1097. 20.01.05 LONDON W1: Rick and Phil (Musicians); SAR & N, Judy, Sec, BS, COB, Phil (Lapsed Member). �Tumbling Dice� entertained Members in the �DUKE OF YORK� to note the departure of the Landlady. There were few other patrons in the pub, though diversion was provided by a man claiming to be a millionaire from Tel Aviv, who was staying in the hotel opposite and announced that Tom Petty and his entourage were also staying there and would be coming in to see �Tumbling Dice�. Rick & Phil were bemused by this and wondered what they would perform to such company however they did not materialise.

1098. 07.02.05 LONDON WC1: Sec, GR. �OLD NICK�, Sandland St., Badger/London Pride. Recreation / impersonation of traditional �spit & sawdust� pub by Hall & Woodhouse. In view of the suitability of the pub�s name, weekend usage for the AGM was investigated with the voluble Australian bar staff, but not pursued when told that the Society would be obliged to hire the entire pub. The �Enterprise�, Red Lion St. was next visited, but the proprietor recommended for food his other pub, the �QUEEN�S HEAD�, nearby on Theobalds Road, so Members proceeded there, for Adnams and robust meals. Redecorated, though rather blandly, since last visited by the Society. The �ENTERPRISE� was then returned to, for Bombardier, and a more comfortable seat. More character here, with impressive Victorian wall-tiling. The Sec. decided that it was time to leave when the occupants of the next table began loudly discussing foreskin-piercing.

1099. 18.02.05 LONDON W2: COB, BS, Sec. �BEAR BAR� Spacious Victorian-style station bar overlooking Paddington concourse. Good range of real ales, of which �Tribute� (St. Austell) London Pride, Fullers ESB and �Jack Frost� sampled. Venue chosen as the COB�s departure point for weekend West Country commuting.

1100. 03.03.05 LONDON WC2: Rick and Phil (Musicians); SAR, Judy, Sec, BS, COB, Phil (Lapsed Member), Tim (Lapsed Member), colleagues of COB, other PRS people. The aforementioned party once again comprised the majority of the audience for �Tumbling Dice�, this time in the basement of the �SUSSEX� in Upper St. Martin�s Lane. A rare performance of Rick�s self-penned 1980�s classic �Indian Summer� was requested by the BS

1101. 23.03.05 LONDON WC1: Nelson, Rogerio, SAR, Sec, Luis (of Argentina). Members met to celebrate Nelson�s birthday at the �MITRE� in order to introduce him to something typically Olde English. It was therefore a surprise to him and other members to find that the barman came from Bogot�. Following a few rounds in the Mitre, a reduced party was led by the SAR to the �GLASS HOUSE� which was almost empty as usual, to observe the unusual ceiling.

1102. 01.04.05 LONDON EC1: SAR, Sec, GR, Rogerio, Nelson, Luis (of Argentina), Jim, Malcolm (not the Chair). The party met downstairs in the �OLDE RED COW� because upstairs was too crowded, and had a couple of rounds before dispersing. The SAR subsequently dined with Jim and Malcolm in the Smithfield Brasserie.

1103. 09.05.05 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Chair, SAR & N, Risk, Sec, GR, BS. The AGM returned to the �FOUNDERS ARMS� where a long table surrounded by bar stools was commandeered for the evening�s business, and the pub was comfortably empty. Excuses by absent members included �attendance at the Colchester Anarchists Society Meeting� (EAR) and �forgot� (COB). No Motions were passed.

1104 21.06.05 LONDON WC1: NLR, Sec. �OLD NICK�, Red Lion Street, Harveys, were only customers not lawyers from Grays Inn. �ENTERPRISE�, Red Lion Street, quiet �club� atmosphere, impressive 19th century wall tiles, unusual range of board game attractions, though not played by Members. Adnams. �OLD RED LION�, Red Lion Street / Holborn. Abbott. Cosy, if strangely deserted, upstairs bar, with intriguing range of cupboards.

