April 2026. Sheffield-Grantham-Waterbeach-Southborough-Sheffield.
Another week, another slog down and back up the A1, this time with the added bonus of a day trip to Tunbridge Wells to take my Mother-in-Law for surgery (all well, thanks).
I’ve made this trip every week since COVID, and it gets tougher each time. Not so much the physical strain, more my brain being worn down by passing the exits for Grantham (and Newark, and Stamford) for the 300th time.
So I came off at the A52 to see what’s new in the birthplace of Maggie Thatcher, noting mainly that the Muddle to Nowhere is now a Miller & Carter. Where was the campaigning to stop that happening, hmm.
I parked up here,
and instantly regretted driving as I noted a bright red triangle through the window of the Beehive.
18 months ago we’d parked the campervan in Grantham, marvelling at the Saturday night chaos in the venerable Tollemache Inn;
That was a Saturday night; things hadn’t improved much late on a Tuesday afternoon as we stopped for San Pellegrino and salted caramel fudge cask (small portion).
Come on Grantham Spoons, it’s a disgrace. No wonder that statue of Maggie is facing away from the pub.
A more professional operation in Waterbeach, where we stay the regulation two nights to see Dad, clean the cottage, try that Chocoholic from Milestone in the Sun,
and have one, possibly final, kebab on the green.
You’ll not get a better lamb shish kebab with salad in the Fens.
retiredmartin 
Urgh!! Not the best sight 😞
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Gosh. Where’s me hanky? I do feel for you and Christine, and it’s good that you have people to share it with.
And your readers.
No, really – have you seen how many packets of tissues I’ve bought lately?
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Taking your sniffles in pubs, Will. I guess you were still emotional after Wembley.
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Grantham is on my list but it may have to be removed what with the state of Spoonies and that dry patch of grass at the kebab van hatch.
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Oh, go on, they’ve got Maggie’s handbag in the town museum. The area around the church is lovely.
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My last boss before I retired came from there. He said the town has nothing but I never believe such things.
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I have been to a (very) few UK towns with “nothing”, Lana, but Grantham isn’t one of them.
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Great pink town hall building. Have a whole week planned for Lincs at some stage.
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In fairness, that kebab van is in Waterbeach, and it’s scorced earth !
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