The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Pyongyang

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Virtual Rugby Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The pub has made its way to Pyongyang in a bid to persuade Kim Jong Un to pack away the missiles, grab a beer and watch the rugby.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Donal Walsh, Chris & the late Hannah Eaton, the retiring Marcus Horan, the recently hospitalised Schalk Burger (with meningitis), the recuperated Jacques Burger, and the three-peating ANBL champion NZ Breakers





Previous pub: https://www.606v2.com/t42107-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-walkabout-covent-garden

Not that a few pointers are not very welcomed of course. We are staying in Newtownards. My daughter is 5 and finds anything but plain-ish in Nando's too spicy.

I'm only basing this on what I've heard in here, but shouldn't there be a load of soup restaurants to choose from?

I protest!

Glas a du wrote:

rodders wrote:

Glas a du wrote:Yes and we've been into Victoria Square for a Nando's.

Ah nuts ... you should have gone to boojum for a burrito, just round the corner hi!

I'm holidaying with my wife and daughter. Do you think I have any say?

Nandos it is then!

littleswannygirl wrote:Would be great if we could wouldn't it? Our planned weekend over there hasn't materialised as yet so it seems a shame not to take the unexpected opportunity whilst it's there

A quick look at trains shows one departing Dublin at 10.00 and another at 13.00. I will check the bus service as well and see when they are. It'll probably be tomorrow though as it's been a long day and my little grey cells are rapidly going on strike! Should be able to check at work in the morning, I'm sure I can sneak in a little surreptitious internet time...

I'm flying out of Belfast at 19:00 Sunday, depending on Rava (who I'm hitching with) I might be up for crashing that meet up too

That'd be great Pete if you can

littleswannygirl wrote:That'd be great Pete if you can

Cool, will see what we can arrange come the weekend

Glas a du wrote:We are staying in Newtownards.

Really? Two questions- where? And... why?

Afternoon all. Depressingly damp here, but it looks like S. Wales really copped for some rain today.

I just spoke to Rava about the meet up place for Friday. Three more sleeps til Dublin.

I'll echo that sentiment Hound



Might even do a bit of my packing tonight... not that I'm taking much but I can then unpack and repack several times, it all adds to the excitement

Notch wrote:

Glas a du wrote:We are staying in Newtownards.

Really? Two questions- where? And... why?

Cottages just off the Portaferry Road. Clue - by a "scheming stream".

I'm off to Balmoral Show in the morning. Probably do the Giant's Causeway and Titanic Quarter Thursday and then sailing back to Liverpool Friday.

Weird! You are probably at most 10 minutes walk from where I am right now.

Do you live on the Loch shore?

Not quite, got a good view over the Lough from my old bedroom though.

It's a lovely area, fair play.

WillyGilly wrote:Productive oz meeting this evening. Less than 4 weeks now till we depart. Thoroughly exciting times. As a side note if anyone has any leads for a ticket for the second test I'd appreciate it.

Wilser,

I'll keep a lookout for you but it seems most tickets have been snapped up.

I'm trying to get some for my kiwi cuz for the 3rd Test and it's nigh on impossible. However, Member Services do send out offers if STHs don't confirm by a certain date (that date must be imminent!) and if I see anything available for Melbourne I'll PM you, mate.

(I've just messaged an English bloke from Lydney to ask where he got his tickets for the 2nd... so he might be able to assist you)

Bore da pawb / good morning all. A wee one for the wall:

https://www.606v2.com/t44121-lions-squad-bonding

Also, really sad news here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22507266

He's one of the best players to watch in world rugby and the Test series would be poorer for his absence.

Morning Lucky.

Yeah, it seems he's almost definitely out. Over here it's almost 100% confirmed he won't be a part of the Lions matches anymore.

More sad news - Judith Durham of The Seekers has had a brain haemorrhage soon after performing in the band’s 50th anniversary tour last night.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/seeker-durham-in-hospital-with-brain-haemorrhage-20130515-2jloh.html#ixzz2TLObeLaS

She has such a fantastic voice. I hope she gets well soon.

That is sad news, Breaker. I love that she sang without putting on an American accent, like Sandy Denny. Similar voices, actually.

Morning all.

Byron Kelleher's back in the gossip columns http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10883799

(not quite as entertaining as when he met that porn star at a swingers' resort and shacked up for a while afterwards, but still ... )

...
Former Highlanders and All Blacks teammate Josh Kronfeld said he hadn't heard anything about the reports but it "wouldn't surprise'' him.

"If anyone can meet women, it's him,'' he said.

Mike Phillips is (or was) quite the slag too, by all accounts. Maybe it's a scrum half thing.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Mike Phillips is quite the slag too, by all accounts. Maybe it's a scrum half thing.

Dunno, Merhtens used to be a real "player", much more so than Marshall.

Andrew Mehrtens, really? Ah well, each to his (or her) own.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Andrew Mehrtens, really? Ah well, each to his (or her) own.

I was drinking with Norm Maxwell (about 15 years ago) and he had a few good stories about Mehrts's efforts. Of course, while he was playing "away", Daryl Lilley moved in at home

Morning all, mad how this pub has lasted over a month so far!

Quick question and I think I know the answer......what's the odds of getting tickets for the Rabo Final?

I don't know, Prop, but I'm supremely jealous of everyone who's meeting over the next few weekends.

Guess what?

I just locked myself out (on the way out to pick up my Japanese) but immediately thought - don't panic... there'll be a way to get back in!
I thought I had both sets of keys. Anyway, I picked up the take away trying not to worry about my dilemma.

