Beverages and Blades - Traditional of Course

[dc50]

That's the best story you've ever told Jack! Hilarious! You need to sit down with that chap from Magic Rock and get all your stories down on paper.
It's funny but I know of jobs nowadays were the employer would love it if the workforce never went home.



Thanks for posting that Dave I've never heard it before.

A pint of the house beer "Swan with Two Nicks" (brewed by Coach House brewery of Warrington) outside the pub of the same name earlier today

Great name for a pub David! I'm betting there are a lot of unique names past and present.

 

[Jack Black]

View attachment 978951

That's the best story you've ever told Jack! Hilarious! You need to sit down with that chap from Magic Rock and get all your stories down on paper.
It's funny but I know of jobs nowadays were the employer would love it if the workforce never went home.



Thanks for posting that Dave I've never heard it before.

A pint of the house beer "Swan with Two Nicks" (brewed by Coach House brewery of Warrington) outside the pub of the same name earlier today

Thanks David, the only case I ever heard of over-time being capped was with an old guy who used to launder the sheets for straining the yeast, a very minor job indeed. He didn't get on with his missus, so he used to practically live in the brewery, in his own little 'warren'. He didn't even drink with the rest of us, I think I only ever saw him twice! One week he got his pay, and they had made a mistake and only paid him for 130 hours instead of 131 or something. He was stinking drunk, and stormed into the wages office, screaming and shouting. They told him they'd make up for it next week, but he wouldn't have it, and demanded they ring Head Office to get a special payment authorised. Eventually they did, but Head Office wanted to know why on earth he was working so many hours, when his job involved laundering about 50 sheets a week (if that). So they cut his hours down to 40 a week, no overtime. He was devastated, but he still didn't want to go home to his wife, so he kept the same hours as before!

Nice to see you and your Lambsfoot out and about my friend

 

[Jack Black]

Great name for a pub David! I'm betting there are a lot of unique names past and present.

There used to be one near me, which was 'The Swan With Two Necks'

There was a notoriously rough pub in Sheffield, opposite the brewery I've just been talking about, called 'The Bull & Mouth'. Tetley's Brewery put up a hideous pub sign with a bull wearing a pair of false teeth! It took a local historian, an old friend of mine, to tell them that the pub was actually called 'The Boulogne Mouth', named for the battle! They then took down the sign, but renamed the pub, one of the most famous in Sheffield, the 'Boulogne'

 

[dc50]

There used to be one near me, which was 'The Swan With Two Necks'

There was a notoriously rough pub in Sheffield, opposite the brewery I've just been talking about, called 'The Bull & Mouth'. Tetley's Brewery put up a hideous pub sign with a bull wearing a pair of false teeth! It took a local historian, an old friend of mine, to tell them that the pub was actually called 'The Boulogne Mouth', named for the battle! They then took down the sign, but renamed the pub, one of the most famous in Sheffield, the 'Boulogne'

Wow! Some colorful history in Sheffield, sure hope to visit someday.

 

[donn]

There used to be one near me, which was 'The Swan With Two Necks'

There was a notoriously rough pub in Sheffield, opposite the brewery I've just been talking about, called 'The Bull & Mouth'. Tetley's Brewery put up a hideous pub sign with a bull wearing a pair of false teeth! It took a local historian, an old friend of mine, to tell them that the pub was actually called 'The Boulogne Mouth', named for the battle! They then took down the sign, but renamed the pub, one of the most famous in Sheffield, the 'Boulogne'

Great name for a pub David! I'm betting there are a lot of unique names past and present.

LOL! You couldn't make it up could you. Mistaking the The Boulogne Mouth for the Bull and Mouth..
Mind you I bet they went with what the locals called it.

The Swan with Two Nicks refers to the practice of marking the bills of swans to denote ownership. Bizarrely enough the Royal Household still has an official position of "The Queen's Royal Swan Marker".

http://www.royalswan.co.uk/

I'm not sure if pubs called The Swan with Two Necks is just a corruption of 'Nicks'. There's three or four of Two Necks in the North West. The one in Stockport is a Robinsons house and on the Historic Pub Interiors inventory.
https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/historic-pub-interior-entry.asp?NatPubID=MAS/4459&Detail=brief

Thanks David, the only case I ever heard of over-time being capped was with an old guy who used to launder the sheets for straining the yeast, a very minor job indeed. He didn't get on with his missus, so he used to practically live in the brewery, in his own little 'warren'. He didn't even drink with the rest of us, I think I only ever saw him twice! One week he got his pay, and they had made a mistake and only paid him for 130 hours instead of 131 or something. He was stinking drunk, and stormed into the wages office, screaming and shouting. They told him they'd make up for it next week, but he wouldn't have it, and demanded they ring Head Office to get a special payment authorised. Eventually they did, but Head Office wanted to know why on earth he was working so many hours, when his job involved laundering about 50 sheets a week (if that). So they cut his hours down to 40 a week, no overtime. He was devastated, but he still didn't want to go home to his wife, so he kept the same hours as before!

