The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Ealing Broadway

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 back to London where the victorious British & Irish Lions squad will start their 25 day open bus journey across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland -  being greeted by millions of happy, proud, delirious, tipsy and slightly sunburned rugby fans.

So grab a beer, cider, whiskey or wine.... or a warm beverage and sit back and enjoy their well-earned procession through the streets where it all began.

                     

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of the legendary
Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton, Alex Corbisiero, Jonathan Sexton, George North, Jamie Roberts and Richie Gray. 

last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t44519-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-ballycastle-bar-hong-kong

MrsP wrote:I think we all thought it was "good" but didn't want to go overboard just incase!

But, that does indeed sound like a "Massive" weekend!

Is the press thing when you are in Florida?

Yep, leave Cork on Tuesdaym, the brother flies in from San Fran on Wednesday morning, a couple of days in the parks (strangely a fourteen day ticket is cheaper then a 2 day pass) then off to a villa with the family for a while.


Can't complain about things at the moment so. I may rely on you lot to keep me busy on Tuesday morning (wifi on the plane and a charger!) so there better be plenty of posting!

Evening, amigos. Went to the Summer Music at the church in Balquhidder this evening, looking forward to a recital of opera by four professional singers. Someone decided to bring a small child along, sitting just behind me as 'luck' would have it, who chattered, whispered and finally cried through most of the recital. Came back home in a thoroughly bad mood.

Its tough being an adult and all grown-up. So I heard...  

Best memory of a childer at Mass... Went with the Ma, for the silence and just to be with her.  Altar-boy drops the incense swinger, just before he hands it over. Drops the Holy-baton sotospeak.
Priest is not happy at all. Scowls like de divil himself.

Little gurrier behind me -  could not have been more than 3,  pipes up, "Jaayzuz man, I phokin hate dah"

Cue rows of people failing miserably  to suppress laughter. I reckon God smiled too. I near pished myself.

Caught Ma laughing too. Nice moment.

littleswannygirl wrote:Sounds fantastic TT, "massive" does do it justice  when do you head over there?

Hound, that's pants! I kinda cheated on the way back from Hong Kong and had a few beers before the flight, slept 80% of the way home! Cathay Pacific are pretty good to be fair though. It's all part of the experience and the good memories win out over the bad

Absolutely right about the experience winning out, swanny. I got into a bit of a 'zone' on the long flights (Emirates) and either closed my eyes or listened to music. Decent enough selection of music.

Evening puma.

Evening, Hound. Any news on the Amlin fixtures yet? Good to follow your progress in Oz, not so good to hear of your problems with various lurgies. Hope all is now well.

Evening Puma, Evening MrsP, story Hound? Night Swanny Girl.  

For Our T.

Believe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jsw_r0hILQ

Ah, Gibson, suffer little children, etc .... But why bring a small child to a music event which is not going to feature 'the wheels on the bus go round and round'? Hugely inconsiderate to those others in attendance and massively insulting to the performers.

perthshirepuma wrote: Ah, Gibson, suffer little children, etc ....  But why bring a small child to a music event which is not going to feature 'the wheels on the bus go round and round'? Hugely inconsiderate to those others in attendance and massively insulting to the performers.        

Totally agree bud. Its the parents. I blame the parents.  

Quick venture in before I hit the pillow! Awesome weekend on my sisters fiancee's stag do which I had the pleasure of arranging as best man!

Also got to see bruce Springsteen last week and it blew me away, already learnt about 3 of his songs on the saxophone since the gig!

On top of that we should hopefully get the completion date on the house this week if all goes to plan so the wheels are in motion for that!

And on that note I am off to bed, day off tomorrow so will probably roam about in here during the day!

Night all

"already learnt about 3 of his songs on the saxophone since the gig!"

Not only is he cute. He plays the sax FFS. Sorry Rev, no bum-fun for jou in Swansea,  Im stayin at Props.

Still love ya tho. X.

perthshirepuma wrote:Why bring a small child to a music event which is not going to feature 'the wheels on the bus go round and round'?  

 

Thanks for the Monday morning pick-me-up, Puma. I'm not laughing at your expense, honestly!  

Bore da pawb / good morning all. I'll be keeping a keen eye (that's my left) on the weather forecast this week. I'm taking the old man to the third day of the third Test at Old Trafford on Saturday and knowing my luck, there won't be any play at all.

Actually, what am I worrying about? It never rains in Manchester!

I looked at the forecast on www.yr.no half an hour ago: heavy rain all day Saturday. Just looked again: fair and 21 degrees. I don't think I can take a week of this...

Just take waterproofs and an umbrella, Lucky. Also shorts and sunscreen. Don't bother with weather forecasts - they are utterly useless anything more than 4 hours in advance. If that.

Morning all.

