Substack diary No.122: Saturday, 11th. April 2026

As well as my usual beers I enjoyed a Ukrainian vodka in the pub yesterday. However, I think it may have been a delayed reaction to the vodka that resulted in partial memory loss. I must have got the bus home and seem to have a vague memory of bumping into my neighbours and suggesting film night tonight, a ritual we have allowed to lapse in recent months. I must therefore spend a little time coming up with something they might like and which they have almost certainly not seen.

Returning to the pub, regulars and visitors do not often notice that there are two full-size flags on the ceiling, one of Ukraine and the other of Devon. More people seem to recognise the Ukrainian flag rather than the Devon one, which I think may due to it not being the green, white and black celtic flag that everyone is familiar with but the formal ‘coat of arms’ flag with the county crest and the motto ‘Auxilio Divino’ – ‘by divine aid’.

Why a Ukrainian flag? Well, the landlord was born in Newton Abbot but with Ukrainian parentage. Plus we all like to do what we can to support Ukraine. That is why Ukrainian vodka is always in stock, but it doesn’t explain why I have only just got around to sampling it yesterday. It is rather good and of course I sampled it neat. If I was to mix anything with it I would probably choose sparkling water. However, after temporary partial memory loss I suspect I shall not be sampling it again for a while!