retiredmartin

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 the Pubmeister announced he’d be watching Kiveton Miners Welfare FC in biting cold and would I like to join him for a beer in Sheffield ?

Since completing the Guide my guiding principles are a) Never have a half when a pint is available, b) Never turn down an invitation for a beer, especially from a fellow ticker.

While Duncan and fellow “enthusiast” Dr John were engaged in a battle against the fog from the Scottish central belt I was engaged in an activity that was illegal in England as recently as 2016.

Yes, I bought an item of clothing at FULL PRICE in NEXT after Christmas. That’s the Kiveton Miners away kit scarf.

With time to kill I nipped in Sheff’s newest pub, the sprawling sports bar BOX.

Something terrible had happened;

Yes, the Madri was off. Mum has stopped watching the BBC News as she’s so distressed by the daily disasters; I’m glad she hasn’t heard about the Madri shortage.

They’ve got tank Budvar, though. Look how many Untappd badges you can get with a Budvar check-in.

I caught up with Duncan and Dr John at the Grapes, a fourth visit since it debuted in the Guide.

Reserving a table by flinging my overcoat on the nearest table, I sensed disquiet here too.

Yes, the Guinness is off in the Guinness pub. And you thought that shortage was made up. Shame on you.

It’s going to be a long night, so we start on pints, the Barnsley scoring a bit better than my Abbeydale.

But, you’ll have to admit, it looks stunning.