Wednesday March 23, 2005

TV's in pubs

About eighteen months ago I stopped doing something that had become a regular part of my week. A visit to the local pub. Local means the centre of my village about 3/4 of a mile away. Not long after we moved to Twyford I took to wandering down the pub on a Sunday night, Sunday Times under my arm and had a read and a pint or two.

When the pub changed hands I got to know the new landlord and landlady better than the previous ones. So instead of just reading the paper I would also have a chat with them. I also got to know a few of the locals too. I always felt it was a nice way to end the weekend. Often I would pop into the local chip shop and have a bag of chips to soak up the beer on the way home.

So what happened to make me stop ? Well two things really. The first was the death of my mother in law. Naturally my wife was very upset so I took to staying around to be with her. When it was time to reconsider going back I thought about it. I liked going but a few things put me off returning.

Coming back smelling like an ashtray.

The recently installed TV on the wall.

I think the TV did it. I don't know what it is about TV's in pubs. It sounds a nice idea, watch a bit of footie or rugby with your mates and a pint. I have no problem with this. But in a lot of pubs now the tv is on all the time. Instead of talking people watch it. It is strange but if a tv is on in a room you cannot help but look at it. I think back to '1984' by George Orwell and the screens people had in their houses. Forty years on perhaps we are getting closer to that book than we realise...