retiredmartin

December 2023. Great Grimsby.

Not only does Elton John’s “classic” 1974 album contain “Grimsby”, it also has “Ticking”, a Taupin tale of a chap frustrated by micro pub opening hours.

“Don’t ever ride on the devil’s knee,” Mama said. Remember Mama said . Ticking, ticking“

I wasn’t riding the devil’s knee to New Waltham to lick Lincs,

but buses are the devil’s spawn, even if the Number 8 wasn’t too bumpy.

The view was dull, but at least I had lots of interesting reading material.

The drama comes at the hospital, where anxious dad insists the driver deal with two young smokers in the top deck.

“I wouldn’t have bothered, but I’ve got kids”. Always blame the children. Turns out the criminals are only vaping, and the driver moves on.

Two Ember Inns on the route south,

and the Farm House looks more Ember than Ember,

but apparently it’s Stonegate, but you couldn’t tell.

It’s not the most exciting way to finish a county,

but at least it’s open, busy with diners, there’s beers you’ve heard of,

and one of those revolving sweet cabinets that are the mark of a Proper Pub,

The Rocking Robin (again) is an ambitiously priced £4.60, but it’s cool and chewy and creeps up from NBSS 3+ to 3.5.

“Do ya want another Rudolph ?” calls the cheery barman.

I don’t, but it’s nice to be asked. Sometime us old codgers feel invisible, you know,