Christmas in the Lounge Bar

Mark the landlord of the lounge bar (Thanks for card just arrived [first classpost] ),was a bit flat as the takings were down. There was an air of heavyness . The kareoke singer had cried her way through an emotional Barry Manilow classic. The only one smiling was a woman dressed as a dorset fisher wife she had cleared everyone out with her skill at blackjack,her fast hands when dealing were too quick for the naked eye,and the aces that appeared off the bottom of the pack remained a mystery to everyone else. A youthful lady in lawers robes was sipping her last gin and crying with a girl in a red hat saying they had both lost their pay packets, a mendicant dressed in 12th century Chinese robes was doing his best to comfort them.When a sturdy looking man and his wife who were not from these parts demanded one last game. The man who had been silent all night had a porcupine poking it's nose out of his leather bag, and the two feathers sticking out of his headband made him an interesting character.

It was a showdown, it was High noon, but at nearly midnight,The fisher woman who spoke in a west country drawl,grabbed the cards and said I'll deal. She dealt fast. Face down the cards read a pair of Queens to the dealer......... the man had a jack and the 8 of spades. they looked each other in the eye,the whole room stopped................ OK said the man I will buy 3, face down..The woman coughed and grinned, she knew what his hand was, it now totalled 27 he was done for. She turned her cards put all her winnings in the middle and said I will pay 21.

Nobody had seen the sturdy man before he had kept quiet watching the games,nobody knew he had a few ancient tricks of his own,he did turn over the ace and the 8.... but with lightening speed pulled from his sleeve 3 aces.he banged the table shouting the drinks are on me and everyone have your money back.Simultaneously the landlord announced over the tannoy that he had dragged a couple of crawlbacks with broken guitars out of the gutter and they will play the last dance of the night ...Happy Christmas

https://youtu.be/YJb_6bCfh34

The kareoke singer had cried her way through an emotional Barry Manilow classic.

Must have been Lise.

Lise don' cry; Lise's tough.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of you as well--Chisan, Stan, Mark, Lise, Isan, George, and Robert! And, in addition, in no particular order:

...Anne, Myozen, Mokuan, Howard, Nicky, Bill, Brigitte, Josh, Carol, Sophia, Glorfindel, Dan, Diane, Ikuko, James, David, Mia, Aylwin, Seikai, Rob, Ayse, Kyogen, Gyokuko, Meian, Sansho, Gensho...

...And so many others here who I don't know as well, or don't remember at the moment--but should--and who I will remember, in a blinding flash, when I commit this to cyber space by clicking on 'send'!

Ha! And indeed I did. So best wishes to Laura, Jimyo, Dave, Geoffrey, John, George, and my very good friends, Henry and Ol'ga, as well!!

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Many thanks Lise and moderators.

Happy New Year to one and all !

Wishing all of you a lovely holiday season, filled with peace, joy and just enough mischief to mix things up a little

I'm thankful today, and every day, for the friends who come here, make us smile, teach us something, lift us up. Love to you all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

With hugs all around

~mokuan

Merry Yuletide.

May u all have peace and not forget that The Baby Santa was born on a sleigh in Bethlehem on this day and, later, died on the cross for our presents. Or something like that.

x

Anne wins the prize for the most "moving" seasons greetings! Happy New Year to everyone!

And a happy new year to you all , and much thanks.

:-) The automated horizontal and vertical scrolling options are available in preview mode under the drop-down menu of the "Others" function-button. (-: