Ugly Beautiful

I’ve been staying in Reading for a while. Anyone who knows Reading will probably sympathise. It’s not a pretty place. And some of it’s inhabitants’ habits are none too pretty either.

Walking through its town centre at night means running the gauntlet of screaming drunks and people either wandering about talking to themselves or threatening to talk to you.

But there is a quite beautiful church tower and wonderful old, gnarled trees in the centre that seem oblivious to the mayhem around them. And their presence changes almost everything.

After recently finding myself able to listen to the National Anthem (see previous post) and now this experience in Reading, am I discovering the fact that beauty can be found even in the ugliest places?

The Nag Wins

I've seen the inside of a few pubs. (The Shark Dentists didn't get where they are today without seeing the inside of a few pubs.) In the end, they all become much a of a muchness.

But last night I think I found the perfect pub. It's the Nag's Head, in Reading, which bills itself as a 365-days-a-year beer festival. With its wide range of eccentric ales, it's certainly that. But it's so much more.

It's beautifully done out. It's clean. It plays great classic pop and rock music at a volume that makes conversation a possibility rather than an ordeal. It serves great food. The bar staff are genuinely friendly and funny. And the regulars are softly spoken and polite.

The only down side is there is no live music to breach the peace— so no chance for the Sharks to put it on their gig list.  Maybe it's time to unplug...