December 2024. Northstowe. Cambridgeshire. Not too long till the end-of-year awards, but best never be too presumptuous and assume you’ll last till midnight, eh ? Despite what I just told you about declaring for 2024, Mrs RM was desperate for a trip out to an embryonic scruffy New Town, but NOT Waterbeach. Northstowe, 20 minutes… Continue reading ENDING 2024 WITH A 15% IMPERIAL STOUT IN NORTHSTOWE

December 2024. Sheffield. Due to a bout of man flu acquired standing in the cold watching non-league football this next pub may well be my last of 2024, meaning I’m up to date and can bring you post on my American lesbian music highlights of the year. Back in Sheffield after our thrilling Miners Welfare… Continue reading “Oh, go on, let’s do the Brew Dog”

December 2024. Sheffield. Right, a random collection of Sheffield’s Irish boozers, craft bars and brewery tap rooms in the bag, let’s do the Big Match. Dr John had gone ahead of us to get programmes; groundhoppers won’t consider a stadium ticked if there’s no programme, a bit like pub tickers need to touch a mobility… Continue reading KIVETON MINERS WELFARE FC v STAVELEY MINERS WELFARE FC RESERVES

December 2024. Sheffield. A Friday night in Sheffield between Christmas and New Year with two of the great tickers. Duncan was the first man to complete the GBG, Dr John from Edinburgh a ferocious groundhopper in his late 70s. We left the Grapes as “Like A Rolling Stone” came on, were thwarted by an unexpected… Continue reading I WANNA GO TO (ST) MARS (OF THE DESERT)

December 2024. Sheffield. I stayed on for a second day in Sheffield while Mrs RM held the fort in Waterbeach, sorting through 30 years of knickers and photos. What a hero. I had a plan to actually do some GBG ticks; out to Congleton and then back via Macclesfield and Poynton appealed. But then Duncan… Continue reading The Guinness AND the Madri run out in Sheffield

December 2024. Cleckheaton. Into the (Spen) Valley, as The Skids sang in 1979. Duncan is your expert on The Skids. Chris Dyson is probably your expert on the small industrial towns betwixt Halifax, Bradford and Huddersfield and has all you need to know about Cleckheaton. But I seem to have beat him to the Mill… Continue reading A CLECKHEATON CHRISTMAS

December 2024. Manchester. I read on the Manchester City forum today that consideration is being given to an idea to make Glossop part of Greater Manchester. In return Derbyshire will get Stockport, I guess, which will at least pacify those folk who scream “STOCKPORT ISN’T IN MANCHESTER !!!”. Back to Christmas Day, and Mrs RM… Continue reading FROM GLOSSOP TO ANCOATS

Christmas Eve 2024. Cambridge. You left us outside King’s College Chapel as the first notes of “Once In Royal David’s City” signalled the official start of Christmas, at least if your name is Gerald or Maggie and you live in a £2m townhouse in Newnham. I thought we should go full-on tourist and make a… Continue reading CHRISTMAS EVE. A TIME TO LIVE AND LET LIVE

Christmas Eve. December 2024. Cambridge. Just noticed this blog has become a bit too pub-heavy of late and in danger of getting shifted from the “weird bloke on travels” category into “beer”. And that would never do. I coaxed Mrs RM out of Waterbeach on Tuesday to explore an exciting city 5 miles south. No,… Continue reading A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS AT KING’S