A LEOPARD NEVER LOSES ITS SPOTS 14^th March 2008

Up for it were 14 until Huge dropped out to pick up his daughter, leaving 13. Triglett never showed up despite his favourite Indian being on the itinery. He was probably fine tuning Linda’s ivories.

Yuppers, Mid week Tone, Richee, Granpop Bill, Keithee’s up for it, Stubbee, JayCee, Dasher, Craigee, DCeen, Ax, Downsize Dave and Scottee free.

The evening began for some with a matinee performance of the Krakow trip hosted by our one and only Richee. Stubbee bought along the unedited video together with a lip smackering selection of pork pies. Rich dished out some imported brain splitting ales, whilst Stubster set up the video. Before we knew it, we’d ooohed, ahrrrred and ogled at the ‘sights’ expertly captured, devoured all the pies and a 7 seater taxi had drawn up outside. Many thanks to Dave and Richee for an excellent start to the evening.

The remaining lads had gone direct to the Bulls Head in Boslem and had only just started on the old titanic ales as we arrived. Bouncers were on the door surprisingly. Rumour had it that they were expecting 2,000 ‘gypsies’ (as they called them) to descend on the area in the evening. Better get some ale down us first then in case it runs out we thought!!

An old colleague of ours from the Millenium youth theatre group was juggling behind the bar. Finally we remembered his name, Jim. We’re getting old and forgetful obviously.

JayCee held what looked similar to his old colostomy bag with him again; this time collecting lolly for the Aintree and Milan trips.

Craigee confirmed he liked real ales providing they were lager coloured. Good man!! Shame tonight, the generally top drawer ales weren’t on top form. Still pretty acceptable though but not like we’ve grown previously accustomed to at the Bulls Head.

Scottee, Downsize and Ax arrived late, so we had another whilst they settled in. Ax was off the ale, allegedly, still recovering from the last squarree night.

Our growling rotweiler began grumbling that it was not him to blame for the sounds heard on the breeze blowing towards Bignal End a couple of weeks ago, but the other guy on the phone. It’s possible I suppose.

Ax suggested using a dictaphone for taking notes. Probably a good idea, despite being previously tried, especially as I haven’t got a clue what I’ve written down the next morning!! For instance, ‘Black arches in Milan??’, ‘Scottee wearing a fluffy pink top on the continent?’, and ‘Tone’s pearls of wisdom?’ See what I mean!! I also had a note saying DCeen was off to Brazil soon, to get some nuts for Keithee perhaps?

Our first visit to the Leopard had been eagerly anticipated. Boslem has more canals than Venice, someone noted. Granpop Bill said he spent most of his youth in Boslem, 4 canal.

I recall drinking an Archers ale in the Leopard but can’t remember its name. I’ll have to go back again sometime for more. The Leopard was lively but homely with a good choice of real ales for drinkers; and an excellent choice of meals for diners, looking of the menus dotted around. Stubbee spotted a dwarf behind the bar who chatted freely to him about ale.

After sampling a couple of ales we moved on to the India Cottage. Dasher began to strip off at the window. The red lamp providing a backcloth, soon had passers by queuing up to admire his manly physique.

A few bottles of the house wine and bottles of cobra were ordered, despite optimistic mutterings of Chateauneuf du pap around the table.

Starters were eliminated as we ordered the usual fayre of popodoms and chutneys. JayCee had never seen spoons so small before in his life, and he’s done some stirring in his life, I can tell you !!

A stronger smell than the chutneys wafted in, and was immediately blamed on Scottee. Whoever, Keithee refrained from a visit to the bogs until he got home. Bill said that everything was going down the pan these days, except the smell of course. He was also very concerned that the British apple industry has gone pear shaped

Dasher’s phone came out and arrangements for lifts began. His daughter was hopefully very amused by the number of kisses being blown down the phone by his surrounding mates.

The feedback on the meal and service at the Indian was excellent. In fact the whole evening was ‘spot on’. Even I wasn’t left behind. I caught the bus and was tucked up in bed by 11.30 after catching the reliable direct bus back to never-never land. Richee and Scottee had alternative ideas though and dropped off at Newcastle to embark on another roam around.

Regards

Yuppers