LOOK UP !

“Would you like to drive to IKEA and pick up some bedding ?” said Mrs RM, on Friday.

“Mr RM ? You there ?”

But I was gone.

“But they haven’t got it ready to collect yet !” shouted Mrs RM, as I whizzed through Kelham.

Oh well, a legitimate to kill an hour in Rotherham, where I could also do my exercising AND do the shopping in one go, reducing risks and all that.

Look at those empty streets. Almost Sheffield standard, and two-thirds of folk (mostly over-60) wearing masks outside. No wonder Covid rates have stayed resiliently low in South Yorkshire compared to Merseyside.

60 minutes, enough time for the full Rotherham highlights package in a handsome old market town.

The town centre has been hit hard by Meadowhall and a general malaise caused by de-industrialisation, but they’ve responded well with art and poetry, and banished their micropubs to the suburbs.

That lovely rhyme about a pint o’ wine says more about Rotherham than I could ever do, while you’re observe that the indoor market lacks the grace of a Halifax or Leeds.

But it looks tremendous fun,

though the list of “essential shop” able to open stretches only to cake and pies and sweets.

Luckily, I only wanted sweets from Heckmondwike.

WhatPub reveals the market used to have a new beer shop,

but sadly Brad’s Beers didn’t make it to Lockdown (1).

That map includes closed pubs; there’s not a lot left in town now for the drinker, so thank goodness for Craft Union (again).

As I’ve said many time before, when walking England you must LOOK UP. Ignore the horrific Paddy Power branding and admire the gorgeous windows on the Old Town Hall.

With the streets empty, your chances of bumping into someone staring down at their mobile phone while you’re looking up have fallen to 52%.

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 “LOOK UP !”

    2. I can confirm that the area around the Plough is not “quite nice”! At least, it’s never been nice when I’ve been there – Martin has a special power, you know.

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      2. I thought it was done by digitally editing your photos, but if you say “generosity of spirit” it would be mean to argue.

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      1. The Cutlers Arms is the most attractive part of Rotherham, but you wouldn’t have had time for that because of having to go to Ikea.

        You did remember to go to Ikea, didn’t you?

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  3. I assume that Martin’s earlier use of “terrible” re the Cutlers Arms was ironic – it looks good, and folks – perhaps like him – seem to love it.

    Incidentally I enjoyed the last Guess The Pub, thanks Martin, which I eventually got the hard way. I didn’t search anything except maps using a few bits of local info that you gave, which made for an enjoyable hour or so.

    Your closing comments gave others that chance too.

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  4. “But I was gone.”

    Good man! Of course, at the end of this, you will miss a night (or two) on said bedding. 🙂

    “Almost Sheffield standard, and two-thirds of folk (mostly over-60) wearing masks outside.”

    Blimey. I don’t even wear my mask when doing the lunch truck run (keep it tucked under my chin though). But that will all be moot after February 12th as our lunch truck will be shutting down (sigh).

    “but they’ve responded well with art and poetry”

    Isn’t nicking your poetry from Scotland considered cultural appropriation? 😉

    “while you’re observe that the indoor market lacks the grace of a Halifax or Leeds.”

    The red and yellow arrows more resemble a salsa dance lesson.

    “But it looks tremendous fun,”

    Especially if I could get my darling wife to wear that dress in the middle of the 1st photo. 🙂

    “Luckily, I only wanted sweets from Heckmondwike.”

    Sugar free, gluten free and only natural colours and flavours. I’d be a bit leery! 🙂

    “so thank goodness for Craft Union (again).”

    Sigh. Gorgeous photo below.

    “and admire the gorgeous windows on the Old Town Hall.”

    Gorgeous indeed!

    “With the streets empty, your chances of bumping into someone staring down at their mobile phone while you’re looking up have fallen to 52%.”

    Pfft. You should be standing still whilst looking up. 🙂

    Cheers

    PS – Comments on Guess the Pub are not activated (which I’m sure many have told you by now)

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    1. Comments were disabled so you wouldn’t Guess the Pub. I drafted that for an upcoming CAMRA magazine (West Berkshire’s Ullage) and with a TOP PRIZE at stake it is an issue of NATIONAL SECURITY that the answer not be leaked. (That said, two locals who guessed on Twitter both got it wrong).

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      1. Covid rules, yes Martin, but not with regards to the lunch truck. Rather the rules whereby catering has cratered. It’s been almost a year now since we’ve be able to cater and it’s not coming back any time soon. Catering was over 60% of our business, not to mention my darling wife could use her creativity there at times. So, we’re having to pack it in as the lunch truck by itself doesn’t earn enough.

        Besides, my wife was looking for a change. The truck was going into its 7th year and my wife normally needs a change every 5 years. In fact, the only thing she hasn’t changed after 5 years is me! 🙂

        She is going back up north to work, and to be closer to family. With luck I’ll be joining her in a few months. If that does happen I’ll be absent from posting an awful lot as it will entail 12 hour days for 20 days at a time.

        Cheers

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    3. Russ, we haven’t said how far south the border is going to be post Scexit. Whether the Taylor family relocation increases or decreases the offer being extended to Yorkshire, I couldn’t really say….

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