Before I give you the taxi driver’s account of BRAPA’s mission to Sheffield the other week, here’s your latest selection from MumsNet. Remember, the poster is asking “AM I BEING UNREASONABLE ?“ I’m reluctant to offer advice on such weighty matters, but you’ll want to know that the answer to fixing the world’s problems is… Continue reading THE TAXI FOR BRAPA TAKES A WRONG TURN
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.
THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR
I was just preparing to do some gardening when there was a knock at the door. Imagine my horror to find Citra and Sheffield Hatter at the door, on the way to a pub. “Can retiredmartin come out to play ?” asked Will. “Only if I can come too” replied Mrs RM. It was only… Continue reading THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR
TOP 100 PUBS – HARLEQUIN, SHEFFIELD
When I can’t find anything that rhymes with a pub, I just lump it in the Top 100 pubs. SURELY you know that by now. The Harlequin, one of 57 excellent free houses within stumbling distance of Citra’s luxurious hotel in Sheffield, had been calling me since pubs re-opened, but I’d been saving it for… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – HARLEQUIN, SHEFFIELD
CITRA MEETS SHAKESPEARE
This post is brought to you from the (unofficial) car park at Aysgarth Falls. I’ve checked, and there isn’t a micropub at the bottom. Last week Citra came to Sheffield. About time too. If he’d given more notice he could have kipped in our new garden shed; same offer I made the in-laws. 15 minutes… Continue reading CITRA MEETS SHAKESPEARE
A TONBRIDGE TOTTER
By a HUGE stroke of luck Kentish Paul was able to avoid me when I visited Tonbridge. It’s actually almost impossible for us to meet up when we do visit in-laws, as I have to sneak out when they’re asleep and then finding the key is a challenge. But having failed to tick new Guide… Continue reading A TONBRIDGE TOTTER
GUESS THE PUB CHAIN
What I really need is a device that only allows you to see the rest of the post (yeah, like you care) if you can answer that question correctly. If anyone said Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse of Magic Rock Tap House you’re in detention later. Anyway, we’re now in Kurious Kent, staying at my in-laws, who… Continue reading GUESS THE PUB CHAIN
“And what would your wife like ?”
Mrs RM roots out more casual sexism in today’s exciting episode, set in bucolic Barton Stacey. You might know Barton Stacey from its service station on the A303 on the way to Stonehenge; it’s a pretty place. Obviously I’d called ahead as pub openings can’t be guaranteed whatever it says in writing, and a lovely… Continue reading “And what would your wife like ?”
BLANDFORD FORUM – BUT IS IT BLAND ?
Just to prove there’s life outside the Beer Guide*, a quick trip to Blandord Forum, the Baldock of the West. My annual music festival has Blandford (pop. 10,610) on its doorstep, but I never visited. In fact I could tell you NOTHING about the town, bar the fact we stopped to tick the Dolphin two… Continue reading BLANDFORD FORUM – BUT IS IT BLAND ?
LOVELY FLAT BEER IN SUTTON POYNTZ
I had a day off from blogging yesterday, attempting to find something to rhyme with Sutton Poyntz. Best I could come up with was Steffen Freund, but it’s not known that he ever played at Weymouth, unlike Steve Claridge. Here’s your complete guide to Sutton Poyntz. Fascinating, huh ? The OS extract is more fun.… Continue reading LOVELY FLAT BEER IN SUTTON POYNTZ
A RARE MONDAY OPENER NEAR THE CERNE ABBAS GIANT
Not much to say about the Rivers Arms at Cheselbourne, bar the fact it was OPEN on a Monday in September, a period when most pubs move smoothly to “winter hours“. In fact, I’d been surprised to see how many pubs shut up shop a week before on the sunniest Bank Holiday Monday in living… Continue reading A RARE MONDAY OPENER NEAR THE CERNE ABBAS GIANT
