Into the Valleys, as the Skids would say, albeit in a slightly croakier voice nowadays than in 1979. It’s been a Skids sort of month.
As so often in Wales, the plainest towns have the greatest frames.
I make no great claims for Merthyr Tydfil, again without a Beer Guide pub to call its own in 2018. But it has a great park at Cyfarthfa, a riotous Spoons and a Boots where we acquired emergency formula milk for a young Matthew in 2002.
Matthew and James enjoyed the Brecon steam railway more than we did; these days the Taff Trail is the attraction north of town.
I had the little waterfalls near the Aberglais all to myself, a welcome but worrying feature in Wales.
By 10.45 the Aberglais already had one Old Boy deep in conversation with the Landlord on matters of great import. Pubs that open up early to give Professional Drinkers a head start on Gentlefolk Diners are OK with me.
You can see why it’s in the Guide with two solid beers and a weird one.
And you can see why you’d make the trip out here on a Summer day to enjoy your ice cool Carling with a view down to the bubbling stream.
The miniature gardens are nearly as good as my Dad’s.
Sadly, the beer was near undrinkable, and the flowers got an impromptu watering. I’m sure they welcomed a bit of diacetyl.
“Lovely garden” I said, as I left the Carling glass on the bar.
retiredmartin 
Attempting steps like those should only be allowed to send you in the direction of the best Bass of the year.
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Jeez – if that pint was any flatter they could have served it in an envelope.
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Everything about that pub looked good. Shame about the beer. But thanks for the Skids; for three minutes or so I was 18 again.
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Perhaps you are, Bill. Time/space dimensions and all that.
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“As so often in Wales, the plainest towns have the greatest frames.”
You can tell it’s Wales by their frugalness with vowels (e.g. ffrwd isaf and uchaf).
“Too many. Perhaps three to many”
I take it the CWRW HAF doesn’t come in pints?
“The miniature gardens are nearly as good as my Dad’s.”
I thought that was the Brecon Railway for a second. 🙂
““Lovely garden” I said, as I left the Carling glass on the bar.”
Always polite I see. 😉
Cheers
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“Cwrw haf” means summer ale. It comes in pints.
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Ta Bill.
Sadly some of my attempts at humour fall short.* 🙂
Cheers!
* – my darling wife can corroborate this. (LOL)
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I’m tempted to go through all of Russ’s comments and mark all the ones that are “attempts at humour” with an an umlaut so readers know he’s joking.
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Three ales on – there is a definite theme developing and it’s not hugely healthy for cask outside of city centres…Plant feeding is a popular pastime! Those pictures are changing my perception of Merthyr.
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Merthyr is a bit like Cannock or Redditch – bog standard centre surrounded by great beauty. Redditch has slightly wealthier suburbs, of course.
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Indeed!
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Great Skids tune! They are/have getting/got back together and are playing at Derby in Feb 2019! On my to do list
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Duncan (Pubmeister) was playing their new LP in the Isle of Man – sounds like a Skids/Big Country mash-up. Better than you’d expect.
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I look forward to it but if they don’t play Sweet Suburbia I want my money back!
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