Englishness Part 2: Pubs
I've returned to Pescara. I've eaten ice cream and I've seen my friends, so the all is right in the world of Laura once again!
Pubs - for me - are an important part of my English lifestyle, and are also important within a community, especially coming from a village on a small island. My village has three pubs. Well three pubs and a restaurant. And it depends on where you live, and what you do in the village as to which pub you go to. And that's generally how it is in my experience...everywhere.
Sports Teams of all kinds (like cricket teams for example) have their pub; work places have theirs; most social groups and groups of friends have a regular pub they meet in; my Grandma has her pub; my Mum has hers and my Dad has his (yes they are different). These pubs are referred to as the/your 'local', the place where if someone says "They're down the pub...." it's the place they'll be...the nearest pub to wherever the 'event', whether it be cricket ground, book club or house, is. But this Summer I didn't go to my local(s) as often as I would've done if I wasn't currently battling with my end-of-module-assessment for my Masters. Drastic times.
The local where I used to live in London, well I had two, had really good food and were pretty chic, gastropubs you might say. However the two locals I frequent on the Island are of an older style, still good food but typical 'pub grub'. In one there's the chance to play a bit of pool, or maybe darts. Or perhaps watch the old guy fall asleep at the bar, if that tickles your fancy. In the other local I always seem to be there for the folk groups practise with their violins and strummed guitar chords. Sometimes I've eaten free chips because the Bridge group were low in numbers, and we've had to stop our conversations before to wait for the cyclists with their cycling shoes to clip-clop off of the floorboards.
Either way, for me, a pub is a place to socialise and put the world to right. To eat and drink yes, but more importantly meet people and natter. I might head out to a pub that I haven't been to before for a catch-up with a friend I haven't seen in a while. Or I might join my brother and his cricket team to reflect on the day's play. Or perhaps I'll sit with my Mum and my Godmum to hear the latest news on the bees and their swarms.
Pubs. Just good round places to sit, relax and have a chinwag. End of.
Pubs - for me - are an important part of my English lifestyle, and are also important within a community, especially coming from a village on a small island. My village has three pubs. Well three pubs and a restaurant. And it depends on where you live, and what you do in the village as to which pub you go to. And that's generally how it is in my experience...everywhere.
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| The local whilst on cricket tour (although really it's a members club) |
The local where I used to live in London, well I had two, had really good food and were pretty chic, gastropubs you might say. However the two locals I frequent on the Island are of an older style, still good food but typical 'pub grub'. In one there's the chance to play a bit of pool, or maybe darts. Or perhaps watch the old guy fall asleep at the bar, if that tickles your fancy. In the other local I always seem to be there for the folk groups practise with their violins and strummed guitar chords. Sometimes I've eaten free chips because the Bridge group were low in numbers, and we've had to stop our conversations before to wait for the cyclists with their cycling shoes to clip-clop off of the floorboards.
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| I cycled here with a friend for an impromptu lunch |
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| The Pub for the Axbridge Cricket Team |
Pubs. Just good round places to sit, relax and have a chinwag. End of.
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