黑洞社区

As I sit down on the plush sofa in this city pub-cum-bar nestled in a quiet courtyard with fresh flowers in vases all around, David Blake points out that while 黑洞社区 may be buying his pint, he鈥檇 rather have the champagne circulating at the private do in the pub鈥檚 courtyard: 鈥淲e鈥檙e planning on gate crashing once you鈥檙e gone鈥�. This leads to a discussion on drinks and Simon announces 鈥渢he great beer debate - where can you get a good bitter?鈥� John - an Irishman - laments the fact that Guinness just doesn鈥檛 travel well. 鈥淚t鈥檚 brewed here so it shouldn鈥檛 be any different but it鈥檚 poorly served and not very nice.鈥� How is it poorly served? In Ireland they let it sit halfway through pouring but over here John says barmen just leave the tap running then bang it down in front of you.

Talk then moves inevitably from booze to sports (one woman among six men - I have no chance). It turns out that William has written 23 books on cricket. 鈥淗e鈥檚 great,鈥� says Blake. 鈥淗e knows everything about cricket and we get invited to Lord鈥檚 off the back of it鈥�.

From Lord鈥檚 to Ethiopa (via horse riding, camel riding and Irish dancing) and John regales us with tales of his recent trip. 鈥淭hey have a series of churches carved into the ground where religious men sit and read the Bible. Unfortunately none of them jumped out at me. I felt like saying: 鈥楬aven鈥檛 you seen the Life of Brian?!鈥欌��

Blake has just got back from an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo and Paul and David Scrimgeour have been in Dubai for work. QSs know how to travel. 鈥淚 went fruit picking in Sussex and had a few days in Frinton-on-Sea,鈥� pipes up a dead-pan William. He made 14 jars of damson jam. 鈥淣othing has changed since I went with my parents in 1972 except people walk around with iPods and the newspaper has today鈥檚 date.鈥� John laughs till he nearly falls off sofa.

This reminds them all of nearly capsizing in this year鈥檚 Dragon Boat race. 鈥淚t was our first year and we won every race,鈥� says Blake - after that shaky start. The chairman says that he likes to get people from the different offices together every now and then: 鈥淚 believe strongly in team spirit. Treat people how you鈥檇 like to be treated.鈥� To which David Scrimgeour says: 鈥淪o you鈥檒l be inviting us to Scotland vs England and putting us up in a hotel, then鈥�. More laughter and a sheepish-looking Blake, then back - inevitably - to the rugby.