Pubs with fires

Hooray have visited our last pubs with fires today have only ten days left to go to complete.
The pubs were a little disappointing, out of the three we visited only one had a  fire alight not to mention the beer not very good in two out of three pubs.  Will add more details when I work out how many 101's left to complete as have lost track and think may have to do one a day eek

Gratitude Journal- carrying on

1. Woke up dizzy but had a duvet day in bed. Had relaxing bath

2. Gina and family have booked to come to Turkey at the same time as Geri

3. Thomas bought a fork to do the lawn as well as insulation for the loft its on my 101 list

4. David made dinner gammon and pineapple followed by a nice cup of tea and biscuits

5. Got new Satnav for our outings to pubs it is lovely white pearl and posh

Gratitude Journal- one month 24

1. Had really good time at the party and stayed out till 2am !!
2. Woke at 11am didn't feel too bad. David made me breakfast in bed and then brought me tea cake and papers
3. Had lazy day at home reading papers by fire
4, Pretended we had gone to one of our pubs and had interesting chat about ideal pub. Lovely fire can't beat our own one
5. Had interesting chat with Tom about time

Gratitude Journal- one month 16

1. David is off today so we are going to the pub later
2. Proof-read David's report - nice to feel needed
3. Had a lovely trip out to three nice pubs on our list 14/35
4. Got a good story in one about a regular who used to say Shut the F**ing Door. landlord said he would be banned if he said it again so he made a sign STFD and put it above the door. It has been there for twenty five years.
5. Had quick dinner at home leftover sfor David and spaghetti on toast for me. David made a lovely fire

Pubs with Fires Stephen Langton Friday Street

This is a lovely looking pub and very out of the way with a restaurant attached. Beautiful windows.

We have been to this pub a few times in the past when we were walking once memorably with Jackie and Rick and kids when they were small. We were made very unwelcome then and they asked us to take the kids out of the garden so that they could let the dogs out. We arrived at ten to three and were clearly discussing food only to be told when we decided that food stopped at 3, you'd think they could have said hurry up and order.

The kids were then playing on the verge and got told off for making soil fall on to the manager's car. The barmaid- his girlfriend- kept saying have you seen what they've done?

For a long time after our friends kept sending them postcards saying have you seen what they've done from wherever they had gone on holiday.

Anyway under new management we have been back twice since once to take the picture just before Christmas much nicer reception and more friendly. Then again a few weeks ago on Easter Monday and guess what no food on Mondays even Bank holidays

Pubs with Fires Plough Downside

David drinking Shere Drop but it wasn't good.

Nice pub we got a seat by the fire friendly pub and a lovely big fire. lots of nice seats outside by the river.

A man came and put logs on the fire he was wearing sunglasses inside? He apparently was the logs-man who delivered to the pub so of course it was in his interest to put a few more logs on the fire. He said he delivered 700 logs a week to the pub that is a lot of logs.

Pubs with Fires Swan Hotel Staines

This was the first pub we went to on our tour of Surrey pubs it was actually an hotel and was quite far away. We forgot the camera and took the picture on David's new Ipod Nano anyway we ended up taking a video by mistake so sure pic won't be much good.

David wasn't too impressed with this pub but it was very comfortable but unmemorable.

Gratitude Journal- one month 12

1. Got a really good parking space just across the road from the pub
2. David was saving the most comfy seat in the pub for me. A big chair right beside the blazing coal fire
3. Have booked flights to Ireland for us all to go and vouchers for pierce and Michelle to go for Rolands 90th birthday
4. David made a lovely fish dinner for us when we got in
5. Feel tired but happy going to my cosy bed

Pubs with Fires Surrey Oaks Newdigate

David drinking Ranmore Surrey Hills they have a good selection of beers.

As we go in there is an enormous cat just sitting on the bar. Some other customers say it is called Theo. Not many customers but pleasant enough pub comfy seats friendly.

Pubs with Fires Old House at Home Dormansland

David drinking spitifre

No seats in pub so we sit outside very busy hops hanging everywhere it looks a bit like a tatty front room. There is an old map of Dorman's Park Estate on the wall.

David takes ages to get served but he says that the girl is very apologetic and is keeping her eye on who is next- its all because " Trevor's not here".

Great for people watching while I wait there is a group of men from Kingston Phoenix Cycling Club all different ages having lunch. one catches my eye he looks quite old but appears to be wearing a Super hero top blue with a big yellow star on the front. He has lots of thick dark curly hair like a cartoon hero- I think he is superman's Dad. One of his friends says "Why do so called friends keep sending you rubbish emails"- amen to that.

its quite cold outside so we drink up quickly and go.

Pubs with Fires Royal Oak Staffhurst Wood

Lovely pub good log fire with lovely views over countryside. Sat right beside the fire near two men with laptops looked like father and son with son giving father a lesson on Java and Excel.

Toilets are so small you set off the hand drier every time you move on the loo.

Interesting pictures Churchill with a machine gun an indenture maybe for the pub. lots of hand bells like Bells whiskey.

Strange meat on menu- kobe Steak burger with a whole leaflet devote to explaining what it is.

Japanese wagyu meat the tastiest in the world wa- means super gyu means cattle form Voelas Hall in North Wales the herd live a life of luxury with good food and the cows are massaged to improve the quality of the meat. didn't try it but it is tempting.

