retiredmartin

All-day gigs test your patience, don’t they ?

I managed the lovely Winnie Raedler and Stoner at the Roundhouse before deciding I needed a walk and a tick. Or two.

Let’s finish East London, shall we ?

Overground to Stratford, past the craft enclave of Hackney Wick, then underground to Leyton.

The Hammers are playing the Magpies, and it seems the locals are restless. I make a mental note to get back to Stratford before the station gets clogged with irate Iron fans.

E10 is the poor relation of E17 and E11, but Leyton does have the Orient Supporters Club and the Technical, which looks like the biggest pub in the UK from outside.

The Coach & Horses looks the sort of place that served Draught Bass before craft.

Open plan, heaving, a cacophony of noise and misheard orders.

On the bar, a Sharps’s, a cool Crate Golden (NBSS 3) from the Wick and a cider looks a good range though everyone is drinking Pravha, of course. When did Pravha overtake Stella ?

I’m not sure if it was the noise, the off-putting sight of Phil Thompson pontificating on the giant screen, or the duff glass, but I couldn’t linger.

Actually, it was Google Maps instructing me to run across the road, Stafford Paul style, and catch the No. 58 to Wanstead Park.

Boys and girls, I’d never been to Wanstead Flats before.

My first ever GBG tick in E12 awaited, but I lingered to admire Wanstead and Forest Hill in all its glory.

Local tensions about the national game run high, and not just at the London Stadium.

Manor Park houses a wonderful little community pub facing the Flats.

Ignore the Greene King white walls in the Golden Fleece. Ignore the “Craft”. And today, ignore the IPA.

Yes, I went for the “Truman’s” with the hipster on the clip. #Shallow.

My notes say “Community melting pot”, “Drunk cockneys”, “Mmmmm Bop”, “Barking dogs”, “Shut up Liverpool fan”.

But two photos would tell you all that and more.

Si will love it.

You even get Einstein quotes at the station.