'My life as a licensee is strange and mysterious'

I have to say The Ashfields Hotel has opened some strange and mysterious worlds for me since I took over.

Here's me thinking, "Ooo how lovely, pull a few pints, have a few games of pool, maybe clear a table or 500".

However, every day brings mysterious events never thought of nor anticipated — which is good, in a Zen sort of a way, but goes some way to explain why I'm so rubbish at turning in my blog to anything that resembles a timetable.

Of course, most of the staff at the pub think I am a complete nut case, which may mean these things are particular to me and my strange way of viewing what I see as the logical path, rather than how the rest of the licensing trade would go about things (i.e. those who know what they are doing), but are no less mysterious for that.

Standing for election​

Since our last encounter, I have been on the political trail, Independent Candidate for Kirkby West.

Both my Area Manager and my Dad had the same look on their faces that you probably have now. I understand, but it all makes perfect sense to me; after moaning about the processes at the Council for months on end, what better way is there to sort things out than get elected to the Council. You see?

Even Mr Spock would see that as logical. Unfortunately, the electorate around here will vote for a stick with a red scarf on it so although I did amazingly well (442 votes), it was the shortest political career in history.

I did meet a lot of great people though, and had a riot at the count, rolling home at around 6.00am, so it may be round-the-bend thinking, but well worth the effort.

Although my official counter (and best mate), Liz, was very disappointed as I had not provided her with a clipboard like the party officials had. We won't make that mistake again. There was a definite, positive correlation between the number of clipboards and the number of votes. Mysterious, but true.

Wembley​

We were invaded at stupid o'clock on Saturday morning by an army of Amber and Blue as Sammy the Stag and the other Mansfield Town supporters called in for breakfast on their way to Wembley.

We are not generally morning people, but Mansfield get to Wembley about as often as Accrington Stanley do, so we thought they should get a good send off and opened early especially for them.

It all made sense at the time, but looking back at all those grown men sporting blue and yellow wigs, I have to admit it was a tad surreal.

I am also writing this after my guest appearance on Radio Nottingham. Now, how many times do I get to go on the radio?

Not very often, as a general rule, but they rang me to ask if I was available to talk about internet access and laptops for everyone, because of the Silver Surfers club I hold at the pub — of course, attention seeking diva that I am, I was only too happy to oblige.

Gossip​

Along with either mine or the pub's appearances in the local press, letters to the editor, presentations, websites and the updating thereof, local business groups, music scene involvement, church and community groups, school and sporting events and a thousand other things that go on here, this pub malarkey is just about the most interesting thing I've ever done.

We also get to know every piece of gossip known to woman. Perfect.

So, yes, we still have a 'mare' over the equipment, the bills, the taxman, the wall that's fell down and all of the other nonsense that is part of our daily grind, but we are exactly where we should be — at the heart of our strange, varied, lovely and very mysterious little community.

And if you read about a famous footballer and his cougar girlfriend in the national press failing to gain a gagging order from the courts, yeah, that's right, it'll probably be me.

Karen Black is licensee of the Ashfields Hotel in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, North Nottinghamshire. She took over the pub in December 2010.​