ROYAL HOTEL CASSILIS

[Cropduster]

ROYAL HOTEL CASSILIS

Years ago, I did a stint, way up at Muswellbrook.
"Just hop in mate"; the boss had grabbed a car.
"We'll take a drive around the place so you can have a look."
"We won't be long. We won't go very far."

He showed me this, he showed me that, he pointed out the sights.
Come lunch time, we went looking for some grub.
He wound his way up winding roads, reaching dizzy 'heights',
and pulled up right outside Cassilis pub.

Royal Hotel Cassilis, as it's more prop'ly called
stands proud and tall in old Cassilis town.
Being parched and 'saddle sore', we both were looking forward
To throwing our first frothy schooner down.

We sauntered in, we looked around, it all looked quite bizarre.
Not a soul was in the bloomin' place.
A woman dressed in dressing gown and slippers tended bar,
ciggy in mouth, and night cream on her face.

"Are you blokes right?, It's just gone twelve." Most welcoming indeed.
I swear she'd not long clambered out of bed.
"We thought we'd call in for a drink, and maybe a quick feed",
is what the boss had very bravely said.

She shot us both the strangest look - how dare we to expect
a beer and pie at this time of the day.
I'm sure she'd been quite happy if we had, in retrospect,
Just got up and so quickly walked away.

"It'll have to be our bottled beer, I hope your happy chaps.
We don't get blokes in here this time of day.
To pull a beer, I'd need to go turn on the bloody taps
I'd rather not. Is bottled beer ok?"

She grabbed two coldies from the fridge and much to her surprise
No sooner had she put the bottles down
We threw 'em back, before she'd time to thaw out frozen pies
Jumped in the car and headed out of town

So if you're up Cassilis way, and looking for a drink
The local pub is really quite a treat.
But wait till after six, my friend, is what I really think
if wanting draught beer and a bite to eat.

Copyright (c) Allan Cropper March 2015

[Shelley Hansen]

Good story Allan. So many of the old country pubs simply aren't what they were. Sign of the times, sadly.

Regards, Shelley