The Perils of Paulie - An Irregular Blog

[Paulie_D]

Friday brings my first visit to the home of my friend Ger Smyth Sr. primarily for a homegame that has reached epic proportions (at least according to rumour).

My current plan is leave the Essex Wilds around 10/11am on Friday. That should get me into my hotel around 3 pm.

I"m happy to while way an hour or two in a local hostelry (once has to gain a flavour of the locals don"t you know?). I"ll nosh up there (gotta get a good foundation for the rigours ahead) and then mosey on over to Chezger before heading off to the Aquarium.

Saturday will bring the homegame itself...but that"s another post.

It"s always amazed me (and continues to do so) how friendships are born.

I barely knew Ger three years ago (it might be even less) but a few drinks at a casino bar, a few shared jokes and one is embraced into the Ger "fold".

In the last 35 years or so (sheesh, I"m old) I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times this has happened and I"ve never regretted any of them. Some of them have not endured the test of time (does anything?) but I feel confident that that I could run into someone in those groups in street and it would be like nothing had changed even if I hadn"t seen them for many years.

At the heart of these friendships is the person who is the driving force behind the group. I couldn"t wish for better than Ger.

Shoot, me hankie is all wet now!  

[duke3016]

You started drinking early Paulie  

Apart from being suitably embarrassed, the sentiments of that post are returned immeasurably.....

[Paulie_D]

You started drinking early Paulie  

Apart from being suitably embarrassed, the sentiments of that post are returned immeasurably.....

About 1.30 actually.

[Laxie]

Get a room.  The pair of ya are gone all mushy ffs!

[Paulie_D]

Mr Smyth Sr. is quite insistent upon a "proper" Christmas meal in Vegas and is leaning on me to work out the details.

The basic problem is that the American Traditional Xmas meal can be different from that found the the UK. I don"t see may places in Vegas doing a proper Christmas Pudding but you never know.

Certainly, I"m not going to do a buffet for THAT meal...so I have my local spies on it. It"s, perhaps, a little early, but you know what they say.

"PPPPPP"

[Fatcatstu]

I remember meeting Ger for the first time.

Manchester airport. In a bar.

At about 5 or 6 am.

"look out for a huge guy who looks like a wallruss" were his words :p

Couldnt hope to meet a finer man. Agree with all of what Paulie said.

[PHIL_TC]

The basic problem is that the American Traditional Xmas meal can be different from that found the the UK. I don"t see may places in Vegas doing a proper Christmas Pudding but you never know.

All else fails.. its not going to take up much room in the old suitcase is it..



Take a few over.. surely they"ll have custard over there and a microwave in the kitchens, when they bring over the dessert menu, whip out your puddings (if you know what I mean) and its a winner.

Failing that. Fly me over and I"ll cook the frigging things myself at the table on portable BBQ   x

[Paulie_D]

You know...I just might take one.

Frankly, I"ve never seen custard mentioned in anything I"ve ever seen from the US...not that"s it"s a problem. I prefer my Xmas Pud with ice cream anyway.

Then again, with 3 weeks away, there ain"t gonna be a lot of room in the suitcase.

Still, my spies are on it.

That reminds me...must add that to my tweets.

[Paulie_D]

Because I do.."Travel Guru" and all that...I"ve been looking at places for Saturday lunch while in the ChezGer locale.

This may be on top of the Breakfast buffet at The Wheatsheaf* but that is not an ideal solution as it"s not exactly close of where the majority are staying.

Set yourself up for the day with a cooked breakfast that"s fit for a king, from just £3.29 Friday - Sunday at The Wheatsheaf Inn.

We"ll serve you the sausage and bacon, then you help yourself to as many of your breakfast favourites as you want - like eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. There"s more on the menu, including porridge and hot bacon sandwiches, plus our kids" breakfast is only £2.29.

How about a nice brew to wash it down? We"ve got a range of fairtrade coffees, or maybe you"d prefer a good old-fashioned cup of tea?

*I"ll have 3 please.  

So..."Google maps is my friend" and, voila, The Old Hall Farm Pub which is nice and close to the Cheshire Oaks complex.

MAPPY

Make a change from Frankie & Bennys / Chiquitos / Nandos / Bella Italia.

[duke3016]

Because I do.."Travel Guru" and all that...I"ve been looking at places for Saturday lunch while in the ChezGer locale.

This may be on top of the Breakfast buffet at The Wheatsheaf* but that is not an ideal solution as it"s not exactly close of where the majority are staying.

Set yourself up for the day with a cooked breakfast that"s fit for a king, from just £3.29 Friday - Sunday at The Wheatsheaf Inn.

We"ll serve you the sausage and bacon, then you help yourself to as many of your breakfast favourites as you want - like eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. There"s more on the menu, including porridge and hot bacon sandwiches, plus our kids" breakfast is only £2.29.

How about a nice brew to wash it down? We"ve got a range of fairtrade coffees, or maybe you"d prefer a good old-fashioned cup of tea?

*I"ll have 3 please.  

So..."Google maps is my friend" and, voila, The Old Hall Farm Pub which is nice and close to the Cheshire Oaks complex.

MAPPY

Make a change from Frankie & Bennys / Chiquitos / Nandos / Bella Italia.

It"s fine and gets busy at the weekend (if a little over the "normal" hungry horse prices). I as ever will be where I am told to be.....

[Paulie_D]

It"s fine and gets busy at the weekend (if a little over the "normal" hungry horse prices). I as ever will be where I am told to be.....

I was thinking of distance for the Cheshire Oaks contingent.

Otherwise

• The Rake - Hungry Horse


• The Wirral Hundred - Marstons

[duke3016]

It"s fine and gets busy at the weekend (if a little over the "normal" hungry horse prices). I as ever will be where I am told to be.....

I was thinking of distance for the Cheshire Oaks contingent.

Otherwise

• The Rake - Hungry Horse


• The Wirral Hundred - Marstons

The Wirral 100 is the nearest pub to Chezger, I don"t frequent it - nuff said  

The Rake is actually very good....

[Paulie_D]

The Wirral 100 is the nearest pub to Chezger, I don"t frequent it - nuff said  

The Rake is actually very good....

Nuff said indeed. It has been stricken.

[KarmaDope]

There"s a Harvester near Cheshire Oaks - actually next to Old Hall Farm but you have to be on the main road to get to it.

Highly recommended by my wife.

LINKY

[AJDUK]

Careful with taking Xmas pudding to the states, due to banned products. I"m not 100% sure but e.g. I think nuts is on the list. Whilst it"s unlikely you"ll get your bag searched I"m not sure what would happen if they do and then find something.