Never look back, always forward.
Unless, of course, you’re looking back a year to see where RetiredMartin was, just before the pandemic ruined our ticking plans. Russ was taking a sabbatical from reading my blog so he may enjoy this one.
My last big unencumbered tickathon took me to Dumfries & Galloway, 10 miles and 100 years away from crafty Carlisle.
I managed a decent amount on those two days, taking in the mysterious Drummore, home of the Scottish Joe Dolce fanclub, and finding some unexpectedly good sunset in Portpatrick.
But the highlight was a first trip to sparky Stranraer, which I now know how to spell correctly.
Kentish Paul will be delighted to see the crumbling pubs. Don’t be fooled by the light on at our mystery pub (five points); even Scottish pubs aren’t that scruffy.
My Stranraer tick a year ago, one of the last times I experienced normality, was the Grapes.
Jimmy Young had just died.
“Aw, Jimmy the Painter. No !”
“Who is he ?”
“You know him, no ?”
“No, who is he ?” etc. etc. It was great.
If you follow in my footsteps in 2024 when Covid rates drop below zero and you’re allowed to explore Scotland, I recommend Wigtown, and the burgers at craft.
Just look at the craft beer range;
retiredmartin 
Was in the Grapes a couple of years ago and the landlady was so proud of the pub she gave my friend and I a guided tour including upstairs. Super beer and a gem of a pub.
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Yes, great pub that probably wouldn’t get in the GBG down your way with only one mainstream beer on in (even though superb, look at those lacings !).
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When you say “don’t be fooled by the light on”, are you implying that the Golden Cross was not in fact open at the time of your visit this time last year? The only online reference I can find to its closure says it was caused by Covid-19.
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Doesn’t look much like Cardiff’s Golden Cross.
Probably a very different pub.
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When did Cardiff get reassigned to Dumfries & Galloway?
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I believe it was 1957.
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I remember when D & G was in Bedford.
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“Russ was taking a sabbatical from reading my blog so he may enjoy this one.”
(blush) Guilty as charged. And yep, hopefully I will. 🙂
“But the highlight was a first trip to sparky Stranraer,”
Saskatchewan? Oh wait, you mean the one in the UK. 😉
“Don’t be fooled by the light on at our mystery pub (five points)”
I’m guessing they were doing a plethora of PCR tests and it was overheating the equipment? 🙂
““No, who is he ?” etc. etc. It was great.”
Truly, right up there with an Abbott and Costello routine. 🙂
“Just look at the craft beer range;”
(slow golf clap)
Cheers
PS – And I’ll try to find time to take a foray into some of those links this weekend.
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Had pleasure of afternoon session here in 2019
Oakham Jeffrey Hudson on tap and nicely kept..
Very friendly host and locals…a bunch of them in the Grapes 🙂
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Didn’t you post the exact same thing at midnight, Graeme ? Obviously had an even heavier night than I did !
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Apologies Martin ..oops I didnt see the original..
New meaning to ” mines a double “..:)
Ps one bottle Dark Star Hophead at 7 so no excuses !!
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That’s OK, Graeme, sometimes I delete comments by accidents (fat fingers) and folk write it all out again.
Mine was a 9% stout from Neepsend so I have perfect excuse !
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