friday in the boro

Easter Friday report coming up!

Left Catterick at about 3pm and met Robbo and Kerry at their place for a few drinks and a chat before heading into town by taxi. Stopped at the Camels Hump first, meeting Danny and Gill there, before going to the House for a game of pool and to meet the others. Mandy had a bottle of vodka on her to add to the drinks of coke/apple juice the girls were having (which quickly went). Emma and her sister Tina (first base only) turned up, plus Mat and Nat, Chris and Hill. Taxis to the old Purple Onion followed after lots of ale had been consumed. The upstairs of the Purple Onion (now known as the Medicine bar) was small but pretty good, old Northern Soul music and a pretty English backdrop (Union jacks), but no threat of any violence about to kick off, like would have happened in the old days (maaaan). I was impressed with the toilets, which changed colour as you were weeing - trippy! Went downstairs to the indie disco whatever time that opened, with Rick Whitter from Shed Seven spinning the wheels of steel (not that we saw him or paid any attention). Got pissed, danced, pratted about and headed back to Nunthorpe for drinks and a burger. Splendid night and no collapsing. It's a shame I then had to head home in the morning so I could watch the footie before moseying off to work. What a waste of time that was. Anyway, clothes got soaked and dirty, I didn't collapse, and everyone got on after they had felt the dents in my skull. Amazing. Same again, same time next year.

toodle pip

wine bar

A splendid day was had by all yesterday. I spent the morning in bed, watched a bit of TV, and then had a surprise when Robbo called round, as he had taken the day off. Had a bit of a chat, then went down to the Wine bar, even though I don't normally go down there until after 3pm on a Monday. Ended up staying till 6pm aprox, and had a good laugh with Joe, Dave the Health and Safety guy, Ritchie, his brother Dave, Mandy and Cavanagh.
Managed to contain myself and not collapse when I got back (which is always a bonus these days). Christ knows how long Joe is going to keep going. His mind is not as sharp as it was after a few drinks (mainly once we hit the whisky), but he is still very switched on. I think he is nearly 80 now (78?) so he is doing well. Cost me a bleeding fortune over the years, but the place won't be the same without him.
At least I remembered to have some crisps and food when I got back, can't believe it, I am looking after myself! (sort of).
toodle pip

fun at the wine bar

I found this the over day when looking for something. It's from the wine bar (local Pub) a couple of years ago. It was in the men's toilets and l nicked it. Don't know if it was original ideas (l doubt it) but l thought it was pretty funny at the time so it obviously went missing and joined my collection of crap that l have accumulated over the years. l have thought about putting it back where l found it, just to confuse them, but l want to keep it as a memento of my sad life.
It has just occurred to me while writing this, to copy it and then put the copy back and confuse them. Excellent idea. Now all l have to do is get off my lazy fat arse and do it. Damn!!
toodle pip

resolution

l know it's not the New Year and l have said it before, but l am going to try and knuckle down and get into the habit of writing - every day if l can. Even if it is only five minutes waffle about crap(which is what l normally talk anyway), l will try to get something down (ooeer).

l actually started some stuff while l was at work, on a small laptop. trouble is l couldn't work out how to transfer the stuff onto my memory stick, and the stuff l wrote is now out of date and l can't be bothered posting it now. l shall persevere with it so l can still write while l am at work (as l don't actually do a lot when l am there) then post it the next day.

Suff that's happened recently.

Had a really good night out in the Boro on Good Friday. All day session with Mandy, Robbo, Kerrie, Dazzer, Louise, Danny, Gill, Matt, Chris, Hilary, Nat, Lisa, Steph, Paul, The Head and others l can't remember. Photos are on facebook if you know where to look. l am not giving a link as l have no quality control over them (no press - no publicity).
Got back late and were then given a visit from the Police as some little bastards had been down the road slashing car tyres, including our own. Luckily it was only the one tyre so l put the spare one on in the morning (l'm macho man! - l'll take that knife and shove it up your arse!).

Went for a meal with Kerry and Robbo the next day at the hotel up the road from them - can't remember the name of it at the moment (Cross keys maybe?). Had some superb oysters with paprika and double cream (still sticking to the diet) and drank lots of Bailies (how do you spell that word? ls that right?). Put the world to rights and then back to sunny Catterick, where l got dropped off any stayed out with the boys till about 9pm. Splendid weekend.

Coming up - more bloody work. But also.... trips to Portugal and Budapest. Hurrah!!

