December 26th 2025. Tonbridge.
Our boys were keen to get the grandparent visits done early on Boxing Day and head back North, and with no Christmas night entertainment in Waterbeach (they play charades and whist in Histon) we found ourselves on the M11 by 8 sharp.
Mrs RM was suddenly alarmed at being at her parents too early; the lads were in need of a proper feed after spag bol, stew and crisps on Christmas Day.
That’s the occasion Spoons are made for.
10 minutes from the in-laws, Tonbridge’s Humphrey Bean had unusually quiet trade at 9:30 compared to the Sodom and Gomorrah of summer.
Granny (my mum was always Nanna) is unlikely to repeat the Xmas Day roast and trimmings, cold cuts are the norm, so Matt and I go Big.
I do wish JDW wouldn’t put the calories on the menu.
I have fond memories of taking James and Matthew to the official launch of those American pancakes in Market Harborough.
In truth, it’s a pile of beige stodge, rather bettered by my Mother-in-Law’s homemade pate and brandy butter 4 hours later (why do folk eat so late at Christmas?).
With me the DES now, and the boys driving home later, only Mrs RM could have partaken in the Spoons cask, which all looks good.
But she was saving herself for the G & T and M & S Beaujolais. Tradition, eh ?
Two long trips back to Sheffield via Waterbeach later, a rest at last.
In the morning, Matt rustled up a quality cooked breakfast from Aldi’s finest.
What a gem.
retiredmartin 
It’s an exhausting holiday and I don’t mean your birthday.
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Is there a similar explanation in the States about visiting all relatives at Christmas, or have you done that at Thanksgiving?
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95% of social engagements occur between thanksgiving and January 2. That’s a BRAPA fact. You see Simon is still posting about November 2025?? I kept refreshing my browser thinking it was a mistake. He’ll never catch up.
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Yes I saw that this evening. Mid November as well. We were both 2 months behind when the new GBG came out in Autumn. The sooner he retires and finishes that Guide the better.
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You were really lucky to get that Piper’s sponsorship. Simon needs a punk band to step up for him.
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Simon is sponsored by his Dad.
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Pipers actually pulled the sponsorship after I refused to endorse their new pickled hedgehog flavour crisps.
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Just a clarification on a classic American breakfast, we NEVER have sausage AND bacon. It’s one or the other and if you order both you will certainly be charged extra.
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Black pudding? Is that a thing in the States?
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I’m sure that if you added enough sugar or syrup then it would be.
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These are authentic American breakfasts that every true American eats every morning. Except you have “grits” and that white stuff that looks like semolina ?
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Don’t they call that white stuff “gravy”?
Goodness knows what grits are.
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I am not keen on pancakes and bacon. My out-of-the-abode breakfasts are usually the Sausage Croissant, with hash browns, and coffee, from Burger King. I have a coupon for two of them for $5.99. I have lots of coupons for this; because it is generally that the staff at BK, particularly inside, do not check the expiration date on the coupon.
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Presumably that’s $5.99 plus state taxes plus charge for credit card plus service charge plus additional tip so about $27 each?
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Not that much more, but if it was: Charging it on this specific card from U.S. Bank would earn me four times that amount to use toward airline flights, hotels, and rental cars. 🤑
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I was the black pudding guy. WordPress made me anonymous for some reason.
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What, like Barry White?
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Mmmm, baby
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You are the least anonymous of all, Bill.
Mrs RM would like 2026 to be the year we get to meet you, preferably in Shetland.
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“I was the black pudding guy” is the first great confession of the year. Amazed it’s not leading the news.
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The Black Pudding Guy is a Shetlandic folk demon invoked by mothers to scare their children. “The Black Pudding Guy will get you if you don’t eat your broccoli.” Not that they eat broccoli up here, they just gnaw on a sheep with maybe some tractor parts for pudding.
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“Tractor parts” !!! Tractor parts were a rare treat for malnourished Fen children like me in the ’70s, Bill. Most of time we had to put up with pizza and cheesecake.
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You have to click the box at the foot of the screen to log in to not reply anonymously as I did previously.
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Well done Steve.
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That would be good. You wouldn’t want to be here now, blowing a hoolie with horizontal snow/hail. Hopefully you pick the week known as summer up here.
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Now it’s changed to the Google Mail account which I don’t use. Weird.
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I really need to know more about Young Billy Jones. Important stuff like what’s your closest pub.
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Bill shares the same characteristics as youngbillyjones ie 64, retired civil servant, two arthritic knees, living in Shetland and not much liking it, reads and listens to music etc etc. Nearest pub, Maryfield Hotel, Bressay (open Thursday – Sunday) Nearest to ferry Lerwickside, Thule Bar, 11.00 am-1.00 am (as frequented by Elvis Costello), nearest real ale, Lerwick Brewery Tap, 10.00 am-5.00 pm, Mon-Fri), wondering if WordPress is still calling me youngbillyjones. We shall see.
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Only two arthritic knees ? Young Billy will be fine.
Thanks for the bio, Bill. I suspect you’ve mentioned that but I can’t store much info and always want to know so end up asking again.
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WordPress never forgets an email address. Ever.
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