getbracknell - Reading Evening Post

I’m generally pretty positive, and I’m convinced (okay ,  convinced is a little strong – shall we say hopeful?) that there are gems to be unearthed, secrets to be discovered…

All of which leads me nicely to my mission: I’m going to find them, I’m going to write about them, you can decide for yourselves, and then go to Windsor anyway.

A browse through What’s On showed the usual fun days - knitting circle and dance classes (which, if you’d ever seen me on the dance floor, you could easily argue might be worthwhile...)

But this weekend I want to do something fantastic, something to shout about, something that will put a spring in my step when I trudge back down into my  digital  media dungeon on Monday morning.

Trouble is, I don’t really want to waste my cash on travel, so I can’t go very far for this eye-opening adventure. Fortunately I do have a good place to kick this mission of mine off.

A friend of mine works down London Road (that’s the one between the Met. Office roundabout an the Running Horse) and persuaded me to take a trip down the Royal Oak a couple of weeks ago, it’s been refurbished,  he said, it’s got a juke box!

Setting aside the underwhelming sense of excitement at that last comment, I had little else on and begrudgingly agreed.

So we sat there, four of us in the end, and we’re knocking back the third (or fourth) pint, its getting a little dark and approaching 8.30.

What would you do? It’s too late to organise your rabble of friends for a night in Reading, so home?  Another pint? Think man….

Suddenly the juke box goes quiet (I jump for joy inside) and lights start flashing, there is an awful wailing coming out of the speakers. We’ve only gone and stumbled upon a good old fashioned pub karaoke/disco!

Now I don’t know how you feel about  karaoke, but I love it! It’s even better if they’re rubbish, but they’re giving it a go and everyone is up there dancing away regardless.   (It’s also quite funny if they are drunk and don’t really know the words – but more on me in a moment).

I’d love to tell you more but frankly it’s a bit of a blur ... I’m told that at one point there was a microphone in my hand, and that later I replaced it with a burger, (which would explain the bottle of ketchup in my pocket, I hope so anyway).

Anyway my point is this, I had a great time. I walked home. I ate. It cost me under £30 (you’ll understand I can’t be specific), but best of all, I did all of this in Bracknell!