On Thursday, we had to be in work again so we made another attempt at the Belgian Bar. Thankfully it was open and we were greeted enthusiastically by the team there. The IPA was on good form and we had a couple of pints of it.
The BBB had had a really long day, meeting builders at the Wish Tower by 8am (so had to be out of the house by 7.15am) on a freezing cold day. He'd flitted between the Tower and TechResort to warm up from time to time, and made himself useful there too. Mind you, a public drop-in at HQ is quite hard work for an introvert too.
I'd arrived about 3pm to catch up with everyone and by the time we left at 5pm, even I was bit worn. After beer, I suggested pizza and a glass of wine at our favourite italian place around the corner. He agreed it would be nice - again, greeted with enthusiasm from people who excel at the whole hospitality thing. It was clear, though, not many people were out in general and several other restaurants were either empty or closed. It'll be a couple of months before the town gets lively, I reckon.
Friday was our travelling to Bristol day. I'd cocked up a hair appointment meaning an earlier-than-usual one on Fridayso I was at the station just after 10am and had time for the coffee I'd missed at home. I chilled (figuratively, and physically) quite happily and the BBB arrived just ahead of the train at around 11am. Our usual train from Eastbourne is, at best 11.30am and more ususally 12noon.
The trip up to London was without incident and the transfer to Paddington was incredibly quick. Whereas we usually arrive at Paddington just after (or maybe just as) the Bristol train has left we had just enough time (literally, just) to "run" onto the platform, smile winningly at the guard on the last open door and leap onto the 1pm train.
As we walked toward the front of the train to find a seat the train pulled out. We were very pleased with ourselves.
After about 20 minutes the BBB checked on the general trainy state of things and learned that we had just pulled out before an incident around Paddington that now promised to stop all trains leaving the station until about 4.30pm. Weirdly, that knowledge made feel suddenly anxious about "what would have happened if...". It was the oddest feeling.
We both agreed that we knew exactly what we would have done: gone the pub, of course. But I'm really glad it didn't come to that. On a Friday (especially in winter), I really want to be in a place I know.
Anyhow - we arrived at our flat before 3pm and had no idea what to do with ourselves. We were 60 - 90 minutes earlier than usual and it was weird!
As it was, and being a Friday (we don't usually arrive on a Friday) we knew the BM would be busy quite early so we popped round before 4pm. It was bliss. We had a good seat (disappointed there was no fire but still...) there was a huge range of BBF cask beer (for all the world it looked like a tap takeover) and a good-looking keg list.
The pub wasn't that busy - certainly not as much as we expected - and we wondered whether in fact there was a January drop-off here. 45 minutes later, though, there was a positive influx!
By 5.15pm the place was packed with loads of brave individuals choosing to sit outside with their beer in order to get a seat. There was the usual lovely mix of punters - quite a few "older" (ie our age, pensioner ish) people, groups of women, mixed groups, groups of chaps, a couple of families, people in straight off the building site...etc.etc
As I suspected, Bristol doesn't really seem to have quite the seasonal lull - and we're very glad for it.
