In the middle of a long winter, in the middle of a long stretch of lockdown, a year into the pandemic, what could be better than a night out with good friends? Not much, I’d say. That’s why on Saturday night the readers of High Heels in the Wilderness dressed themselves in their cosiest knits, donned their scarves and boots, and set off for a convivial evening of good food, great conversation, and maybe some really bad singing. A pandemic pub night…. just for us ladies… was on order.
If you’re new to my blog, I should tell you that we do this every so often. Have a make-believe get together when we can’t get together for real. I mean there is a pandemic, and we do live all over the world. But there is nothing a little imagination and a small wave of my wand cannot overcome.
So around seven o-clock on Saturday evening, ladies from Yorkshire to Virginia, from California to British Columbia wrapped their scarves tightly, buttoned up their coats, and stepped out their back doors. Oddly enough, it was snowing lightly. Everywhere. And following my instructions they headed off on foot. Through garden gates, down driveways, and up village or city streets.
Soon, through the now heavily falling snow, they saw a small footbridge up ahead. And an old-fashioned sign pointing over the bridge: “This way to the pub, ladies.” They crossed the bridge with a little trepidation, admittedly. And on the other side, found a small but growing group of equally bemused women. What the heck?
Then, looming up out of the swirling snow they spied the open door of a white, half-timbered building. Light spilled invitingly out onto the snow. They heard music, and laughter. “Well… if it worked for Gene Kelly and Van Johnston in Brigadoon, I guess it can work for us,” someone chuckled.
“Welcome, welcome,” I cried as the ladies streamed through the door. “This is the Ashton Pub,” I explained. “World famous, at least in the Ottawa area.” My buddy Erica, who lives in Ashton, stood beside me grinning. “What a miracle we’ve wrought, eh?” I whispered to her.
“What the heck, Sue?” Frances exclaimed. “I know, eh?” I responded. “Guess I thought you might be tired of those first class flights, like the last couple of get-togethers. Besides, going to the local pub on foot is such a classic English thing, don’t you think? Not something many of us Canadians can do. And how cool to leave your house in SoCal or Glasgow and arrive in little old Ashton, Ontario after a five minute walk and a footbridge over the Jock River? Just like in Brigadoon. Ha.”
More ladies spilled through the door. My local friends Marina and Linsey showed people where to hang up coats. Wendy, Elaine, Liz B, and Rosie who’ve been to almost all our events, helped break the ice with newbies some of whom were gazing around with a “what the heck did I get myself into?” look on their faces. Soon everyone was moving off in search of drinks, chatting like old friends.
The door, caught by the wind, banged open again. New arrivals stamped snow off their boots, my high school friend Jeannie among them. They were all laughing. Jeannie was bent almost double laughing, and trying to catch her breath. When she straightened up, I saw she was holding a bright red dog’s leash. Oh my god, there was Doug, her new golden retriever puppy at her feet.
When she could talk, she explained. She’d set off for the pub, while her husband was preparing to take Doug for a walk. But Doug had other ideas. He pelted down the street, and across the bridge after her, trailing his leash, with Rob calling for him in the distance. She just had time to yell, “It’s okay, I’ve got him,” before Rob disappeared in a swirl of snow. Good thing the Ashton Pub is dog friendly.
As Jeannie and Doug and their new friends headed to the ladies room to freshen up, I went in search of a drink myself. The Ashton Pub is a brew pub serving their own craft beer. So even though I’m not really a beer drinker, I thought I should try one.
After a few minutes everyone had settled in with a pint, or a glass of wine or sparkling water. Trays of assorted appetizers were served, and the noise of conversation and laughter rose.
One corner held a group catching up on their news since they last saw each other in Paris in December. Another table was full of ladies congratulating Wendy on her guest post, and plying her with questions about her travels. Soon the group was sharing their own travel stories, of precarious roads driven in rental cars, stunning vistas at the end of a long day of hiking, or memorable meals enjoyed in tiny restaurants down back alleys in strange cities. A third group was talking books. What they’d been reading, consulting their phones for details, and explaining which books they’d recommend, and which ones they’d abandoned in frustration.
Some of us table-hopped. Talking books here, and travel there. I stopped for a while at a table talking about fashion. And about how great it was to be able to go somewhere to wear our good clothes. Or at least our better clothes, better than what we’d be wearing at home. How we’d been longing to plan an outfit to wear somewhere other than the grocery store.
