our-beers

Brewed by Cervezas La Sagra 
Style: Pilsner
Numancia de la Sagra (Toledo), Spain

Madrí Excepcional is a a European-style lager produced and brewed for the British and Irish markets by Coors in conjunction with Spanish brewery La Sagra. It has suddenly sprung up on our shores, been sold in supermarkets and off licenses throughout Ireland and the UK.

It has capitalised on the new found fad of “Mediterranean style lagers” started by Peroni, and followed on by Birra Moretti and Estrella Damm. With people just recovering after Covid, Madrí offered one a chance to enjoy a bit of the Med without the effort of getting on a plane. It was a huge hit, as the lager boomed in sales, and from its launch in October 2020 it has managed to be sold in over 10,000 bars and pubs to becoming one of the fastest growing beer brands in Ireland and the UK. Not bad for a beer that no one knew pre Covid! 

With intensive social media marketing and playing on the imagery of Spanish sunshine and the Mediterranean feel, people bought it in droves. The marketing team put on many social events and city tours showcasing “the soul of Madrid” in London and Dublin and other towns and cities throughout and people lapped it up, celebrating Spanish culture with tapas and traditional music all the while downing Madrí lagers. Consumers are really getting into world beers and anything that is different and deemed “exotic” well the consumer on the street will just go for it.

But all of this is a bit of a marketing gimmick, as the reality is its totally brewed in the UK under licence, albeit it was created in collaboration with the Spanish brewery and is marketed as Spanish influenced, if that makes any difference I don’t know! I thought there was EU rules about that, aka Baileys Irish Cream, but maybe not and in any case the Brits are out of the EU, ha! 

So what about the La Sagra Brewery, the connection to Spain? Well this is a craft firm in Spain that was bought out by Coors in 2017. La Sagra, are actually not based even in Madrid at all, but an hour’s drive from the centre of Spain’s capital city. So much for their slogan “El Alma de Madrid” (“the soul of Madrid”), brewed in the north of England, for the Irish and UK market and with a heavy reference to Madrid! OK!.

The La Sagra brewery is a very young, innovative brewery that was founded by Carlos Garcia, a first-generation brewer born in Madrid. He started La Sagra Brewery in 2011 in Toledo, on the outskirts of Madrid, a unique area of Spain, historically, a melting pot of 3 different cultures. 

What stood out for me in the offy was the red branding which featured a man with the cap and a nice snazzy waistcoat. It certainly is eye catching and the main reason I ventured over to have a look at it. Apparently the man is called a ‘Chulapo’, originally a group of people in Spanish society in the 19th century, famous for their vibrant and elaborate style of dress and cheeky attitude. Today, as the blurb goes, “they represent the people of modern Madrid, full of life and energy. It’s this progressive spirit of modern Madrid that inspired Madrí Excepcional, bringing the Soul of Madrid, or as we like to say “El Alma de Madrid” to bars & restaurants across the world”

Review: 660ml bottle of Madrí Excepcional El Alma De Madrid 4.6% vol.

Madrí Excepcional El Alma De Madrid is the official name of the beer, but that’s a mouthful so its shortened and Anglicised to Madrí, and “Madrí is the traditional way of pronouncing Madrid”, as it says so on their website! 

I got mine in a lovely big bottle but it also comes in cans and in draught in selected venues. The bottle is well designed, with lovely big red and white lettering and the Spanish looking guy, it certainly stands out and one can see why people pick it up so easy in the off license. 

Onto the appearance, it looks pretty nice, a good creamy white head appears on the pour and a good looking clear golden coloured beer ready to be drank. Standard enough but decent enough too. Some nice carbonation to add. A decent looker with a good white head and a nice colour.

Smells lagery – ok. Standard smell. The aroma for me was very light, not much at all on the nose. A bit of a typical lager smell, malty, corn and grain notes but all subtle and barely noticeable. Nothing really. 

Onto the taste and oh man……..urgh…….a very sweet and very sickly taste……this tastes like a pissy lager, very bland and nothing special at all that stands out…….this is just another bad lager in a market full of bad lagers, but this time a Spanish version…..or a make believe Spanish version!

Getting the malts and the sweet grains but not much else to inspire or enjoy. Overall a very boring and bad tasting lager, not even good for a session, not nice at all.

Watery taste, very soft and a sweet aftertaste that disappoints. Just a cheap tasting lager with no “umph”. Nothing special at all, worse than generic, and I am very disappointed considering all the marketing spiel. Disappointed.

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https://ryeriverbrewingco.com/category/the-crafty-brewing-co/

Brewed by Rye River Brewing Company for Lidl
Style: Irish Stout
Dublin Rd, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Lidl’s, the German Discount store, has partnered with Rye River Brewing Company to bring a range of craft beers to consumers under the brand of “The Crafty Brewing Co”. They have an offer a Lager, an Irish Stout and a Red Ale to be sold in 4-packs nationwide.  

Operating out of Kildare, Rye River Brewing Company is one of the world’s most decorated independent craft breweries regularly achieving success at the World Beer Awards and other prestigious award ceremonies. At the 2018 World Beer Awards they won 19 medals, while at the same competition in 2019 they won an unprecedented 21 medals, an amazing achievement for an independent set up and only on the go since 2013.    

The Crafty Brewing Company range (produced exclusively for Lidl and available in over 20 countries across Europe) is not the only brand they produce. Other award-winning Rye River brands include the Solas range, the Grafters range and the McGargles beer (a brand I did a big write up yonks’ ago), all, like Crafty Brewing, exported and sold throughout Europe, and all winning loads of medals in the World Beer Awards and in other prestigious award ceremonies. 

