Saturday night was the best 50th birthday party ever in my local! All my family and best friends dressed up in the bestest costumes, my pal Noel playing the best music, great food by Eamonn, and some drink being served by Mags, Andrew, Mark & Nichola! A super fantastic night enjoyed by all, I couldn't have asked for more!
'Cept for the end of the night. Mags, the owner of my favourite bar/community center/therapy clinic for middle-aged men/refuge for the bewildered, told me that for 'many reasons' she was closing the bar tonight! So, even though we had no intention of going out tonight well we just couldn't miss the last hoolie. And what a night. Just all the regulars, drinking, remembering, singing, drinking, more singing and drinking. There were tears (sad to see big hairy men cry!) There were cheers, and MANY beers! Tomorrow is Monday (of the Monday Madness, when all pints are (were) 3.50 euros), but alas the lights will not be on, the stools will be upturned, and the doors will be closed on my favourite pub! A community (for that is what we are, us barfly's) has been left homeless.
End of an era. Sad.
Well, THAT'S a hell of a birthday present! Get back up on that horse. Fine a new home. Happy birthday to you, sir.
ReplyDeletewhat UB, said, sugar! ;~D glad your 50th was a success and all y'all had fun. here's to you, a new local and 3.50€ pints! xoxoxoxoxox
ReplyDeleteSo glad your party was a blast! So sad your bar closed!!! Like both UB and Savannah said, the hunt should be on for a new home!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, and welcome to the 50+ Club! xoxoxoxoxoxo
UB; Ta pal. Yes, we will probably find a new place, but it has taken us years to get THIS place just the way we like it!
ReplyDeleteWhen the doors were locked last night (with us STILL inside) we all sang the theme from 'Cheers' together, quite emotional. :¬(
sav; You have experience in the trade, come over here and take over our bar, I can guarantee quite a fun bunch of customers! :¬)
xoxoxoxox
Pon; There are 5 other bars in the area, but none can compare to ours. All are too big and impersonal. When I think about it, ours was quite like 'Cheers', most people sat in the same place every time, the barstaff knew what your drink was, and everybody did know your name.
The 50+ club eh? :¬)
xxx
Map
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never I suppose lol - a belated birthday wish comes your way bro.
I'm glad you guys went out on a high note.
Respect
TBD
Always hard to see a favored place close. I raise my glass to you and your friends...
ReplyDeletePearl
oh, what a poignant "cheers" moment for you and your bunch, map! would that i could have been there to share it all but i could hear you all the way here and knew things were going as well as possible - now, is the place for sale? i mean, if we all chipped in.......
ReplyDeleteso glad your birthday was all you deserved, musicman!
i'm finally here on the coast! a long time getting here - and already missing the green green grass of my real home here in the states [though not to be compared to the emerald green of my real "real" home across the way!]
happy happy again!
xoxoxoxoxo
How many times I gotta tell you? I wasnae greeting, I merely had something in my eye!
ReplyDelete....not to mention your tongue in my ear at one stage.
TBD; Ta pal, a very high note indeed! :¬)
ReplyDeletePearl; Sláinte! :¬)
xxx
GYPSYWOMAN; Enjoy the coast.
ReplyDeleteHopefully someone will buy the pub and make a lot of us very happy, and who knows, by the time you get over here we'll have forgotten it was ever closed! :¬)
xxx
Jimmy; That wasnae me tongue pal. :¬)
Perhaps if you staged a benefit show....
ReplyDeleteI know. The economy has sucked the life out of alot of good things. I'm guessing Mrs. Map might object if you and the lads perched yourselves on the front porch to wet your whistle? :)
exactly! ;)
ReplyDeleteFor the love of your God, I'm hoping you'se are now gonnae tell me it was merely a pencil or a wee piece of chalk.
ReplyDeletehope; Have you SEEN my friends? :¬)
ReplyDeletexxx
GYPSYWOMAN; Drinks are on me! :¬)
xxx
Jimmy; That wasnae yer ear pal. :¬)
ReplyDeleteoh, geeeeee, and i've so many great responses to your "the drinks are on me" - fabulous comeback lines, but for the weak of heart, will refrain and leave the hilarious tennis match to the pros here! ;)
ReplyDeletexxxxx
That makes us even then pal, that wasnae warm lager you was sipping on half the neet either.
ReplyDeleteTriple filtered... through three different sets of kidneys.
now the chalk's flying! wimbledon has nothing on you 2!
ReplyDeleteJimmy; Those 'Bailey's' shots you seemed to get a sudden addiction to at the far end of the night? Wasnae Bailey's pal. :¬)
ReplyDeleteHow we all laughed during your birthday speech at the joke you made about Alzheimers.
ReplyDeleteIt's just a shame you forgot the punch line.
Jimmy; I didn't forget, I was distracted by the sight of you havin' a pish in Mrs. Mac's hat! Though in fairness it did look a bit like a 'po'! She's still not over the shock!
ReplyDelete"What's that in his hand?" says she. "It's like a willy, only smaller!"
Pint? :¬)
Mrs Map wandered over to me around 4am and gave me a tongue lashing over our constant wordplay jokes. I apologised on your behalf, you were being sick at the time, and asked her, "What can I do to stop my addiction?"
ReplyDeleteShe said, "Whatever means necessary."
"No it doesn't," I said.
I think Jimmy would be great at stand up.
ReplyDeleteSomehow it seems fitting to say goodbye to your pub and the forties at the same time. Nothing like a bit of melancholy.
Onward and upward and may your fifties be joyful.
ok, so the name of the bar when it re-opens will be "the tennis club", right? ;)
ReplyDeletexxx
Pat; Stand-up?? It would have to be a matinee performance, it's hard work just keeping him upright on the stool of a night!
ReplyDeleteYes, onward and upward. Thank you dear Pat! :¬)
xxx
GYPSYWOMAN; In our condition 'Tennis-elbow Club' seems more appropriate! :¬)
xxx
Happy belated birthday mate.
ReplyDeletePat, I am available on the same nights that Map sings. I'm not sure who gets the biggest laughs.
ReplyDeleteBy the way... On the way back from Map's party, the girl at the Ryan-Air check-in desk said, "Window or aisle?"
I replied, "Window or you'll what?"
Jimmy; We could be the Francie & Josie of Bloggerville. :¬)
ReplyDeletePint?
You have to ask?
ReplyDeleteMrs Mapstew; Ha! :¬)
ReplyDelete