First Trip to a Proper English Pub

Teacher training days in Northbridge should be this good so someone let the new principal know he has his work cut out for him next year! *wink,wink*.

The "second half" of Friday's first day of work for the Fairfield staff consisted of lunch, courtesy of the headmaster, at the local pub called The Pandy Inn, located in Dorstone, Herefordshire, England.

According to the literature provided by the pub owners, Bill & Magdalena Gannon, and their Irish Setter, Apache,it is the oldest inn in Herefordshire. I also got a great history lesson from, Chris Barker, the Headmaster of Fairfield, about the local area. The Inn itself was built in 1185 by Richard De Brito to house his workers while they built Dorstone church to attone for his part in the infamous murder of Thomas Becket. (Northbridge students will be familiar with this particular historical figure.)

The bar in The Pandy Inn is a traditional English pub bar with a large fireplace, exposed beams, stoneworks and the beams are all lined with dried hops.

I noted that this was not the first pub using the word "pandy" in its name, as I turn left at The Old Pandy Inn on the 465 to travel to Mel's house. I learned that a "pandy" was a machine used to press leather into soft, pliable pieces of "fabric".

The bartender in the pub, Tim, was friendly and served up ice cold glasses of beer, ale, cider and juices to the Fairfield contingent. He also was kind enough to allow his photo to be taken for the visiting and perhaps overly enthused, American. Hey- what can I say, see this through my eyes, my first trip to an English pub...it was exactly the way I pictured it to be and I was excited!

The buffet was a spectacle of delectable and traditional English buffet foods. Most was yummy and tasty. Salmon is not my favorite fish, being a bit too strong for my taste and the quiche surprised me as the texture was much more creamy than I expected, more like a cream cheese texture rather than a firm egg flavor and texture, nor was it served warm as it would be at home, so my palate was shocked by that taste experience. The desert was yummy and most certainly must have been low calorie...a berry and apple bramble (or crisp as we would call it) served over cream...yummy!

This is one opening day tradition I think Northbridge High could benefit from! Oh - wait - did someone tell me new contract negotiations are about to begin????......