NOVEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW

Your brief monthly highlights package.

Only forty-five pubs, 21 new GBG entries, in a month of high quality and variety. I almost caught up on the blog, too, though with reading Russ’s comments (thanks Russ) occupying 35% of my time I may never have time to go to the pub again.

Amongst all that quality, a real standout as my Pub of the Month, the wonderfully happy Peasants’ Tavern putting North Walsham on the map.

This is what November’s travel looked like;

though most of those journeys, from Sheffield to Manchester and Waterbeach to London and Rye and back were by train, not campervan, which meant I get the joy of annoying fellow rail passengers by eating this,

while working out my Delay Repay refunds.

November saw a belated return to Rye Harbour caravan park, where Mrs RM is now hunkered down attending to infirm parents with occasional visits from me.

I’ve only managed one trip to the Ypres Castle (top), as wonderful as ever, but Rye is a good base for the Sussex coast in winter. Eastbourne looked gorgeous, its Spoons a joy.

Not much chance to stop in London on these relentless trips through St Pancras, but it was reassuring to see that Hampstead never changes,

and the capital gave me my highlight of the year,

as Rosie sang the songs that make the whole world cry.

Beer of the month was a toss-up between the Talking Tides Stout at their brand new Leeds tap,

and Track Sonoma as Pray Tell in Sale. Lacings never lie.

Both NBSS 4.5, in a fantastic month for cask quality, and I haven’t had my first pint of Belgian Blue yet.

Talking of Christmas,

I do hope to avoid all seasonal mentions in December.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

14 thoughts on “NOVEMBER ’25 STOCKTAKE + DECEMBER PREVIEW”

      3. I lived in one, disguised as a commercial vehicle, in London for a year, 1981-82 for three or four nights a week.

        It was fun – in its way – especially when I needed to stay somewhere else.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. “Your brief monthly highlights package.”

    (grabs a beer)

    “though with reading Russ’s comments (thanks Russ) occupying 35% of my time I may never have time to go to the pub again.”

    It’s kinda fun for me ya know.
    But hey, say the word and I can disappear for a few years… again. 😉😊

    “This is what November’s travel looked like;”

    (looks down)
    Yowza!
    Would it help to know that, just before Christmas, I’ll be travelling about 960 miles by car, through the Rocky Mountains?
    (I’m taking it slow so it will be three days for the trip)

    “though most of those journeys, from Sheffield to Manchester and Waterbeach to London and Rye and back were by train, not campervan,

    That’s cheating!

    “which meant I get the joy of annoying fellow rail passengers by eating this,”

    (looks down)
    Good lord; that thing again!

    “while working out my Delay Repay refunds.”

    (slow golf clap)

    “where Mrs RM is now hunkered down attending to infirm parents with occasional visits from me”

    (looks down)
    I hope she’s not hunkered down in the canal.

    “but it was reassuring to see that Hampstead never changes,”

    (looks down)
    Pretty sure he needs a straw if he’s going to drink that.

    “as Rosie sang the songs that make the whole world cry.”

    Hopefully it was cathartic.

    “Lacings never lie.”

    In a beer glass, maybe. But try undoing some on a lady’s corset and, blimey!; they could be hiding a lot.
    (which could mean either good flesh, or, bad)

    “I do hope to avoid all seasonal mentions in December.”

    (doubles over in hilarious laughter)

    Cheers

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    Reply

    1. It’s like Christmas every day for me, waking up to new comments from Russ. Always interesting, too.

      960 miles ! Bet you have good breakdown cover. Have you read my guide on surviving bear attacks ?

      That “thing” was a work of culinary genius in its simplicity. Is the simple cheese roll in Campbell River better than the USA effort ?

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      Reply

      1. Steady on while I do my “aww shucks” routine (blush). 😊

        Ok, with that out of the way, I have indeed read your bear attack thingy (that was in one of your Romania posts). I think I’ve sat through about a dozen hour-long videos on ‘bear aware’ over the last 18 years.

        As for driving, yes we have good breakdown coverage. We also take along:
        – sleeping bag each
        – thermal blanket each
        – hand warmers
        – flares
        – shovel(s)
        – portable jumper kit to start vehicle without needing anyone else
        – portable tire inflator
        – freeze dried food
        – small candles and a coffee tin to light them in, plus a lighter (natch)
        – winter chains for tires
        – hi-viz vest
        – heavy duty flashlights and assorted other things

        When we started driving to Edmonton for Christmas to see our lads, they insisted we pack appropriately.

        Traveling to Edmonton isn’t that bad. It’s basically on 3 highways that have a place at least every hour for gas/food etc.

        When we traveled way up north to camp in our own vehicle (as my wife stayed up north all summer to visit family on her time out of camp) we also took an inReach. It’s a way to communicate by satellite, as on the roads way up north you could drive for six hours or more without any cell coverage, or other vehicles for that matter.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmin_inReach

        As for the cheese roll thingy, my wife is a really good cook so I rarely get a roll/bap/sandwich when out of the house. It’s usually poutine or a pizza. 😉

        Cheers

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