One night last week

Since my Old Dad has been stopping with us Wifey and I’s social life has taken a dramatic upturn. He informed Wifey yesterday that we have one more ‘pass–out’* before he goes back home on Saturday evening. We were just busy planning another naughty night out at our local when Wifey’s middle sister phones after having some bother at work.

Wifey is very highly qualified and also quite widely experienced in HR for her tender years and so naturally she was the one to help. The tale is a torrid one, and it took a little longer than Wifey had expected to calm her sister and help her draft some letters. The baby goes to bed just before eight so we’d hoped to get away from home just after, but we finally arrived at the pub just after nine.

“It gives us 2 hours to get phished in” I said. “Huh, 2 hours is not a long time to get phised in honey pie” she replied. “Don’t tell me we could neck two bottles of wine each in the next 2 hours without even trying” I asked. “Good point” she replied, “now shut up and get the orders in”

To be fair we didn’t have anywhere near 2 bottles each to drink and the conversation was flowing more freely than the wine.

Towards closing time, the two girls on a table opposite us started to have some in depth mobile phone conversations with culminated in one of the girl’s irate boyfriends making an appearance at their table. To calm the situation down the girls sent her boyfriend away and, because they were both a little scared, they came to sit with Wifey and I.

They were interesting to talk to and it make me realise that in the 15 years since I was that age (and the age of the irate boyfriend) I have matured so much as man. 15 years ago I would have done stupid things like making a scene in public (even 5 years ago!) but now I am able to sit back and see the bigger picture.

We talked long past closing time and when we were finally thrown out they appeared a little nervous about the possibility that irate boyfriend would be outside waiting for them. We offered to walk them home. As predicted, Irate boyfriend was indeed waiting and did try and cause a scene, but, after a few quite words, that were not threatening I hasten to add, he backed off, but still he followed us and the two girls home.


We saw the girls safely to the door, told them to lock it, go to bed and ignore the irate boyfriend. After this, we walked home ourselves. I hope everything works out for the girls concerned, speaking as outsider, she deserved better.

*The phraseology you’d expect from a military man