Pretty Poisons

 Threw a glass darkly.....

Paranoid parolee Dennis Pitt (Anthony Perkins) strives to fit into everyday life working at a chemical factory but soon comes to believe the company is purposely polluting the town's water supply. Befriended by an attractive high school drum majorette, Sue Ann Stepanek (Tuesday Weld), Dennis is delighted when she approves of his scheme to pretend to be a CIA agent in order to destroy the factory. The plan goes awry, and the hapless Dennis becomes a pawn in Sue Ann's own devious plot.

I think I understand.....

Europe may not be the cradle of silverisation, but it may well be the overpriced and sullied double room of world civil ice station.....

Pretty Poison is/was a film that runs through my mind. Although it is/was about pollution (and what can be less current?) I hold the title as an emblem for the drinks industry.....

As a recovering Corona addict (my earliest teens were spent in thrall to the fizziest of drinks) I now seek solace in what the ancients called Alcohol [The word "alcohol" derives from the Arabic kohl (Arabic: الكحل, romanised: al-kuḥl), a powder used as an eyeliner. The first part of the word (al-) is the Arabic definite article, equivalent to the in English].....  Anyway, as a recovering Corona (and ginger beer) addict, I spend my life in search of the elixir of eternal yoof (sic).....

And in Germany (and the Netherlands) it comes in many beautifully presented forms), such as simple, natural, unadulterated bottled beers:

But also as craft drafts:

Clear and thirst-aswaging Pils:

Which may or may not be accompanied by some kind of local Schnapps:

Or it may be Black Beer -  a speciality of the old GDR:

Or it could be some of the delicious local wines, which rarely find their way to the UK.  Here's a Baumberger 

[1855 KAM JOHANN BAUMBERGER NACH MANDEL, 

UM HIER EINE FAMILIE ZU GRÜNDEN UND DIE ERSTEN 

REBEN ZU PFLANZEN.

ÜBER 150 JAHRE SPÄTER SIND WIR EIN WEINGUT, 

EINE FAMILIE, DREI GENERATIONEN, 13 HEKTAR REBFLÄCHE 

UND ÜBER 50.000 STÖCKE.]

With Ápfelstrudel.....

And I love Riesling too: [Germany is famous for producing high-quality Riesling wines that can range from bone-dry to intensely sweet. Riesling wines showcase the grape's unique ability to express characteristics of the terrier {sic} and the winemaking process. They often have aromas of citrus, peach, apricot and floral notes, combined with a distinct acidity that make them versatile for pairing with various cuisines.]

With Spargel:

But a light beer is nice with it too:

Though dunkel beer (or rot wein) goes better with three different meats {duck, venison and wild boar}:

Anyway when all is said and done some kind of flaming digestif is helpful:

Though they don't all ignite:

I should explain that it is not only me that enjoys these tipples:

And it isn't only in Germany that such habits are enjoyed {this is Amsterdam}:

Prost!

Oude Genever....  Proost!

Don't let me be misunderstood.......  I am not selling anything - 

But if you fancy joining me in a convivial beverage, just send a pigeon.....