Back from the in-laws in R.T. Wells by tea-time, without so much as a sniff of a pub. A day of small talk, vegetables and washing-up. Next year I’m staying in Skegness Butlins for Christmas. Still, time for the second half of your free Festive DIY Calendar, all taken randomly from the last post of… Continue reading AFTER THE MINCE PIES – PART II OF YOUR FREE FESTIVE CALENDAR
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.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
I am glad you have woken up alive today. To say thanks, pop down your nearest pub at lunchtime and buy yourself a pint of Doom Bar. You deserve it, and it could keep your pub going ’till Boxing Day. In what has become a fixture in the seasonal calendar (I did it last year),… Continue reading MERRY CHRISTMAS
KILBURN AND THE SLOW ROADS
As sure as night follows day, Kilburn follows Colindale in the world of the GBG ticker. Not sure why I decided to walk, something to do with the calories in the Spoons fudge brownie I guess. And a desire to explore an unexciting bit of the A5. The first two miles are some of the… Continue reading KILBURN AND THE SLOW ROADS
ON THE ALE IN COLINDALE
Mrs RM has gone off to do “the big shop for presents” at Tesco, despite our not believing in Father Christmas, and will no doubt berate me for my lack of seasonal effort on her return. So I need to crack on with these posts, now less than a week behind. Starting with Colindale, at… Continue reading ON THE ALE IN COLINDALE
A BLUE CHRISTMAS (WITH GREEN MARKER) ON MILL ROAD
Back at Taylor Towers we let BRAPA score our tea-making and showed him the plaque commemorating his previous visit. Being a nice chap he’d bought me a present that I unwrapped immediately, being anti-Christmas. Wow. Bass ashtray and beer mat. Stolen from Bridlington, no doubt. Mrs RM told work to “Do one” for the afternoon… Continue reading A BLUE CHRISTMAS (WITH GREEN MARKER) ON MILL ROAD
FAKE CIDER HAND PUMPS TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED
Driving BRAPA around is a bit like rubbernecking, waiting for the pints to kick in around the 3rd or 4th pub. Of course, you’d never see me in a state like that. But he’s always so polite and cheery, at least until the micro pub decides to take the month off and not tell anyone.… Continue reading FAKE CIDER HAND PUMPS TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED
WE WISH YOU A BRAPA CHRISTMAS
Only two days to the 25th, when I was really hoping to have caught up on the blog so I could start my extended highlights package, which this year will include a special award for the best pashmina (or male scarf, I’m no sexist). First up, here’s my thoughts on the most recent BRAPA burst… Continue reading WE WISH YOU A BRAPA CHRISTMAS
STANDING AT THE BAR – A CHRISTMAS TRADITION
You were due a post last night, but things went downhill after Weaste. I’ll stop there. This is my last dip into Sheffield before picking James up from Uni. I DO hope the last pub I need in Sheff is open when I take him back in mid-January. Some pubs seem to think it reasonable… Continue reading STANDING AT THE BAR – A CHRISTMAS TRADITION
ELSECAR’S NO.1 KEG-ONLY PUB ?
On the Friday I headed to Sheffield to pick up James from Uni. It’s good to see him, but his return has slowed down our internet speed somewhat. On the way, a tick in the beer centre of the Yorkshire world. Elsecar looks great on the wall from the station. I’d call it “posh Barnsley”… Continue reading ELSECAR’S NO.1 KEG-ONLY PUB ?
IN THE VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE
On the Sunday I picked up Sis from the pre-booked car park north of Bristol Temple Meads and headed home. “Anywhere you want to stop on the way” she said. Funny you should say that. The social club at Stanford in the Vale has the sort of opening hours designed to annoy pub tickers, no… Continue reading IN THE VALE OF THE WHITE HORSE
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