September 2025. Carshalton. It’s 19:37 as I pass Carshalton’s Sun on a sprint to the station. My fast train goes at 19:45. Now that I’ve ticked the Guide newbie (at last) and revisited the Top 10 pub anything else is a bonus. The 3rd Guide entry is the Railway; that must be near the station,… Continue reading A DASH FOR THE RAILWAY, CARSHALTON

September 2025. Carshalton. Ahead of Thursday’s publication of the most-eagerly awaited Good Beer Guide since GBG25, CAMRA Discourse is again in ferment about Guide entries that aren’t “Proper Pubs”. “When visiting somewhere different I would like to be guided to a good pint enjoyed in the surroundings of a traditional pub. I am not keen… Continue reading AFTER THE HOPE, COMES….MORE CARSHALTON GEMS

September 2025. Carshalton. Greater London. Nope. Not a typo, a Top Ten pub, perhaps better. It’s actually the Cryer Theatre, Bobby Davro and all, that’s drawn me back to Carshalton for the first time in over a decade, but there was zero chance I wasn’t using my £25.55 day return to confirm that The Hope… Continue reading TOP 10 PUBS – THE HOPE, CARSHALTON

September 2025. Carshalton. Greater London. The weekly drives down from Sheffield to Waterbeach (and often Tunbridge Wells) to see infirm parents are taking their toll on my knees and my sanity. And also our “beloved” (ugh) vehicles, both of which gave up the ghost in the first week of September. So I took the train… Continue reading CULTURAL CARSHALTON

September 2025. Sheffield. A nice view from our bedroom window, carefully homing in on our neighbours garden rather than ours, which is in a “natural” state. A better view 20 seconds up the hill, where Mrs RM made an overdue return to our beloved Blind Monkey after a summer neglecting our local. It looks as… Continue reading P.E.D.estrian at best

September 2025. Sheffield. It’s very important to get your steps in, I recommend 15,000 a day, though if you’re in Sheffield walking up our hill you may consider every step worth double. What you must not do is start a walk but get immediately distracted by pubs, which unfortunately is what I did while trying… Continue reading A HUNT FOR BASS AND SCUFFLERS. THE LORD NELSON, SHEFFIELD

September 2025. Sheffield. Yes ! Into September, and only an estimated 33 posts to catch up before month-end, which will surely thrill reader Russ. A difficult month so far (parental stuff), but the arrival of a new GBG is always joy, and the Sheffield ticker also has a little trail in aid of Mind to… Continue reading THE SHEFFIELD HALF PINT MARATHON. No. 3 – KAPITAL

August 2025. End of the Road Festival. Cranborne Chase. Your annual round-up of my 4 days on the Wiltshire/Dorset listening to music made my people young enough to be Oasis’s grandchildren. Not only do I spend 1.3% of my year in a field, I probably took 3 days listening to all 132 artists and compiling… Continue reading END OF THE ROAD 2025.  THE YEAR THE CEREAL MILK SOUR BEER RAN OUT

August 2025. Coombe Bissett. And so to my, though possibly not your, highlight of the year as we head to Cranborne Chase for a 4 day festival of sad girl pop, nu folk and slow core. Mrs RM has decided she doesn’t much fancy 4 days or sad girl pop, nu folk and slow core,… Continue reading LAST STOP BEFORE THE END OF THE ROAD. THE FOX & GOOSE, COOMBE BISSETT

August 2025. Manchester. A guided tour of Manchester art from Matthew, who has had more changes of hairstyle than Manchester City have alternative strips. A lot of Mancunian art has is commercial, though often you’ll struggle to see what they’re advertsing (and that’s the point !. August brings a return to the Etihad, in the… Continue reading NO REAL ALE AT THE ETIHAD. AGAIN