The County Hotel (Ashford, Kent)

Three Friends

I am very lucky, I have 3 friends.  That may not sound very lucky, but I have known these guys since I was 11 years old.  We don't see each other very often, but I had a brain wave at the start of the year.  I thought we should meet up more often, we thought about a date that would not conflict with birthdays, anniversaries etc, and finished up with the first of the month.  I nicknamed the event 'Friends First', although my wife did seem a bit miffed (what does that make her?  wife second? family next?  how about Family Infinity!).  [by the way, my birthday is on the 1st and I forgot about that]

Rick, Dean, Richard and I try to meet up on the 1st of the month, every month.  Due to holidays and weddings and other things, this was our '1st' for July.

I am not going to write a long blog every time I go out with my friends.  There's not a lot that I can actually put on the blog (most of what we discuss is rubbish, or too rude or ridiculous to share), also this blog is meant to focus on the spoons journey.  We talked a lot about the blog of course, I think they thought it was OK but don't really understand why I am doing it.  I refer to it as a 'vanity project'.

Last night I learnt something very exciting, this spoons has two different types of carpet.  I have been to this pub more times than I can count, and yet I found out something new.  Who knew. 

It was pretty empty last night.  We had a good laugh about various topics.  Being a Dr. Who fan I was asked what I thought about the new doctor.  In my view it will be interesting, but I do think the decision is a 'political correct' one, we will have to wait and see.

Richard ordered a sharer, which we shared!.  Rick ordered nachos which we shared!.  I had already had a very nice roast dinner before going out, but that did not stop me from helping them.

We drank a lot.  I had a Kronenbourg 1664 to start.  For some bizarre reason the pub are now putting this drink into what looked like an oversized wine class.  The others all referred to it as 'gay', and I was a bit embarrassed.  I asked the guy at the bar if I had done something to offend him, but he tells me this is now the 'correct' glass for this drink.  So it was pale ale and bitter for the rest of the evening.

I still love this pub, and I am really pleased to have great friends and really appreciate that we still care about each other.  We used to drink in The Swan together, but that is now boarded-up.   We did start going to the County before that, mainly because the beer was cheaper and it was easier to get a seat.

Ricks daughter gave us a lift home (thank you), and had nice things to say about my blog (big thank you).  I finally got home at 11ish, went to bed.