Fairytale of Morecambe

Oh, gentle reader, why do I do it?

And no, this time it’s not dating-related. It’s getting a few drinks in me and thinking that I can do things, which I simply cannot. Namely, be 83% more charming and/or suddenly have the ability to sing.

However, it was my colleague’s leaving do and we had given our word that we would follow his lead as he took us on a tour of some of his favourite pubs and bars in Morecambe.

The tone was set in the first pub where already at 6pm drum and bass could be heard coming from the building, intermittently sprinkled with a little light karaoke in between and once inside, through the saccharine-tinged cloud of vape smoke, a drug dealer could be found openly plying his trade. 

Back to the karaoke and unbeknownst to me, we had a ringer in our midst, in the form of a lovely unassuming colleague of 60+ years (who apparently used to work at MI5). She earned a standing ovation from the pub for her cover of ‘Black Velvet’ and as the evening wore on would receive the same (and bring a tear to a few eyes) for her rendition of ‘Back to Black’.

Unfortunately for her, she would be partnered with me for The Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’. Now, Shane MacGowan was very famously Irish, so in the video which came out of our version (and which no, you will never see), I am as puzzled as anyone as to why I went for the voice of Rhod Gilbert doing an impersonation of…..Rhod Gilbert, but we got through it and my far more talented colleague saved the day.

There were lots of hugs, tears and love for the colleague was leaving (extras - I'm a friendly drunk) and we had a good heart to heart. I’m going to miss him immensely and told him so.

Morecambe gets a bad reputation, but I’ve had a few nights out there now and never had anything less than a cracking time.

“The boys of the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay….”