Saturday 29 January 2011

We're Going Down The Pub

Despite the sub-zero temperatures we hit the town last night for beer and curry. For once I remembered my camera so I thought I'd share my favourite kind of night out.

Titanic Pale Ale at the Black Country Arms, accessorised by Barry M nail varnish and a stack of jewellery

We love our locally brewed real ale and at £2.50 a pint it beats imported lager hands down in both taste and price.

Traditional Black Country pork scratchings for the carnivores in the party (that's everyone but me).

Give us a proper boozer over a poncey wine bar any day of the week.


A traditional visit to the monstrous 24 hour Asda for cheap booze, our favourite curry house isn't licenced.
Do you like Jon's oxblood brogues? I paid 50p for them at last week's jumble sale and he's hardly taken them off since. The 1960's sheepskin was 50p from a car boot sale in the summer. Don't say I don't spoil my man!

We went retro and plumped for Mateus Rose, on offer for mere £3.59 a bottle. No point in wasting our cash on posh plonk, a pleb like me wouldn't know the difference anyway.



Liz was better prepared and brought her own from home.

Ready for an Indian wedding, a house we passed on our walk to the curry house.

Caldmore Balti House (us locals pronounce "Caldmore" as "Karma" and have done for hundreds of years).

Cheers!

Jon ponders the menu.

I had Gobi Bhaji (cauliflower curry with extra chilli)

Adrian had lamb tikka served on a bed of saag (spinach)


Jon and Liz went for Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi

Mmmmmm....peshwari nan (tandoori bread with coconut and dried fruit)


Gujarti spiced chips always put a smile on Jon's face......

....and Indian food (served with a bucket load of booze) always puts a smile on mine!



£32.50 for four people, who says eating out in the UK is too expensive?


Not quite as bright-eyed this morning but there's a chip butty with my name on it awaiting me in the kitchen and I'll be fit to do it all again later.


Vintage psychedelic print maxi dress (Jumble sale 40p), Rupee coin choker (Karnataka street market, India), Tods python boots (Car boot sale £7), Earrings (my darling twin, Helga)

67 comments:

  1. Gorgeous dress Vix! I could just eat a curry now, it looks lovely. Have a great day xxx

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  2. Oh an entry to drool over ,all that lovely food ,the beer not made of chemicals and as usual you look devine ,I went to the black country museum ,a couple of years ago ,loved it( was that the pub you went to ? ) ,you cant beat a real old fashioned pub ,dont like all the crome and mirrors in the theme pubs at all ...love Jan xx

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  3. Ooh Vix your frock is divine - you look frickin GORGEOUS, as always! And HELLO, your Jon is quite the hunka burning love! Tell us more about him? Have you done a 'How we met' post? Did I miss it? Since I've been 'abstinent' for so long, I have to live my romantic life vicariously!!

    Looks like a fab night out - next time have an aloo palak in my honour will you? Mmmm.

    Sarah xxx

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  4. Asda and Mateus Rose! You know how to party! A girl after my own heart. We went one better and had a £2.95 bottle of white and a ready curry from the Co-op. xxx

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  5. You can't beat a good boozer (I love pork scratchings too I'm afraid!)with real beer, great company and a curry to follow. Your outfit looks amazing and that Barry M shade is a corker! xxx

    P.S. One for Jon: Check out this link for a brilliant Radio 4 programme about pork scratchings and the Black Country:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tcz94

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  6. the Indian in Australia is nowhere near as good as the UK, and Mateus is double the price! I'm jealous of the food, but not the weather, I'd never leave the house if it were me. Great dress, love the sleeves.xx.

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  7. Right it's definately chicken biryani tomorrow.
    Love the print on the dress, totally in keeping with your destination

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  8. Have just had to pacify His Lordship when he discovered those oxeblood shoes were a jumble find. There was a wailing and a gnashing of teeth, he is desperate to find some oxeblood brogues...all the more reason to come charity shopping with me (and carry my bags) I said!

    That curry looks FAB, as does the pub. What a great evening out!

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  9. Dearest Vix, you look gorgeous and that dress is stunning.

    I'm just waiting to be picked up to go and buy some food. Seeing your curry's making me want one.

    Jon looks great in the sheepskin and brogues. Looks like a good night out. I'd be happy with all of that. Expensive wine is wasted on me too. Can't wait for you to come to London. Love, C xx

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  10. ♥'d all the details - though at times I felt I needed an English translator button to figure out some of the vocabulary :)

    That house decked for Indian wedding was beautiful!

    Your jewelry stunning, as usual.

