Wednesday 1 February 2012 20:42
What happened to January? And how is it Wednesday already?A couple of strange things have happened this week. On Monday, I gave into years of being asked to go to see Skinny Molly play in the Tuns. I don't enjoy 70s rock, but was surprised to find that I enjoyed the band very much. I'd been guilty of assuming them to be the same as every other band from (or covering a band from) the 70s. They were great, I loved them. Naturally, though, they announced that they'd probably not be returning to play small venues in the UK because things were looking up in the States.
After the band had finished, I complained to Paul that the Staropramen was a bit rank that evening and that it was now the sole beer in the pub that's suitable for vegetarians. On draught, that is; I was excluding the bottles of Stella because they're tiny. He rose to the challenge and asked what kind of beer he should introduce to the Tuns. Not being able to resist, since he'd failed to keep his promise of ordering some in the past, I said that bottles of Double Maxim would be nice. He said he'd get some the next day (yesterday) if I'd call in. So last night, on my way to the Black Bull to see Karl's new band play, I called into the Tuns. As expected, I couldn't see Double Maxim in the fridges, so I bought a couple of bottles of Stella (they're on offer and two make up a pint-ish). On taking my first mouthful, I glimpsed, between Newcastle Brown and some radioactive alcopops, that familiar red label. I swear I was in shock. Double Maxim, a Sunderland beer, in a Gateshead pub. So I quickly drank my Stella and bought a bottle of Maxim. Then another.
This evening, I've purchased tickets for the Presidents of the United States of America. Can life get any better?