Review: 500ml bottle of The Crafty Brewing Company Irish Stout 4.5% vol.

Sold exclusively in Lidl in stores right across Ireland. I have read they don’t sell this any more and the stout has been discontinued but I am not so sure about that…

A craft stout they say, whatever the fuck that is, does that mean its a wanky effort at a real stout?  Anyway apparently this stout has won a big award, or at least Silver in the world beer awards for stout. Might be impressive but I wasn’t invited so……..and it won gold in The Irish Food Awards in 2021, as best Irish stout in the country, not bad, well lets see how it goes with me!

On pour I am getting a pitch black colour with a decent sized creamy tanned head. Looks ok, a bit bubbly but overall not a bad pour, which is very important for a stout. Head maintains throughout and with some good lacing, this stout is not bad at all on appearance. 

Very good on the nose, a lovely aroma of chocolate and nuts, a very roasty smell, very nice. The dark roasted malts are really pleasant here.

The taste follows the nose, similar. Roasted dark malts, chocolate, coffee and nut taste, Not bad, initially anyway! Nice bitter coffee aftertaste, just right for a stout…..although might be a tad bit too sweet, but overall this is good.

Nice full bodied taste, nice to swish it all around in the mouth. I like this stout. Its not a Guinness or to be fair even near it, but its a bloody good effort.

Like a very nutty chocolate stout than anything else. Very good and filling, can easily see why it won awards. Good for a session. Recommended and a good alternative to Guinness.

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www.docteurgabs.ch/en

Brewed by Brasserie Docteur Gab’s
Style: India Pale Ale
Puidoux, Vaud, Switzerland

Brasserie Docteur Gab‘s is a small regional and local craft brewery, based in the small town of Puidoux, in the Canton of Vaud, South-Western Switzerland.

It all started when a young and very eager Gabriel Hasler, at just 16 years of age was given his first craft beer kit. Excited he enlisted the help of his two good friends Reto Engler and David Paraskevopoulos, and set out on a quest to brew their first beer. After initially producing 20 litres in Gabriel’s parents’ kitchen, and then moving to Reto’s parents’ cellar, the young entrepreneurs soon needed extra space so that they could share their passion and talent with as many people as possible.

In 2004, the trio moved to Epalinges, in the district of Lausanne, and opened their first premises fully dedicated to brewing. Here, several 400-litre tuns allowed production to rise to 6,000 litres a year. They found their first trade customers and production quantities increased exponentially, even though brewing was still something of a side hustle.

In 2010, with a bit of education and degrees now under their belts, David, Reto and Gabriel dedicated themselves to their venture full time and increased output to 80,000 litres a year.

By 2018 they had vastly expanded with more output and fulltime employees so that a move to Puidoux, where they remain today, was on the cards, with more space and a doubling of production capacity, the team were getting bigger and more professional. 

Review: 33cl bottle of Dr Gab’s Ipanema 6.0% vol.

Available throughout Switzerland in supermarkets, restaurants and selected bars and pubs. I picked mine up in Coop in an Interesting looking bottle, which doesn’t look very dissimilar to a medicinal bottle! A strange drab looking IPA bottle if I am to be honest -orange and black perhaps not the best colours to mix together!

Least we forget, an Ipanema is a beer that combines typical characteristics of a full-bodied and fruity IPA beer, with a light and pleasant taste.

Looks very nice on pour, we get a lovely golden orange hazy colour, with a decent sized white head, frothy and creamy. Not getting a whole lot from the bottle, it doesn’t fill my small glass, which is always a little sad! But overall, it is a very good looking beer, nice on the eye.

As for the aroma, it is soft on the nose, not so stark, a faint whiff of a typical IPA, getting the pine, the tropical fruits and the grassy hops but not much, very light.

Getting a very, very bitter earthy aftertaste in the mouth, even though the initial taste on the tongue is quite soft and bubbly.

Its overall quite tough to drink at the start, but once it settles down it is very manageable and drinkable, definitely a slow burner as I started to enjoy it the more I drank of it. In fact by the second glass, I found it not bad at all, and it went down much smoother over time, balancing out, and with me getting much more used to the bitterness. Experiencing malts, citrus, herbal hops and an orange zest.

The initial kick from the first few slugs does not last and goes missing afterwards to make this drink a smooth experience….. but I think it could have down with keeping that kick throughout, as it doesn’t linger at all. 

A bit of an up and a down, I think I’d like to return to get a better feel for the beer and its certainly an interesting beer to drink.

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www.singhacorporation.com/mybeer

Brewed by Singha Corporation Co. Ltd (Boon Rawd Brewery)
Style: Pale Lager
Bangkok, Thailand

My beer is manufactured in Thailand by the Singha Corporation Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of its parent company, Boon Rawd Brewery, Thai Brewery giants and kingpins. 

Review: 490ml can of My Beer 4.5% vol.

Formerly known as Singha Light, comes in cans and bottles. Mine is a none descript can, with the lettering of M-Y standing out, all very boring.

Aroma is nearly non existent, not getting much at all, just light lager aroma, malty and grainy, with corn. 

The appearance is a bit better, looks ok on the pour, some nice carbonation resulting in a nice clear golden coloured beer with a decent white creamy head. Looks good.

Typical lagery taste I am getting, ok I guess, not bad at all and pretty smooth to drink.

Grainy, malty, some fruits and light bitterness.

Slight astringent and metallic taste and a little sour but will do. 

Passable, one to drink if nothing else around. 

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