    You're right about the tab (cost of meal for 4)! No wonder you're able to turn around and do it again the next day.

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  11. Laughed at your comment about knowing hw to spoil your man with 50p finds. I got the dh a 50p tshirt and 50p pair of combats from my booty for him and now he's always wearing them. Almost wish I hadn't as I'm sick of seeing them.
    Love the dress you're wearing - suits you very well.

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  12. That pub looks like just my kind of place Vix (and I love pork scratchings). Do they have proper cider too? I'll drink Magners at a pinch but Strongbow is an abomination.

    The Karma curry house has me salivating here, we wanted to get a curry on our way home last night but were too late and had to make do with a tuna sandwich instead, boo! I love peshwari naan too, but Gujarat spiced chips are a new one to me - maybe I need to have a word with our local x

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  13. you must have enjoyed the evening! and you look so divine!

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  14. Just checked their menu. Kopparberg?! Blerch, too sweet.

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  15. Looks like a great (and very reasonably priced) night out! Have fun again tonight xxx

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  16. Ah what a lovely documented evening (more of these Vix!) :)

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  17. Oh and to previous post- I envy you those ray bens and those three dresses on the first picture- Peter Pan collars yes!

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  18. My my! Look at those shades of blue. It feels unreal. Indian food on your blog. Wow.
    And I had no idea you were Vegeterian. SO am I. :)

    Much love,
    K

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  19. There's far too much I love in this post, including: your dress (the colours are stunning), your nail varnish, your man's bargain wears, the idea of curry - the lamb tikka looks particularly good in my opinion, etc!

    www.heart-shaped-bruise.blogspot.com

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  20. Those blue nail on the beer glass a pure poetry to me.
    No good Indian restaurants around here, must wait to go to England Or Germany fo a decent one.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  21. Yum yum, I wonder if I can convince Mr BB to go out for a curry tonight, you've given me a craving for it now. Love your outfit, as usual!

    And luckily the sideboard I won is only round the corner, carry-able!! x

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  22. oo you cant beat a bring your own booze place can you cheap plonk always tastes better!!!
    love the dress.. and the nails..im a bit scared of bright nails .. i need to get a life i thihnk!!

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  23. Sounds like my kind of night. I love how pretty the white lights look outside the place. Mmmmmm, Indian food is the BEST. My favorite place just closed and hey had a Bombay Bazaar shop and ice creamery down the street from me and they closed too, very sad! Now I have to find a new Indian place. Love your nail polish too.

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  24. an outing from Vixcita how cool..love Indian food...mmm so yummuy..Asda is the way to go..Jon is so handsome. ;)

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  25. You must have been Indian in your previous birth, what do you think? ;) You live a fabulous life and that too on a budget!

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  26. Love the dress! Sounds like a great night out, almost felt like I was there with you guys. Going to have a curry night in tonight x

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  27. AHhh post pub supermarket raids, LOVE 'em x

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  28. Hi my dear-wow, a perfect night out-you certainly all know how to enjoy yourselves and you look totally gorgeous as usual, I just love that maxi dress-40p??? I don't know how you do it, it was still cheaper than Jons super outfit, lol!! Have a lovely evening and enjoy the rest of your weekend too xx

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  29. What a great night out! You look gorgeous!

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  30. Fab post - curry night out top bananas!!

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  31. You look so pretty in that close up pic .... Loving the look of that naan yum yum yum.

    And I love the colour of your nail varnish!!

    Ah you've made me hungry again now .. not that im not ALWAYS hungry at the moment ;P

    Sal xXx

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  32. There arent any proper pubs near us anymore but my fav place is a dark, secluded resturant bar with comfy seats and the most beautiful architecture. It is alway fairy quite and never has pontless music. I would now like to scoff down a curry after seeing your pics, yummy! x

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  33. My mouth is watering looking at all this yummy Indian food. My favorite Indian dish is chicken saag, so that photo in particular made my stomach growl. :)

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  34. I need a closer look at the choker you got from Karnataka.
    You look lovely and so chilled out.
    The only sad bit about being Indian(for me) is I hate the food. :( All the spice just about kills me.. I go for boiled stuff most of the time. Or, the food without the spice.

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  35. Great pictures, Vix!

    Finally, someone who uses the word Pleb - I'm always saying it (along with my brother) but I've yet to find anyone else that does! x

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  36. Nothing like a good curry. Cheers, Vix! xxx

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  37. Ooh looks like a good night, love seeing Jon's outfit too haha :)

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  38. Your night out looked to be a lot of fun! You also looked gorgeous in that dress =D

    What colour nail polish are you wearing? It looks lurrrvely!

