Last night we went to see Die Hard 4. I can’t beleive the first movie came 19 years ago. There’s been more than a few big budget action movies since then, but I have to say, the Die Hard movies are still up there. Good story line, a few good one-liners, over-the-top special effects… a good, old, fashioned action movie.
Yipeekayeemothafucka!
Should keep me going until the Bourne Ultimatum comes out!
Last night Nat and I went into Macclesfield for a bite to eat. On the way home, we decided to pop in to one of our local pubs, Porters Prince of Wales. We were tempted by the prospect of having a nice drink in a non-smoking pub.. at last!
To be honest, most pubs in Macc aren’t to our taste. In town you have a couple of bars that appeal to those aged between 14 and 21, and many of the local pubs are definitely only for local people.. as you enter the door the regulars eye you up with a look of “they’re not from round ‘ere”.
However, we discovered the Porters just after I moved to Macc. It serves a great range of real ale, has an older crowd and a good atmosphere. But we rarely went as, common to most pubs back then, we felt like we were sitting in an ashtray.
Last night looked promising. The air was clear and we even got a table. Nat ordered a lovely fruit beer they had as a special. I ordered a Guinness. And this is what ruined our evening.
Now I’m no beer snob. Really, I’m not. But everyone knows that Guinness is creamy, that it has this amazing head on it, and that it has a disticnt, rich, velvety texture. When you get a great pint, it really is a pleasure to drink. When you get an average pint, it’s still quite nice.
However, what I got served last night had no head, no texture and when I tried it, it tasted watery. So, I went back to the bar, leaving Nat on her own to enjoy her fruit beer. I asked the barmaid that had served me if the Guinnes should be like this, as it appeared watery. I was polite, and I was informed that it was the end of the barrel, and was being changed. Great, I thought. They’ll server me a decent pint from the new barrel. I waited.
I waited a bit longer. The barmaid seemed to have forgotten me. A few minutes passed
I asked the barmaid if the barrel had been changed. I’d noticed her pour a pint of Guinness for someone else. She ignored me. I tried a few more time to get her attention. Eventually she acknowledged me and confirmed that the barrel had been changed… but then carried on serving other customers.
I waited a bit longer. Five minutes had passed. I was clearly being ignored, and Nat had been left on her own. So, I caught the attention of the other barmaid, who is also the pub landlady.
I asked about having my Guinness replaced as the original one was watery. The reponse was curt. Something along the lines of “it’s always like that” and “no one else has complained”. Well, this is fine, except I had been told it was because the barrel was being changed. PlusI’d beenconscioulsy ignored for 5 minutes only to be told that I was the problem, not the Guinness.
Admittedly, I was offered a new pint, though not without a touch of discern in the barmaid’s voice. She didn’t seem to care that her staff had decided to ignore me, and didn’t care about serving a decent pint even though the pub prides itself on serving quality, real ale.
Last year the pub was earmarked for demolition to make way for a new shopping development. We put our name to a petition, and the developers eventually modified their plans. I wish I hadn’t bothered.
I’m sure barstaff put up with loads of abuse, but they are selling a product, and as a customer I’m entitled to complain when the beer is sub standard. I can do without the attitude. And now I’ll do without the pub. We won’t be going back.
So last night GastroGrrl and I went to see Monkey: Journey to the West, which is being staged as part of the Manchester International Festival. Based around the same characters form the cult TV show, Monkey, this is a stage adaptation of the famous Chinese legend, by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett of Gorillaz fame.
It’s hard to describe. Involving Chinese circus acrobats and martial artists it blends manga-style animation, opera, Cirque-Du-Soleil, Theatre de Complicite and even a hint of Cats!
THe only thing I can say is that it’s thoroughly entertaining! If it tours, go and see it.
