December 2024. Cottenham. A flying day visit to the in-laws on the 23rd; over four hours on packed motorways and a tortuous delay at Dartford tunnel. Mrs RM had a mysterious aching arm which meant I drove; luckily she’d recovered by the time the gin came out in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Back “home” (not sure… Continue reading 38 YEARS LATER…THE HOP BIND, COTTENHAM

December 2024. Cambridge. Rather too stressed last Sunday evening with parental worries to enjoy a proper celebration, but at least Mum was settled, and at least I had the family together as we left the Blue Moon after a crafty half. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be, not even Hillingdon, than in a pub with… Continue reading TALLY-HO

December 2024. Cambridge. With Mum safely tucked up for the night I rejoined Mrs RM, the boys and Emma in Cambridge. We’d really pushed the boat out for what some folk insist is a “significant” birthday; I’ll remind you that every day till you stop breathing is significant and should be celebrated equally. Yes, we… Continue reading TALKING RETIRED MARTIN BIRTHDAY BLUES

December 2024. Cambridge. “Hope you have a lovely birthday (22/12)” said the messages. In all honesty, not only my worst birthday but one of the worst days of my life, and I sat through a Polish midnight mass 8 years ago. The Retired Martin family arrived in Waterbeach to find Mum sitting on the floor,… Continue reading SAVING RETIRED MARTIN’S BIRTHDAY

And so we reach the 73rd and final, and possibly best of the GBG chapters. No, really. I had it at No. 5 on my list of the best GBG chapters in 2020, and I can’t wait to get back and enjoy that astonishing coastline, magical bays, scriptural verse, and reminders of musical legacy. Oh,… Continue reading HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY No. 73 – THE ISLE OF MAN

I know you know I don’t do Christmas, or tradition, with one notable exception. But with an enforced roast dinner being cooked by Mrs RM at my parents house today I was charged with “getting the **** out of the way while I cook the veg”. Matthew and James were ready on 14.03 seconds, oddly… Continue reading KEEPING THOSE CHRISTMAS DAY TRADITIONS ALIVE

December 2024. Sheffield. Ticker Jim had set himself an ambitious schedule; but was still on track as we left the Crow. I almost joined him for an afternoon of Northern Premier League action at Worksop, but Jim suddenly threw a pre-match brewery trip into the mix, and you know what I think of brewery taps.… Continue reading PAPPADUM, DIP & PALE. RETIRED MARTIN DAY EVE PUB CRAWL No. 6 – THE OLD SHOE

December 2024. Sheffield. Not yet 1pm and onto a fifth pub, and a seventh tick for Jim, who clearly has the stamina of youth. Living in the UK’s top pub city means I’m often required to drop the crochet I started up in retirement and escort Pub Men round the new classics, and the Crow… Continue reading RESISTING THE 14.03% BOURBON STOUT. RETIRED MARTIN DAY EVE No. 5 – THE CROW

December 2024. Sheffield. Jim had abandoned me with a 10 % imperial stout in Vocation while he raced off to a 12.20 appointment at the Dog & Partridge. How does he do it ? Not only that, he’d even popped in this little classic (just un-Guided and shorn of Bass), on the way to his… Continue reading TAKING A PERCH. RETIRED MARTIN DAY EVE PUB CRAWL No. 4 – PERCH

December 2024. Sheffield. A challenging schedule for my meet-up with manic ticker Jim last Saturday; but as we strode to the bar of Vocation & Co., across the road but a million miles in spirit from BrewDog, the town hall clock struck noon. Bang on schedule ! Time for a sensible choice; just a half… Continue reading “Oh no, not the 10% Mint Cocoa Imperial Stout !”. RETIRED MARTIN DAY EVE PUB CRAWL No. 3 – VOCATION SHEFFIELD