Mrs RM finishes her Scottish IT assignment this week. I’ll be pleased to have her home.
It does mean the end of six months spent in country house hotels like the Buccleuch (“book-loo“) and views like this on St Cuthberts Way.

We don’t have views like that in Waterbeach. It’s very flat.
I made Mrs RM do a circuit of St Boswells when I popped up to tick pubs meet her last Wednesday, when the hotel was full of hikers and the afore-mentioned descendants of Robert the Bruce.
As you’ll see, it’s all happening here.

It’s a one pub town, and you’d struggle to call it a pub given opening hours at the Buccleuch seem tied to gastro dining, and the best banter comes from drunken conversation with suits of armour.
You know what sort of place you’re staying in when the tables in the “bar” are filled with gun cartridges.

But let’s not be unkind. The Buccleuch Burger is magnificent.

And they serve real ale as well. It says so on the door.

You do have to ask, as the ales are carefully hidden behind the straw box of Pipers, another hotel affectation.
On the first night, the Foxy Blonde (I’m using my Mrs RM indulgence, remember) was superb, an example of how good local (and ubiquitous) Born in the Borders can be. I started to wonder if the Buccleuch might get its Beer Guide place back.
But on my last night, the Hobson’s choice was Greene King IPA was practically undrinkable, without actually being off. A couple of businessmen were drinking it though. Business people drink anything.
The chips look a bit peely-wally though.
Maybe the GK was intended as vinegar to spice them up a bit?
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That picture doesn’t do them justice, really crisp and fluffy. Would have been better if IPA was vinegar, could have taken it back for a Tennents. Just tasted weird.
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They do look rather pale and flabby, it must be said. Maybe part of the new public health orthodoxy that nothing can be properly cooked.
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I’ll get Mrs RM to bring you some back and I’ll post them to Stockport. Do you like Ketchup or mayo on them.
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Just salt and vinegar. And none of that “red salt”, either.
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“Beer of the Month was the Greene King Black IPA in the Combermere,” 02/05/18
“the Hobson’s choice was Greene King IPA was practically undrinkable,” 29/05/18
God punishes heretics in mysterious ways.
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And black is the colour of the Devil. Spooky (as is you remembering this rubbish).
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No sparkler means no Autovac.
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“Quite good”
Nice sunset (or is it sunrise?).
“We don’t have views like that in Waterbeach. It’s very flat.”
I had great views when I worked in camp in northern BC years ago:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3KqwbI4KYsOfshvi1
“As you’ll see, it’s all happening here.”
I see Facebook has a server farm there, called Hawkslee. 🙂
“Loch Ness Monster not spotted”
Unless he was on holiday, no. 😉
“A couple of businessmen were drinking it though. Business people drink anything.”
Of course. For them it’s free (as their on a per diem). 🙂
Cheers
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I was perplexed but curious about the donkey sanctuary, until I saw the shotgun cartridges.
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HAAAAAAAAAAAA
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“Mrs RM finishes her Scottish IT assignment this week. I’ll be pleased to have her home”.
Presumably as housekeeper or houseminder whilst you focus on those pesky ticks on IOM, Scottish Islands and Jersey ?
Is “The Lamplighter” still in the GBG ? And is “The Peirson” – a Bass outlet ?
I have asked someone else recently, but as I cannot remember who I asked, I do not know if they have replied.
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Lamplighter and Peirson are still GBG (there are laws on these things) and Peirson still Bass. Someone went to Jersey recently but I can’t remember who ! (I last went before this blog started).
And on the first point – No Comment.
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