1105. 01.08.05 LONDON SE1: BS, SAR & N, Sec, GR, Rogerio, Nelson, Lapsed Phil. Members met in the �FOUNDERS ARMS� to note the BS�s birthday prior to his departure to his Brazilian property. The BS and Lapsed Phil discussed recent Dr. Who developments at some length. The absent Chair was roundly chastised for going to Frankfurt without meeting the Zinn Society.

1106. 07.08.05 KENT � LEWSON STREET / PAINTERS FORSTAL: GR, Sec. The Sec was collected by the GR at Gravesend, and proceeded to the �PLOUGH�, Lewson Street (Norton, near Sittingbourne); Shepherd Neame (Goldings). Cosy establishment in very rural setting. Good lunch (gammon steaks) in both quantity and quality; thence to the �ALMA� Painters Forstal, near Faversham. This one was more earthy as more of a �local� in small village S. of Faversham, but spartanly pleasant. Shepherd neame (Master Brew). A tour of the villages of Godmersham, Crundale, Hastingleigh, Elmstead and Stilling Minnis. Deep in the North Downs between Canterbury and Ashford was then engaged in, with breaks to ascend the windmill in Stilling Minnis, and for afternoon tea and cakes at the �Oak Tree� tea room in Lympstone Green, in the parish of Stouting. Gravesend was returned to via the Elham valley and M2.

1107. 20.08.05 LONDON N22 / N10: ALEXANDRA PALACE ./ MUSWELL HILL: NLR, SAR & N, Sec. Members assembled at Ta�xbiex, where the the NLR provided Youngs Bitter, Chicken with Satueed Potatoes and Broccoli. Members then sallied forth along an old railway line to Alexandra Palace, which appeared in its customary run down state, however the party noted, with mixed feelings, that it was proposed by Haringey Council that �the boating lake be de-watered, and the arisings therefrom be used to create a bund�. Members partook of Youngs Bitter and coffee in the �PHOENIX�, an integral part of the Palace, and sat outside on the huge terrace where, despite the presence of very few people, there were frequent announcements that food was ready in the order sequence � 33, 22, 55, 18�. The party then moved to Muswell Hill, where research began in the �WELL� with halves of Bombardier Bitter. The pub appeared from outside to have been of recent construction, however the inside had skilfully been designed to re-create 100 years of accumulated seediness. Members reflected however, that this was what English pubs are supposed to look like. Despite innate objections to establishments incorporating exclamation marks in their nomenclature (and in their menu), the Party moved on to the �HA! HA!� Bar, where, eschewing the Butterscotch Schapps, Baileys and Strawberry Cocktail on half price offer, Members drank Peroni Beer and were the only beer drinkers in the establishment. Glass cabinets displaying rows of up-market tomato and other house sauces were examined with interest. The NLR the conducted the party to �O�NEILLS�, where Kronenbourg, Grolsch and Tea were had on the upstairs terrace of a large Victorian church. D�cor included toucan heads and an alarmingly high �Chairman�s seat�. The NLR suggested that church attendance could be increased by further such conversions. Finally, the party visited the �JOHN BAIRD�, a fairly bland John Barras chain pub, though spacious and with a good juke box. Bombardier and Kronenbourg were had. Members walked back to Ta�xbiex where the NLR provided �Tomato Crab� (not including crab) on toast, and waffles, then escorted the party to the station.

1108. 13.10.05 LONDON W1 � MAYFAIR / SOHO: NLR; Sec, GR. The meeting started in the �COACH & HORSES�, Bruton Street. 3 x Deuchars IPA, clear, refreshing. Quiet upstairs, rowdy downstairs. Managed to clear entire upper floor immediately upon entry. Food acquired despite presence of boards and waitress trying to put members off by reciting long list of unobtainable items. Members then proceeded to the nearby �COACH & HORSES� (Shepherd Neame), Hill Street. 2 x Kent Best, 1 x Late Red � thick and substantial taste. Dark but comfortable. The meeting then relocated to the Soho area and the �COACH & HORSES�, Great Marlborough Street. A bit noisy and crowded for the time of night. Very ornate TV cabinet, perhaps should get valued by Antiques Roadshow. Compact gents. Finally members attempted to locate the �COACH & HORSES�, Greek Street, but instead took a trip to �St Thomas�s Hospital�, where no drinks were consumed.

