The English Pub

The English Pub is an institution. Its a convivial meeting place for all kinds of people to come together and enjoy each others company. The richness is in the wide spectrum of people from many varied backgrounds, each bringing their own perspective and therefore enriching the conversation and the points of view that come up. It is a composite of the Englishman and his make up. The fact that a pint or two loosens any inhibition to talk is a plus.  The words tumble out and the enthusiasm for emphasising long held views or descriptions of ones experience make the pub a valuable and enjoyable experience.
Of course there are pubs and pubs. The age group and the general maturity of the people drinking in the pub make the visit enjoyable but of course only enjoyable for those looking for this type of companionship. There are pubs that cater for the young, for the sporting, for the perpetually inebriate, so you take your pick. Mine is a small country pub in the village of Allen's Green. It sells "real ale", straight fom the barrel, a prize winning Camra pub that makes a speciality of using small private brewery's rather than the large bulk sale units. Each beer has its own unique taste and strength, the beer tasting events which are held regularly are taken very seriously by the Anoraks. Its a lovely English anachronism this beer evaluation ritual and the low level seriousness that surrounds it.
Today's conversation started with the owner of an immaculate V12 EType that was parked outside, his car and how he came to buy it. Steam trains, golf, setting up the speaker system in Trafalgar Square yesterday for a protest rally and a conversation about keeping donkeys and the telepathic ability of dogs to signal to his wife that he was in the neighbourhood on his way to the pub after working in London !! Trivia yes but its the trivia that makes us laugh and helps the world go around.