Talking of "dressing for the weather". Our youngest has been choosing her own clothes this summer and on one of the hottest days last week she came down stairs wearing....?

Ski thermals!

She thought they were white leggings!

Well isn't that strange, I was thinking of wearing ski thermals to work today!

We're heading towards the warmest July (like your January in the NH) on record. It was warm on the Thursday before the 3rd Lions Test... an unseasonal 24 degrees when it should have been only 15 or 16 that time of year.

That's when I must have picked up some pollen (Lions Fever) at North Bondi RSL. I had to call Stag on the Friday night to say I was stranded and there was no way I was going to get to Nick's Seafood at Darling Harbour (about 15kms away). I was well past it by then. I'd been at it since 11am that morning with my Glaws mates. I almost needed an ambulance to get home early the next day!  
I was absolutely slaughtered... but later that same day was even more a complete disaster, as you can imagine.  

I think Hound got his unique bug on a Virgin Oz flight. I was feeling like he was like on the Friday/Sat on the following Mon/Tues. It really knocks you around. There was a fake recovery when I thought - hang on... I'm almost over it....it's not too bad... but then it hits you again properly for another 2 to 3 weeks. I'm glad I've come out the other side of it now. I sure wouldn't want to go through it again. I'm completely immune to it now.  

Now it's 24 degrees again today and there's only a month of winter to go. No heater these last few days. I've even had the doors open to let the balmy breeze through the house. It's sort of like spring. I walked past some Tongan locals in shorts, T-shirts today... they do that all year round anyway.  

I watched an A Grade RL match at a nearby park yesterday. It was my new local team (Berala Bears) v St Christopher's.
BB are equal 2nd (with 3 other teams) on the table, St Chris were just below in 5th.

It's was a hilarious and violent ocassion. There was some side-splitting banter from middle eastern fans/coaches to a Sudanese winger, in particular (the player gave it back with a smile!), PI 2nd rower, Lebanese half back, Assyrian full back, etc. They are all super-developed and fit looking. There was a lot of talk between the players, coaches, officials and spectators. Pure comedy gold... with a sting. It started quite 'soft' but then just got harder and more brutal as the minutes rolled on. 3 guys were sent off. Berala led 12-0 then SC levelled it up. Then SC led 22-18. It looked as though they had won the psychological battle. They knew they had Berala on the ropes.

10 mins to go and another guy gets sent off and walks over towards us. I was standing near the players bench with a few mates. He was spitting, swearing and hissing, and used some delightful language to describe the ref. The ref then calls him back. Then sends him off again. Fingers being stuck in the air, more vile comments, team-mates pleading with him to calm down, etc..

It was about to explode in a brawl which would spill off into the players/coaches/officials bench area.
The player in question had a very immature take on things. He got way too emotional and thought everyone had it in for him and were against him. It was pretty sad actually. (I felt like saying... just shut up mate and get off the field!)

With about 7 mins to go the BB winger fielded the ball in his own 22 and started to make his way upfield. He beat the 1st and 2nd defenders then put a nicely weighted punt/chip kick through. I thought he'd overcooked it and it would dribble over the touchline but instead it bounced back in-field and he regathered, beat a few more cover defenders and scored over in the corner. The goal kick was nailed from the sideline. This guy didn't miss one kick all match. Then they scored again to seal it 24-22.

It was an unusual experience. It's all very professionally set up with people wearing colour co-ordinated vests, water carriers and runners and spectators roped off from the field. Yet the actual match itself got way out of hand.

Near the end with everybody on edge, I shouted to the timekeeper:

"Hey mate!.... how long to go?"

"(looking at his watch) .......90 seconds.....!"

"What, a minute and a half?"

"(in a deadpan voice) Yeah mate..."

24 degrees in winter? We're lucky to get that in the summer, although this one's been great so we can't complain.

It's crazy, Thomond.
They had one snow dump (in the ski fields) but that's all melted in the last few days. It's 8 degrees above average and not a puff of wind (apart from the balmy breeze) so it feels spring-like. Last week it was a few degs above freezing at night; now it's 14-15 deg C at 8:15pm.

I have a cousin in Melbourne it's different from Sydney but he says the weather in winter isn't too dissimilar to Ireland, very wet!

They get the 4 seasons in 1 day thing. Melbourne's weather is more extreme. Colder in winter but hotter in summer. I'd say in terms of climate; Melbourne is like Barcelona (or N. Carolina/Virginia); Sydney more like Savannah or Jacksonville, Brisbane like Miami or New Orleans, Perth like LA and Adelaide like Houston.

Out of all the places to compare a psot to you picked Jacksonville! Hated that place.

Some othe relatives (at this point you've guessed that Irish people get around!) tell me that New Zealand is like Ireland 20 years ago, so it's a bit backward.

