Meet at Snow Hill between 12.30 and 12.45pm to catch the train to the Traditional Chap football watching arena (Simber's). Lob down to the Station for a bite to eat & a few beers before the match (k.o 4.00pm) - click hear if your up for it.
7.00pm ish - meet back up town at the Old Royal
Phil and Chap met as agreed at Snow Hill, Dave & Tone were delayed and Rog did a bit of church bazaaring by going caravan shopping in Shrewsbury. After a delayed train journey to Dorridge, the two intrepid chaps were picked up from the station by Simber's Taxi Co. to avoid getting wet - something that was unavoidable on the way down to the Station. Phil, Sim & Chap then tucked into a pub lunch washed down with a few ales whilst sitting out under the Station's new canopy arrangement watching the pouring rain!!. Time flies and it was time to adjourn back to Simber's house to watch the footy. Tone (via a pub in town & the Forrest) and Dave also arrived just in time for kick-off. As is usual for England games it turned out to be like the weather a bit of a damp squib with England managing to sneak a 1 - 0 victory, but who cares when the beers are flowing. After the match it was time to lob into town to meet up with Rog in the Old Royal - again the usual railway timetable was in operation (not!!) so we were forced into the Forrest for a beer or two before the train arrived.
Finally, around 7.30pm we arrived at the Old Royal where Rog was already in residence - here more beer was consumed whilst watching the Ireland game. However, the nights' proceedings closed early for some of the chaps, Simbers bailed with a migraine (must be from watching England!!!), whilst both Tone and Phil were struck down with that mysterious illness foreheadius-thumbprintitus!!!, leaving Dave, Rog and Chap to head for pastures new.
Since we planned to go for a curry later and Shahs was the likely spot, we ended up going on a nostalgia trip to Sam Weller's (Not called this anymore & the name escapes me!). Although the layout is still the same, the thriving place we used to know and love it most certainly isn't. The top floor being closed and only around 20 people were in there (how the might have fallen eh?). Anyway the three remaining chaps sunk a few more pints of frothing ale before heading to Shahs for a ruby.
A good end to the night with top food & tales of yester year, Little Rog & Carpet Crimes of the 20th century!!
Chap 22.10.05