HILLS & GROWLER-FILLS & BREAD CAKES – MY FIRST MONTH AS A NORTHERNER

I’m spending SO much time coming up with these blog titles.

I’ve TOO much time on my hands; perhaps I need a job. This looked interesting;

Image

Sadly it was too much effort to read the Job Description, but I assume they want someone to walk round taking photos of closed pubs. Can’t imagine who would want to do that.

Today marks a month in Sheffield, after finally retiring to The North.

Not the month I’d been hoping for, but far, far better than spending the last month stuck in the flatlands of the Fens. We’re glad we moved, and as soon as Mrs RM finishes the decoration I’m sure she’ll leave the house herself.

I’ve taken a critical look at the key differences between Waterbeach and Walkley.

Surprisingly, the biggest difference isn’t whippets. Or Warburtons. Folk here actually spend £4 on a loaf of sourdough, just like they do in Cambridge.

Hills

Sheffield has hills. It really does.

Not just the formal parks and ski slopes, either. A mere 10 minute walk down to the Chinese takeaway and back will walk off 437 calories, or 12% of your Crispy Beef and Singapore Rice content.

Who needs expensive gym membership when you can walk 4.999 miles from home, come back with a bag full of barm cakes, and STILL get fitter ?

Takeaways

We haven’t had many takeaways yet; only 3 using the Deliveroo App where we got free delivery for a fortnight, and a stunning Phad Thai from the Moor Market.

Taste of China and Noodle Inn Centro were pretty good, particularly matched with Doom Bar and Farmers Blonde,

but I’ve yet to find a Sheffield rival to Chung Hwa. Sadly, a visit home for a Chinese takeaway is not considered an essential journey, even outside Derbyshire.

Pubs

What’s a pub ?

Beer

Having slagged off folk who sit on sofas in their underpants drinking craft cans, we succumbed to drinking craft cans on the sofa. This one, perversely, came from Waterbeach via Hop Hideout.

But we didn’t drink it in our underpants, so that’s OK.

I had troubles with the birthday mini-keg,

but found greater joy with the 2 pints in a milk bottle from the Valley of Beer, which were a real treat till they stopped pubs offering even that.

But as someone who knows about these things said today,

Beer is no substitute for pubs.

In Waterbeach I had one great pub on my doorstep; here in Sheffield it’s 101, really.

Art and architecture

Yes, I’ve been to Sheffield many times before. And yes, Cambridge does have beauty, but here I’m finding wonder in the most unlikely places;

Oh, and the people are lovely. Our neighbours popped round with a gnome and apologised in advance if they were loud, as the chap was a big Sheffield United fan and made a lot of noise when they scored.

Should be safe for a few months, then.

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.

18 thoughts on “HILLS & GROWLER-FILLS & BREAD CAKES – MY FIRST MONTH AS A NORTHERNER”

  4. Looks like you’ve got a bit of home improvement going on there; if it makes you feel any better, my “pandemic project” involves adding some wainscoting to the dining area, in such a way that it’s guaranteed to take me 5 or 6 months to complete the thing. 🙂

    The slope on the road in that one photo puts me in mind of San Francisco! Is that what you encounter when you step out the front door? I see that sort of thing and I imagine that if you accidentally dropped a 1-pound coin it could potentially be a mile away by the time it came to a stop. 😉

    Greatly enjoyed this as always, both the writing and the photos; thanks for the time and care you put into it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks as always for feedback, Mark. Glad you’ve got a project !

      NB You’re mistaking me for Mrs RM ! I’ve never done a minute of DIY in my life. A house is somewhere you’re legally required to stay between trips out, and use a place to store your vinyl.

      Excellent spot on San Francisco (never been, always wanted to). That slope is 20 seconds round the corner. We seem to have bought a rare house on a relatively flat bit, but the 200 metres up from toward the main road is genuinely tough going.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. “I’m spending SO much time coming up with these blog titles.”

    Like you don’t have too much time on your hands? 😉
    (looks down)

    Whoops! See, I never read ahead!

    “Can’t imagine who would want to do that.”

    Talk about a dream job!

    “and as soon as Mrs RM finishes the decoration I’m sure she’ll leave the house herself.”

    (chokes) Sorry, I was taking a sip when I read that. Still finding it hard to breathe right. ‘Finishes decorating’? Guffaw! (and you’ve been married how long?)

    “Sheffield has hills. It really does.”

    Which is kinda odd as it has ‘field’ in its name.

    “A mere 10 minute walk down to the Chinese takeaway and back will walk off 437 calories, or 12% of your Crispy Beef and Singapore Rice content.”

    Blimey. The photo below looks like something from San Francisco.

    “We haven’t had many takeaways yet;”

    Of course not. That would defeat the burning calories thingy.

    “particularly matched with Doom Bar and Farmers Blonde,”

    I take it you had the (bottle) of Doom Bar while Mrs RM had the (keg) of Farmers Blonde? 😉

    “Sadly, a visit home for a Chinese takeaway is not considered an essential journey, even outside Derbyshire.”

    (slow golf clap)

    “What’s a pub ?”

    Sigh. Your blogging keeps them alive.

    “Having slagged off folk who sit on sofas in their underpants drinking craft cans,”

    I am confident in my masculinity that I don’t take offense. Besides, I never drink in my underpants.*

    * – unless I’m in bed for the night 🙂

    “But we didn’t drink it in our underpants, so that’s OK.”

    You COULD get around that by drinking in each other’s underpants. 😉

    “I had troubles with the birthday mini-keg,”

    Obviously that’s why they give you 8 months to try and open it.

    “which were a real treat till they stopped pubs offering even that.”

    Your government are wankers.*

    * – mine’s not much better

    “Beer is no substitute for pubs.”

    Even ‘I’ agree with that!

    “In Waterbeach I had one great pub on my doorstep; here in Sheffield it’s 101, really.”

    Something to look forward to.

    “And yes, Cambridge does have beauty, but here I’m finding wonder in the most unlikely places;”

    That explains the top photo.

    “Our neighbours popped round with a gnome and apologised in advance if they were loud, as the chap was a big Sheffield United fan and made a lot of noise when they scored. ”

    Good neighbours is a good thing.

    “Should be safe for a few months, then.”

    (snicker!)

    Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheffield United scored and won their first match just after I posted that; I’m their lucky charm.

      Why does reading your comments take me longer than writing it ! (Keep it up).

      “Your government are wankers.” SOME may agree with you.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Sorry, lost concentration there after getting distracted by the image of you and Mrs RM drinking Farmers Blonde having taken off your underpants. Have I misunderstood, or is this a Cambridge habit you’ve brought with you?

    I’ll go back and read the rest of it, as I’m bound to have missed something…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment