12/12/01    Swilland Moon and Mushroom

NaTCH arrived a little early to find every table occupied, primarily by groups of women.  At quarter past one most of the pub left making it possible to eat "Christmas Casserole" with rather underdone roast potatoes.  Buffy's Terrier was much enjoyed (rather dry - if you can say that about a beer) but the coriander flavoured Umble didn't seem as full as last year.  Conversation was limited.

    AfAR from Spadge (sending cars to Santa).  (Last visit 13/12/00)

14/11/01    Cretingham Bell

Steph was persuaded to join John B, NaTCH and your belated scribe Spadge by a ride in the new Spadgemobile, understandably she was unable to resist the tarmac-rippling 56bhp and supreme handling of a Suzuki Alto.  Conversation was somewhat muted on arrival as the passengers recovered from such a stimulating ride but then, though the chaps behaved better than usual, there were some large guffaws.  The only disappointment was that it had to end because the evil capitalists that are Steph's employers insisted that she return to work before their fancy food establishment closed for the day.  (Last visit 11/10/00)

Spadge

10/10/01    Ipswich Steamboat Tavern

Those present were Hugh who had to move all of 100 yards to get to the pub, and NaTCH who brought the rest of us from miles away - us being Dan and Malcolm.  Most conversation was inevitably geared towards the marketing prowess of Earl Soham Brewery following the recent success at the Ipswich Beer festival with Victoria Bitter.  It was a short lunch!

The pub lacked any beer that was asked for, so most of us drank Tolly IPA which was not very interesting even after the second pint.  It was a good fry up though.

    AfAR from Spadge (overwhelmed by work).

Dan

12/09/01    Framlingham Station

Prompt were Las, NaTCH and birthday boy Malcolm.  A lot late was John B and a little late was Andy who explained it was because he wasn't wearing a watch.  Fortunately Malcolm was sufficiently distracted by his birthday candles and the wonderful flower arrangement from Steph that there was no further discussion of watches.  Inevitably there was discussion of the unbelievable events in the USA but impressively Andy is playing a football match in Moscow!  Good food!  Good beer!

    AfAR from Spadge (testing at Mallory Park).  (Last visit 13/09/00)

08/08/01    Campsea Ashe Talbot

Attendees were John B, Andrew, NaTCH, Malcolm, Lucie, Alan, Mrs Alan, and 11 month old Harry who tried the Adnams but fell back on his trusty bottle of milk.  Despite this everyone else thoroughly enjoyed the Adnams and simple but excellent food that's so reasonably priced we thought the bill had been added up wrong.  Conversation included the pleasant fact that the Earl Soham post office is now licensed.  As John B pointed out "You can now buy beer and pay for it with your pension".

    AfAR (well sort of) from Hugh (in Latvia) and Andy (in France).

11/07/01    Ufford White Lion

The curse of the evil Pubmaster fell upon many of our usual attendees and obviously all you other buggers.  Nevertheless Billy Nomates NaTCH and Spadge enjoyed well-kept pints of Adnams and Charles Wells Bombardier, and partook of chicken & mushroom pies best described as "unremarkable".  Andy, who had been stood up by the current Mrs Andy on their annual lunch date, arrived later for a sandwich.  Conversation ranged from gravestones available on the internet through to Hugh’s party and was blissfully free of any mention of Malcolm’s watch.

Once Andy had left, the older Billy reminded the younger, shorter Billy how rubbish his website was.  But the older Billy was then kind enough to chauffeur the younger Billy back to the safe haven of Framlingham where the younger Billy's son was waiting, all alone at the school gate, for his drunken and staggering father to take him (the youngest and shortest Billy of them all) to his after-school chimney sweeping job.  Apologies received from John B & Malcolm (pressure of work and lack of brains).   (Last visit 09/08/00)

Spadge