At another table, I listened to a few of the still-working crowd tell of the unrelenting stress of working during the pandemic. Others who were retired nodded solemnly, and sympathetically. “You’ll get through this,” they said to women they barely knew, but with whom they’d felt an instant rapport. I saw a couple of the younger women gulping back tears at the kindness of those who had been strangers only a couple of hours ago. “Here, hold Doug,” Jeannie smiled as she passed him across the table to someone. “Always works a treat for me when I’m down.”
After a bit, waitresses appeared with menus and we ordered dinner. I don’t know about you, but I never pass up a chance for pub-style fish and chips. Especially with homemade tartar sauce. We tucked into our meals and the room grew quieter. For a while. Eventually just like every time we get together, once our plates were removed, many of us refilled our glasses and moved around the room. Trying to talk to as many people as possible.
Then, at nine o’clock the band took their seats and picked up their instruments. They began to play softly, and as the talking died down, they launched into a Beatles set. Oh my, they were playing our songs. We clapped and sang along.
Then it was Carole King. I know every word to every song on the Tapestry album. And so did most of us. “You just call out my name/ And you know wherever I am/ I’ll come running, to see you again/ Winter, spring, summer or fall/ All you have to do is call/ And I’ll be there, yes, I will/ You’ve got a friend.” We sang, and swayed back and forth, shoulder to shoulder, smiling, and then laughing. And finally clapping and stamping and whistling when the song was over.
I’m guessing those musicians had never seen such a rowdy crowd of middle-aged women. “I’ll bet they thought we were little old ladies,” I yelled across to Joanne. “You can’t be a little old lady in black leather pants,” she hooted back. Ha. “You’ve got that one right, kiddo,” I grinned.
Between sets, the musicians wandered among the tables, taking requests. “If we know it, we’ll play it,” they said. “Do you know any Irish pub songs?” I asked. You can’t have a pub night without a few Irish songs. I called over to Jeannie. “Remember that song they used to play at the Riverview Arms when we were in university?” I asked. “The one about the seven old ladies who were locked in the lavatory?” she called back. That was the one. Ha. Turned out that the band knew it, and so did most of the ladies. Oh my. What a blast from the past that was. So many years since we’d sung that song. So much water under the bridge since then.
I began to think of all the old songs sung with old friends. And now with new friends as well. And felt a bit teary. Gad. If I wasn’t careful, I’d have to go and get Doug for a cuddle.
After a few more songs, the musicians packed up and called goodnight to us. They were followed closely by the waitresses, who waved on their way out, snow swirling in before the door closed behind them. They had to drive home, and the snow had been falling steadily since we’d arrived. The roads would be treacherous. Erica who, as I said, lives in Ashton, disappeared into the kitchen when the pub owner motioned to her.
She came out smiling, a set of keys in her hand. There were thermos jugs of coffee and tea and hot chocolate set out in the kitchen. Along with plates of sweets: butter tarts, sticky toffee pudding all ready to be warmed in the microwave, a jug of sauce, and apple crisp. Ice cream was in the freezer. The owner was heading home too. We could help ourselves to dessert and hot drinks when we were ready, stay as long as we liked, and Erica would lock up. He’d built up the fire, uncorked a couple more bottles of wine, and left them breathing on the bar. What a kind man.
How oddly wonderful it felt to have the run of a pub late at night, to have the place all to ourselves. We topped up our glasses of wine, as Frances moved to the old piano in the corner. “Anyone for a little Cat Stevens?” she called, as she began to pick out the notes of “Moonshadow.” We gathered around the piano, searching for lyrics on our phones, “Leaping and hopping on a moonshadow/ Moonshadow, moonshadow.”
When it was very, very late. After we’d sung, and laughed and talked, and laughed some more. After we’d scarfed down butter tarts and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. And sipped hot tea or coffee, cupping the mugs in our hands as we smiled at something someone said, some joke cracked, or funny story told. After we’d stacked our glasses and plates and mugs in the kitchen. And written a letter of thanks to everyone at Ashton Pub and all signed it. We reluctantly found our coats and hats and gloves, and were ready to go.
