Total Joy

 So, the pubs are open inside now.

I saw so many social media posts from pubs excited and the latest restriction relaxation, and then thanking people for coming back it was heartening and although we're not heading inside a pub until later this week (it's all planned - seeing friends with a particular purpose in mind) it has made me really quite excited.

So it was with some trepidation I checked out the status for my absolutely favourite pub - our Bristol local, The Barley Mow.

This is a pub that the best beer buddy and I have spent so many lovely times - with friends, with strangers, just as couple and even on our own that its lack in our lives over the last 6 months or so has been a yawning, gaping whole.

It's the pub we go to first in Bristol.  Typically within an hour of arriving in the city - no matter by what means.  When we can't be arsed to go far but want a pub, it's our natural destination.

Even though, for me, the pub is somewhere to forget the responsibilities of my work - we have done so much really important and good work there (we've written a conservation plan for a Martello Tower, we've written funding bids and project plans) that it's even a part of our working lives despite being in a different part of the country from where that work typically takes place.

Oh, yeah, I was checking the status with trepidation...

...the brewery website says it's opening tomorrow and it was all I could do not to put on a pair of shoes and jump on a train there and then.

If you have those pubs in your life then welcome back!  If you have don't have them yet - do try and find one.  If you think I'm idiot for feeling like this about a place to drink beer then you probably won't ever understand so leave me alone and go back to wherever you feel most relaxed and leave me to my beer!

Soon, Barley Mow, soon.