New member from belgium

[hard top]

Myself I live in Ieper...grew up in Hasselt

I know Hasselt. In the early 80's I used to help a mate of mine get jobs finished laying 'stelconplaten' (concrete plates) at the weekends with heavy equipment all over the Netherlands and Belgium.
We used to stay at a B&B on Saturday night and the owner got me messed up drinking Duvel beer.
He never showed me the bottle, just gave it to me by the glass.....lots of them.....
We were working at a 'Drinks Factory' and first thing in the morning, they would give us a free crate of beer for the day.
At the main entrance to the offices, they had vending machines, not with soft drinks, but a selection of different beers.....
Those were the days.....

 

[oldcarman]

I know Hasselt. In the early 80's I used to help a mate of mine get jobs finished laying 'stelconplaten' (concrete plates) at the weekends with heavy equipment all over the Netherlands and Belgium.
We used to stay at a B&B on Saturday night and the owner got me messed up drinking Duvel beer.
He never showed me the bottle, just gave it to me by the glass.....lots of them.....
We were working at a 'Drinks Factory' and first thing in the morning, they would give us a free crate of beer for the day.
At the main entrance to the offices, they had vending machines, not with soft drinks, but a selection of different beers.....
Those were the days.....

Just one of the things I loved about Europe. Never stuck without a beer from someone!! Watched three guys over about a week in Holland digging line trenches. Everyday they'd show up with their lunch buckets and beer. One dug, one watched leaning on a shovel, one drank, switch. When they ran out of beer they just knocked on the nearest door and were presented with refills. Love to go back!! JIM

 

[hard top]

When I was growing up in the UK most people did not have beer in the house, only the 'drinks cabinet' with spirits, that only got opened when friends came round or at Christmas.
You drank beer down the pub.
Imagine my amazement when first over here and seeing crates of the stuff in shops for you to buy and take home....

 

[oldcarman]

And you were the kid on the loose in the candy shop, I'd bet!! My Dad and Gramps worked In a brewery so I was brought up on the stuff. Used to roam the cellars there as a kid so started drinking early in life. We only had spirits at Christmas and very special occasions and never mixed, just shot glasses. JIM