Have you heard of the expression, ‘A pub with no beer?’
“Well, a few years back, my wife said to me, “Let’s go and see our son singing at his New Year gig.”
I was apprehensive. “But everyone will be merry, and I’m as sober as a judge!” I replied.
“Oh, come on... get ready... you’ll be fine.”
“About 42 years ago, I used to go around the pubs with my brothers: my younger brother on the organ, me on the guitar singing country, and my older brother singing Rock & Roll. The silly thing is, I used to drink like a fish... Dutch courage, and all that. My brothers used to drink, but they didn’t need it; they’d say to me, ‘Why do you need a drink?’ I’d say, ‘Why do you not need a drink?’ I’m not counting, but I haven’t had a drink for well over 20 years.
“My late dad could get up singing without a drink. My wife gets up singing without a drink, and enjoys it... but I feel like I’m in front of a firing squad!
“Any-hoo! We headed over to the venue. We could hear our son singing as we parked the car; it took me back; I thought, ‘Go on, son! I’m proud of you!’
“The pub was heaving, with smiling, merry faces all around... everyone waving arms, enjoying the song. We had to push our way in through the throng.
We managed to catch our son’s eye, and give a little wave, to let him know we were there. We made our way to the bar and ordered drinks.
Standing there, I looked down at my pint of orange, my wife’s half coke, the glasses of orange the couple beside us were drinking, and then the glass of water my son was drinking, between songs, and thought, ‘Goodness! I’m in a pub... with no beer!’ I looked at the spirits behind the bar, and noticed many names I’d never heard of, and thought, ‘When did that happen?’
“It was very warm, and I started to loosen up. My foot started to move with the beat, my hand started to tap on the counter and my wife and I both sang along with the wonderful songs.
“During the excitement, a lad at the bar - obviously hot and under the influence - picked up a very large and heavy container of ice cubes from the counter, lifted it up above his head and poured it - and about a pint of melt-water, too - over himself and those around him! There was a short, tense, silent pause... then a shout of hurray! followed by a 30 second burst of excitement as merry folk danced the ice cubes about them into the carpet - for a brief moment, it looked like a scene from the Disney film, Frozen.
“At 11.45pm., our son came to the bar to meet us during a break. He told us that the gig would be back on at 12.15, till 1am.
“The pub TV went on, so the customers could watch the countdown to the New Year. We were told that the doors would shortly be locked, so that was our cue to leave. Our son walked us to our car, and there were good wishes and hugs all round.
“What a great night... in a pub... with no beer!
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