Snatchems

HIGH TIME I posted again, I think – readers, if I still have any, will think I’ve been kidnapped by Martians or something…

I’ve been somewhat preoccupied with My Good Lady’s health scares – including having to ring for ambulances a couple of times, and her four-day stay in the local hospital; and that is on top of the various GP sessions I’ve had to take her to. It’s all been a little worrying.

She’s doing a little better now, I’m relieved to say, although she’s still got more scans to attend – we’ve still no real idea of what the problem is.

Aside from this what’s new? Well I suppose one of the main issues is that we’re now no longer going the Geriatrics’ Corner of the Pub. So many of our friends have either passed away, or just drifted away, that making the eight-mile round trip seems pointless. It appears that the happy, golden, Camelot years there are well and truly over.

Instead we’ve been visiting a local landmark pub: Snatchems, more properly known as the Golden Ball Inn. Sitting right on the river, as it does, the road to it floods twice a day, cutting the old place off from the outside world.

The original pub dates back to about 1710, but the new owner has spent a fortune restoring the place, adding an upstairs wing which looks out across the river towards Lancaster and the open Pennine fells beyond.

MGL and I come to spend an agreeable hour here, watching the birds on the water – herons, geese, gulls and the like – and occasionally meeting up with some other refugees from the Geriatrics’ Corner.

The pub’s nickname comes from the fact that the River Lune is navigable at this point, and ships setting off from Lancaster Quay which were undermanned would put in here and shanghai any drunks who happened to be about!

I’m told the practice is now discouraged!