New Barn Farm

Cris the Farmer

I first met Chris Evens whilst working one cold winters evening at the Kings Head Hotel in Usk. It was my first shift in the place and the time ticked by in slow loud clicks. I was finding my bearings behind the bar, soaking up it's quirky dusty atmosphere, speculating at the peculiar decorations and getting to feel the quirks of this quiet country pub. Steve Musto, the parsimonious proprietor of that habitual place really deserves his own description, but for now I will just say that he is a character whom will be remembered long after he has poured his last pint. Anyway, what I actually wanted to do is tell about how I first met Chris.

He came in late, about 10 o'clock, ordered a J2O with no ice and stood quietly at the end of the bar. I wondered what he was all about: I guessed from his composure and the gray in his beard that he must be in his mid 50's. He seemed to be waiting for people, staring off into some dark corner of the pub. I could see by the way his gaze was focused that he wasn't actually looking at anything, maybe just meditating on the time passing. He wore a dusty looking flat cap and a huge hi-vis coat which had been seen more visibly in days gone by. I turned my attention to a small puddle of beer that had accumulated somewhere on the bar and left him to his staring.

Ten slow minutes past and a second man came striding through the door and put his arm around Cris giving him a friendly shake which seemed to jiggle him from his distant place and put brought out a warm smile on his face. The new customer looked to me and said "A pint of Timmothy Taylor for me young sir, fill that glass up for Cris and tell me how on earth you have found your way to working for Mr Musto" and he looked at Chris who said " How ya gettin on Jim? I'll Have a half of Timmy Taylor- but let me get these."

I was glad to have some people to serve; I was beginning to wonder how Mr Musto must justify employing me to work on such a quiet shift so pulling a couple of drinks for these two old time friends did wonders for my moral.

"Back on the half's eh Cris?" Jim said looking down at Cris as he scraped around his pockets for some change. "Came off my bike again on Friday night and I woke up Saturday with a sore head I haven't managed to forget. Straight in that same ditch! Think its best I stick to the half's while these roads are icy." Jim was just nodding his head in agreement when Mr Musto turned his head around the corner " In the ditch again Cris, should be more careful! These half pint's aren't going to do my business any good." Cris and Jim laughed and Mr Musto went on. "Maybe you should just get yourself a new coat, something warm and reflective!"

Cris and Jim were true regulars in every way. I came call them the Sunday Night Drinkers and I looked forward to that last part of my Sunday shift. That's where I first got to know Cris. 

Cris the Farmer: Art

A representation of a pig

Roy

My hope for this blog is that it should somehow encourage me  to make some progress with my photography project. I actually have several that I am steadily working on but " A Representation of Chris and Roy" is my number one most important. Whenever I find myself with time I drive my Micra over to New Barn Farm to catch up with my buds Chris and Roy, two best friends living here in Wales. Their adventures are really important to me and I want to find a way of sharing this feeling with my photography. I can't divulge too much in this posting, as time presses, but here is a picture of Roy. Stay tuned.