“I’d rather be visiting a Hungry Horse in Sandy and blogging about it than revisiting all these old posts” I told BRAPA yesterday, comparing the blog view fall-off in those crucial markets of Russia and Samoa. Sadly, those old pictures are all I’ve got to work on, so here’s photos. NB Some of us are… Continue reading EDINBURGH A YEAR ON
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.
NEWPORTS – FROM ESSEX TO PEMBROKESHIRE VIA SALOP
Interesting to look through the 4 odd years of the blog and see how the photography gets more, er, surreptitious. Clearly following BRAPA’s lead, I reckon. Anyhow, 3 more Newports for you, incredibly. Starting in rural Essex, scarily close to the town where BRAPA was born (presumably Audley End). Very much JamieOliverLand, right on the… Continue reading NEWPORTS – FROM ESSEX TO PEMBROKESHIRE VIA SALOP
WHICH IS THE BEST NEWPORT ?
My readers are a cantankerous bunch, always up for a pointless argument. “Is Newport Gwent even the best pubby Newport ?” they ask. Hmmm. Let’s see the competing claims, starting with; Newport (Isle of Wight) A County town, but then so is Bedford, which also seems to have a bus station as its redeeming feature.… Continue reading WHICH IS THE BEST NEWPORT ?
MAKING A DENT IN NEWPORT (GWENT)
According to my blog I’ve made six trips over the Severn to Newport in four years, which practically qualifies me for a Welsh passport. You may assume I come here for the scary underpass with its cheery street art, but in truth it’s accommodation bargains at the Ibis off the M4, the Spoons or the… Continue reading MAKING A DENT IN NEWPORT (GWENT)
SINGLET TO CLEETHORPES, PLEASE
There’s 3 criteria for selecting these “highlights” posts. 1) You ask for them. 2) The photos make me laugh. 3) The place lacks an “a” as I can’t use the “a” on my laptop and writing these posts on the mobile is a sod. No-one asked for Cleethorpes, so here it is. Shame you can’t… Continue reading SINGLET TO CLEETHORPES, PLEASE
LET’S WALLOW IN…… WALSALL
Neil asked for a post on wonderful Walsall, and I’ve done my best using the archives. But I haven’t been to the town itself since 2015, and my last new Beer Guide pub (the Fountain) was before that. Some top pubs, Pleck kebab house, the posh curry house that Curry Charles took me too, and… Continue reading LET’S WALLOW IN…… WALSALL
ESSENTIAL SHOPPING IN MILTON
April 2020 You want something to cheer you up? Here’s my Mum & Dad, combined age 165, greeting my niece’s boyfriend, a native of Chicago (wherever that is). Its better than the Lady Gaga rendition at the 2016 Superbowl, anyway. They’re coping better than me to be honest, as long as me and Sis drop… Continue reading ESSENTIAL SHOPPING IN MILTON
MARCH 2020 STOCKTAKE + APRIL PREVIEW (YEAH, RIGHT)
My March preview clearly had a sense of foreboding; “Mid month, floods and plague permitting, I’ll be taking the new campervan for a run down in Dorset and Devon.” I wrote. Events, dear boy. Events. Sunday the 15th saw my last pub. Who knows when the next will be ? And frankly, who… Continue reading MARCH 2020 STOCKTAKE + APRIL PREVIEW (YEAH, RIGHT)
NATIONAL DOOM BAR DAY
Last Friday I had my first beer since the clampdown. In truth, I only bought that Doom Bar (£2.49, but it’s craft, innit) so I didn’t succumb to the Languedoc-Roussillon Mrs RM was guzzling 2 metres away while I watched Black Mirror (“Hang the DJ“, brilliant). Obviously I can’t provide an NBSS rating for it,… Continue reading NATIONAL DOOM BAR DAY
LET’S CELEBRATE…..BLACKPOOL
Unbelievably, this Blackpool highlights package has more art than the one I’m compiling on London. A man (or woman. Sexist), who is tired of Blackpoolhas probably never been. Don’t believe what you see on the BBC. And remember. Always carry your Booths tote bag, essential for the souvenirs. Last time there, walking south from Bispham,… Continue reading LET’S CELEBRATE…..BLACKPOOL
retiredmartin 