I'm a hoarder. I've been guilty of telling myself "Let's not write in the blog yet, there hasn't been enough to write about....let's wait awhile to there's LOADS, and then we'll write." I bet the cat ladies say that too, "Just one more kitten and then we'll be a complete family", oh God, I'm comparing myself to a cat lady.
So here I am, September 28, day before Michaelmas Day, calling up the A&E channel to document my hoarding.
So on with it..
This school is next door to 2 pubs. To be more specific, outside of my little cottage is 'our' pub, you know...like Drew Carey and the Warsaw Tavern. You can expect the same 15 people there every Friday and Saturday nights, the same karaoke songs, we're getting to the point of just nodding at the bartender... Having such a close locale to said establishment has it's ups and downs. Up-Had one too many? In reality you could just slide yourself down the wall to home. Down-Had one too many? Everyone in the pub that lives locally knows where you live and your boss....and you'll hear about it Monday.
There's also the concern of drunkards just randomly walking onto our property. No shit. C'mon now, haven't we all had our fun drunk time on the playground? Of course. Walking onto private school property WHILE children are there and attempting to violate houses/the pirate ship ??? ehhhhhhhh, no.
Then there's the pathway that goes from pub to southerly part of town, right past my window. How many nights have I woken up thinking that a crowd of 8 rowdy Scottish 50 yr old men are actually singing Robbie Williams in my front garden? At least once a week.
It's really warming how people here can just let loose and dance their asses off and act a fool w/o wondering who's watching. Another example of how Americans have a stick up their asses. Yep, go to an American club and see the percentage of people only dancing the way they see in rap videos or the way they think someone is going to compliment them. Example: A friend of mine and I partially reenacted the Baby one more time video in the middle of a club last weekend. Shame? Exact Opposite.
As an American, even for one that's travelled to European countries, the whole of the pub/club culture is just so fascinating. People here really don't realize how different something so simple can be from place to place. Try and bring your dog to most bars in America and you and your pooch will get the boot, many pubs in Britain have their own dogs...or cat. Also the whole children in pubs. Now, I doubt you'll see a kid in a dance club, but it's perfectly acceptable during quieter hours to see kids in pubs, especially since many serve very tasty food. Think the American Family Restaurant. Why the hell not I say. This allows the child to see what a pub/bar is, and then they most likely won't have a distorted view of them as they get older. Such places won't be a thing that they clamber to get at just because they are told they 'can't go to them yet.' I think this is very helpful in the development of mature/responsible drinking.
As far as I can count there are 4 pubs here in our town. Luckily for many people, they are all within a very short distance of one another, thus making it very easy to wander past all four within a night and observe the hilarity that ensues. One of them isn't really a pub I don't think, more of a hotel w/ a bar, but really who's judging.
The one that seems to win favorite is also my neighbor, however, there's a brewing feud between customers of that pub and the 'danceclub' that's up the road. We use the term danceclub loosely as it is yet another small hotel, with a restaurant + bar...however it has a slightly impressive light thingy and disco ball, thus making it a 'club'. *Rolls eyes*
The 4th pub, is by far the most scary. In by means of how the building looks and also by the customers. First off, I've never seen a woman in there, I know I wouldn't go in for the grime that seeps out of the doors is enough to make me keep on walking. The windows haven't been cleaned in so long I think the gunk has over taken the glass and dissolved it, mmmm yummy. Now, I bet it is a respectable establishment full of good times and well paying customers, but unfortunately they have misplaced their mop and bucket some time ago.
Go ahead and visit any Bristish town/city/village and ask an assortment of people where the good pub is in town. Have a meaningful conversation about their choice if possible...or at least hear them out. Maybe even invite them for a drink w/ you, especially an old man, he'll love to tell you about the gossip surrounding the area. Chain bars and modern bars may be seeping into popularity here, but nothing really can compare or can compete w/ the British Pub.
