HIT THE NORTH

Last night we said farewell to Waterbeach, after 20 flat years, and headed to Walkley in Sheffield.

Farewell to all that

I’d like to say it was a fond Farewell, but Tier 2 doesn’t allow you to pop in the Sun for a swift 2 pints, so the Chung Wa had to do. Britain’s finest Chinese.

Here’s proof we left Waterbeach. James’s acting career has rather stalled.

2:20hrs later we were trying to park up near the Estate Agents in Crookes, and a mere hour later we were in our new house, unpacking cupboards. I think Mrs RM forgot to pack my Bass glass.

The big appeal of Sheffield is the hills. Walking burns off calories that can easily be replaced in pubs.

If they ever re-open.

James lived next door to the Wellington for 2 years and never went in. How did I bring him up so badly?

We walked past that classic (well, it has loads of beers) on an amble through a sad city centre.

But life will return. Before I left I got my parents to get a vaccination this Sunday. Wow.

Walkley is a bit vegan hipster in parts, but our first Chinese takeaway as official Northerners was proper Old School.

And I DID manage some cask (Abbeydale) , in milk bottles from the chatty Walkley Beer Co.

But it’s not much fun without the codgers, is it?

Anyway, a lot of long days moving boxes and patiently listening to Mrs RM explaining her wallpaper plans lie ahead, so please pray for Tier 2 on the 16th.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

46 thoughts on “HIT THE NORTH”

  1. I am looking forward to reading about your adventures oop North -have to say that my knowledge of Sheffield is limited (if you live in Leeds ,you never bother with Sheffield ) & when my lad was at Uni,invitations to visit were rare (never actually -apart from dropping off & picking up ) but I know,as do you,the pubs are splendid -my husband dreams of Pale Rider. Enjoy !

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    2. When I first moved to Sheffield, more than 20 years ago, my new work colleagues were a bit confused. They weren’t sure whether to hate me because I was a southerner (born in Brighton, grew up in Hemel Hempstead, Luton Town fan), or to hate me because I came from Leeds (12 years residence in that fine city, children both born there, Leeds Rhinos fan). So they just decided to hate me.

      Fortunately, I haven’t met anyone at all like that in all my subsequent years in this lovely town, so I’m pretty sure Martin won’t either, and the fact that I’ve lived here longer than anywhere else suggests that it’s a great place to live. Oh, and the pubs are splendid, but you knew that.

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    3. Yes, Pauline, I grew up near Nottingham and Derby but only bothered with the first. I hardly know Derby at all – it often works out like that doesn’t it?

      I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Sheffield over the years though, and I think that you’ll get on fine there, Martin.

      I’m impressed by your decisiveness and action – I don’t like moving. I’ve done too much of it to want any more.

      Wishing all of you the very best in your new home.

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  2. Thanks for writing about this big move, and hats off to you for all the work that stands behind it. I shudder to think how much we’ll need to do for our next move– it’s at least 7 years off, and I reckon we’ll need all 7 of those to get ready for it!

    Now, if you’re going to get a pun into the name of your carryout place, you can hardly do better than “Wok This Way.”

    Will you have to adopt a northern accent now? 😉

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  3. One of our codgers, sorry, regulars, is the ex landlord of the Welly. Only been in since he left a few years ago but it’s a great pub in one of my favourite cities. Enjoy Sheffield!

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  6. Good luck to you both in your new home. Handily placed when nearer normality returns for raids in all directions. Hope you took all those programmes from Steve Earle with you. Will be expecting reports from teams like Oughtibridge War Memorial Social Club FC.

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  7. Yes, good luck and best wishes to you all in your new home, but with Kent highly unlikely to make it into Tier 2 next week, I don’t think I will be praying for you!

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  8. “Farewell to all that”

    I see a possible man shed/pub in the photo above!

    “but Tier 2 doesn’t allow you to pop in the Sun for a swift 2 pints”

    Bugger.

    “James’s acting career has rather stalked.”

    Dunno. He could be the next James Bond!
    (oh, wait; that’s already been decided)

    “I think Mrs RM forgot to pack my Bass glass.”

    Tsk, tsk. From someone who has moved (stops to count) seven times since I’ve been married… you pack important items yourself!

    “Walking burns off calories that can easily be replaced in pubs.”

    Any strenuous exercise can do that (wink, wink). 🙂

    “James lived next door to the Wellington for 2 years and never went in. How did I bring him up so badly?”

    Sigh. Kids these days.
    (and in earlier times as well from what historians say)

    “Before I left I got my parents to get a vaccination this Sunday.”

    Well, it is flu season. 😉

    “but our first Chinese takeaway as official Northerners was proper Old School.”

    Blimey. I bet they worked on the name first and then decided on what business it should be. 🙂

    “And I DID manage some cask (Abbeydale) , in milk bottles from the chatty Walkley Beer Co.”

    Hopefully that isn’t it in the photo below!

    “But it’s not much fun without the codgers, is it?”

    Oight! Look in the mirror. 😉

    “so please pray for Tier 2 on the 16th.”

    Will do! Someone should bloody enjoy it! (sigh)*

    * – we’ve had to cancel going to see our lads (and grandson!) this Christmas due to new ‘restrictions’ put in place**

    ** – I’m beginning to see why the French had a certain penchant for guillotines way back when. 😉

    Cheers

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  11. No Greene King XX Mild but next door to Will and forty minutes from Peter can’t be bad.
    I wish you both all the very best for your future in Sheffield.

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  14. “Walkley is a bit vegan hipster in parts.” That’s good indicator of the early stage of rising property values 😉

    All the best in your new location – not sure I’d be happy with that kind of uprooting, but we’re all different.

    If normality ever returns you will have to organise a Proper Day Out in Sheffield 😀

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      1. They can submit a long list, and we can adjudicate based on:
        1. Easy walking
        2. Lunch options
        3. Proper pubness
        4. Availability of BBB
        5. Including the Sam Smith’s pub
        😛

        I’m not really familiar with Sheffield at all, but I get the impression that it’s one of those places where most of the best pubs are dispersed around the fringes of the city centre.

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      2. Stafford Paul and Sheffield Hatter can advise, but certainly the pubs are very concentrated round the edges. There’s a good six pub crawl just to the north that BRAPA, Richard and Roger Protz did.

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      4. T’other Mudgie,
        Yes, “most of the best pubs are dispersed around the fringes of the city centre” is about what I’ve found although Humphrey’s Brown Bear is just a cockstride from the railway station.
        Will will surely know a few Proper Pubs we’ve missed. .

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    2. Thanks 👍
      Yes, I’m a bit old for the upheaval but the flatlands were wearing on me.
      I’d have preferred Preston or Stockport, though Stocky never seemed to have much central housing and the southern bit is very rough as you know 😊

      A day out in Sheffield would be good.

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      1. Martin,
        “Stocky never seemed to have much central housing” – maybe, but you might have got planning permission to convert Winters to a residential property.
        “The southern bit is very rough” – or “rough as a bear’s arse” as the late Rhys Jones used to say.

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      5. “A day out in Sheffield would be good.”

        Yes, I wouldn’t mind a day out in Sheffield; last visit to a pub was 4 November, of course. I’d like to have a day out in Sheffield any time except 16 to 18 April 2021, when I think it might be quite nice to be somewhere else for a change.

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      1. When your dear lady goes to the bar I’m sure that she’ll have some suitable ripostes – as Mrs. E does – for the inevitable “doesn’t ‘e look after ya?” from the bar flies.

        No, hang on.

        That’s Halifax.

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