Month: January 2015

11 2 11 is not the number for directory enquirers, its in a pub, and not leaving from door opening until 11 (should be last orders but not any more)

Got down the shop at 10:55 in a hurry to get to the pub in time – had a couple the night before, but not too many, so once timsed it was over to see the door opening. Unfortunately at 10:58 the door was already open, so we closed it, had a picture, then at 11:00 on the dot we were in and ordering our fist drinkies…

Hour 1.

The longest hour, 11 to 12, normally you would fire down a couple of pints in the first hour of being in a pub, so it was a little tricky getting the pace right for a single one. We ponced around and read some of the paper. First present for Paul was a Happy Birthday badge. We were the only ones in for only about half an hour, but we did have a reserved sign on our table – whioch was a nice touch – oh, and the first drink was on the house..

Hour 2.

Gagging for the next drink – at 12:10 I ordered, Stella #2. John arrived and sat on his usual table and Paul took some “sly” photo’s with his phone controlling the camera. Internet all working now, I think, more paper.

Hour 3.

Cards came out as one of the next presents and we played some cribbage, which was new to me, and Johns mate came. Stella #3. I made a happy face for my pint which I was very proud of.

Hour 4.

Our guests arrived, and we had a couple of massive fat chips. I think maybe the crossword started about here. Stella #4

Hour 5. (3 o’clock)

Guests still here, food finished, straw in pint – children playing board games – more guests arrived. Stella #5

Hour 6. Halfway

Guests still here, crossword may be finished, not sure what else was happening. Stella #6 balanced on a beer mat on a pint.

Hour 7.

Still have the guests around – things getting a little blurred now. Not sure how the time was passed. Stella #7 balanced on top of a bottle of Smirnoff

Hour 8.

Snacks came out, spicy crispy things and pistachios – some guests still around, even more blurred. Stella #8

Hour 9. (7 o’clock)

Supper time! Faggots and peas and mash and extra gravy. Whole hour spent enjoying the food. I think next orders had moved to about half past the hour by now. Stella #9

Hour 10.

A little bit of water I think, band sets up and maybe starts – its super dooper loud. Pint only just begun at 8:40, Stella #10

Hour 11.

Double figure pints makes a mans head spin. Music still going and is too loud still, Get gee’d up by the wife’s who pitch up for a short while. 9:33 and a pint is in progress – try some arty shots (with a camera not alcohol) Stella #11

Hour 12. (10 o’clock)

Final hour to make it to 11. Music still going, little nervous lad with a guitar and backing songs, its okay I think I might have been singing at this point. Stella #12, 22:19 its begun

Hour 13.

Made it. Left the pub sometime very shortly after 11:00. All slightly fuzzy.

Good time had, thanks to Paul for keeping me company – next time 24 hrs?

Off up to Brum for the weekend, Ma, Pa and Kate had tickets for Strictly Come Dancing Tour, so us and Claire, Liam and Imy heading up to Birmingham for the weekend..

We had tickets for the train, and with no minutes to spare we finally left the house to get down Severn Tunnel, I tried to buy a ticket and the stupid machine (or the stupid person trying to use it) wouldn’t take my cash, so in the end I just bought two tickets – I have a feeling Sundays may have been free, but anyway, with the clock ticking we were all set.. After all the naging I had given everyone we ended up having 10 minutes to wait for the train, and when it came there was loads of room – so began our trip.

Nice journey up to Cheltenham, where we waited for the next train for ten very cold minutes – its always freezing on this station. We managed to get some seats on the next leg, and one stop and 40 minutes later we were at New Street. Straight into a cab, who seemed to take us as far as Wolverhampton then back to the hotel and six quid later we were checking in. We stayed at the Hampton on Broad Street, which was fairly decent, and after a very quick unpack we headed out with an hour to go to get some food.

We passed a couple of places we could get in, but on my advice we tried to get something closer – but we failed miserably. It had slipped my mind that the over 7000 Strictly dudes were also trying to do the same as us, so we headed to the Arena and left them there whilst we went and stood around in the Malthouse. Half a beer later the throngs in the Malthouse were buggering off to the show, and we got a seat, another beer and a sharing platter – then it was time to see the other pubs around.

Piano and Pitcher was dark and cold, and I had a pint of Red Stripe which was a mistake, but then a decent Heinekin. We left after this for the Slug and Lettuce, and when I turned around Sian had disappeared, so I looked in the Slug for her and couldn’t see her – for the first time ever she didn’t have her phone, so I stood outside for a while incase she had left – but she didn’t appear so I looked again – and she had secured a table, but then couldn’t leave it, so she had been siting on her own with no drink for a while… Anyway – quick beer then back to Malthouse to wait for the others. Another couple of beers later, and we bought an ace Kebab to take back to the room. Day one – done.

Day two started with a massive breakfast and a meet up with the rest of the crowd – after eating two pigs on toast, we headed off in the cold, down the canal and over to the Jewerly Quarter – which has one or two Jewerly shops. We made it to the top and had a shufty around the Museum, with a guide, who’s opening gambit was along the lines of “I am not really with it today, so I might forget to tell you things – which I think she did. Quite an interesting tour and thirty mins later and we walked the long walk back to town.

After passing through Paradise Place – which was a completely not as advertised we set off in search of somewhere to sit, eat and be merry. That was harder than you would think – as there were eight of us, with a 12 year old and a three year old – getting the right place was not easy – Pop’s had a pie, and we sat in the cold watching him, then after some false starts we found a place which would have us – and preceded in staying there for about 5 hrs. Many stella’s sank and it was back to the hotel for a livener, then out to TinTins.

Tintins was terrible, although we didn’t get to eat there – we did queue for a while, and finally the dude came and told us there was a problem with the kitchen or something, so we couldn’t have food. So back to the Malt House again, where we luckily got a nice round table for all of us – nosh then more beer and it was bed time.

After yet another beer, we retired and should have had a kebab again, but I was way to fat, so just Sian had one.

Up, ate then trained, then home – Birmingham complete.