12th February 2014 - Of Bouncers, Blogs and Bottles

Today I have driven across the country in the wildest of weathers, and returned safely.... An early start from Llanelli - well two starts, the first with all the bags removed from the car - too wet to take them out last night - and replacing them with jigsaws for the grandchildren, and a drive out towards the motorway. I say two starts as it was about that time that I realised that my mobile phone was still by the side of the bed - an infrequent  alarm clock....

Ten minutes delay!  Well, a bit more because after calling at the house I was facing the other direction and that means leaving Llanelli via Pentrepoeth Road. Only a Llanelli resident would immediately realise how bad an idea that was - the til back on this small one way road went a long way back...  Having committed, it only took the the decision to follow on out through Dafen to realise that the roads to the M4 at this time of morning are also backed up for miles - well almost miles...

There are good reasons for staying in bed until after the rush minutes in the mornings!!

So hail and storms and wind - Lots of Wind - On the Motorway but also over 90 mph on the Gower and North wales had it worse so I am told... But we missed the worst and managed to get to Heathrow and return without too much mishap...  So a long day and little time to consider the blog ...

But sitting on my machine was a piece of artistry which was so realistic that I felt that I had to share.. Drawn by hand, but so realistic you could drink from it..

So having seen the Bottle, and started the blog - it only remains to include the Bouncers.. This is thanks to a link seen on Facebook which tells me a little known fact about Bouncers from history...

MEDIEVAL PHRASES IN USE TODAY
BOUNCER
This popular term for a bar or tavern doorman also stems from the 13th century. when entering a tavern it was customary to pay a small fee (usually one brass or copper coin) to ensure against damages and to ensure that the customer did not sneak away without paying his fare. as there was a wide variety of foreign coinage, a man would stand post at the door and literally bounce the coins the was given off of a wet piece of wood. if the coins 'bounced' it was a test that they were genuinely copper or brass and not counterfeits made of lead. thus the term of "BOUNCER" survived into modern times.

So, the journeyman returns - but no Guiness for me... Chateau 41 - (White) will do the trick  - another bottle and I am sure I could draw that well - but maybe not tonight.... Better call the bouncers!!