Of Taps and Newcastle winters

Went to the Tap, the weather was raw
but it wasn't the sleet or the snow that I saw
but rather the fair Newcastle town trade
that good conversation with a pint that was made
and convivial warmth with the victuals there
made the winter outside something better to bare
So I stayed for a while and chatted some more
before heading back out to what lay in store

©Jemverse

Photo – inside The Newcastle Tap, Neville Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – Jempics

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Tipple (reprise)

3 of 10 in the ‘Music II’ series from Jemverse

In these fragile days of Autumn
When I am flustered by strong gales
There’s something to look forward to
The partaking of fine ales

A tipple of an evening
When the weather is like this
Gives a little taste of summer
With its happiness and bliss

Just one is quite sufficient
Though sometimes I might have two
That, and a bit of music
Takes the edge off feeling blue

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘Tipple‘ was originally posted to Jemverse in October 2014

Sunshine on Neville Street

Sitting in Newcastle Tap
here on Neville Street
I've had a lovely pizza
and the beer's going down a treat
Outside Newcastle sunshine
though chillier up here
shines as evening shadows fall
and I enjoy this beer
By and by I'll take a stroll
as this time is all my own
so I may as well enjoy it
all these many miles from home

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Buck

At the Buckingham Arms with my Bro for a beer
Our local, our pub - we both love it here
Conversation will flow and we'll have a good time
with a chat and a game over beer or a wine
It's our mindfulness tonic for mental health's sake
so we'll waste not a moment this pleasure to take

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

In the sun II

Wolfgang on the garden bench
panting in the sun
whilst I sit down relaxing
now my working week is done
The warmth today is growing
so whilst I am sitting here
he's given his permission
for me to have a nice cold beer

©Jemverse

Photo – Sally Croucher

John Harvey

And down the Bridge Wharf twitten
the brewhouse brews beer and wine
standing proud there for tradition
now since eighteen thirty nine

John Harvey forty years before
in Bear Yard across the way
started brewing Harvey's beer
and does so to this day

So sometimes when in Lewes Town
to complete this Sussex tale
in the John Harvey's tavern
in Bear Yard I'll have an ale

©Jemverse

Photo – Harvey’s brewery, Lewes, Sussex – Jempics.

John Harvey established a brewery and wine merchants in Lewes, Sussex, UK in 1790. The Brewery remains to this day on Bridge Wharf where it’s been since 1839.

Mangolicious

Had a Mangolicious Laines
a lovely IPA
fruity and refreshing
at the end of a long day
Eating at the Open House
all my girls and me
and a lovely Wolfgang
for a delicious tea

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Definitions: ‘Mangolicious’ is a fruity IPA from the Brighton brewery ‘Laines’. The ‘Open House’ is a Brighton gastro-pub where one of the main brews on tap is ‘Laines’. ‘Wolfgang’ is my middle daughter’s Patterdale terrier.

Virtual beers

From Liverpool to Shoreham
quite a distance any day
but in these days of lockdown
seems a million miles away
But that distance is diminished
at a stroke with all good cheer
when we friends WhatsApp together
to share a virtual beer

Yes the long forbidden travel
may keep us distanced yet
but that alone won’t stop us
and we’re at pains to not forget
that a friendship knows no boundary
and distance isn’t one
So we will keep on meeting
til this pandemic’s done

Whetting whistle with the virtual beer
sharing anecdotes on line
raising glasses to our friendship
we look forward to this time
And until that glorious day when we
can share a real one face to face
this on-line time together
is our virtual beering grace

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Simple Things

It’s been said before
It’ll be said again
but there’s no harm repeating
the oft sung refrain
that moments of bliss
when contentment’s complete
can be captured and held
to make life this sweet

They are unquantifiable
no mark and no measure
no yardstick or benchmark
for this simple pleasure
And of what do I speak
in these words written here?
The enjoyment of course
from a chat and a beer

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Beach Hut Arms

Came down to the beach hut
on a very windy day
it wasn’t very warm but
I didn’t mind cos, hey…
The reason I was here
with the sea so very near
was to meet at social distance
with a good friend for a beer

And as the weather forecast
was for rain we didn’t care
as the chance to share a beer
with a chat was great down there
So I rather think that this
is something I will often do
A beer at social distance
with a cracking seaside view

©Jemverse

Photo – ‘The Beach Hut Arms’ – Jempics