Bridge Hotel in Laxey closes

It was reported by several CAMRA members that the Bridge Hotel in Laxey closed permanently on Wednesday.

The Waterfall in Glen Maye

The new owners confirmed that the beer policy will be 4 real ales in the summer months.  The food menu includes roast dinner on Sunday.  A new website (www.thewaterfall.im) is now available.

Bushys Beer Tent Feedback

The Mayonnaise Jar

A professor stood at the front of a philosophy class with some items on a table.  He silently picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed.

 

The professor then picked up a box of small stones and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly.  The stones settled into open areas between the golf balls.  He again asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed.

 

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full.  The students agreed with a unanimous yes.

 

The professor then produced some real ale from under the table and poured the contents into the jar filling empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

 

As the laughter subsided the professor continued, “I want you to recognize that the jar represents your life.  The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends and your passions.  If everything else was lost your life would still be full.  The stones also matter – your job, your house and your car.  The sand is everything else – the small stuff.  If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the stones or the golf balls.  The same goes for life.  If you spend too much time on the small stuff, you will never have room for what’s most important to you and your happiness.  Spend time with your family.  Take time to get health checkups.  Go out to dinner with your partner.  There will always be time to do the chores.  Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter.  The rest is just sand.”

 

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the real ale represented.  The professor smiled, “The real ale just shows that no matter how full your life might seem, there is always room for a pint with a friend!”

Baby Ale at The Creek

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Rory-14-months-puts-his.5316902.jp

Woodbourne House Bitter

I sampled the test batch house bitter at the Woodbourne last night – a darker bitter with a floral aroma at 3.7 ABV.

Already very drinkable but subject to some tweaks for the final version!

Pub of the Year 2009

The shortlisted pubs (in alphabetical order) were the Creek, the Falcons Nest Hotel, the Prospect, the Sidings, the White House and the Woodbourne.

The winner was the Whitehouse in Peel who retained the title from last year – despite strong challenges from several other landlords!

The runners up were the Creek and the Woodbourne.

Branch meetings to present the certificates will be scheduled with the landlords.

CAMRA 2009 National Conference

Several committee members (Graeme Jones, Angela Aspin, Charles Miller, Martyn Anderson and David Halliwell) attended CAMRA 2009 to research and discuss requirements, plans and issues for the CAMRA 2010 national conference (1st international in fact!) in the Isle of Man.

The Department of Tourism and Leisure and travel agent stand was overwhelmed with enquiries and ran out of all brochures and leaflets halfway through the conference!

Event – CAMRA AGM 2009

Several branch committee members will be at the CAMRA AGM 2009 in Eastbourne.  You are welcome to join us – we generally wear Isle of Man T shirts:

www.camra.org.uk/agm

If not, please forward any issues you wish us to discuss with CAMRA HQ on your behalf to any branch committee member by 14th April or at the branch meeting on 15th April.

Cheers!

Graeme Jones

Website Manager

Isle of Man CAMRA

Events List

Sat 14th March – Woodbourne – 12pm

Sat 21st March – Creek, Peel – 5pm – social at the beer festival (free entry in a pub)

Thu 9th April – Rovers Return, Douglas – 7:30pm – social at the beer festival (free entry in a pub)

Wed 15th April – Raven, Ballaugh – 7.30pm

Fri 15th May – The Swan, Ramsey – 7.30pm

Mon 15th June – The Shore, Laxey – 7.30pm

Wed 15th July – Albert, Port St Mary – 7.30pm