Saint Patricks Night

Strong beer and filling food at mine afore cycling into town not such a great way to start a ride. Spitting rain by Clapham thankfully reducing wafts of cheap perfume from the heaving throngs of green clad revellers then stop off at back water pub for swift halves before taking up the south bank and onto the meat market district for the main event compered by Gavin from Belfast... https://www.facebook.com/events/274439469290111/. Look out for other TMR a treat was in store for us. Packed upstairs and can't chat if artistes on so Si and I hang around downstairs catching up on events since last weekend and the meaning of sanity. Sneak back up to the music in time for a whistle stop tour of spoken word styles and themes Irish linked including entertaining English reminiscences of Republic of Ireland's heroics at World Cup USA and how we've all got some Irish in us and ain't that the truth, rhythmic monologue over Lee Scratch Perry which made us stay upstairs, bewildering rant about what if Bob Marley had lived which nearly sent us down, odd sub karaoke version of I can't remember probably Van the Man bleeding into trad guitarist tunes which did send us downstairs then up again in time for finale of Beefheart like raving with lead guitar not leading, double bass not holding the bass and small trumpet / garden hose interruptions all supporting increasingly shouty revolutionary cries all the while hoola hoop girl on a table reaching an impressive four. Great way to end the artists and slide into Jerry Dammers' collection of great reggae and it's pre and post cursor 7" vinyl. By this time the chat restrictions have disappeared and the dancing has started. Even puke on the dancefloor doesn't seem to temper the fun. A friendly bunch and we also get to catch up with Julia who eventually arrives fashionably late as usual and who knows mostly everyone. The numerous halves of Guinness and Irish whiskeys take their toll and your intrepid heroes say their farewells from those we've met and after an embarrassingly long time extricate bikes from chains and away they fly over Blackfriars Bridge and along the south bank again. This time we go Simon's route on the main roads altho I maintain no quicker. Still arguing the toss we part on Kings Avenue.