I have been avoiding pubs recently but yesterday I paid a visit to my local (not a Spoons).  I got a bit of a ribbing because some of the regulars had seen me around and I hadn't dropped in to pay my respects. All good natured and getting a round in (£13 for 5 pints including 2 Guinness) helped. The 99p Spoons pint was mentioned but a cousin reckoned it was for a limited time and the offer was over. Less than a mile away in Old Leigh I recently bought a pint of IPA and half lager for nearly £8! London prices for the day trippers. Both pubs are always reasonably busy.

Robbie- are the prices a ‘senior citizens ‘ rate in your local, haha, if so I’ll be with you! I’ve mentioned on here before that where I live there is a spoons that’s now only open at weekends, 2 weeks ago there was a stabbing outside ( albeit around 2 am), that’ll probably be the last nail in the box for the spoons,

AFS- Tuborg Gold was our drink of choice at one time. A couple of mates were carpenters that worked on an overseas project in Copenhagen. They returned with Danish girls and we all thought we were sophisticated drinking a Danish drink. Carlsberg was frowned upon except for Special Brew (I kid you not) !

Having perused my book of great London pubs last week I found myself in the Jerusalem Tavern, Clerkenwell the only pub owned by the St Peters Brewery. Beer afficianados may know that St Peters is a noted independent brewery, I’ve only ever enjoyed their products as bottled beer that occasionally crops up in Sainsburys. As I anticipated, their beer from the wood was even better and the surroundings and the clientele were convivial. I remarked as such to the barman who informed me that it was just as well I had come in as the pub would be closing permanently the following day! But it was crossed off my list

It’s not an option at all now Kingy. But I did read that it was previously a cafe and only became a pub comparatively recently. So it’s not an authentic old London drinkery ,like most of the places in my beer bible, and therefore maybe not such a loss. Although the beer was excellent.

Ukrainian flags flying around Corinthian Casuals football ground now. Nice gesture but it will not achieve anything. It’s a historic club though. Kingstonian also currently play at the ground. I have always declined invites to attend their matches. Semi-professional football is a no mans land between free amateur football and the lower levels of the football league. AFC Wimbledon in the fourth division is about as low as I would go. The Dons did at least used to have a nice bar where Man of the Match was announced straight after the game.

I was at the Norwich match on Saturday (3pm kick off). There were blue plastic squares on the seats. I eventually discovered they were to represent the Ukrainian flag, with yellow plastic squares down the front of the stand. Gesture politics is an increasingly new feature of matches, along with VAR which disrupts the flow of the games.

I was browsing in one of our local charity shops on Saturday morning, trying to decide whether or not to buy a J.Crew shirt.  The radio was on so we had an announcer pondering just why the Russians are trying to seize key installations (or whatever), followed closely by The Beatles singing 'We Can Work It Out' (if that's what the wretched thing is called). 
It was always a source of amusement to me when teaching Russian History for A-Level that Lenin and his people, after seizing the telephone exchange etc. then had no idea how to run them, so had to bring back the bourgeois experts.  Rather like stealing a car then asking the owner how to drive it away.  I expect the experts died fairly sharpish afterwards. 
If this was the Americans, needless to say, or us, stomping all over some sovereign nation after firing off cruise missiles, we'd have Blair or Campbell, Johnson or Raab all over the media telling us to give three great cheers.

Those country field jackets are very useful. Pockets for hats, gloves, a small umbrella, tickets, documents and an A to Z book. In time-honoured ‘Ask Andy’ fashion I can report that I received a compliment on mine. Neck gaiters are another boon. Saves messing with a little blue mask, just pull it up or down. Also really good in cold weather to keep out drafts around your neck and face. Less bother than a scarf.

'on a 15 yr old who doesn't know better but on a fully grown man.....'

There is a (very small) part of me that envies the bloke who just has trainers and a hoodie. A good mate of mine, same age, (50) makes for very intelligent conversation and has led a really interesting life. Just gone back to college part time because he felt he wanted to improve in areas . Doesn't seem to work but has a very comfortable life indeed. Just isn't interested in clothes. Thinks they're a distraction from more important stuff. I'm not sure I can argue with him. Seen him almost every day for years and he's wearing Gap jeans, a black T shirt, hoodie if it's cold, black parka if it's raining. New Balance trainers until they wear out, when he buys a pair exactly the same. Of course, unless you're a sniper there's no excuse whatsoever for camouflage trousers. And your man there probably put thought into it and still decided he looked impressive.

Spendthrift,

Your friend has a really interesting perspective.I too have friends who just the mere mention of going out shopping for clothes breaks them into a cold sweat.

Most of the men I know have interests - either passive ones like being a film or wine buff through to more active pursuits like cycling or travelling the length and breadth of this fair isle in pursuit of their football team.

My own passion with clothes is similar and multifaceted. I get as much pleasure tracking things down (like a stamp collector), learning the history and manufacturing process (similar to a wine buff) as I do wearing the suff.
Knowing a bit elevates my personal pleasure. That's not to say I'm in any way an expert in these matters.

When I put on an outfit that I feel works well or in a new way I feel the same.I genuinely don't care what others think of how I look. Being in my mid fifties I'm not sensitive as I once was and I have a good sense of what suits me, the appropriateness of certain items and how to pull things together.

My only concern is not giving up. To start not caring about my appearance. To be become one of those sad souls who doesn't know his neck or waist size and is reliant on his wife for what he wears.

You see them occasionally at Dinner. They slowly put down the menu and gaze nervously across at their wives to ask  "Do I like mushrooms?"

Alvey: I'm with you on everything there. I love 'the hunt'. Much as I used to when I collected vinyl.

It's a good feeling to be able to see yourself in an outfit and realise it would look better with desert boots. Or a green crew neck.

I think it's imperative not to care what others think. My mate tends to look me up and down and mutter 'What have you come as today?' My game is to always have an answer, e.g. Dean Martin's caddy.

RG - I see it often in M&S

Wife - "For goodness sake, Brian. It wont hurt to try it on''
Brian (throwing a strop like a toddler) ''What does it matter? It's just a pair of trousers. Can we PLEASE go and get a coffee and cake?''

‘To be become one of those sad souls who doesn't know his neck or waist size and is reliant on his wife for what he wears.’

Older men might have been working all day Saturday. No shops open on Sunday. So the wife bought a lot. Exception was getting measured up for a suit - which required a free Saturday afternoon.