Combine 'arvester

I appear to have spent part of Saturday night standing next to that bloke who sings for the Wurzels. Well, not really, but even coming from the sticks I've never met someone with such an appallingly cliched accent, all "yaaar" and "arrrr", sounding very much like he'd had his throat cut at some point and he DIDN'T appear to be either taking the piss or an out of work actor, although he did appear to have been very well soaked in Adnams bitter for a period of years beforehand. Hey ho.

A rare night out in the much honoured Hometown became the order of the day, or rather the night after I dropped down unannounced to say hello to my mother on her birthday. All together now, "aaaaaah, what a nice son". Yeah right, I'll probably use it to my advantage later, just storing up points ;o). Having done the family thing and done it well, I scuttled off to the old family homestead out in the villages where I was staying, blagged a lift back into town and set about an evening of exploration. Started off with a couple of pints of Broadside in a fine bar in the town square where I ran into a known reprobate of seriously scary form, Raymondo; removed myself to the Plough for a pint of something national, seasonal and not very special, before I strolled off to the Spread for a nice pint of Adnams and a catchup with the Man of Darkness who I've not seen in a some years. A pattern was forming here; most of my buddies either weren't coming out to play, or where elsewhere in the country. Hey ho. Another factor was making itself felt; I can't put the beer away like I used to. Maybe no bad thing.

The next stop was a very serious ale pub, liable to end up with quite a lengthy session and I was feeling a tad full; so decided to knock it on the head for a night and head back for an early one. Bloody hell, what's this, heading for the ride home before closing time? Am I going queer? Have my bollocks dropped off? Unheard of! Redeemed myself somewhat by grabbing a deathburger from one of the vans on the way back - my doctor may not approve, but they have no such thing in Northtown and a one off can't be THAT bad, can it - and popped into the Greyhound for one once reaching the sticks. Shocked to calculate that it's been about eighteen years since I've set foot in that pub. Yikes. How time doth fly. A little bit provincial, but still a better pub than the Green King microwave pub grub outlet across the road that the chaps always preferred, and does a decent pint of Adnams bitter. Always a good thing.

So, looking for a way to conclude. Not sure there is one. Took the stroll up the hill to the original homestead; the old butchers shop converted into an enormous private home; the house next door where we wasted many evenings gaming in the attic before my mate's folks' moved away; the house formerly inhabited by the lass from primary school that I had such a crush on in 1982; the small estate across the road where she now inhabits, married to a drongo. A stroll up to the bus stop where I looked out so many times; a brief reflection on the lass I used to queue with who got killed in '93, and a whole lot of other past stuff. If I didn't know better, I'd swear I was getting nostalgic. But what's the point. Anything waiting down there? Nah, I can be on my arse as well up here as I can back there, for half the cost.

Off to my old port in the morning; a brief sentimental journey if you will. One of my favorite spots to waste time, the viewing area is. Not a bad morning for it either. Took Bosscam.