Christmas after Christmas

There isn't much head room in our local.

The William IV is an old 16th century pub, with original beams, flagstone floors, an inglenook fire, a stuffed monkey, good food and real atmosphere. I think I might go back tomorrow, just to blip the stuffed monkey!

This pub is a rarity today in an area where one closes it's doors for the last time everyday. Is that worse than when the brewery's take over, install gaudy patterned carpets, beer people have to prefer and microwave meals?

Pork in here sometimes comes from Gloucester Spot pigs that you can see housed behind the car park and the beef is provided by our esteemed local butcher. Choice meat that deserves to be cooked, as it is, by a competent chef.

With so much going on in the weeks before Christmas, it was decided to do something different and the local shoot meal was held after the occasion. It worked perfectly.

Two weeks ago the only conversation on anyone's lips was how much Christmas was costing, where they'd like to be, rather than where they were going. The worry that a present wasn't going to be appreciated and discarded or that it wouldn't be of equal value to the one they were most likely to receive. The battle at the supermarket tills as the world strived to empty shelves as if they wouldn't open again for a fortnight instead of one single day. Add the kids that can barley read or write but HAVE to have the latest Iphone and consequentially are likely to be eating very little this month for the joy of obtaining it.

Stress over now. We had a fabulous evening of good spirit. Thirty people from all walks of life, sharing an idyllic evening in a hospitable venue. Good food, good humour. Who would wish for more?

I left as the dart board was bagged for the rest of the evening and the shots were starting to pour.

Too much temptation and I have to drive!