December 2025. Waterbeach. Back at Sunnyside to see Dad in his care home, greeted by the smile that melts your heart, and feeling rather jealous of his meat balls lunch while we survive on meal deals from Tesco. It’s useful to keep in touch with the dozens of folk who know Dad, so we popped… Continue reading NATIVITY
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.
PUTTING UP THE TREE IN OLD HARLOW
December 2025. Old Harlow. A day in Southborough with the in-laws; a cancelled medical appointment causes irritation but a Meal for 3 from Meows compensates a little. Now this will come as a surprise to Mrs RM but I reckon the landlady of Meows Chinese takeaway in Southborough is probably my favourite person on earth.… Continue reading PUTTING UP THE TREE IN OLD HARLOW
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE IN TANKERTON
December 2025. Tankerton. Whitstable. Finally we come to the end of our Whitstable overnighter, ignoring the call of the seafood bistros in favour of the Tesco Express yards from our campervan in Tankerton. See ! I can do Christmas (reluctantly). “That looks nice. Let’s go in there” says Mrs RM, who’s on a roll (or… Continue reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE IN TANKERTON
OYSTER BEDS
December 2025. Folkestone. Leaving the Old Neptune, and the glorious sunset Mrs RM had just missed, we headed over seashells and pebbles towards Whitstable’s oyster beds. I’ll eat (and drink) anything, but I doubt oysters could match those we had in Lisbon last year. You wondered where Bob the Builder got his dress sense from.… Continue reading OYSTER BEDS
SUNSET OVER THE OLD NEPTUNE
December 2025. Whitstable. I’d only been gone those 67 minutes in Sittingbourne, leaving Mrs RM in Whitstable Spoons to do what Spoons are there for; recharge your phone, use the free Wi-Fi, pop to the loo, and drink unlimited coffee (but not hot chocolate). But the photo she sent as I headed back to the… Continue reading SUNSET OVER THE OLD NEPTUNE
MRS RM SITS OUT SITTINGBOURNE IN SPOONS
December 2025. Whitstable. “Sittingbourne !!! Why on EARTH would I want to go there ?” said Mrs RM, crossing the road to Whitstable Spoons. And so I left her to charge her phone in the Peter Cushing while I nipped to the Park Tavern on the train. Whitstable is a gorgeous town, though of course… Continue reading MRS RM SITS OUT SITTINGBOURNE IN SPOONS
THE PARK TAVERN, SITTINGBOURNE. AN OLD MUDGIE SORT OF PUB
December 2025. Sittingbourne. Back to my campervan overnighter in Whitstable last week, as I leave Mrs RM in the glamour of the Spoons and nip off to Sittingbourne to tick the sort of new GBG entry our Mudgie would appreciate. He did like his historic towns, though perhaps Sittingbourne would have appealed less. In fact,… Continue reading THE PARK TAVERN, SITTINGBOURNE. AN OLD MUDGIE SORT OF PUB
PETER
I just heard the news that Peter Edwardson aka Old Mudgie aka Pub Curmudgeon has died. Rather than be reflective or attempt an eloquent memorial I’ll just say, for now, that I’m going to miss Peter very much. From reading and commenting on his blog to numerous pub crawls over the last decade I’ve always… Continue reading PETER
ALL SHIP SHAPE AT THE SHIP CENTURION
December 2025. Whitstable. A Proper Day in Whitstable must include oysters and beer and pashmina shops and pebbles on the beach. Mrs RM fancied something “authentic” but the seafood restaurants were both expensive and fussy looking, and you don’t really come to the Kent coast for curry. Oh, here’s an idea… The Ship Centurion is… Continue reading ALL SHIP SHAPE AT THE SHIP CENTURION
TOP 100 PUBS – THE FOUNTAIN, WHITSTABLE
December 2025. Whitstable. Plenty of pubs in Whitstable, but then I’m surprised it has a population of 32,196; although a lot of those are in the suburbs away from the pubs (and the artisanal muesli boutiques). 20 minutes from our campervan stop along the coast brings you to the Savoy, possibly not that Savoy, and… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE FOUNTAIN, WHITSTABLE
retiredmartin 