1109. 24.10.05 LONDON SW19 � WIMBLEDON: NLR; BS. The meeting started in the �ALEXANDRA� (Youngs) which was very smoky despite the No Smoking Bar, so diverted to the �WIBBAS DOWN INN� (Wetherspoons). Various dark black bitters had. The no canned music policy regrettably did not extend to a no drunken old gits singing policy despite the racket emanating from the adjacent table. Perhaps the Society will one day wish to avail itself of this leniency.

1110. 11.11.05 LONDON W1 � FITZROVIA / WC1 - BLOOMSBURY: NLR; BS, Adrian (S), Heather. Adrian (S) and the NLR, having arrived simultaneously at Goodge Street Station, made their way in the rain to the �FITZROY�, a traditional Society venue where NLR had convened the meeting. On arrival this being found to be unacceptably noisy and crowded, Adrian (S) proposed an E.C.M. to the �FITZROVIA� (formerly �FINNEGAN�S WAKE� (formerly the �VALIANT TROOPER�)), which they had passed en route. Other parties were contacted by telephone and duly assembled at the new venue which was found to be almost equally noisy and crowded. Heather�s arrival after a shopping spree coincided with an unfortunately timed downpour. Once the rain had eased off, members moved on to the �BLOOMSBURY THEATRE� for the main purpose of the evening, a thought-provoking comedy entertainment by the excellent Mark Thomas and Rob(ert) Newman, both highly recommended by the BS and NLR from the days of BBC radio recordings at the Paris Studio. Further drinks were obtained, served in deceptively lightweight plastic bottles.

1111. 21.11.05 LONDON SW19 � WIMBLEDON: BS; NLR. The meeting convened in the �WIBBAS DOWN INN� (Wetherspoons). Caledonian 80/-, good tasty bitter, repeatedly confused staff by asking for �80 shillings�. Further staff confusion over menu which promised extra beefburger but delivered extra vegeburger instead.

1112. 05.12.05 LONDON EC1 � BARBICAN: Sec; SAR, NLR. The meeting convened in the �OLD RED COW� (Shepherd Neame), Long Lane, a small and very quiet establishment which members felt suited them. Proceedings were opened with a traditional exchange of music and newspaper cuttings, and Bishop�s Finger and Master Brew obtained from the underworked bar. The SAR gave a report on banking and cultural practices in Armenia and the adjacent region, from which he had recently returned.

1113. 19.12.05 LONDON SW1 � Chair; NLR, SAR, Rick, Sec, SOS, GR, BS, COB, EAR, Rogerio (DLR), Graciela and Iran. The traditional Christmas get-together took place in �OLD SHADES�. Members gathered around a table near the front door, eventually expelling a young couple who has chosen to do the same. After the Chairman�s Round, Rick delivered an impassioned Motion condemning the gastropub, citing that this has led to the downfall not only of Pubs in his native Wandsworth, but also of Restaurants. He singled out Youngs Brewery for being responsible for this trend there. The motion generated considerable debate among Members, some of whom felt that the ability to obtain food more readily outweighed the negative points, however there was sufficient support for the Motion to generate the recommendation that further Research was required by the Society, beginning in Wansdworth, in order to reach a conclusion about the Motion. Following this debate, the EAR proposed Graciela and Iran for Membership of the Society, which was seconded by the SAR. Iran delivered a coherent, though not astounding, manifesto on behalf of both of them and was excused buying a round on the basis that they had both participated fully in the Kitty which has been collected and was still liquid. Neither new member chose a Title, however Rogerio established a new tradition for the Society by choosing a Title for himself exactly a year after his induction to Membership � namely the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) in recognition of his impending employment in Citibank in Canary Wharf. The BS and NLR observed the cast of the Channel 4 comedy series Peep Show seated at the next table throughout.