Weather: Even Colder than last week.
So it's Stan's Birthday. Great to see one of us finally make it to 50... errm... hang on.... maybe not 50....anyway.
The plan - as laid down last week - was to start off in the pub that Stan had his very first beer in when he was a wee nipper. Well, it turns out that this just happens to be very near to +Golfyball just off of Elmbridge Road in "The Cross Keys".
Clearly every pub in every town and city up and down the land "used to be" the place to be, and this one is no exception. Like all the rest of them, this one is also in need of some love, care and attention. It serves a few people who are no doubt regulars, and it's not terrible - but it feels more like you're intruding into someone's house, than a warm and friendly pub.
That said, we all piled up around a couple of the 1970's original round bar tables whilst sat in the bay window (To be honest, we really could have just wandered into 1974) and dished out the birthday boy's presents. As is tradition, he happily received the disgusting aftershave, and equally happily enjoyed some FP headgear to keep him spritely looking in his old age as he stumbles around the golf course.
Beers were consumed (you have to have 3 for it to count) and Sniffer's well thought out Stan related quiz was partaken of. Much fun was had and suitably, Stan won.
Next up and a short walk away is "The Double Gloucester". Another one of those housing estate pubs that used to be fantastic, and is now dishevelled, and struggling. It's a huge rambling building of a pub that seems to go forever. It has the best part of three bars (two of which were open) and a skittle alley, which to be fair was doing a roaring trade - and in point of fact, the place was busy. A youthful bunch intent on getting bladdered on a school night it would seem - but then again - we're all getting older.....
We took the preverbial three in here, and then somehow managed to loose our latest new member (@dbccyart) and pick up Dicko (only available on Facebook) before moving off to our last stop of the evening was "The King Teddy".
This is a bit of a classic in this neck of the woods. It's been here for ages and is well maintained and a generally very good pub. The food is completely reasonable and not at all bad, and the beer is possibly slightly overpriced but the atmos and general feeling of the place make it more than bearable.
Good Old Gunny (without his Jumper)
Of course by this stage of the proceedings, things start to go awry. Crisps and nuts were ordered for our "dinner" and more beer and wine helped the rest of the night slowly slip into a blurry end. A couple of cabs arrived - one of which was driven by the birthday boys daughter - having recently passed her test, and I managed to rescue Jugs' jumper for him.... which (I musn't forget) is at my house and will have to be returned to him.
We also selected next weeks pub of course.... but can I recall what it was?? Can I hell....
Worse still - is that Next Thursday is Valentine's Day and so that provides all sorts of complications.
My suggestion is that those that can - should plan for something on Friday (a travesty really - but needs must)
Until then then... adieu.
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