January 2024. Carleton Rode. Attleborough.
It’s a small world. Two days after visiting the Carleton Rode (pop. 785) Social Club, a remote Norfolk tick,
I actually met someone from Attleborough. On his birthday (it wasn’t 22/12).
He didn’t believe I’d been to Carleton Rode, which sounds like a member of Graham Taylor’s 1993 World Cup qualifiers squad rather than a real place.
Inside the local village hall-cum-bar, a dozen locals were watching football scarcely better than Turner’s turnips, as Trafford United and Spurs showed what football outside the elite looks like in 2023.
Rashford scored, improbably, and a group of lads called Kevin, Kevin and Kevin rose as one.
At the bar, I ignored the beers that get Rode in the Guide and had a rare Adnams Bitter.
“Are you a CAMRA member ?”.
Well, it seems all you need do is order cask to look like CAMRA.
Foolishly, I said “Yes”, flashed a gold card, and was given beer at the members rate of £3.20 a pint.
“Enjoy it, m’dear” said the really lovely barmaid.
And I did, though it took a little while for the dryness of the Southwold to emerge (NBSS 3+).
“Sweet Child of Mine” made way for “Summer of 69“,
the girls in the corner ignored the boys watching the footy,
it was a Proper Pub atmosphere.
And then Spurs equalised, and the Old Boys, the ones who remembered Greaves and Peters, stood up anc cheered. 2-2, a perfect result for City.
Outside, in pitch black, I could see a second moon.
Or was it ?
retiredmartin 
The map’s wrong.
Surely it should be a Stailway Ration?
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I love that beer. Perfectly balanced. Shame about the glass.
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Was there last week – tried all 3 on cask and they were all on perfect condition. Very friendly, lovely place that belies its austere exterior.
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I love going to places I’ve never heard of, though possibly we’d have gone past it on the way to New Buckenham in years past. Pitch black on Sunday night so no idea what I missed !
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Ah the darkness. It always gets to us sobermetricians.
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It’s darker than I ever remember, so we can now see alternative universes in the stars where BRAPA has already completed the GBG.
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‘Ull is another universe.
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That new Hull GBG entry certainly is !
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I actually think I understood this exchange!
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You’re not supposed to !
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“a rare Adnams Bitter”
Yes, I see it all too infrequently. .
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