In case you’re wondering how I get away with so much time away from home, I was wondering the same thing myself.
Mind, Mrs RM was simultaneously enjoying nights away in Greenwich, Brighton and Brentford, though admittedly there may be some work involved as well there.
“Pub ticking IS work” says Mark Crilley, possibly.
Well, it certainly is life. No other pursuit would have taken me to Langstrothdale with a one man tent on a Sunday night.
Admit it, you’ve never heard of Langstrothdale, tucked away from the usual honeypots of the Yorkshire Dales at the top of Wharfedale.
The drovers track down from Hawes was one of the most beautiful journeys I’ve done in the UK, even better than the A141 from Chatteris to March, and obviously all I passed on the way were suspicious sheep.
Black Sheep in Hubberholme’s George, an increasingly good sign. As is the humour.
But what sort of pub do you get away from the posh hotels on the A684, when the day trippers are back in Leeds.
An irreverent, timeless gem, I thought.
“Just a half ! Hardly worth me getting up for” said with a wink.
The Bitter was superb, NBSS 3.5 easy, but the banter with visitors and a few Old Boys alike made it special. Shame I can’t remember any of it, but there you go.
Outside loos too, though I had to seek guidance from the lady smoking outside which one to use. What’s wrong with “Blokes” and “Sheilas”.
On to my bed for the night and my last two ticks for North Yorkshire.
retiredmartin 
Your “Tups” dilemma reminded me of one of my favorite BRAPA lines. “I thought the toilets were marked “Newmarket” and “Cambridge” and spent 5 minutes trying to guess which was the more masculine place, before I realised they were just random signs.”
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I assume Ed managed to get your name for his memory bank? He could take any beer and make it worth drinking. One lunchtime he pulled through a pint of Tetley and made me taste it carefully because it could go off in the pipes in half an hour. He was ready with the next glass. Top bloke.
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He may well have done! Sometimes you just remember places being exceptionally friendly and pubby.
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I remember that!
Classic BRAPA.
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“you’ve never heard of Langstrothdale” – indeed, but a name derived from an anagram of Tangled Harlots is likely to be one of Yorkshire’s best kept secrets.
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I admit I have never heard of Langstrothdale. I am not proud of it, but it is true.
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I thought we would have done, too. Does it have a capital city?
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I don’t know. I should imagine so. Let’s go with Langston. I’m losing points here aren’t I.
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The metropolis of Hubberholme, presumably.
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Well it had 3 houses a pub and six sheep….
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Well I’ll bet there are times when it *feels* like work, what with all the micros that turn out to be closed, the watering of potted plants, the Googling to double check the names of 1980s pop songs, etc. 😉
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I’m always terrified I’ll spell Kagagoogoo wrong and get torn to shreds by pedants in the comments.
It was much easier writing ministerial briefings that said nothing.
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