Revisiting

As I write this, I’m sat outside a pub I used to run. In fact, of all the places I worked, this was the one I liked the most, the one I wanted as my own, the one where I could see the most potential. That was twelve years ago.

Twelve years. More than a decade has passed, and my life has changed and altered immeasurably over that time. Back then, I’d never created a website- then again, neither had many other people. In that time I’ve worked in countless places- hell, there were another three pubs to run yet before I called it a day, let alone the offices I’ve worked in since ’96. Since I was here I’ve lived in Worcester, Oxford, Weymouth, Aylesbury, Manchester, and Bracknell.

And yet I’m sat here, and the place hasn’t really changed. The plans that were talked about by the owners when I was here have never materialised, the extensions and ezpansions that were on the cards back then. It’s still just a small pub, a community of its own- there’s very little in easy walking distance, it’s an effort to get here, yet it’s still popular. The huge old wisteria (supposedly the oldest, or second oldest, in the UK, tree protection order and all) is still all over the outside, the field at the back still has horses. The inside’s been done up (a bit) but it’s not been “themed” or any such shite.

So I sit here, looking out into the sunset, thinking about conversations I’ve had this week with Herself, and wonder- having seen this old place- whether it’s not possible for me to come full circle too.