Something Odd

The rest of our tour was just as puzzling with the upstairs living accommodation reflecting the emptiness of the public bars. No chairs, no settee and no beds, apart from a large mattress on the floor piled high with the debris of single living. But no TV? Moonlit flit sprang to mind.

Two of the reasons we'd chosen to view this pub was - 'an attached annex ideal for B&B or staff accommodation' and - 'a little garden cottage with pretty picket fence sited within the pub grounds, ideal for owner or manager,' or in my mind, elderly parents?

There's nothing like a little bit of hope! The attached annex was a bare shell and obviously a recent unfinished addition. The mottled pink and grey plaster told a tale of hurried work and I for one did not believe his 'it's only been used a couple of times for staff after a very late night disco.' Ah well, may be the garden cottage would be this pubs saving grace.

A sweeping lawn dotted with fruit trees, framed by flower borders full of promise. At the end of the garden was ... the cottage, but no sign of a pretty picket fence. The only comment, and I felt obliged at this point in our tour to say something, was 'it has great potential.' At this the landlord became very excited. 'There are so many uses for this building,' he said. 'In the summer when we are really busy our relief chef lives here. Everyone who has stayed here loves it.'

It was at this point that Himself butted in.