Nice to see you and your Lambsfoot out and about my friend

LOL!! Never look a gift horse in the mouth I hope he's still not in there somewhere...
You've really got to write a book about these recollections Jack It's a vanished world

 

[Jack Black]

I'm not sure if pubs called The Swan with Two Necks is just a corruption of 'Nicks'.

I suspect that is the case David

Now, there was a pub in Bridlington which had a cat with two heads...but that's another story

LOL!! Never look a gift horse in the mouth I hope he's still not in there somewhere...
You've really got to write a book about these recollections Jack It's a vanished world

Probably haunting the place!

 

[btb01]

Thanks David, the only case I ever heard of over-time being capped was with an old guy who used to launder the sheets for straining the yeast, a very minor job indeed. He didn't get on with his missus, so he used to practically live in the brewery, in his own little 'warren'. He didn't even drink with the rest of us, I think I only ever saw him twice! One week he got his pay, and they had made a mistake and only paid him for 130 hours instead of 131 or something. He was stinking drunk, and stormed into the wages office, screaming and shouting. They told him they'd make up for it next week, but he wouldn't have it, and demanded they ring Head Office to get a special payment authorised. Eventually they did, but Head Office wanted to know why on earth he was working so many hours, when his job involved laundering about 50 sheets a week (if that). So they cut his hours down to 40 a week, no overtime. He was devastated, but he still didn't want to go home to his wife, so he kept the same hours as before!

That’s too funny, Jack! That guy should’ve known better than to upset the applecart. I think the real question is, did the incident result in everyone’s unnecessary overtime being cut back, or just his? I'm imagining a Head Office accountant chatting with a coworker over lunch:

"Can you believe it? This sheet-washer was clocking 130 hours a week! We set him straight, though. Well, I better get back to it; lot of overtime checks to cut this week."

LOL! You couldn't make it up could you. Mistaking the The Boulogne Mouth for the Bull and Mouth..
Mind you I bet they went with what the locals called it.

The Swan with Two Nicks refers to the practice of marking the bills of swans to denote ownership. Bizarrely enough the Royal Household still has an official position of "The Queen's Royal Swan Marker".

http://www.royalswan.co.uk/

I'm not sure if pubs called The Swan with Two Necks is just a corruption of 'Nicks'. There's three or four of Two Necks in the North West. The one in Stockport is a Robinsons house and on the Historic Pub Interiors inventory.
https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/historic-pub-interior-entry.asp?NatPubID=MAS/4459&Detail=brief

That's quite the getup the Royal Swan Marker gets to wear, but I guess that's par for the course when it comes to working for the Queen.

Reminds me a bit of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. They have a group of ducks that live on the hotel rooftop; every morning, they take the elevator down to the lobby and march down a red carpet to the swim in the hotel's fountain. The hotel employs a "Duckmaster" whose job it is to care for and train the ducks. He gets to wear a "fancy" outfit with a bright red jacket, too.

https://www.peabodymemphis.com/ducks-en.html

 

[crufflers]

 

[Jack Black]

That’s too funny, Jack! That guy should’ve known better than to upset the applecart. I think the real question is, did the incident result in everyone’s unnecessary overtime being cut back, or just his? I'm imagining a Head Office accountant chatting with a coworker over lunch:

"Can you believe it? This sheet-washer was clocking 130 hours a week! We set him straight, though. Well, I better get back to it; lot of overtime checks to cut this week."



That's quite the getup the Royal Swan Marker gets to wear, but I guess that's par for the course when it comes to working for the Queen.

Reminds me a bit of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. They have a group of ducks that live on the hotel rooftop; every morning, they take the elevator down to the lobby and march down a red carpet to the swim in the hotel's fountain. The hotel employs a "Duckmaster" whose job it is to care for and train the ducks. He gets to wear a "fancy" outfit with a bright red jacket, too.

https://www.peabodymemphis.com/ducks-en.html

It made absolutely no difference to anyone else Barrett, really was a strange place to work As I think I said before, there was really no management on site, just the old Head Brewer, who was a nice guy, just about to retire, and a foreman - heck, the foreman was happy to punch your time card for you, he was just like the rest of the guys! Whitbread's, the company who owned the brewery, really couldn't afford to have a strike or any kind of stoppage, the loss of a single day's production would have just been too costly for them, but they had this really belligerent drunken workforce! Probably the funniest thing that happened while I was there was when the brewery workers found out that the delivery drivers had had some sort of beano, and demanded to know where there's was! They kicked off about it, so to placate them Whitbread's arranged an event on a Saturday afternoon, there'd be a lunch, and free drinks, and what have you, and they'd even get paid double-time to attend. So they issued these nicely printed invitations, 'Whitbread's Brewery cordially requests the pleasure of the company of Harry Bloggs and guest', and handed them out to the workers. "What's this?! 'And Guest'?! What's that about?! Our lass'll be wanting to come! I don't want her spoiling the fun!" So they had to reprint the invitations! So, the morning of the event came, and everyone came into the brewery, being paid double-time for an entire shift (they were supposed to work until noon, but nobody did). A coach took everyone to a local Working Men's Club, where they were offered free beer. "Free beer? I get that everyday. I want whisky!" During the meal, there was to be a speech by some young executive from head office, who delivered praise and encouragement, but eventually had to abandon his speech under a torrent of abuse from the drunken brewery workers!

