Another 5 hour return journey to Sheffield, another deposit into Big Yellow Storage (Ellie Brooks and The Fall LPs today), another journey through the Tier 3 wastelands of South Yorkshire and the East Midlands on the way home.
The lack of any indoor seating (whether cafe or pub) till you reach Peterborough is beginning to grind. I was half wishing the Dukeries Tap in Worksop would be open for take-outs so I could have my first GBG tick of the month, but no luck.
But we’re still allowed to enjoy the sun, unless we’re Tier 2 or 3 attempting to enjoy it in Cornwall, and I paused awhile in bucolic Rotherham Borough to enjoy Anston.
But ONLY South Anston, mind. I don’t want to use all my potential material too early.
South Anston has a Guide pub (again), but is really all about the church on the hill.
I followed an old lady under the arch into St James, before becoming a bit self-conscious and heading towards Kiveton woods.
Three little birds sat on the fence, then flew away. Probably to Tier 1.
On the lane down to the High Street I stopped to admire the 15th century wood carving, depicting Father Christmas delivering Good Beer Guides in Kiveton Park.
It’s an undemonstrative little village, with small pleasures.
I would have LOVED a half of IPA, even if I had to have a “substantial meal” with it.
It’s so sad, seeing village pubs in Tier 3 deprived of their December custom having invested so much to keep their customers safe. I guess the same is true of the 3 village churches, deprived of the midnight drunks on Christmas Eve.
Ah, the Loyal Trooper. You served me a fantastic pint of Tetley in 2006 and I’ve always wanted to go back.
Simon visited in 2016, just before he recruited a witty blog title writer.
Never mind the title, this was classic BRAPA content, underpinned by pork chop man and blind groper, two of his most enduring pub characters. Peter Postlethwaite is slated for the role of pork chop man in the film.
“Pete’s wife had put his pork chop in the oven two hours ago, he wondered if it’d be done yet. “Very crispy” was the general consensus.“
“Tempting as it was to stay the full hour and risk being groped by an old blind man.”
Here’s Si looking punk. I assume it was taken in a Brunning & Price later that day; perhaps Simon will confirm.
retiredmartin 
Really sad to see those empty pubs in the photos. Si photos give one hope though. Our ray of sunshine😀 He looks more Clash like to me though. Does that count as punk?
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Not in my book. Cod reggae punks.
BRAPA is only into the comedy punk that 🇺🇸 don’t get. 😉
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Looks more to me that he washed his trousers at too high a temperature.
Isn’t everything open/permitted from the 23rd to the 27th, for Bacchanalian excesses that even your average Tory PM would find slightly debauched?
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“another journey through the Tier 3 wastelands of South Yorkshire and the East Midlands on the way home.”:
It’s like Mad Max!
(which, come to think of it, was set in 2021) 😉
“But we’re still allowed to enjoy the sun,”
The Beatles sanctioned that many years ago with one of their songs.
“I followed an old lady under the arch into St James”
No comment. 🙂
“I followed an old lady under the arch into St James”
I’m guessing one was named Peter, and one named Paul? 😉
“depicting Father Christmas delivering Good Beer Guides in Kiveton Park.”
Obviously pre 2020 days, as the recent GBGs wouldn’t make his sack bulge that much.
“I would have LOVED a half of IPA, even if I had to have a “substantial meal” with it.”
Too right mate!
“It’s so sad, seeing village pubs in Tier 3 deprived of their December custom having invested so much to keep their customers safe.”
Sigh, there’s a lot of that going around. My brother in France is not thrilled that all the bars and restaurants are closed. And my sister in Ontario (Canada) told me it’s the same bloody thing there! I’m beginning to think Guy Fawkes had the right idea.
“Simon visited in 2016, just before he recruited a witty blog title writer.”
I think he just matured; or wised up to stealing ideas from you. 🙂
“Never mind the title, this was classic BRAPA content, underpinned by pork chop man and blind groper, two of his most enduring pub characters.”
I’m at a loss for words!
“perhaps Simon will confirm.”
He’s too busy watching Westerns. 🙂
Cheers
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