“Wait, where’s Doug?” Jeannie said. There followed a feverish search, until Wendy found him curled up, asleep on a bench by the dying fire. “I was sorely tempted to just slip him into my coat pocket and take him home with me,” she confessed. We all laughed and headed out into the snow. Erica locked the door, and arm in arm we tramped off to the footbridge.
But before we crossed the bridge, we hugged, and promised to do this again. Soon. Then we filed across the bridge over the River Jock, and each of us disappeared into the still falling snow, back the way we had come so many hours before. Then after a few minutes, the bridge itself disappeared. And Brigadoon on the Jock was no more.
I know the whole idea of Brigadoon on the Jock is corny in the extreme. Of course there’s no magic footbridge across the Jock River, but I can see it in my mind’s eye. I can, really. Just as I can see each of your smiling faces as you magically appeared through the swirl of snow. And as weird as it sounds, I kind of feel nourished by friendship after having written this. As if I’ve actually been on a pub night. As if I’ve actually sat around with you guys, and shared a glass of wine, and talked books and travel and clothes. Listened to old stories and sang old songs with you. And walked home arm in arm through the snow.
Now how weird is that?
P.S. There actually is a real Ashton Pub, and it actually sits on the banks of the Jock River. And I’ve been there for lunch with my friend Erica who does actually live in Ashton. Not sure how the owner would feel about letting a rowdy crowd of middle-aged ladies have free run of his pub after hours though.
P.P.S. Thanks to everyone who played along, and sent photos for our pub night. Much appreciated. 🙂
78 thoughts on “Pub Night: Brigadoon on the Jock.”
Oh Sue, I’m coming to the next one! My husband has a debilitating illness so my social outings are severely curtailed, but your descriptive writing made me feel as though I had missed a lovely night out with dear friends, it made me happy that you had such a fun evening, and sad that I wasn’t able to be there! So I will organise myself before the next get together and of course hope that I am invited 😉. Thankyou for sharing.
I’m so sorry about your husband, Sue. Next time you must join us. It will be a spring event… as yet the theme is TBA. 🙂
I will definitely make an early summer meet-up. There is a blazer that needs an outing. What fun you all had. And Doug with his stick….
Oh, good. We missed you Annie. 🙂
Beautifully written Sue .
What a great pub . Yes , I knew all the words to those songs , including the old ladies locked in the lavatory. Sorry I didn’t know when to shut up . Thanks for your company ladies .
And you’re right , I’m besotted with Doug .
Doug is a doll, isn’t he? And this from a cat person. Ha.
what a lovely story – thank you. i will definitely make it to the next one.
Thanks, Noreen. Looking forward to seeing you in the spring.
THE POWER OF IMAGINATION! gREAT STORY CAN ALMOST SEE THE PUB. Everything like that around here is too new. Jacksonville,Fl. just doesn’t have that kind of tradition. One must drive,mainly in rain right now! But there is always the next time. I am sure you will let us know when and I will try my darndest to be there! Best, Stay warm and safe.
My husband says I live a vivid internal life. Comes in handy during a lockdown. Ha.
This was utterly delicious!
Olwyn
Thank-you so much, Olwyn.
There IS a balm in Gilead!
Thanks, Sue!
Thanks, Lorelie. I had to look that line up. I kind of knew it, but not well enough. My Sunday School education is sadly lacking. But there’s always Wikipedia. 🙂
I am totally besotted by your writing and fantastic imagery each time you organize one of these. I am truely upset that I could not make it this time, and swear that by the next one I will be able to send a picture to participate. I remember watching Brigadoon with my mother and this image of the walk to the pub and swirling snow was magic. Even the addition of Doug (love that name) was such fun. Thank you for this on this frigid morning and the smiles that will last the day.
Gosh… thanks so much, Diane. 🙂
I’ve been to the Ashton Pub a few times Sue, but never had such a good time as this get together!😊
Liz D.
Me neither. That’s the benefit of making it up. 🙂
A very welcome uplift, even though some of us are still sleeping it off. Thank you, Sue, thank you.
Delighted to see the photos and especially one of Doug with his stick. One day, ladies, one day
I know.. Doug is adorable. And his name always makes me smile.
