King’s Lynn beer expert Jeff Hoyle tells us why some meetings are better than others and how he ended up with a pina colada
In his weekly The Bar Man column, Jeff Hoyle talks about meetings and an encounter with hen and stag parties...
Meetings. I hated them when I was working. A long hard Monday, ready to go home for tea and a rest and there was a meeting.
For several years after a promotion, I received the agenda of a monthly meeting in my pigeonhole, but thought this was keeping me informed, rather than an invitation to attend. I wished the revelation had never occurred.
And yet, the promise of a regional CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) meeting had its attractions, mostly because it was being held at Humpty Dumpty Brewery in Reedham. ‘Let’s go’ said the Barwife, adding that the train would be her preferred method of transport, allowing her to sample their products.
It was the hottest day of the year when we set off nice and early on the train to Ely to make our connection to Norwich. As we sat in the coffee bar, it flashed up on the screen that our train had been cancelled due to a fault.
The next one was not too long behind, rather crowded admittedly as there were two train loads of passengers, but we managed to claim a seat. Not so lucky were the hen party heading for fun in Norwich but getting prepared on the way with their cans of cocktails.
Like a Fenland road, the track was not exactly smooth, so I ended up with a pina colada or maybe peach on the beach shower, not such a problem on a hot day especially with the compulsory mop down and profuse apologies.
In Norwich we wished them farewell and hoped they would have a nice day while we contemplated the walk from the station in Reedham to the brewery, about a mile down country lanes.
It was clear that we would be late, so a texted apology to our leader, Andrea was in order, and it produced surprising results with the news that Lesley from Humpty Dumpty would be waiting at the station to drive us to our destination.
We arrived just in time to claim our first pint free and none of the important business passed us by. Soon it was time for the excellent barbecued burger that had been grilled in the courtyard and for a decision to be made.
Was it too hot to walk down the village and try the pubs there? We decided that it wasn’t and strolled down through the countryside to The Ship where a cool and welcome pint of Humpty Dumpty Broadland Sunrise was gratefully consumed.
A mere five minutes along the waterfront was the Lord Nelson, where Woodfordes was the beer of choice. We met Sasha, the pub dog and her owner who it turned out had lived in Lynn for eight years and worked at the Stuart House.
The walk back to the station beckoned, but as we stepped out of the pub Chris from the meeting stopped and offered us a lift. All that remained was the journey home.
What could go wrong? A train stuck at the junction outside Norwich was the answer, but after half an hour we were on our way. Ely saw a stag party join the train. Matching T-shirts and matching manners.
Do men ever grow up? With their inflatable toys, loud and disrespectful voices and actions which went beyond playfighting to exposing themselves to other passengers on Ely station, there was a degree of tension on the last leg but we made it home in good shape.
Have I changed my mind about meetings? There is a Norfolk regional CAMRA meeting at the Ampersand Brewery in Diss coming up shortly. Count me in.
bar.man@btinternet.com