Morning folks. Lucky, I'm off to Lords for the first day of Middlesex v Durham on Friday. I'm taking a mate who hasn't been there since he was 13. He's 50 now and thrilled to bits.

A visit to Lord's is definitely on my to-do list. Might see if I can sneak my way into the Long Room.  

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/matchcentre/amlin_challenge_cup_fixtures.php

Bath v Dragons on the 19th October. Get the Thatcher's on ice Peej

Also Gibbo, you could come to Rodney Parade the night before Ospreys v Leinster. Nice kickoff under the Friday Night lights and you will definitely see a Dragons win (v Mogliano).

And our game against Mogliano's on Friday the 11th, which means I can do Ospreys - Leinster and Chiefs - Blues that weekend!  

I'll take it as a personal insult if he doesn't come, Rev.

There is only one realy Firiday Nigh Lights anyway. It's Tunrers Corss home to Cork City (Or Odessa where you can see the Permian Panthers, the best sports book ever!)

seeing as I'll be living in newport by then too I will also take it as an insult!

If you're going, Prop, Gibbo's bound to come.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If you're going, Prop, Gibbo's bound to come.

Maybe I'll promise him a sax solo................i said SAX!!!!!!!!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If you're going, Prop, Gibbo's bound to come.

True dat.

Gibbo does need to cross it off the list too (I'm sure)  

It could be a great weekend if a few people are over.

When does the move happen, Prop?

Just waiting for date of completion now so any time in August!

Good stuff! Now we just need to convince Cari to move, I've heard she loves Newport.  

Lightning!!!!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Good stuff! Now we just need to convince Cari to move, I've heard she loves Newport.  

I'm just happy that I should be able to get to a few more games on Friday night's! Plus the Sarries have about 5 or 6 games closer to Rogerstone than Cardiff so can't complain!

Could be a good laugh

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/27484.php#.Ue2Z_403upI

They should sell plenty of tickets at those prices.

MrsP, lightning sounds much tastier in French.  

Especially Chocolate lightning!

Risca Rev wrote:Also Gibbo, you could come to Rodney Parade the night before Ospreys v Leinster. Nice kickoff under the Friday Night lights and you will definitely see a Dragons win (v Mogliano).

Yer on big fella.
It's a ground Ive never been to, so yeah. That'll be  you, me, Prop and Lucky. A few pints before & after  the game lads?

I shall walk in the way of a Dragons fan. Head held up, with a pint in my hand.  

That will be all the Welsh regions grounds visited then. Love it.  Must get a Dragons scarf as well. Every ground, every scarf.

Evening All  

Thomond -  your sis

I'm trying to sort out what leave I need from September onwards....pain in the bum trying to work it out now, but I need to sort it before anyone else gets a look in. So far there's 19 days I MUST have for travels...that leaves me with another 11 to use...

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Good stuff! Now we just need to convince Cari to move, I've heard she loves Newport.  

Newport, Pembrokeshire, yeah it's lovely...

Gibson wrote:  Must get a Dragons scarf as well. Every ground, every scarf.

You've already got an O's one (and it's posh!). Feel free to wear it on the 12th of October... 

When Gibbo says "get" he doesn't necessarily mean "buy"!

More like acquire.....purloin...

prop_lyd wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:If you're going, Prop, Gibbo's bound to come.

Maybe I'll promise him a sax solo................i said SAX!!!!!!!!

Man Im gettin wet at the very thoughts of it now.  One horny Paddy and 3 x Welsh Roides on the tear.  

Lads, is the Ramada Jarvis in Swansea a good spot? Jen is staying there, so might as well have a few late night drinks with the man.

Really cool dude. We know and have experienced a lot of the same tings. Could be dangerous. In a nice way.

Must have a meal in that restaurant at the top of that huge building in the Bay?  Great view, brilliant service and food.  Ja, that's a must do.

MrsP wrote:When Gibbo says "get" he doesn't necessarily mean "buy"!

 

Errrm, I stole the child's scarf in the end didn't I? But you said it was ok. Im upset now. Feel bad. Kinda.

Ja Cari, I treasure that one too cos you got me it. Have feicin loads of em.  May open up a 2nd-hand rugby shop when I'm retired.

But I can only have one, if I make it to a game in the ground. That's the rule. Oh ja.

Cheers Cari but for the next two weeks were technically mortal enemies........ The Corke Park Shuffle Parts one and two. 

Don't feel too bad Gobby!

She got over it eventually. Only cries about it occasionally now!

Must go and feed the shoal!

 

Laters!

 

Roysh, the name of the restaurant is the Grape And Olive at the Meridian Tower. Some place. Some view.

Now what was the name of that great pub I was in?  So much fun with the staff.  Well cool.

It was on the main strip in the City. It was about a mile long.