October 2025. Fancott. Toddington.
Oooh look ! An actual hamlet, comprising some woods, a stream, a miniature railway, and a pub, your second on the exciting “Pub Crawl from Toddington Services”.
A debut Good Beer Guide dining pub, too, looking exactly as you’d expect.
I love those figures in the back of the fireplace.
Sorry about the glare. Mrs RM says it’s my fault but will look at the software (the phone’s, not mine).
It’s the end of the Sunday lunch rush, and just a couple of drinkers at the bar. The home counties is prime “seats at the bar” territory.
I have a half of Tring, sadly not Side Pocket for a Toad.
Something isn’t right. Normally I’d suck it up, or tip it in a plant pot for your delectation.
Today, I nervously return to the bar.
“Sorry to be a fusspot, but this one may be end of barrel”.
Yes, I really did say “fusspot”. It’s so awkward returning a beer without outing yourself as a CAMRA type.
I get an apology, a very decent Doom Bar, and most importantly a pump clip turned round.
That’s the mark of a good pub, along with Eric and Ernie and a miniature railway out the back.
Sadly, closed that weekend, but come back next year and it’ll connect with HS2.
retiredmartin 
Sadly, you may have reached the stage where the hardware needs replacing.
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Is that me ?
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It’s either that or the firmware. Discuss with Mrs RM, she should have a clearer insight of the issue.
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(slow golf clap)
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“THE FUSSPOT OF FANCOTT”
(looks at pic above)
Pretty sure that’s farmer McGregor’s garden, not Mr. Luckies.
“Oooh look ! An actual hamlet, comprising some woods, a stream, a miniature railway, and a pub, your second on the exciting “Pub Crawl from Toddington Services”.”
A nice segue from motorway to railway. 😎
“I love those figures in the back of the fireplace.”
Most likely the inspiration for Dennis Linde’s classic ‘Burning Love’, made famous by Elvis.
“Sorry about the glare. Mrs RM says it’s my fault but will look at the software (the phone’s, not mine).”
I don’t think it’s you but, if it is, maybe look at getting a small tripod?
“The home counties is prime “seats at the bar” territory.”
Sign of a true ‘local’ maybe?
“Normally I’d suck it up, or tip it in a plant pot for your delectation.”
I remember that!
“Yes, I really did say “fusspot”. It’s so awkward returning a beer without outing yourself as a CAMRA type.”
Pfft. There’s way more nouns with some ‘ooomph’ you could’ve used. I wouldn’t lose sleep over that. 😎
“Sadly, closed that weekend, but come back next year and it’ll connect with HS2.”
(slow golf clap)
Cheers
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Great pub all round! Glad to hear they put the issue right straight away 🙂
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I very much like the picture of Eric Morecambe, doing quite a good impression of a moustache-free Salvador Dalí.
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Congratulations on a further step towards becoming a Complete Pub Man.
Next: writing reviews on Pubs Galore.
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I like Mr McLucky’s* garden.
It reminds me of when our neighbours over the road – very arty – installed their karesansui garden of raked gravel and a few rocks, as a display of aesthetic and philosophical refinement, but which Mrs. E thought was perhaps a bit too minimalist. So she very kindly went to a budget garden centre, and bought a selection of gnomes, complete with fishing rods, which she sensitively arranged on the gravel. I trust that they appreciated the gift.
* I think that’s what was meant.
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My dad wanted a garden like that, not through aesthetic or philosophical considerations but because he wouldn’t have to bother too much about gardening.
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Garden trolls!
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