Pubs with Fires Plough Stoke D'Abernon

David drinking - on the rails good selection of beers

Pub empty only mein host and one local on the phone by the fire of course so had to wait to take picture.

Tried to find out why it is called Stoke D'Abernon but couldn't find anything

Basic pub no frills big conservatory with a good view over the country side. lovely ladies toilet with old dresser for sink.

Pubs with Fires Royal Oak Great Bookham

David drinking Hammer head beer not bad
Nice pub wasn't where I thought it was, sat right by the fire comfy seats with barrel tables and a piano in the corner. Had a secret door leading to.... Nice friendly pub local but friendly.

Publican sounded gay but was talking about his children was busy ordering dark beer even though he doesn't drink dark beer.

Was intrigued by sign over door that said STFD so asked a local at the bar. So here's the story an old local man who was a bit of a curmudgeon apparently would tell everyone going out to Shut The F***ing door so the landlord said to him if you say that again you are barred. Next day he bought the sign along and hung it above the door - that was twenty five years ago and whatever happened to him? good story though.

Gratitude Journal- one month 6

1. Thomas bought me an airplant
2. David made me breakfast in bed on Sunday
3. We went out to two nice pubs with fires for my 101 pubs with fires
4. Thought of a new book idea "The Real Ale Drinkers Wife"- how to enjoy drinking with your DH when you don't drink- people watching, photos, reviews
5. Uploaded photos of fires to Picasso and named them all as well as organising photos on Picasso

Pubs with Fires Jolly Farmer Bramley

David drinking Oakham Bishops Farewell - eight beers on offer David says too much how can you have too much of a good thing? Friendly pub and open after three on a Sunday.

David says this pub does not count as all three fires were GAS shock horror its my list though so I can include what I like. One fireplace is the most unusual I have ever seen surrounded by odd things like a ventriloquist dummy lots of jugs and kettles very interesting.

On the way into pub lots of posters of Bramley players local theatre. Pub is jam packed with knicknacs.

big antlers on walls collection of plates, mugs, money? beer mats on ceiling. Two pictures of naked ladies bu the fireplace a bit racey. Tables were sloping down drinks in danger of falling off the tables.

David shows me how to play with beer mats making them flip but I can't flip one let alone progress to more than one.

Pubs with Fires Three Horseshoes Thursley

Have been getting on with this but will have to postpone until winter as none of the fires will be alight. Think this could make a good book called the Real Ale Drinkers Wife- how to enjoy the pub when you don't drink beer

1 Three Horseshoes Thursley known locally as "Shoes"

David was drinking Shere Drop

If you leave you have to say "see you later" made us think of the Prisoner be seeing you

Lovely friendly pub full of walkers hogging the fire lovely food menu. Loud but good natured.

One bar with lots of old pictures one of a lovely old red car.

When ~I took my picture of the fireplace a man at the bar offered to lie down in front of the fire with his dog- NAKED great offer but he was only joking. Him and his friend were firefighters and discussed safety of fireplace which had a big electric fire lighter poking out of it.

Loud oooh when puddings came out and little gentle row over which belongs to who

Gratitude Journal- one month 4

1. Have received lovely Just Becuase gift form Sue- a heated throw which has been lovely and cosy while it has been snowing

2. Have been poorly but am feeling bit better, coping most days and getting some things done.

3. Had big tidy up of bedroom when David was in Ireland but it needs doing again :-)

4. Have completed 40 things on my 101 list- how cool is that.

5. Went to two lovely pubs last weekend with David and was brave enough to take the pictures straight away of the real fires.

Book Hotel on Friday go on Saturday

Had a lovely night way in a hotel on Friday booked Thursday, think this fits in to above criteira anyway as I just mean something last minute. We went to stay at the Hurtwood Inn in Peaslake which is also one of my pubs with fires and we then visited two more pubs with fires so that task it getting along too. Was very excited when found out that one pub with real fire also was a comedy club so was thinking not two but three birds with one stone ;-) but although in Surrey it wasn't that near where we were staying so will do that one another time.
It is quite hard to get the photos of the fireplaces because people are sititng in front of them or they are not lit. You also feel a bit self conscious taking the pics but the last one we were in I just snapped it on the way out only to hear a local say "What was all that flashing about". Have laso forgotten the camera and had to take ot on an ipod nano video so will need to transfer it. Anyway now have done 6 out of forty so getting on with it.

I Beat David on the Wii haha

Ellen brought round a new Wii game Wii sports resort with sensors and I have finaly beaten David not once but twive first on table tennis and then again on canoeing yippee, how great is that.
Have also taken Ellen out for a meal to complete taking all my children out to lunch, we went while Rosie was at college. It was good to just chat one to one as don't see so much of her since she moved out. David is thinking of doing this now too.
Have started going to pubs with fires and went to The White Bear in Farleyhole a lovely pub with lots of little rooms, it was packed and we were lucky to get a seat. It is just beyond Croydon and then you are suddenly in a country lane and then there is this lovely pub. We couldn't find the fire at first but did eventually find it. Omly had my phone with me for a pic so will need to go back to take one with the camera. Am thinking of making a poster of all the fireplaces and maybe a book or booklet maybe CAMRA might be interested lol. May go back there today for early drink.