I really love walking with Matt. He’s fast, chatty and unlike Stafford Paul sometimes stops when the red man shows at the crossing. But I sometimes forget he’s only nnnnnn19, and doesn’t remember the 2 events that define modern Manchester. By which I mean the closure of Tommy Ducks and the 1996 bomb which forced… Continue reading “Where’s the Shambles ?”
Author: 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.
NO RAIN IN MANCHESTER
On Saturday we took advantage of the Government’s permission to leave our house for the first time since Christmas and meet people with long hair outside. A pleasing trip across the Woodhead Pass (A616/628) to Manchester, stopping to admire the bonfire of unread 2021 Beer Guides at Ironbower Moss. Half of east Manchester was heading… Continue reading NO RAIN IN MANCHESTER
CALVER – SOUGH WHAT ?
Making the most of our post-29/3 freedom, we’ve been heading south-west into the peaks. The mill village of Calver is just south of Hathersage, and just north of Bakewell (home of the 1995 “sausage incident”). I aim to be the Derbyshire Dales expert by the end of 2021. The only problem with these trips is… Continue reading CALVER – SOUGH WHAT ?
GUESS THE PUB GOES LOCAL
Only 8 more days and we can confine “Guess the Pub” to the dustbin of blog history. At least until the tricky Carluke variant (only tackled by adding Buckfast to the vaccine) comes along, anyway. I’m staying local today, barely 20 minutes from home. Duncan will be able to identify the location from my drone… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB GOES LOCAL
BOLE HILL
Loads of positive things to tell you about Britain’s First City, but I’ll need a while to compose that post, so here’s an art shot to commemorate Nearly Bass Day or whatever it is. The beer is Raspberry Blonde from Little Critters, beautifully left behind my bins by the Gardeners Rest, but can you identify… Continue reading BOLE HILL
TUCKING INTO TUXFORD
Eagle-eyed readers (none of you, apparently) will have noted I marked Tuxford on the map showing my well-worn route home back to Waterbeach via Stamford the other day. I’ve made you a nicer map, showing the second section of the Great North Road. Every town, except Tuxford. Tuxford has the joy of the A1 roaring… Continue reading TUCKING INTO TUXFORD
TO BOOK, OR NOT TO BOOK
Just back from a walk round a Hillsborough bursting to get back to life. The park next to Wednesday was clear of rubbish, folk keeping 60 feet apart, and a new craft beer bar is about to liven super-trad Middlewood Road, until recently the exclusive province of family butchers and discount stores. Hillsborough Fencing suggest… Continue reading TO BOOK, OR NOT TO BOOK
GUESS THE PUB EATS POPCORN SHRIMP
I think I won the last Guess the Pub, but since there wasn’t even a pub there it felt a shallow victory. I think you’ll be able to find this next one, prompted by a rare blog view (only my second ever) from a country where I’d fancy a break RIGHT NOW. Look, you can… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB EATS POPCORN SHRIMP
MARCH ’21 STOCKTAKE. AND APRIL PREVIEW !!!!!
What a month !!! One son left home and started work, the other didn’t, but is back cutting hair in Albert Square on the 12th. I managed to set up the Hi-Fi and Mrs RM bought me a present. It was the least I deserved after I’d played such a crucial role in minding the… Continue reading MARCH ’21 STOCKTAKE. AND APRIL PREVIEW !!!!!
BYE BYE SHEFFIELD
Sometimes in life you just have to admit you need to move on. And so it is with us, as this month we’ll be leaving Sheffield (safe in Will’s hands, no doubt) for pastures new. Sadly we won’t even get to enjoy the inside of its magical pubs.. …or Stones Bitter on cask. BUT I… Continue reading BYE BYE SHEFFIELD
