retiredmartin

Google normally send me a nice map showing my monthly travels, but I’ve had to do this on myself;

Looks a busy month, even slipped into Wales for an Americano, which is appropriate since Wrexham is now officially the 51st state of the USA.

With all thoughts of completing the GBG for a record-breaking second year long gone, I concentrated on touring Kent hospitals and tasting Danish cherry wine in Tunbridge Wells.

Lots of time spent with Mrs RM, including at a rare cinema trip to see Barbie, whose soundtrack was a highpoint at Sheffield’s Old Shoe.

A fortnight ago I was alerted to a near record-breaking low temperature in Sheffield; now we have record highs. The UK looked spectacular whatever, notably in Whalley as we caught peak Clitheroe.

I toyed with ticking things other than pubs after visiting Rotherham’s butterfly collection, something to do with a The Jam B-Side I think.

56 new pubs visited in August, many of them outside the Guide, but at least I’d finished Merseyside before GBG 24 drops (ugh).

And in Warwickshire, I celebrated in Leamington Spa with a half of Bud, my Beer of the Month just to irk the Yanks.

Discovery of the Month was Marske-by-the-Sea, with its gorgeous beach, quality craft bar and quirk social history museum.

Baa Baa Toure is still unsure about that two-headed sheep.

More history in Piercebridge, where I made a pitch to my lucrative South Korean market with an update on the George and the grandfather clock that stopped, short.

We stayed the night and ate parmo. It was wonderful.

As was the Tan Hill, a record-breaking pub making a GBG debut the year after I completed the Guide.

But my Pub of the Month was in Godalming, which bristled with drunken home counties revelry, no more so than in the Star.

Pubs seemed to be ticking over nice; beer quality was fantastic, especially in Kelham Island.

But you knew that already.

In September I reckon I’ll get excited by a new Beer Guide, even if I’ve no intention of ever completing one of those ever again.