I like pubs. I don't go to them as much as i would like any more due being busy and waking up with a hangover being less desirable than it was say 10 years ago, but pubs are fun. Just to clarify, im not talking about clubs, which ive never really been into, or cafe bars - some are nice but the majority just make me want to drive a tractor into them, empty of course. I should probably clarify them im talking about UK establishments here as the rules are kind of different in other countries.
The kind of place im talking about is where the turnover of barstaff is less regular than the beer deliveries and you dont need a megaphone to tell the guy next to you to get off your foot before you use it to perhaps alter his thoughts of fatherhood. Ive lived in a few different places and ive always managed to find a pub to go to where you can chat to whoever may be sitting next to you and the barman remembers what you drink. I know this is reading a bit like the prologue for the pilot of Cheers, but my point is that yesterdays UK budget just hits these places harder again after a difficult couple of years as its pubs more than clubs and cafe bars that have been affected by the smoking ban, which im mostly in favour of, and by increases in alcohol duty. Apparently record numbers of traditional country pubs are shutting every month, leaving confused and displaced regulars with the prospect of having to confine their drinking to their own house and as anybody who enjoys a good pub discussion knows, its just not the same pointing at yourself in a mirror.
I was in the State Bar in Glasgow last night, with John Alexander having a few pints and putting the world to rights. They had a very nice guest ale called EPA on, but somewhere between leaving the State and arriving home John lost his wallet. Turns out it fell out his pocket in the taxi as he was taking a picture on his phone camera of the river CLyde, for his "a picture a day" blogging project". Luckily the taxi driver brought it back, for the fare of course, and alls well that ends well apart from the mental scars
Johns picture a day blog
Theres a couple of live tracks on the player now we recorded in Germany. Ive just bought a zoom handy recorder and when i work out how to use it im going to try and tape all our gigs from now on with a view to getting a live album together.
Cheers
PNT
