‘Twas the Friday night before Christmas, and all across the land lads and lasses donned Father Christmas hats and drank 8 pints of Bass Carling WKD in the nearest pub after their jovial boss, probably called Martin, sent them home after lunch. Well, no, of course they didn’t. There are no pubs, Proper pubs anyway,… Continue reading SO, HOW’S YOUR BLACK EYE FRIDAY ?
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.
LEAVING TIER 3
Clickbait, of course. There IS no possibility of leaving Tier 3. Sorry, BeerMat, Wickingman, Old Mudgie et al. But I had to return home to Waterbeach to collect some more of Mrs RM’s shoes and power tools this week, which I guess means I was in Tier 2.5 for a day. I took the train,… Continue reading LEAVING TIER 3
“GO FOR IT !” – MRS RM GETS THE 10%
Slightly out of sequence, but I know you’re desperate to see Mrs RM’s birthday drink, and this post gives me a chance to show you how close I am to Crookes, which is as close as Sheffield gets to Islington (bound to upset someone, that comparison). 18 minutes uphill from the Blind Monkey (our local,… Continue reading “GO FOR IT !” – MRS RM GETS THE 10%
HOT YOGA, HI-CAPS, HUSBAND DRAGGED ROUND CARPET SHOP
It’s Mrs RM’s birthday today (don’t ask, it’s rude) and I’ve arranged a nice sunrise for her, best seen from the kitchen window. Life is good, even in Tier 3, he says through gritted teeth. Well into our first week as Northerners, and I still haven’t opened the door to the garden, which was full… Continue reading HOT YOGA, HI-CAPS, HUSBAND DRAGGED ROUND CARPET SHOP
A PEEP INTO NEEPSEND
“Banning Christmas would be inhuman” says the Prime Minister today, proving himself out of touch with a nation only bothered about how I’M getting a pint on my birthday (22 December). If anyone wants to interview me in a pub for an imaginary job on the 22nd to exploit the “Business Usage” loophole I’m happy… Continue reading A PEEP INTO NEEPSEND
THE CLOSED PUB TILING PORN TRAIL
Days in Sheffield – Four. Pubs visited – Zero. This isn’t going well, is it ? Sourdough – 0.5 of a loaf (Aldi). Arguments about wallpaper – Zero. Calories walked off – 2,672. Mostly walking UP the hill from the A61 to our humble abode a minute from the Blind Monkey. Mrs RM STILL hasn’t… Continue reading THE CLOSED PUB TILING PORN TRAIL
DO THE PONDEROSA
The sun has finally decided to shine on the righteous again, and caught up with me in Sheffield yesterday, after a rainy Sunday. Suddenly, with blue skies, steep hills, and pubs potentially open before Christmas 2021 I feel my Northern retirement decision vindicated. While Mrs RM stripped wallpaper and installed white goods, I took a… Continue reading DO THE PONDEROSA
A SOURDOUGH SEARCH IN S6
I finished unpacking Mrs RM’s shoes, shelves and Sonos boxes (no idea) last night and took the rental van back to Enterprise this morning. Doing your own removals can save hundreds of pounds, and will only reduce life expectancy by the 18.7 years you didn’t want anyway. The 41 30 minute walk back along the… Continue reading A SOURDOUGH SEARCH IN S6
MOVING HOUSE – HOW HARD CAN IT BE ?
I said I’d reflect on the joys and traumas of moving house, and since this blog is my diary it would be daft not to. Put simply, the relocation from Cambridge to Sheffield would be some way down my list of Magic Memories, even below the hell of the 67th to 91st minutes at the… Continue reading MOVING HOUSE – HOW HARD CAN IT BE ?
KELHAM ISLAND, BABY
Our first day as Northerners. If you’re lucky I’ll tell you “Why You Should Never Move House, Ever”. Two trips to Big Yellow Storage in Hillsborough, a big shop in Morrisons, and an unexpectedly arty walk round Kelham Island. Kelham is a different beast to the rough industrial suburb we all remember from the 90s.… Continue reading KELHAM ISLAND, BABY
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