Lets see if l can keep this up (ooeerr, phnar phnar etc - oh my sides are splitting)

toodle pip

PS Just re-read the post before publishing and realised l didn't make a joke about knuckling down at the begining. Must be getting (more) senile. Damn

The Old days

Been in the Wine Bar (Now Hunters) with Mr F. This was me after he left, talking about the glory years in Lilac Mist

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toodle pip

pubs

The Wine Bar has been getting done out and being re-named Hunters. I understand that this is so it can start again with a new identity and image, but l have already heard people saying they do not like the new look, plus everyone in Catterick will still refer to it as The Wine Bar. I don't care what happens to it as long as it stays open, as it is my local. Must say though, l am one of the people who will still call it The Wine Bar no matter who owns it, or what it is suposed to be called. Get to the pub and spend your money, we will be sad when they all go (although l will be dead by a drink related death by then - bring it on!)

WHY ARE ALL THE PUBS CLOSING? ASK PEOPLE WHO NEVER GO TO THE PUB

MILLIONS of people across Britain who never go to the pub were last night asking why all the pubs were closing down.

As it was revealed that 2000 pubs have closed in the last year, non-pub goers said their community would not be the same without the local pub they never went to. Margaret Gerving, from Peterborough, said: "I was delighted when the smoking ban came in because it meant I could finally go to the pub without being killed."But then I didn't, mainly because I'm not the sort of person who likes going to pubs. I prefer to stay in with a carton of pomegranate juice and a bag of pine nuts and make long lists of all the things I want banned."Now it turns out that nobody else is going either because quite a lot of the people who used to go to the pub also liked to smoke. But none of this explains why all the pubs are closing down."

Julian Cook, from Devon, said: "Our local pub looks really lovely from the outside. It's got flower baskets and a nice old fashioned sign. Unfortunately it's used by local people with accents who dress differently from me and who are, I suspect, incredibly racist."

Former pub owner Charlie Reeves, from Hereford, said: "We were told that the smoking ban would mean lots of young mums and dads bringing their children in. But that didn't really help because there's only so much Guinness you can pour down a three year-old before it falls asleep."Then there's the added factor that a pub with children in it isn't really a pub, it's a fucking hell hole."

toodle pip

happy mondays

Mad for it on Saturday, at Stockton for the Happy Mondays free gig. Drinks and disco biscuits all round.
Went to what we thought was the Green Dragon pub beforehand, but it was a pub just across from it – damn! Still enjoyed ourselves, the girls (and l include Robbo) had a go on the fair rides before the gig. Pretty bleeding mental some of them (the rides l mean, and by rides l don’t mean the girls).
Got down the front for the show and had a bit of a shuffle about (ooer missus), then we buggered off to Teeside park for KFC and burgers. The girls dropped me and Robbo off outside KFC, not realising it had just closed its doors. Asked at the drive by window if there was any food left and was told it served till 12pm from the window. Would not give us anything at the window though, even though there were no cars and we were the only people there. Health and safety issue apparently, we had to be in a car to be served. We then had to hang around for the girls to get back so we could climb into the car and buy food from the same window and person. I blame Gordon Brown.
Back to Robbo and Kerry’s for a drink and chat then bedtime. Didn’t overdo it on the night though, as the disco biscuits were crap, so everyone felt fine the next morning. Good result in a way, crap in another.
I had to go to work Sunday night, and had been out till 2pm on Friday night (with work on Saturday morning) at Richmond Live and J.T’s bar. Glad I felt fine (although a bit tired) but I don’t mind putting in the hours and suffering either. It’s got to be done and it isn’t as easy as it seems. Till the next time..
Toodle pip

bedale and the wine bar

had a great day on Tuesday. Didn't start out so good as l had to go to a work training thingie at the White Rose hotel in Leeming Bar, which didn't finish till about 1pm. Had the rest of the day to myself then, so l went and had a stroll round Bedale, calling in a couple of pubs (wagon and Horses and Oddfellows Arms). The landlady from the Oddfellows had gone off to pick up her new husband from the Gambia (Gatwick actually, but you get the idea). It will never last, l am sure she phoned him the last time l was in and pretended the call was from him. Also said he had a permit already, which sounds dodgy. Wonder what attracted him to a 49 year old divorced woman with money and a pub - can't think of a reason myself.
back to Catterick afterwards to meet Joseph in the wine bar. had a good crack on and he bought in a book for me, Our George, about George Best by his sister Barbara. Made me cry in the second chapter, but the rest of it wasn't that good. Peter fell out with Richie over a game of pool and stormed out, plus l won £10 off Richie (he was drunk and more idiotic than usual). Nice.
Toodle pip