I've heard of that at the Peabody Hotel

I'm just sampling some grapes from California

 

[Chui]

I'm just sampling some grapes from California

View attachment 979652

- looks luscious, Jack

Hope you're well, mate......long time no speak

 

[Peregrin]

Picked some of these up today to take along to our friends in Maine. I've never tried them but the Southern Tier Beer Brewing Co. usually brews up some good stuff. I'll make sure and report back.
At 8.6% ABV it's not a near beer!
The Laguiole will be on cheese duty.

 

[Chui]

Picked some of these up today to take along to our friends in Maine. I've never tried them but the Southern Tier Beer Brewing Co. usually brews up some good stuff. I'll make sure and report back.
At 8.6% ABV it's not a near beer!
The Laguiole will be on cheese duty.

- looking good, Gary.........you've still got the caps on - hold on a few minutes, I'm getting Scottie to beam me over...

 

[Pàdruig]

Picked some of these up today to take along to our friends in Maine. I've never tried them but the Southern Tier Beer Brewing Co. usually brews up some good stuff. I'll make sure and report back.
At 8.6% ABV it's not a near beer!
The Laguiole will be on cheese duty.

I am hoping to visit some family in Maine a bit later this year myself. Haven't been back there since last year when my grandmother passed on. The Portland area has some terrific breweries and I always try and sample what I can when I am over there.

Southern Tier's Choklat Oranj Stout was a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't think I would care for it but it turned out to be excellent. If a brewery can make a chocolate orange beer taste good, than I imagine that their other beers are quite excellent. I will look forward to seeing your thoughts on the pumpkin ales (another style that can be difficult to get right).

 

[Jack Black]

- looks luscious, Jack

Hope you're well, mate......long time no speak

It's not bad Paul, much like myself Hope you're doing OK

Picked some of these up today to take along to our friends in Maine. I've never tried them but the Southern Tier Beer Brewing Co. usually brews up some good stuff. I'll make sure and report back.
At 8.6% ABV it's not a near beer!
The Laguiole will be on cheese duty.

Those look tasty Gary

Southern Tier's Choklat Oranj Stout was a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't think I would care for it but it turned out to be excellent. If a brewery can make a chocolate orange beer taste good, than I imagine that their other beers are quite excellent. I will look forward to seeing your thoughts on the pumpkin ales (another style that can be difficult to get right).

I've enjoyed a few cans of this one from Magic Rock recently, 7.5 I think

 

[Horsewright]

Where in Cali is that one from Jack?

 

[Peregrin]

- looking good, Gary.........you've still got the caps on - hold on a few minutes, I'm getting Scottie to beam me over...

You're welcome anytime, Paul!

I am hoping to visit some family in Maine a bit later this year myself. Haven't been back there since last year when my grandmother passed on. The Portland area has some terrific breweries and I always try and sample what I can when I am over there.

Southern Tier's Choklat Oranj Stout was a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't think I would care for it but it turned out to be excellent. If a brewery can make a chocolate orange beer taste good, than I imagine that their other beers are quite excellent. I will look forward to seeing your thoughts on the pumpkin ales (another style that can be difficult to get right).

We're going to visit an Air Force buddy and his wife in York. I'll make sure to report back.

Those look tasty Gary

I'll let you know, Jack!

 

[Jack Black]

Where in Cali is that one from Jack?

Hey Dave, I used to drink a fair bit of Californian wine in 80's and 90's, even had some good Beaulieu in my cellar, but I don't see it so much anymore, the wines I drink from outside Europe are mainly from Australia and New Zealand. This looked quite different, was pretty pricey, and I have to say that I've enjoyed it, but I had to get a magnifying glass out to get any real info off the bottle, and while no California vineyard is actually listed, it's bottled here in the UK

We're going to visit an Air Force buddy and his wife in York. I'll make sure to report back.

I didn't know you were going to be that close Gary, I'll be happy to buy you lunch, and we can have a few pints down Fossgate

 

[Jolipapa]

Where in Cali is that one from Jack?

"Bourbon barrel aged"? That is quite a warning... Usual for rhum, but wine??? The guy whose grapes need such a treatment to get some taste will sure prefer to remain unknown!
Next step : Bourbon aged in "wine/bourbon-barrel-aged" barrel?

 

[Peregrin]

Hey Dave, I used to drink a fair bit of Californian wine in 80's and 90's, even had some good Beaulieu in my cellar, but I don't see it so much anymore, the wines I drink from outside Europe are mainly from Australia and New Zealand. This looked quite different, was pretty pricey, and I have to say that I've enjoyed it, but I had to get a magnifying glass out to get any real info off the bottle, and while no California vineyard is actually listed, it's bottled here in the UK



I didn't know you were going to be that close Gary, I'll be happy to buy you lunch, and we can have a few pints down Fossgate

I wish I were headed your way, Jack! York, Maine is a pretty spot on the coast though, and I can drive there!

 

[tmd_87]