Lockdown

The date will always be etched on my brain 20th March 2020,this was the last day we were allowed in our local pub (or any pub for that matter).As a Friday afternoon treat me and my wife would have a steady walk up to our local micro pub and have a couple of drinks before venturing to the local takeaway a few doors down for fish and chips or if we were feeling more adventurous over to the Mediterranean grill for some Greek/Italian influenced food.This particular afternoon we sat inside the pub enjoying a pint of Jaipur and a glass of pinot grigiot,when there was a few rumours emerging about the possibility of the pubs being shut from that weekend onwards,at the time most of the customers were not taking these rumours at all seriously and more drinks were being ordered,me also I hasten to add “another pint of Jaipur please Shelly”.Around 6.30PM the owner affectionately known as “Reg”(I dont actually know his real name),walked into the bar area and said the fateful words “please drink up and start to make your way out the pub please,we are officially closed as of 7.00PM this evening.Now Reg is the type of man to play a few jokes on the customers so even then it still seemed to be not a serious situation,but the same message was uttered a couple more times and the mood suddenly changed.Walking home that evening was a major talking point,but not in the same league as the talking points that followed.I didn’t realise how much I would miss the pub but yes it was a massive blow to us and the community that met in there.The wait for the return of the pick and davy has been a long one but we are now returning slowly back to that Friday afternoon treat,although booking a table is essential, what strange times we are entering.