Sunday 30 September 2012

So I Was in This Pub...




...enjoying a Friday off work and savouring the delights of a pint or two of Belhaven Best. When two little blighters ran over and began pestering me.

'Can I have a taste of your beer, Papa?'

'No, you can't, now go away you small children'

I dunno, children in pubs - what's the world coming to? I only popped in to celebrate my daughter Michaela's 23rd birthday. It turned out to be two for the price of one as her sister Laura was there with Jack and Hannah.

The following day didn't turn out to be the best of days. My afternoon spent at Tynecastle watching the famous Heart of Midlothian was two hours of my life I won't get back. A 3-1 defeat from Kilmarnock, Hearts 'bogey' team put something of a dampener on the day. Still, as most Hearts supporters of my generation will tell you, being a Jambo has more ups and downs than a liftman's nightmare. Hearts won 3-0 at Dundee United last week so it was inevitable they would follow up this fine performance with an abysmal showing.

In an effort to console myself, I headed to the cinema on Saturday evening to watch the latest film version of Sweeney. Growing up in the 1970s I loved watching the television version on ITV starring John Thaw and Denis Waterman. The 2012 film version stars Ray Winstone and Ben Drew (who I was reliably informed by the lovely Marion is pop star Plan B) as Jack Regan and George Carter respectively.

Now I was always going to compare the 2012 film with the 1970s television series but I have to say I was disappointed with the new film. It's clearly aimed at the American market and it seemed a tad unrealistic to me. There was a nod to the film that made Winston famous in the late 1970s - Scum - where the DI was sent briefly to prison. His march along the prison corridor carrying his clothes and the scene where he puts a couple of radio batteries in a sock with a view to assaulting a fellow inmate was a not too subtle reference to Winston's role as Carling in the borstal drama of three decades ago.

However, I left the cinema disappointed. And somewhat irritated by the cost of a hotdog - £4.50 for a small sausage in a only slightly larger finger roll.

Now it's my least favourite time of the week. Sunday night. I'm about to crack open a can or two of Belhaven Best. But first, I'll just check there are no children at the door...

4 comments:

Lilly said...

What cute little people you have there Mike. And they look so happy to be with their grandfather too. Children in pubs? I am not sure when that started. I always have memories as a kid of waiting in the car with Mum while my father was drinking in the hotel after his cricket games. Yep women were not even allowed in. My father was the thoughtful type though, as he would bring Mum out a lemon squash to the car. what a patient woman she was, I think she spent most of her life waiting for him, lol. I say thank goodness times have changed! Yes I loved the TV version of Sweeney too. British Television is the best. Now I am addicted to the Midwives show (love Miranda). Hope you have a happy week ahead of you. Oh and sorry about your football results...

Adullamite said...

Keep children & women out of pubs I say. It makes for a better, and quieter, evening!
Saturday was just a blip, nothing to worry about.

Sausage said...

Your opening line is what I want engraved on my headstone!
glad your jambos left Tannadice with a victory and a curse.
Cheers, Sausage...

Mike Smith said...

Lilly - thanks. Your dad was indeed very thoughtful!

Adullamite - Too many blips for my liking.

Sausage - Not often Hearts win at Tannadice these days.

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