Of all the ale houses in all the towns in all the world ...

Last night's singaround in the Guest House was a bit unusual.  The pub began to be filled with loads of very young women all looking suitably dressed for a night in a club, except this is the Guest House.  It seems there had been some kind of show at the local college.  One or two of them poked their heads into the room where we were playing, but didn't stay for more than a few seconds.  Probably not ready for such a musical experience yet.

The music was quite varied, with a mixture of contemporary, trad, and some contemp in the trad style, and it was nice to see Richard, who normally comes to the Lion singaround in Liverpool, at his Guest House debut.  As always, it was all very informal.

At one point, Lydia behind the bar topped up my pint without being asked, so I told her how diligent she was.  She thanked me for what she assumed was a compliment, but added that she didn't know what 'diligent' meant.  I told her to ask Gail, the licensee.  She did and then came straight back to me and said, "That wasn't very nice."  When I asked what she meant, she replied:  "Gail told me diligent meant, 'not very good behind the bar!'" 

I was on Allgates Caskablanca (4.1%), a pleasant golden beer, and evidence that Allgates are back on form, having in my opinion gone through a bad patch.  I got a blank look at the bar when I said, "Here's looking at you, kid," (corny, I know) but then she is very young.  Later she told me I wasn't the first to say it ~ just the first to explain it.