You are a born story teller, and that is what I love most about your blog. Your words paint such beautiful pictures. It doesn’t matter if you are discussing clothes, books, or travel, there is always a story woven in seamlessly. As Sue Richards said, I feel like I have missed out on a wonderful evening of making new friends. And sticky toffee pudding! I first enjoyed that delightful treat in a pub in Ireland watching traditional Irish dancing and tapping my feet to the accompanying music. This took me back to that evening. Thank you for an amazing night out with the girls (and Doug)!
I remember listening to pub music in Ireland too. It was very hard to sit still.
The sign of a great story and wonderful writer is that it feels like the story ends too soon! Which was exactly how I felt, when I came to the end of your pub night story. Our last “normal” outing with dear friends ,from away, was to Ashton Pub. Was it only a year ago ? It feels like longer – sigh. The snowfall setting with an invitation to cross into an imaginary world was so inviting.
So Wonderful to get to enjoy a fun & imaginary evening with all of you. Thank You Sue for another enjoyable read!
So you were at the pub last year.. me too. It’s a very cool place.
Oh what a night!! …
I’ve been singing Moonshadow , then What a night ( Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) all morning. Enjoying the feeling you get after a great night out … minus the hangover 😂
It really was magical, walking through the snow, over the bridge and seeing the pub lights shining ahead.
Plus the Craft beer was excellent, as was the fish and chips and some of my favourite deserts! I’ve only had apple crisp once in Winterset , Iowa and last nights was just as good, if not better!
So great to see you again Sue, meet up with old friends and make many new ones. Lovely to chat to Wendy about the many Summers I spent in York and the surrounding countryside.
Oh and Doug! Like Wendy I could have popped him in my pocket … he’s adorable.
So kind of Frances play the piano, so we could have an old fashioned sing a long.
Such a great band too!
I could go on!
Thanks for organising this Sue … I really do feel as though we were all there, having fun and enjoying Canadian hospitality!
Rosie
I had to do some extra skiing today to work off those fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding. 🙂
Hi Sue, loved your account of the virtual pub night, how I wish I’d been there. Living in the North East of England I’m missing going to the pub because of lockdown but your writing made me think that good times will eventually return. Will definitely come to your next virtual outing.
Hubby and I so loved walking to the nearest pub when we were in England and Scotland. We don’t have many local pubs here in Canada. The Ashton Pub is an exception.
Oh, that was fun! I haven’t had the chance to play for a sing-along for ages and weren’t we all in fine voice 😉
Ha. I was not in fine voice, but I made up for it with my enthusiasm. 🙂
Hi Sue, this was so well written. I felt I was there … virtually there. It’s so nice seeing the many ladies who comment on your blog and putting a face to their name. Thanks again I look forward to the next one.
Robin
Thanks, Robin. We missed you this time. 🙂
What a wonderful story indeed! Snow fairy tale with new/old friends and a adorable Doug,lots of laughter (oh,I miss this a lot),stories,songs…..just across a bridge
I was in a pub only in London before,I don’t know if this counted
Dottoressa
The bridge, the snow, just like some of the folk paintings we saw in Zagreb and loved so much. xo
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had so much fun. Definitely need seconds of the sticky toffee pudding. Such a blessing to have a night out during this pandemic. When this is all over and we can travel again and my husband and I are finally allowed to visit family in Ontario, the Ashton Brew Pub is on the list to visit. Sue, after the pandemic, I think you should publish a ‘travel ‘ book of all our virtual adventures. Thank you again, you are the hostess with the mostest.
Thanks so much for participating, Heather. By the way, I loved your animal print vest.
Beautifully written; I was there!
Thank you, Sue.
Thanks, Marianne. 🙂
I almost felt I was there. Oh, that I could write like you do.
Thanks, Susan. That’s high praise. 🙂
What a fun outing- loved seeing everyone. You are a wonderful storyteller!
Thanks, Mary Lou. It was fun to write too.
So wanted to participate, however just recovering from an accident 5 weeks ago and unable to get it together enough to don my boots, and my wardrobe to get out in the winter weather. I had fun putting together an outfit anyway. Here on the coast below Santa Barbara it’s been in the low 70’s with a warm-up predicted. Loooooved attending virtually and will definitely attend your Spring event. Praying we can get some rain here by then.
Hope you heal fast, Joan. And look forward to seeing you in the spring.
I missed an EVENT! Hopefully, I will make the next one! Your writing is wonderful and your idea to stage this is so creative! Thank you for this vision and for bringing community together to share!