Tried a few keys... which I knew wouldn't work. Wriggle method ditto. Then a little light went on in my head. I got the car jack lever out of the boot and broke through the outer screen door (I knew the inner door was unlocked).

Re-heating my dinner now. Was out there for about 10 mins. The neighbours must either have been chuckling to themselves or about to call the cops.

I'm gonna bury a set somewhere in the garden first light tomorrow.

I've locked myself out before. I'd just had a shower so I only had my dressing gown on. I went out to take something to the bin and I heard the door shut behind me. It was a sunny day but it was winter, so it wasn't warm at all. I didn't have my phone with me so I couldn't call anyone. Eventually after a good half and hour, my neighbour came home and he managed to jemmy the back patio door open (after we'd both vaulted the back wall). Fun and games!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I've locked myself out before. I'd just had a shower so I only had my dressing gown on. I went out to take something to the bin and I heard the door shut behind me. It was a sunny day but it was winter, so it wasn't warm at all. I didn't have my phone with me so I couldn't call anyone. Eventually after a good half and hour, my neighbour came home and he managed to jemmy the back patio door open (after we'd both vaulted the back wall). Fun and games!

Did a similar thing in London in '90. Locked myself out half dressed and without shoes when on the phone to a friend after ordering a pizza.
When it arrived I stepped out into the hallway and a gust of wind blew the door shut behind me. T'was autumn but chilly for me. I had to borrow shoes and some clothes off a widow whom I'd never met (I had to door knock!) and I was lucky she had been reluctant to throw out her late husband's clothes.

Ever since then, I've put the front door on the latch when I've gone outside for something.

It's a kind of a sinking feeling...

I usually have a good key technique (keys in the hand otherwise I don't go out) but it failed me this evening. My error was I heard some keys but not all of them obviously... and then used the quick method (turned latch) to shut the glass sliding door instead of the safe method of using the actual key to lock it from the outside.

Yep - you feel stupid and helpless. You know you'll laugh about it in the future, but that's no help to you at the time!

I locked myself out last Wednesday. We had a work team dinner & drinks Wed night, and I didn't realise until (luckily) I checked my bag before getting on the tube at 11.30pm. Of course I'd managed to pick the week my flatmate was in Greece on holiday

Rather than worry about getting in after midnight I crashed on a workmate's sofa, & had to do a run through M&S Thursday morning for underwear, socks & a new shirt. Later on I established that my flatmate's sister (who lives a mile from us) doesn't have a spare key, so I wound up getting a locksmith out. £90 for 10 seconds work

He basically pushed a piece of curved pipe through the mail slot and flicked down the inside door handle. On the plus side, it only cost an extra £35 for him to adjust the doorframe so the bolts fit meaning we can double-lock the door for the 1st time in over a year!

Lucky you checked before the tube ride.

I think my locksmith was around £45 back in 1990. Still have the receipt somewhere because of the story behind it.

On the way back from the restaurant I was keeping my eyes peeled for a hardware or locksmith shop but was unable to spot one. That only added to the suspense and motivated me to use brute force when I got back home!

It's worrying how easy it is to get back into the house really - if you know what you're doing.

Evening peeps. Quiet in yer.

I locked myself out when I was lodging with a mate back in the 80s. I got in by punchimg the extractor fan through in the kitchen. Then I could reach in and open the window.

Simples.

Oh I don't believe it!!! I'm getting a cold just before the weekend and not just any old weekend but this weekend!

Vitamin C and oodles of it, I will not let it take hold!

Swanny we can all buy you a hot whiskey.

Mind over matter.

(And book next week off!)

Oh hot toddies! Nice idea Stag

Very true Glas, and Monday is already booked off but extending that to a week is appealing

Oh no swanny!! Take wet weather gear - it's not looking good for Saturday

Early nights tonight and tomorrow for me. I'm not used to getting up at 7am these days.

I will Hound, weather forecast is pants isn't it?!

Yeah, depressingly. 17:00 ko, so there's plenty of time to become 'immune' to the weather.

Hound check your emails tonight. Little bit of bedtime reading coming your way

Zzzzzzz

Stag - I'll text you.

I see the Munster Rugby Team are going to carry Donal Walsh's coffin.

Very moving act by them.

Linebreaker wrote:

WillyGilly wrote:Productive oz meeting this evening. Less than 4 weeks now till we depart. Thoroughly exciting times. As a side note if anyone has any leads for a ticket for the second test I'd appreciate it.

Wilser,

I'll keep a lookout for you but it seems most tickets have been snapped up.

I'm trying to get some for my kiwi cuz for the 3rd Test and it's nigh on impossible. However, Member Services do send out offers if STHs don't confirm by a certain date (that date must be imminent!) and if I see anything available for Melbourne I'll PM you, mate.

(I've just messaged an English bloke from Lydney to ask where he got his tickets for the 2nd... so he might be able to assist you)

Willy, I got the following response. Are you still after a ticket? If so, let me know so I can tell my mate to ask his buddy in Melbourne if he can hold one for you.

"Well I have a friend in Melbourne who has got 4 tickets - 1 for himself - 1 for me and my best mate (and traveling companion) and 1 spare ..... however - I say spare I don't know what plans he has for it. He is only contactable by phone - but for you, amigo, I will call if you want me to - may need to wait till the weekend though. I also have a friend that has a friend who is doing hospitality or something over there. He has said that I can have his number and if i need tickets or anything I can ring him when I'm in Melbourne and he will help ..... of course how reliable that is.....who knows?

Got an interview for that temporary NHS job I applied for last week! a week tomorrow, 24th May

littleswannygirl wrote: Got an interview for that temporary NHS job I applied for last week! a week tomorrow, 24th May