Christmas is fast approaching and the festive season brings with it the unveiling of the annual WME calendars, my own little way of saying thank you to those wonderful (some would say misguided) individuals who spend the rest of the year adopting various silly poses in the name of exploration...
- Scouting for Bathams -
A note first for a special presentation that occurred in wet and windy Wollaston on the evening of Wednesday 18th December. Nickolenko and I had braved the elements in order to meet up with Mr SBI who was wearing scout regalia especially for this momentous occasion. The Unicorn pub was the setting as Roger's calendar was duly handed over, accompanied by some excellent Bathams Bitter. Here we see Messrs Pubalotovich and Chance savouring the ale, whilst elsewhere that evening Nick did a very passable impression of Mary Poppins in almost getting blown away frantically clutching a miscreant umbrella.
- The Wheatsheaf -
Friday 20th December is the final Hub Marketing meeting of the year, a yuletide yomp that would cover the nether regions of Carters Green, Hateley Heath and Wednesbury. Our rendezvous is at the Wheatsheaf, a classic Holdens boozer that seems like a highly appropriate place to discuss the Hub Marketing Awards 2013. Our illustrious Chairman is crowned as the Discount of the Year recipient (but also copped for the most expensive round of the last 12 months), whilst the Secretary is recognised for his sleeve successes. The New Inns at Birchills is 'awarded' the Pub of the Year title by virtue of its lasting canine impressions, and Charles Elgar Pemberton Rowbottom III gets the Lifetime Achievement accolade.
- The Bald Spot Gets Clocked -
The prize for the best bald spot photograph was a tough decision because there were so many to choose from, although there was a late submission within the vicinity of Carters Green clock.
- The Chairman takes the lead -
Counting back over the year's pub games exploits, we realised that the Secretary and the Chairman were currently tied level at 6 victories each. This meant that today's battles would decide the 2013 title, whereby D9 got off to a flying (and somewhat smug) start with some darts success at the Sow & Pigs.
- Calendar Considerations -
Moving round towards Hateley Heath, we happen across the Coach & Horses on Kesteven Road. Mr D9 remembers this being a Wetherspoons pub some years ago but today it'll do nicely as the place to peruse the Hub Marketing calendar.
- Swanning About in Hateley Heath -
The open spaces opposite the Coach & Horses were once apparently occupied by maisonettes but nowadays the green gives the Chairman chance to come over all T Rex by riding a (not very) white swan.
- The Gough Arms -
A short shuffle brings us next to the Gough Arms, a longstanding Hateley Heath landmark that I remember from previous rides on the old 428 and 429 bus routes. Here we maintain our uncanny recent knack of gatecrashing wakes - I think Mr D9 has a sixth sense for funeral business, trying to sniff out a bit of buffet.
- The Chairman Goes All Potty -
After a swift visit to the Cottage Spring, sporting hostilities are resumed over the pool table at the Old Mill. The Chairman seems intent on wiping the floor with the Secretary and should have sewn up victory there and then given WME's consistent inability to pot straight. D9 takes the first frame easily but then commits the cardinal sin of potting the black out of sequence, handing frame 2 to a relieved Secretary by default.
- And the 2013 Champion is... -
That tactical error came back to haunt D9 as the action moves to the Croft. The Secretary has got his eye in with the darts now and storms back into contention, meaning its all to play for in the deciding leg of the whole year. The situation took on such importance that only a genuine double could secure victory, and when Mr WME summoned up a barely believable double 8 finish the Chairman was sunk good and proper.
- The Chairman Gets His Claus Out -
With that, a final tour of Wednesbury gives 2013 a festive flourish. The Village, the Brunswick (minus Shameless), the Old Blue Ball and the Rose Hill Tavern are all sampled with various Santas spotted before the George ensures the year ends on a classic D9 dive experience. With that we wish you all a very merry Christmas and we look forward to starting it all over again in 2014!
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