Was having a chat with John and Nancy White the other night (I was on the cadge, as usual!) and they were telling me how much they enjoy their time at their caravan in Blackpool.

Nancy was telling me how they’ve made plenty of friends down there and on occasion they’ll take a friend or two down to stay with them. As it happens, this particular weekend, they’d taken Peter (Barnowl) and Linda Barns. Now why doesn’t it surprise me that there’s a tale to tell where Barnowl is involved!

Joseph Woodcock is a Wigan chap who has a caravan near to Nancy and John and by all accounts he’s a bit of a character. Nancy said, “Joseph is a lovely fella and good company around the campsite. He likes nothing better than a bargain and when he was offered a large bottle of Bacardi for a tenner, he jumped at the chance. As it happens Peter and Linda were down that weekend and Peter mentioned to him that Linda was partial to a drop of Bacardi and so Joseph sold it on to him for the obligatory £10.”

It turns out that, later that night, the bottle was cracked open and with the rest of them supping beer or wine, the Bacardi was left to Linda to consume. Nearly half a bottle later, Linda was worried that she was getting too used to the stuff as she felt it wasn’t having ‘much affect’. “I know I’ve had a drink,” says Linda, with a slight slur, “but I should be a lot drunker than this with what I’ve had!”

Peter has a swig from the bottle. “IT’S BLOODY WATER!”

Apparently Linda ‘sobered up’ instantly!

Anyway, it had been Joseph who had been conned and he immediately ‘refunded’ Barnowl his tenner.

I’m waiting for my invite down to Blackpool but I think I’ll take my own booze!!