This is more like retirement. The sun’s shining, all the workmen have finished in the house and we have only decorating to complete which we have suspended whilst Alex, Dave and the grandkids are over here.


So it’s up in a morning put on shorts and T-shirt, go to the garden room to read, (heavily into James Patterson and the Women’s Murder Club) at the moment and wait for everyone to get up. Is there a better way to start a day? Except today I have a hang over!


Richard, an ex-colleague and still very good friend had called to say he was in the area on Tuesday night and did I fancy a beer. Tuesday is also the night that Kev, another ex-colleague and good friend and his crew meet in the Cornerhouse in Beverley with their guitars for a little jamming. So very quickly we arranged for Richard, Kev and myself to meet in the Cornerhouse at 7.00pm.


Dave who has had a very heavy weekend in York with Sean and Maxine at their pub has decided to lay off the booze during the week. That is until he hears the arrangements and then has to decide should he join us for a beer or two or stay in and watch house make-over projects with Alex and Christine. The four of us are in the pub at 7pm and with variable closing times you know it will be a heavy night.


First thing is to eat, well actually the first thing was two pints and then some food, Cornerhouse special, curry and a pint £4.50, is that good value or not? On the barman’s advice I go for the hot one because “it’s not very hot”. After the first fork full I realise that the barman is having a bad night and getting his kicks from watching people as they plough into the hot one. After the first few mouthfuls you get used to it and in any case another pint of lager will always solve the problem of a hot curry.


After this it’s across to Nellie’s. An old pub still with gas lights, Dave who is permanently cold being used to the weather in the Bahamas thinks these are like patio heaters and gets as near as possible to the gas burners. It’s unbelievable in here, four pints and I am sure I got change from a fiver. It’s also quiz night so we decide to enter.
Amazingly we win getting 44 correct answers from a possible 49. I was a little concerned that Richard knew how many basic ballet steps there were and even more concerned that he could demonstration all five in the middle of the pub. We had a little help from a Liverpool lady who now lives in Wigan but comes to the quiz in Nellie’s in Beverley. I didn’t understand that last night and still don’t today but anyway she remembered Pixie and Dixey and recognised Twiggy which secured our win. The prizes arrive, eight beer vouchers. We need these like holes in the head at this time so we half them with the Liverpool Lady and now we have just enough left for one more pint before going back to the Cornerhouse and Kev’s crew.


This is turning into an excellent night, three guitars, a mouth organ, things that shake and rattle and Kev and the guys are singing Irish songs. We settle down for a couple more beers. Kev would like it to be known that the whole crew are available for weddings, barmitzahs, dances etc. It’s hard to know how to describe them as 'Boy Band' is difficult for a crowd whose average must be fifty plus. Think Eagles in their heyday. They are nothing like that but it’s a nice thought anyway. Hear them first at the Cornerhouse on a Tuesday and then make your booking through this Blog. No direct approach please, Kev doesn’t like discussing fees and I lose my commission.



So it’s midnight, we have had a good night. Alex collects Dave and myself and we arrive home to find Christine still up. It’s gone midnight and she’s still up which is unheard of. She has just completed a five hour marathon of make-overs and property development all recorded during the World Cup and wants to know if we are doing the same next Tuesday. All I can decide at the moment is that I need a headache pill.