Why do we call ourselves "The Villagers"?
Well, the obvious answer is because we spend time in a place called the Village Pump.
But there is a more subtle reason, as was shown in a recent conversation. I'd just returned from the toilets, where the hand towels had run out - again! - and as I resumed my seat at the bar next to Nan and Bert, I moaned about the state of the toilets, which are really run down, and not near as good facilities as at The Stag. Nan agreed, and said that The White Horse had just had new flooring put in, at which point we all looked at the old, slightly drab carpet that was on the floor here. You could see the cleaner was making a valient job of keeping it clean, but even so, it was really showing its age.
Then Bert pointed out that over at The Queens Arms they had a better selection of beers, and the prices were cheaper. They also had a garden which was nice to sit out in in the summer, even if it did get full of kids.
Just then John walked in and took his normal seat in the corner of the bar. He heard us talking, and asked if anyone had been to the Red Barn recently. It had just last week re-opened under a new landlord, and was, he said really buzzing.
We all had another round of drinks, and talked about the many failing of The Village - it's shabby bar, the toilets again, the fact that the air conditioning didn't work in summer, and the heating wasn't that good in winter. How they kept running of of the rose wine Nan drinks, and limes for Betty's imported beer.
But as we continued to drink and to talk, we all knew we'd be back to this place, because with all its many faults, it was OUR place. We knew everyone here and how it worked. It might be a bit scruffy, but it was as comfortable as an old warn down pair of shoes. We might visit another pub, try out a new venue, enjoy the facilities somewhere else once in a while, but when the question was where shall we meet, the answer was always the same.
Because this is a village, and we were its villagers.
