Whisky a really fine one

I enter all the competitions in the Shropshire Star, usually without success, but just before Christmas I opened my door to a young man clutching a bottle.

He thrust the bottle towards me and said: "Congratulations from the Shropshire Star, you are a prize winner."

I examined the bottle and saw that it was whisky. I put the bottle on my desk to show my wife. She said: "You don't drink whisky."

"I know but it may come in handy if we have visitors." I should have kept my mouth shut! Shortly after my neighbour, accompanied by her sister, came in. "What's that?" she said. "It's a prize from the Shropshire Star," I said proudly.

I took the hint and offered her and her sister a drink. After all I had a full bottle. They drank and my neighbour twirled her empty glass.

"Good whisky," she said. I poured another. They left in a merry mood. About an hour later an old friend arrived and also enjoyed a glass. When he left my wife said: "Put that whisky away before anyone else sees it."

The next morning my wife was baking when she asked for the whisky to flavour scones. I retrieved the bottle, but my neighbour came in. "You're not using this for cooking? It's far too good." My wife poured her a drink.

"Go on then," I said. "Use what you need and I'll put the bottle away." She got a thimbleful of liquid. I took the empty bottle and put it on my desk. I'm looking at it now. Thank you Shropshire Star for my whisky. It was excellent - or so I'm told!

Jim Wood, Holmer Lake