Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Happy days


I’ll miss this place, and  its characters.

I served farmers, local crafts folk, tradesmen and a retired bank robber. A lord and lady, and a couple of faded celebs. All ages too. Some not old enough to be drinking, others old enough to know when to stop - but didn’t.

Whenever Glass Eye Gary went to the toilet, he popped his false eye in his beer so nobody would drink it.  Gladys the Guzzler would drop her dentures into her Guinness. "Drink this and they'll bite your bloody nose off" she would shout.

I remember when a mouse appeared from a pool table pocket during a tournament, and a dart landing in someone's burger. I recall riotous after hours lock-ins, screeching karaoke divas and quiz nights with Google cheats!

Now, standing alone in this empty bar I still hear laughter, clicking pool balls, raucous singing, and the crackling log fire. I smell pub-grub, beer and Smooth Sidney's overpowering aftershave!

As I turn the key and walk away for the final time I take with me nothing but happy memories. What more could I wish for?




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14 comments:

  1. This is wonderful! I love the cast of characters in your story and I think it is just about all true - even the mouse coming out of the pocket of the pool table. I love the characters, Glass Eye Gary and Gladys the Guzzler! Haha! Wonderful story!

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  2. Glass Eye Gary and Gladys the Guzzler makes a clever duo! Haha. Everything does sound real, which part weren't? Nicely done, Keith. And I'm glad you left with happy memory. This for sure was the truest of them all. :) :)

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  3. What great memories to have :-)

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  4. Lovely enjoyable read full of colourful characters!

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  5. Fantastic imagery and names! I'd like to experience such a pub. :) You have such a gift.

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  6. Memories.... Our very own storybook

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  7. A story that is happy despite the fact it is an ending for this man. He has all these good memories and is happy to think of them as he walks away from the bar forever. I guess things will never be the same. Very nostalgic story.

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  8. Nostalgia of the story really gets to you. It's making me remember places that I left behind...

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  9. Beautiful and poignant. What would life be without those memories?

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  10. Very nice story! Loved reading about the things he remembered. It's wonderful that he could walk away with such happy memories. Memories he will always be able to reflect on.

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  11. Very nice story! Loved reading about the things he remembered. It's wonderful that he could walk away with such happy memories. Memories he will always be able to reflect on.

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  12. The song “I love this bar” by Toby Keith wistfully played along in my head while I read your story.

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