I’m a bit worried Mrs RM has started reading this blog.
“You need to say I didn’t FORCE you to look at carpets with me” she said today.
“You didn’t force me” I meekly replied.
Then she forced me to look at carpets with her. Again. Is this what Tier 5 looks like ?
“Yes, dear“
“I like the one that cleans up its own coffee spills“
“Herringbone, mmmm“
All to the strains of Tiffany, Starship and the Kids from Fame. Sheff loves its long hair and ’80s.
Anyhow, back in that Norton Woodseats, I did at least get a walk this time.
The Spoons really does look “lively“. Is it, anyone ?
More time today to appreciate the local businesses; Batty’s Butchers and Baldock’s Fishmonger the standouts.
You can trust a man called Horace, I feel.
And you can trust a micropub called “guzzle” in lower-case. 4/5 on for the next GBG, if there is one.
The other pubs along the A61 are more trad. I’ve put the Big Tree straight in at No. 33 on my list of “Sheffield Pubs to Visit When This Ends”, on account of the Greene King IPA.
When I’m allowed in, I’ll ask them why it’s called the Big Tree.
The Abbey is named after Beauchief Abbey (“Very friendly congregation, and delightful BCP Prayer Book services” says Phillip). Abbetydale, Bradfield, Abbot AND Doom Bar, though we can but hope it’ll just be Doom Bar when it re-opens.
Which brought us, at the end of half a mile of retail outlets and bumper-to-bumper traffic, to the tranquillity of Greaves Park.
A little slice of the Peak in town, it’s just wonderful. As is pretty much of all of Sheffield so far.
As we left the throng of dog walkers and pashmina wearers a gent said to his strolling companion “Full disclaimer… I HAVE lost one of your presents“.
That’s so South Sheffield. I had to admit to Mrs RM;
“Full disclaimer, I’ve lost ALL of her presents“
retiredmartin 
Should it not be just Abbot in the Abbey?
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Too obvious.
Yes, yes it should, Scott.
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And maybe one of those Trappist beers.
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You mean the Stella?
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I heard that it got its name when kids played as lumber jacks in the park across the street. Like in “The Big Trees”. Sheffield is apparently a town with a fascination for US television shows. What’s next? Fonzi’s?
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That’s the best explanation I’ve heard, Dave. It must be true.
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I thought it was because Michael Palin was born three miles from the pub and Michael is probably best known as the lumberjack of “The Lumberjack Song” during his time with Monty Python.
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Too much thought there, Paul. You need a pub.
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Yes, indeed.
Some say that it was originally named the Masons Arms and renamed the Big Tree due to the large oak tree at the front but that’s too obvious to be true. Also that Wesley is said to have preached here but his temperance message can’t have been taken much notice of.
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Temperance in all things. Oh, sorry, it’s moderation, isn’t it?
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Moderation is true temperance.
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Far be it for anybody to suggest the Odd Couple have just arrived….
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Everything to excess; moderation is for monks.
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A window stuffed full of drink, but absolutely nothing I could drink. I’ve gone full beer snob!
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What, not even Tetley’s Strong Ale?
(He said in the voice of the late Peter Sallis)
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Def the Tets.
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*oops it’s “Smooth Ale”
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I’d happily drink any of those in the Tetley pub across the road, rather than the crafty keg Squawk IPA I enjoyed tonight in my own house.
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Mrs RM making you drink at home again?
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I can still justify it as “research” at the moment, Dave.
Fascinating seeing what the options are in all the supermarkets and beer places.
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I may start using that term research.
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“I’m a bit worried Mrs RM has started reading this blog.”
You’re worrying about that NOW?
“Herringbone, mmmm“
I thought that was a type of twill, or a fleshless fish. Besides, how the hell do you lay something at a 45 degree angle?
“I did at least get a walk this time.”
With regards to the OS map, I feel sorry for all those poor folk still living in Mill houses in this day and age.
“Batty’s Butchers and Baldock’s Fishmonger the standouts.”
And from the looks of the backwards letters in the window of Batty’s, there’s some sort of curry place across the road?
“When I’m allowed in, I’ll ask them why it’s called the Big Tree.”
Because Greene King is one of the Big Three but the fellow stating that has a bit of an accent?*
(* – over here that would be those from Newfoundland who say ‘tree’ for ‘three’)
“though we can but hope it’ll just be Doom Bar when it re-opens.”
Don’t be picky. Just be glad when it finally DOES open!
“As is pretty much of all of Sheffield so far.”
Looks luverly.
“Full disclaimer, I’ve lost ALL of her presents“
(slow golf clap) 🙂
Cheers
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In 200 years time, an alien species will read this and wonder “Did he mean full “disclosure” ?”.
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Greetings from Tier 4. By mid January I expect us to be in Tier 6.
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Herringbone laying pattern?
Beware the room with not square corners.
#neverassume
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“Beware the room with not square corners” – that’s the room I stayed in in Preston last year at the Sun, built on an acute angled street corner. Quite disconcerting it was but at £30 a night I wasn’t complaining.
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