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BEER & SKITTLES

P. A. BAXTER

WELL I REALLY don't know what you good people think, but as I tap at the keyboard I see the longest day is looming and I'm still waiting for the summer to begin! In last month’s column I took the liberty of mentioning how my better half and myself spent our first date, although I didn't say that it was 1976, the year of that summer. Co-incidentally, a television programme of just a couple days ago brought back many memories of how the summer of '76 unfolded, with shrinking reservoirs, stand-pipes, gazillions of ladybirds and beer at 25p for a pint. (I thought it was about 70p, but that was for a gallon of petrol) By the way, we could not help but notice that there were very few over-weight people in the footage from back then. (Further comment on that particular topic, I feel, is superfluous).

The programme reported how people were encouraged to drink a beer each day for their fluid intake, accompanied by a packet of crisps to replace salt lost in the scorching weather. We were also encouraged to drink those ultrasweet soft drinks laced with sugar, although in those days where they were purchased, almost inevitably the retailers didn't have the huge fridges we see today. Hot weather and tepid drinks, not nice.

Something that had become part of everyday life, and in my humble opinion one of the biggest cons foisted on society was the now ubiquitous bottled water –and back then there were no signs of it. It was also noted how lager had made massive inroads into the British psyche, and I recall downing plenty of the stuff during that summer. However bearing in mind that whilst some of us were drinking real ale by then if it was available (although we may not have known it was referred to as that) CAMRA was still in its infancy, and still a ‘toddler’, its influence was small and the Big Brewers were still well and truly in command. Finding a consumer organisation consisting of ‘old-fashioned, long-haired, sandal-wearing middle-aged beardies’ was just something to be laughed at. (My interpretation of their description, by the way, culled from being around the peripheries of CAMRA for some time).

Reports that the hospitality trade is picking up after the enforced shut-downs are encouraging, and again I salute those at the sharp end of the game who inevitably bear the brunt of all the challenges thrown at them. The trade also reports on the lack of suitable staff which puts those working under more stress. (Note my picture). Our own local in Bradford Abbas was recently taken over yet again after the two managers who had promised to ‘get it back on its feet in the next six weeks’ simply disappeared and shoved new landlady Lisa in right at the deep end. As locals we support her where we can and are proving that support is there aplenty. Our summer skittles

Notice outside the Walnut Tree in West Camel.

continue at the pub too, with Lisa - and our team, still awaiting the promised new set of pins.

We continue to do our bit in supporting other local establishments and recently took another trip to ‘The Walnut Tree’ at West Camel for an evening meal. The staff are friendly and helpful, and good for a laugh as well. The fare has a distinctly Caribbean influence and when one meets the chef Izzie it soon becomes apparent why! I also met Izzie at a local wake where he and his team proved their versatility. Service in the resteurant is unhurried but worth waiting for, and at our last two visits I went for curried goat, which was a favourite of mine at the muchmissed ‘Old Stagecoach’ at Crewkerne. The Walnut Tree is