23rd of April was St George’s Day, although some people are saying it happens on the 28th this year due to Easter being late but I didn’t really understand that. Anyway, so back to the 23rd and I was off work for it yet again.

I got up around 6.30 made a cuppa and went back to bed to listen to Scott Mills on Radio 2. All the Absolute stations have now disappeared off my DAB radio as did Radio X a few years back, moving to DAB+ for a “crisper clearer sound.” I’m from the 1970’s and there was noting wrong with the sound on medium wave if you ask me. Anyway this was my first time listening to Mills on 2. It was good to be fair.

I have a rule that I only play English music on St George’s Day so my getting ready songs of choice this time were “Pandora’s Box by OMD as it popped in my head on the walk home from work the previous week and I’d been playing it lots since. This was followed up with “Dragging Me Down” by Inspiral Carpets because it’s magnificent and then Norgaard by The Vaccines as it was one of the albeit very few answers that I’d provided as Craig and I won the quiz at The Registry the night before.

I got up for the second time at 9.30, summonsed Craig from the spare room and awaited Josh. I’d offered to shout them both breakfast if they joined me on a review. Soon we were heading to Premier Diner on Queen Street. I’ll do a proper review in a future edition but the food was good and the conversation quickly became very laddie. I’d blame Josh for this nut I think I certainly helped steer it in that direction.

So my general plan was eat, then head to Hargun’s in Caldmore for Samosa Wednesday purchases. Samosa Wednesday is a newly established tradition in my house and I now get a lovely smile from the lady as I walk in so I think she’s clocked the pattern emerging. Then I was going to head into town about 4pm for a small amount of alcohol. Needless to say, things didn’t go to plan.

Whilst in Premier Diner I had a message from Jaz the landlady of The Walsall Arms asking if I knew where she could get some England flags. I replied that I’d got a couple and could drop them in. Craig went back to Coventry then Josh and I headed to The Arms getting there bang on midday. Jaz gave Josh the job of flag erection which was fine with me. I grabbed an early beer as I was there. Jaz joined in to help Josh so I just sat there supping. Standard for St George’s Day.

Josh disappeared to do family stuff and I opted for one more, then Harguns then home for a bit. Did this happen? No. The newly formed plan c ended up staying in the arms for a couple of hours then wandering down to Katz.

Jase the landlord was on in Katz which was good. I grabbed a Wainwrights, but because the tv was showing snooker, I moved away and sat at the back as I didn’t people thinking I was interested in that. The music was really good in here and I had a peruse at Facebook Dating as I hadn’t had chance the past few days. I had a call from Josh with good news that more tickets for our final league match at Crewe had been released and that he’d go down there early the next day to try and get us one. And he did. What a top lad he is.

From there I headed to The Registry as I still had some free pint vouchers from winning the quiz the night before. It was busy in here and the karaoke was very entertaining. Legendary Walsall fan Leachie was in so it was good to see him. Song of the afternoon in here was a performance of “A Groovy Kind Of Love”.

I saw DJ Daymo who was on duty and had hosted the previous nights quiz. “Have you used your free pint vouchers yet?” he asked. I confirmed a couple still remained. He laughed and said “I knew they wouldn’t last you long.” Knows me well.

I opted for another pint as it was free and also some food. The Reg has recently launched a new menu but I was all over the 3 starters for £12. I went 6 chicken wings (£6.50) chicken goujons (£6.25) and crispy coated prawns (£7). Food came quickly and it was really good with a special nod to the prawns.

I left and I could hear karaoke emanating from The Tap & Tanner and as the place is still in my good books after the Easter Monday session I headed in. I got served straight away again and Coop was back on the karaoke hosting. The lad who did “Groovy Kind Of Love” in The Reg was in here and did it again. Good work Sir. I wondered if I could go round pubs and do my “disturbing and entertaining” (as reviewed by Andy Jones) performance of “I Touch Myself”. Scar a few more people for life.

It was entertaining in here as welll. Highlight being a lads combo with the superb name 4 Man Orgy, which started as a duet then a 3rd man ran up and finally the 4th and they did a great rendition of ABBA’s “Winner Takes It All”

Talking of karaoke monikers, I’d like to meet a lady with the surname Zager so we could ask to do the classic “In The Year 2525” using just our family names. Just to amuse me and see if anyone gets the reference. Oh God, it’s now 2025. Only 500 years till we can all start singing “In The Year 2525” on New Years Day. That’s quite exciting.

Coop came over at the end again and thanked me for attending which was good. I took a steady stroll back up to The Walsall Arms for a night cap. There were leftovers on the bar from the midweek roasts. I grabbed a Yorkshire Pudding and at this late stage of the day officially postponed Samosa Wednesday.

A man I don’t know came up to the bar and tried the cauliflower cheese. He said it was really good and suggested that I try it. I explained that cauliflower is evil and none of it would be coming near me. He tried again. I like people with ambition but he wasn’t winning this one.

Cracking day. Not the booziest St George’s Day by a long way but still a nice day out. I woke up early the next day full of excitement for Samosa Thursday. Which did happen.