    Mmm Indian food! I have been looking forward to my birthday on Monday night because I am having Indian also! Chicken korma, pilau rice and peshwari naan please!

    We seem to have similar taste in a good night out. Go to a good local pub but not before you make a visit to the local supermarket for some cheap booze. The only difference is we end up having Chinese at the end of the night. xxx

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  39. Vix looks like a lovely evening, I feel bad that I can't just walk down to a curry house anymore, now that we live in a village.

    I agree with you, love a bit of local produce. We should all collective support it more.

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  40. You look so pretty in that gorgeous dress and Jon's brogues are amazing!

    The house done up for the wedding looks so special!!!

    x

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  41. The best way to spend a night with fiends, indian food, great clothes and liquor.

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  42. Excellent dress. I am so impressed that you can apparently buy liquor around the clock!

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  43. Ok now I have to not only flea market with you I will also have to wear that dress when you take me out to curry lol

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  44. nom nom nom!

    haha we're going down to the pub!

    love Jon's snazzy shoes!

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v131/Those.crazy.Cats/121610_1625_stylishblog1.jpg

    I've awarded you with this Stylish Blogger award! The idea is that you also reward 7 of other blogs you really like and then also share 7 facts about yourself =) Only if you want to!

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  45. Another gorgeous dress as always. I prefer a pub than a snobby bar any day!! x

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  46. Gorgeous dress and I do love that beautiful shade of blue nail polish. LOVE Indian food - such good value in the UK!
    xxx

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  47. We'd have a fight for the peshwari, my favourite!! :)

    Looks a great night out, perfect infact. I love a good pint, curry and even better if you can save some money on the wine.

    xx

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  48. Looks like a brilliant night out. Ahhhh, Mateus Rose, now there's a vintage wine if ever there was one, love it. I've discovered a fruity little table wine: white, French, Vielle Fontaine, 2009 - worth every penny of its £3.79 at Tesco.

    Love Jon's coat and shoes, very stylish and superb bargains!

    Shirl xxx

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  49. Can't believe how long it takes to scroll down your comnments, these days, Vix - you're certainly a popular lady! YOu've made me really crave a curry now, sounds like you had a good night out as ever! x

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  50. VIX it's only 2pm and i now have a SERIOUS curry craving!
    I love the sleeve drama and pattern on that dress. You look beautiful in it
    x

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  51. Oh dear God you are simply marvelous! I am COVETING what you're wearing Vix! You look sensational and what a wonderful and fun night but then... I think you always have such nights.

    You a "pleb"???? Nice try lady but I know better. I think you just choose to appear 'unaware' then blow preconceptions away, which is so much fun! deflating arrogant fools who think they know everything! ... besides... any true connoisseur knows, price is not indicative of quality...

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  52. how fun! the sleeves... and the food too:)

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  53. Hungry. Hungry now. Very hungry.

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  54. You've made me want naan now lol, i love Indian food xx

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  55. Your nail polish makes me happy. :)

    http://glamkittenslitterbox.blogspot.com/

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  56. And don't you look like the most gorgeous princess whilst eating your curry!!! Freain' HOT frock,and really,you look sooooo beautiful! And happy about your night out.I'd love to be there eating curry with you....
    I love these "actiony" pics,lots of fun,and gives a great sense of life.
    Yep,gimme a good old boozer over a flash wine bar any day of the week!!!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  57. Love that maxi on you - 40p for a maxi dress, 50p for brogues and a sheepskin - my God I need to go shopping the black country!

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  58. hunny u and ur life totally fascinate me...if i ever come u uk i must meet u..

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  59. what a lovely way to spend the weekend - booze, good food and friends!! And the dress is so pretty and you look so gorgeous..

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  60. Passing on the versatile blog award to you!

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  61. Ooh my Dad grew up near Karma, it's a small world again! ha
    I have to admit though Vix, I'm a curry wimp so I'd of stuck to the chips and naan bread ;-) xx

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  62. love the nails, and what a fab night out at relatively low cost - cost more than that for my friend and i to have a small main and a pud yday lunch!

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  63. It looks like a fabulous night was had by all, there’s nothing that quite beats a good curry. I love the psychedelic feel of your dress xxx

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  64. That looks like the perfect night out. Mateus Rose always makes me think of my auntie and uncle as that's their fave tipple. The bill's so reasonable for all that amazing food, can't believe what good value it is. xx

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  65. great maxi dress!!! blueish colours suit u well!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix