Last night was our monthly branch meeting which was held in Thwaite's Two Tubs in Bury. This is a decent venue for us, our requirement being a separate room where we can discuss boring beer business in seclusion. These days, pubs like that are hard to find. I drank Wainwright's which was pale, decent and 4.1%. Like a lot of beers from regional brewers, it was a bit tight on the hops. Some, not so lucky, tried the bitter which was decidedly "iffy". The well regarded Lancaster Bomber ran out mid way.
The room is slightly unusual, being partitioned by a wooden pull across screen which effectively cuts it in two. The other half of the room, which had its own bar, was hosting an Ann Summers Party, which as the evening drew on became more and more raucous. A host of giggling women of all ages, shapes and sizes flitted in and out. At one point the lights went off in our side of the room leaving us in semi darkness. One brave CAMRA soul popped his head in to investigate next door, only to find himself facing a luminous red dildo of infeasible dimensions! At the end the by now pissed Ann Summers participants came out through our half of the room clutching their newly acquired lingerie and marital aids, flushed and happy.
We grinned at them as they went on their way. I think we were all cheered by it and we, like they, got the evening's business done!
I once attended a CAMRA committee meeting in London. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I have had to separate it in my mind from my generally positive views of the national organisation. Having said that, I can't imagine a scenario in which I don't want to be a member and don't love CAMRA. I just don't think I ever want to be involved in it at a branch level ever again.
ReplyDeleteWhat did they do to you that was so painful? Was it a weird initiation ceremony?
ReplyDeleteDon't blame you,Stonch.Local branches are populated by woolie loving weirdos.
ReplyDeletePaul
ReplyDeleteDon't be daft. How can you possibly know that? There are plenty weirdos in CAMRA as elsewhere, but ours is just normal people and no woolly pullies in sight. I bet plenty others are too, though I dare say there is the odd branch who are, well, odd! Not generally though in my experience.
Besides, Stonch likes knitwear! (-:
Paul
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I have to correct you. I know for a fact that Tandleman isn't a woolie lover.
Nothing wrong with a woolly loving weirdo!
ReplyDeleteAh, we do like to hide behind our stereotypes, don't we? Saves us the trouble of thinking.
ReplyDeleteStonch's posting reminds me of a comment I heard years ago in the Wellington in Southport when a regular said, "I tried that real ale once; it was horrible. Never again." Funnily enough, he was happily drinking cask Tetley's at the time, and when I pointed this out to him, he said it wasn't real ale, it was Tetley's. I had to call over the licensee to confirm that this real ale hater was drinking real ale.
Rednev's attitude is difficult to argue with - in that it reveals he isn't willing to accept reality.
ReplyDeletePS. when I referred to Rednev's comment, I meant the first line, not the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteHis second paragraph wasn't relevant.
It looks like I've rattled someone's cage!
ReplyDeleteNot at all, although if it comforts you to think so, please go ahead!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I could feign outrage, that your assumption that I'm basing my view on stereotypes - as opposed to the evidence of my own senses, which is actually the case - suggests I'm lying!
Not at all. It simply suggests that it is ludicrous to dismiss an organisation that covers the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with 100,000 members in hundreds of branches because you didn't like one visit to one CAMRA meeting in one city. I don't deny your experience, but it can hardly be described as representative, can it?
ReplyDeleteTandleman is quite right: you can get oddballs in any organisation, but most CAMRA members are normal people, disappointing though that may be to some.
Do you know most camra members? No.You mean the ones you know and,including yourself,are ok.100000members fair enough,but a high percentage of those who actually get involved are anally retentive,obsessive sad types.
ReplyDeleteAnd usually sex starved as well!
ReplyDeletePaul
ReplyDeleteYou are blowing all this out of your arse. I suggest you name names and places if you are so sure about your stance.
Most people who get involved in voluntary organisations do so because they believe in what the organisation does. Most, like me and my committee welcome new blood and would be happy to suffer an internal coup that takes us out of the limelight. That will probably apply in most other CAMRA Branches despite your view that we are all anally retentive saddoes. There are plenty saddoes about in all walks of life. Rarely though do these poor people get on committees, the duties of which usually consist of relentless and unappreciated work. Not the forte of the kind of people you stereotype. I could go on but I've made my point. I expected better of you Paul.
And your sex starved bit is just as inaccurate and just as gratuitous!
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ReplyDeletePaul
ReplyDeleteI can understand your mistake, but TM is not a weirdo or sad. He is Scottish.