Brigg Blog's glass was definitely half full as we surveyed the palm trees in the town centre during our latest visit to local pubs on Saturday, March 9.
The March weather was chilly, with rain in the air and a stiff breeze blowing, but seeing the trees in the beer garden behind the Black Bull put us in a positive frame of mind.
If this summer proves to be half as hot as last year's, the palm trees at the Wrawby Street hostelry (pictured above on a hot summer's day) will be in their element - again! And so will the Black Bull's beer garden cabanas (beach huts) which first appeared when it was Dexter's Ale House & Kitchen.
Having drained the glass of John Smith's bitter, we left the Bull for the Yarborough Hunt, on Bridge Street, where "real" fires were burning in the grates. Do you recall that old TV advert campaign with the slogan There's nothing like a real fire?
Later, down to the Woolpack, in the Market Place, which was pretty busy, we took this picture (below) of Shine UK performing on the stage. The Woolie holds regular Saturday night gigs - all welcome, free admission.
Across at the Dying Gladiator, on Bigby Street, we discussed the gin and rum festival, to be held from April 5 to 7 at its Stables Bar. General manager Eugene Irwin tells us that 55 will be the maximum number permitted at each of the sessions. So call in as soon as you can to book tickets, if sampling a range of these tipples appeals. View more about the event here...
Apologies to the Lord Nelson, where Brigg Blog had planned to make a brief visit around 8pm on Saturday. It was so full that we decided to give it a miss, due to time pressures.
Outside the Nelson we got into conversation with a local couple who were just leaving. The topic was: the best place to go in Brigg for an Indian takeaway.
A late night tray of chips from the Kebabish takeaway, on the corner of Bigby Street and Princes Street, completed our evening. This visit reminded us that there's still no litter bin (see picture here) fastened to the lamp-post near the Monument Garage. There used to be a bin and it was ideal for depositing empty fast food cartons. Clearly, Brigg can't expect a litter bin in every area, but this route is used by many peckish people returning home on foot after a night out in Brigg town centre.
Do we class straw on the streets as litter?
For some weeks now there's been plenty on pavements and grass verges near The Monument, along Bigby Road and even at the top of St Helen's Road.
Straw being natural, it degrades with time. But it won't help if some finds its way down the grates covering roadside drains.
Weekend winds detached many twigs and small branches. So it was good to see that some of this dead wood had been collected up and bagged by Monday afternoon at East Park, adjoining the Tintab shelter.