MumsNet, source of 37% of my own blogging content, has been debating the most underrated towns in the UK. On a completely unscientific basis, this is the Top 10; Liverpool (underrated ?!) Chester (really ?!) Glasgow (underrated by people in Carluke ?) The Llyn Peninsula (what ?) Malvern (eh ?) “Parts” of Staffordshire (Burslem ?)… Continue reading No. 8 in MumsNet underrated towns
Month: May 2021
AND THEY’RE OFF
If the last year has taught us one thing, it’s not to waste a day. I suspect Mariah Carey has sung a song about it. As soon as the road map was announced, Mrs RM started to plan our road trips for when pubs and hotels were open again. I left her to it, so… Continue reading AND THEY’RE OFF
SAVED BY THE BELL – MAGIC IN THE MELTON INDOOR BOWLS CLUB
My second GBG tick in Melton Mowbray, and a moment of pure joy south of the River Wreake. Sluice valves, cricket on the green, all very bucolic Midlands England, right down to the indoor bowls club housing this year’s surprise new Guide entry; It wasn’t open, of course, the doors locked and no-one about despite… Continue reading SAVED BY THE BELL – MAGIC IN THE MELTON INDOOR BOWLS CLUB
FROTH AND FOXES
Saturday. Cup Final Day. When I was 14 this would mean a whole 9 hours in front of the telly on the biggest sporting day of the year. Now the FA Cup has been ruined by Manchester United (2000 absence), 5.15 kick-offs, Prem games before and after, £6, 330ml bottles of Budweiser, soap stars singing… Continue reading FROTH AND FOXES
GIVING AWAY THE HOOCH
Still on last Wednesday in Manchester, somehow; a day that had started with Mrs RM shouting “Don’t get drunk !” as I left the house. Good job I didn’t succumb to another of the endless number of Northern Quarter bars lining Thomas St, though Matt speaks very highly of Cane & Grain. Should I be… Continue reading GIVING AWAY THE HOOCH
FIERCE
After my tick I had 2 hours to kill till Matt gave me my second post-Lockdown haircut; you’ll have seen the state of it after a month on BRAPA’s blog. No obvious pre-emptives, but I REALLY wanted to do Fierce Bar, the new Manchester outpost of Aberdeen’s craft kings. that so impressed me 18 months… Continue reading FIERCE
BEATNIKZ S’QUOSHED
I hope you’ve had a good day and saved loads of pubs. Unless you’re a Pub Ticker (memberships still available for GBG 21, send s.a.e. for details), you’ll never understand the visceral excitement of closing in for a tick, particularly in these Troubled Times. As I arrived back at Piccadilly, 20 minutes before an un-booked… Continue reading BEATNIKZ S’QUOSHED
A HALF OF HYDE’S
Well, I hope you enjoyed that live-blogging from a Spoons today, the Heaventeenth of May, as life returned to normal. Mostly. But now I’ve got to bring this blog up-to-date, or I’ll get distressed and take it out on Baa Baa. So here’s part II of the Cheadle Hulme Hop, as I look for something… Continue reading A HALF OF HYDE’S
THE HEAVENTEENTH OF MAY
I had a late night on Sunday, gripped by a Mumsnet saga about a Dad who forgot to wake up his wife before their 7 year old opened his birthday presents. Mumsnet Advice – “Leave the Bastard” , “Never forgive him”, “Chop his willy off“. So ANGRY. So I was a bit tired this morning,… Continue reading THE HEAVENTEENTH OF MAY
WELCOME HOME, PUBS
The first Proper Pubs will have opened the doors a few minutes ago and welcomed back the Carling and Smooth drinkers into the welcoming bosom of their Public House. Sadly, it’ll still be a little while till you can stand at the bar or chat to random strangers, as Table Service (ugh !) rules till… Continue reading WELCOME HOME, PUBS