THEY SAY

from our childhood - and many subsequent years which my extensive diaries bear out (and we haven't even touched on 1976...) There also appears to be a lack of long summer evenings now, something the media have not commented on, yet definitely noted by our contemporaries. Whilst those who play outside league games such as Bat and Trap or Quoits continue, this has had an adverse effect on our casual games in the pub garden, resulting in an early retirement to the bar.

As I write this, summer skittles has now just about come to an end with our most successful ever season. Perhaps it was the fantastic team spirit, lots of beer or even my fantastic leadership! It was also great to be able to support different pubs from those which we visit in the winter league. One of these was The Griffin's Head at Nether Compton, where Ray and his wife have ably run the pub for over fifty years; quite a record. Whilst there is no real ale available, a visit is a must (opening times vary) and the pub really is a step back in time. It's well looked after, complete with a fine and tidy skittle alley and secluded pub garden. More of this pub in a future episode.

As autumn and winter approach, topics will inevitably lean toward indoor pursuits, but a cursory glance at an outdoor game from last month which was the subject of the mystery picture I must add. It's ‘Lawn billiards’ and the black and white picture here is of said activity at The Freemason's Arms, Hampstead, London. This game is now, I am led to believe, under the car park, thus ending the game here in the United Kingdom for good. Perhaps in some future archaeological dig, it is uncovered and pondered over before reference is made to the first of the Arthur Taylor books (Pub Games 1976) from whence this picture came. Without going into That Sylvia Hill had a fright with a Frog resting in her ‘loo’.

Hubby Tony was on the scene, but a ‘flush‘ was not aloud.

Manhole cover up, and with coordination, Mr. Frog was saved! Then in the car and down the road to Tootle Bridge where he swims with ease. Yet another Blind Lane rescue!! That in Chiselborough everyone is looking out for Chief, the missing Tabby cat. That when Queen Camel’s

Andrew Hoddinott says “I’ll look at it” - he really does mean he’ll look at it, except of course, when it comes to looking in the garage after a heavy rain shower. That anyone travelling towards

Ilminster is in for a treat … a field full of sunflowers. That Pork & Seagull Pie nearly became a Portuguese delicacy, for former Weymouth residents

Rodney and Sandra Hawkins. That the dulcet tones of Yeovil’s

Pete Lambden at The Quickie, graced Radio 2’s airwaves in

August. That Lynne Penny of Bradford

Abbas is changing her name to

‘Peggy’. That when messaging, the

Shepton Mallet Convent Trio must ensure it's not a Video call. That in Barrington you can see a smoking nun, a black sheep and a figure hanging off a roof. That when travelling through

North Cadbury, drivers should stick to the speed limit and be aware of pedestrians and pets. That in South Petherton, food served at the recent Spanish themed evening held at The

Bakehouse, was buena comida. That the recent production of

Keeping up Appearances at

Yeovil’s Octagon Theatre, would have warranted the cast an invite to Hyacinth's candlelight supper. That in Crewkerne, for those who want to experience some

Eastern promise, Belly Dancing classes have been held at The

Aqua Centre. That in Chickerell, will it be copper or leather for Mr & Mrs

Steve Putt on 7th September?

Lawn billiards. too much detail, one uses a pole with a loop, and lifts the heavy lignum vitae balls and thrusts them through the hoop, which is on a swivel to complicate things! I did manage to find a short piece of video which came from a few years ago in New Zealand where the game is (allegedly) still played, but now that's disappeared into the ether. Incidentally, The Freemason's Arms is now the only place where ‘London Skittles’ is still played (do Google that game - you'll love it!)

Whilst we continue to enjoy some fine English ales from our pubs, one beer not on our regular list was recently tried out by myself and ‘brother from another mother’, Phil. Brought home from a climbing trip in the French Alps, it's thanks to my son in law Mike for transporting it (and several others) all the way back home. We had sampled one that neither Phil nor I found palatable but there is the crown bottle top arrangement, easily replaced by a stopper which saves the beer for another time enabling us to save some for Mike, who did like it – such are our differing palates. Moving to this one, however, it certainly had a very full malt mouth-feel and almost sweet in it's long finish. Brasserie Du Mont Blanc dates back to 1830, and at that time there were as many as ten breweries based locally, all attracted to the area by the quality of the water and the glaciers nearby. However, it closed in 1966 and reopened in 1999 when it moved to La MotteServolex in the heart of Savoie. Since then, Brasserie Du Mont Blanc has been known for brewing authentic beers with character from the water of the Mont Blanc glaciers. In 2011 it was declared the 'Best Amber Beer In the World' at the World Beer Awards in the United States, and in 2014 the 'Best Beer in the World' at the Global Craft Beer Awards in Berlin. Interestingly, owner Sylvain Chiron was influenced by having studied brewing at a Belgian Trappist monastery, which may explain why this is one of the few beers from France that I can say that I really enjoyed!

Best in the World? Maybe, but such things tend to be subjective, don't they? Cheers! © P.A. Baxter 2022. skittlealley@hotmail.com

World Class Amber beer!

Vinny never misses that one

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