Thread: Black Eye Friday

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

We always say that Guinness doesn't travel well and the further from Dublin the worse it gets.
But to be honest it's more about how much it's drunk in a particular pub. Guinness doesn't like to sit in the pipes. If you are in a pub were the Guinness is flowing near constantly like it does in many Dublin pubs, then you get a much smother pint.

And if any batman ever draws a shamrock in you pint you are legally allowed to slap him!

It's too sad there's no direct flights from my home town to Ireland. Closest place is Edinburgh. Probably the beer is ok there too. Been thinking with wifey about spending few days there next year. Flight tickets are cheap. Unless she decides that we go to Gdansk (been there twice), Riga (there too) or Budapest.

At the pub i like to go in the city whenever i'm in the mood have at least Guinness, Kilkenny and Fuller's but much more Belgian and eastern European beers. Now that we're speaking. I think i have to visit there some day soon.

Worked in a pulp and paper mill most of my life and for more than 20 years now there was no shutdown for Christmas or New Years. We operated 24/7 365 days a year. For us there really was no Black Eye Friday but plenty of other days that could happen.

Been to Ireland but can't drink Guinness. A good Irish whiskey is a whole other story, so smooth and satisfying.

I remember taking the ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki in the late 1970s and being told that dedicated Finish drinkers would buy round trip tickets just drink the cheaper booze on the ship. Saw the evidence of that too. I guess it is different now from what Sailor has said. Another tradition bites the dust.

Bob

Originally Posted by Sailor

It's too sad there's no direct flights from my home town to Ireland. Closest place is Edinburgh. Probably the beer is ok there too. Been thinking with wifey about spending few days there next year. Flight tickets are cheap. Unless she decides that we go to Gdansk (been there twice), Riga (there too) or Budapest.

At the pub i like to go in the city whenever i'm in the mood have at least Guinness, Kilkenny and Fuller's but much more Belgian and eastern European beers. Now that we're speaking. I think i have to visit there some day soon.

If you've never been to Edinburgh before, you have to got. Amazing city and great beer too.
I went to university there and still get back at least once a year. Probably one of my favourite places in the world

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

I'm no fighter myself Ed. In fact I'm usually in bed by the time the fights break out. Can't take the daytime drinking lol

I'm with you guys. A roof over my head, a good pipe and a cuppa tea or a solitary pint of cider and I'm content. No black eyes thanks.

Originally Posted by BobH

I remember taking the ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki in the late 1970s and being told that dedicated Finish drinkers would buy round trip tickets just drink the cheaper booze on the ship. Saw the evidence of that too. I guess it is different now from what Sailor has said. Another tradition bites the dust.

Bob

Still happens, very popular actually. Even though alcohol costs more in the ferry than what it does in land. That's strange really. Specially those who live inland it's sort of a foreign trip. Some call these ferries as 'drilling rigs'. While for us who live in the harbour city it's just jumping to ship and sailing to Stockholm. Sober. Easy as a walk in the park. There's lot of Finns working/studying in Sweden and lot of Swedes working/studying here. As a part of her nurse/midwife studies my daughter worked for some in time in Karolinska sjukhuset (hospital) Stockholm.

Sailor

I will say one thing that stood out for me was the cleanliness of both the ferry and the terminal building. I always enjoy a ferry ride or taking a train as they seem to be a more relaxing way to travel than a plane.

Bob

Haven't logged on in ages sadly but found this thread tonight, good stuff! I do precision engineering at an oldschool firm where we clock in/out, have factory fortnight in summer and break up on black eye Friday and hit the pub for a meal and drinks after finishing early. No fights this year even though they occasionally break out at work when things get tense...

I'm a big fan of Guinness in the winter but avoid it in the warmer months. Definately tastes better in Dublin than it does in the Midlands from my experience. I need to get back one of these days to enjoy a few. Here's an odd one for you guys, try a shot of Irish Whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. Sounds all kinds of wrong but it's much better than it should be. Supposedly dill pickle juice is a hang over remedy in parts of Russia and Germany so it's the cure with the cause perhaps. All I know is people laughed at me when I got them lined up but they all came back for more!

Pickle juice as in vinegar?
Should I take a shot out of the pickled egg jar?

Originally Posted by Bigirishkev

Pickle juice as in vinegar?
Should I take a shot out of the pickled egg jar?

Take a shot out of a jar of dill pickles after a shot of whiskey. It's not just straight vinegar, it's got dill and various things floating in it and doesn't taste like straight vinegar. Pickled egg juice just sounds wrong but probably isn't far off lolz! Can't beat a pickled egg in a pub when you're on a session.