Thanks so much, Charlene. We will see you next time.
Hello Sue, from Sudbury,
I have been to the Ashton Pub a few times, I love everything about that place.
PS: I’m new to your blog, You have such a great blog,,thanks!
Denise
Welcome, Denise. Hope you stick around and attend our spring event. 🙂
You’ve worked your magic again, Sue! What a wonderful evening it was; a very welcome break from the realities of midwinter, pandemic life. Definitely looking forward to our next get together!
Thanks, Elaine. And thanks for your continued participation in my crazy ideas. 🙂
You are such a descriptive writer Sue that I felt the chill of a cold, snowy evening even though I live in New Zealand and we are in the midst of a hot summer. Love your blogs and look forward to you writing a book someday.
Ah well… a book is way too intimidating. At least for now. But thanks for the thought. How wonderful to live in New Zealand… such an amazing place.
I love this series of posts, Sue. (I would italicize and/or capitalize ‘love’ but ‘Mr. Carpenter’ in ‘Emily of New Moon’ has made me wary, if not entirely resistant.). Thank you for exercising your imagination on behalf of all of us – and thanks to those readers who were sufficiently organized to take and send in photos. This has been a balm of reading! I look forward to a springtime outing.
Thanks, Katherine. I think I learned about the value of imagination from Lucy Maud Montgomery. Hope to see you in the spring. Maybe it will be P.E.I. this time. Hmmm.
What a wonderful night! I got goosebumps just reading about it! Wish I could have joined you as there is nothing like such camaraderie. Total food for the soul.
Thank-you Kenzie. Even virtual camaraderie has its benefits. 🙂
That. Was. Awesome! Sorry I missed it but so glad I could read about it. What with Covid and work and two kids home for reading week I just couldn’t this time. I’m also always feeling like my clothes (which I pay entirely no mind to) won’t match up! But I know I know those things shouldn’t stop me. I will try to make the spring event. A high tea potluck with our favourite snacking recipes maybe?? Love and virtual hugs to all of you! Nancy
Thanks, my friend. Sounds as if you have your hands full. Sending hugs right back at you. 🙂
This was so fun to read. Thank you for keeping us entertained and encouraging our imaginations. Doug is SO CUTE.
He is cute, isn’t he?
I’m such a doofus for missing it! Next time I will make a calendar meeting notice and then I will muster correctly!
We will see you next time, then. Lisa. Looking forward to it. 🙂
Magical…-and the falling snow animation was perfect. Thank you for brightening the gray days of February. Reading all the comments makes me think that come Spring you may have to find a larger venue to accommodate everyone that wants to join in! Looking forward to it.
Ha. That’s exactly what Hubby said. We will have a bigger crowd next time. 🙂
What an experience! I, too, want to go to the pub when travelling is allowed. Everyone looked so wonderful and just so relaxed in their favourite casual outfit. We do have a pub down the road, that we did go to recently for onion rings and beer. What a treat! Your writing is the best. Cheers!
Thanks, Lynn. So glad you could join us.
You ladies look like you had a lovely time!! Wish I could look half as put together as you all. So enjoyed the post and all the pictures. Here’s to many post pandemic outings!!!
Thanks, Martha. That’s a toast I will echo!
What a lovely post and what great comments! Pat yourself on the back Sue for a brilliant idea. Roll on Spring and the next event!
Thanks, Mary. Oh… I wish spring would indeed roll on. 🙂
Hi Sue, I’m so sorry, I missed the pub evening with all the girls. Next time, I’ll be with it!
But I enjoy reading about your evening!
Hugs from Cologne, Susa
Hopefully we will see you next time, Susa. 🙂
What a WONDERFUL post – I sure feel like I’ve just come from the party, although I missed getting a photo in (as usual). You do this to perfection, Sue! Keep up the wonderful work…
Thanks, Mary Katherine. I know you had your own REAL outing lately… so jealous. 🙂
Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. Doug and I had so much fun. In fact, every time we head out for a walk since that night, he pulls hard on his leash, wanting to visit Ashton Pub again.
Ha. Thanks, my friend. Doug was a big hit!
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
I LOVED THE PHOTOS OF ALL THE GIRLS!
CIN~CIN as they say in ITALIA!
Thanks. It was good fun to write. 🙂
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