June 2023. Luddesdown, Kent.
There’s nothing more joyous in life than BRAPA irritation, so I can only imagine his frustration at having made the perilous journey to rural North Kent to tick the Cock in late August last year, only to find it joined a month later by the Golden Lion.
Two trips to Luddesdown from Sole Street station in a life time is the hard yards. Sutton United Superfan has just done it, and noted what I presume to be species of duck on his walk.
I wouldn’t know a Red Kite if it tapped me on the shoulder and said “Oi mate, I’m a Red Kite“, but I can tell a pretty village.
Like Mark, I visited the Cock 25 years ago; he probably opened the door for me and Mrs RM. Small world.
Talking of coincidences, the Golden Lion was a second pub of the week to decide that Facebook opening times were merely indicative (be warned Si, the 9am is a joke), but like the Crafty Fox there’s a redemption story once it does open.
Actually, I was more annoyed that having stood all eager at the door for five minutes before the appointed moment I entered to find folk already in there. In fact, it could have opened at 9am for all I know.
Here, have a choice of fireplace;
Which is your favourite fireplace ?
It’s a good example of the rural Kent dining pub that hasn’t been mucked about with, you don’t muck about with a pub with a Millwall shirt on the wall,
and the bonus is a cheery welcome and a conversation at the bar that doesn’t end “You’re very welcome“.
What Pub prides itself on providing useless historical information because it’s not allowed to tell you if the beer’s any good (Iron Pier, cool and rich 3.5) , so I find out the Lion “Boasts an eclectic mix of former customers, including Will Hay, Diana Dors and Bob Marley. Research has not yet revealed whether they were all present at the same time !”
Which begs the question – “Who is Will Hay ?“.
retiredmartin 
Will Hay. 1930s British film comedian. Profoundly unfunny.
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I read in Wiki “Hay published a magazine piece entitled Philosophy of Laughter, in which he discussed the psychology of comedy. In the essay he rhetorically asks, “Why does every one of us laugh at seeing somebody else slapped in the face with a large piece of cold custard pie? Is it because we’re all naturally cruel? Or is it because there’s something inherently funny in custard pies? Or in faces? Or in throwing things? No, no, and no! The real reason why we laugh is because we are relieved. Because we are released from a sense of fear. Wherever we may happen to be – in the cinema, theatre, or music-hall – we tend to identify with the actors we are watching. So that when a custard pie is thrown we fear for a moment that it has been thrown at us. And then, immediately we realise that it hasn’t hit us, we experience a feeling of relief, and we laugh”…”
There’s your proof, I’d say Bill. Not that I didn’t trust you anyway…
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Well that’s nonsense anyway.
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Ah, the cup final. A great day out, even if the result was as expected. Hard to believe it is almost 20 years ago.
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Millwall v Man U in Cardiff. What could possibly go wrong ?
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I remember I was on a good old-fashioned football special after the match. The train must have been taken out of an old BR depot, especially for the purpose – a train for the purists! It must have been close to half a mile long, and it went straight from Cardiff to Manchester non-stop.
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Well at least I can console myself in trying identity red kites n buzzards! I think one has a forked tail but I might’ve made that up. Anyway, stop distracting me from lunch with your fun blogs.
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