January 2025. Gainsborough. Another month, another dose of non-league football, the perfect respite from the grind of funeral planning and powers of attorney. Non-league comes in many forms, of course, from the 7th tier semi-pros of Hastings and Macclesfield to the amateurs of Manchester City, whose season ticket prices my occasional seat at the Etihad… Continue reading GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY v MACCLESFIELD – ROBBIE SAVAGE’S WHITE COAT
A MYSTERY TRIP TO SEARCH FOR THE REAL ALE IN THE BLUES CLUB
January 2025. Gainsborough. Only five minutes walk from the Eight Jolly Brewers to the Trinity’s ground; I know CAMRAs who’d have taken a taxi. It’s a grim quarter of a mile, Gainsborough’s market square looking particularly unloved. But as Will noted, there’s some loveable old buildings, and I haven’t even touched on the Old Hall… Continue reading A MYSTERY TRIP TO SEARCH FOR THE REAL ALE IN THE BLUES CLUB
TOP 100 PUBS – EIGHT JOLLY BREWERS, GAINSBOROUGH
January 2025. Gainsborough. I needed a spot of respite from funeral planning on my day back in Sheffield and when Will suggested a trip to Gainsborough Trinity v “Robbie Savage’s” Macclesfield on an icy cold Saturday it seemed like the perfect pick-me-up. Despite the lure of Robbie Savage’s hair, Mrs RM sat this one out.… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – EIGHT JOLLY BREWERS, GAINSBOROUGH
COB, BAP, BARM, BUTTY, SANDWICH…
January 2025. Sheffield. Back in Sheffield for a night, finally. I’d forgot what “home” looks like. The boiler was making a horrible noise so I turned it off, I had a discussion about Mum’s funeral arrangements that threatened to be more traumatic than death itself, and decided I needed a walk in the chilled Sheffield… Continue reading COB, BAP, BARM, BUTTY, SANDWICH…
THE RAM JAM INN. BACK, SORT OF.
January 2025. Ram Jam. Stretton. Thursday saw Mrs RM join me on our first trip back to Sheffield together in 3 months. We needed lunch half-way, which on the A1 north means a choice of seven McDonalds, a Starbucks, an OK Diner, or Grantham Spoons. There used to be a pub on the Great North… Continue reading THE RAM JAM INN. BACK, SORT OF.
SHEPS GOES SMALL BATCH
January 2025. Southborough. Kent. A difficult week got trickier on Wednesday as Mrs RM’s Dad needed our urgent attention down in Kent. All Michael wanted at the end of an urgent consultation was “a Chinese”, so it’s just as well we have attained Regular Status at Southborough’s top takeaway, as Mrs Meow only opens at… Continue reading SHEPS GOES SMALL BATCH
BANGLA, DANSAK, TIA MARIA
January 2025. Leighton Buzzard. Not perhaps the wisest evening on a day of family tragedy, but we all cope with death differently, I guess. You can’t end an evening in Buzzard without a Balti, or in this case a Dansak, in Sahil’s back over the bridge. Tremendous curry and service, even if we were never… Continue reading BANGLA, DANSAK, TIA MARIA
BEDFORDSHIRE HAS FALLEN
January 2025. Linslade/Leighton Buzzard. A trip to Mum’s home village in Eaton Bray, and a night to unwind in Leighton Buzzard where Mum no doubt used to buy her Panini stickers and Bazooka Joe gum. Oh, that was me. A chance to complete the Bedfordshire GBG entries too, which might sound like an achievement but… Continue reading BEDFORDSHIRE HAS FALLEN
BASS IN BUZZARD AT THE BLACK LION
January 2025. Leighton Buzzard. It’s hard writing these posts so close to Mum’s death, but the blog is a diary, and I’d be lying to the diary if I didn’t tell it I felt a strong need to maintain a sense of normality as chaos ensued all around. And Mrs RM, bless her, was dealing… Continue reading BASS IN BUZZARD AT THE BLACK LION
SOMETIMES, ONLY A NIGHT IN A LEIGHTON BUZZARD SPOONS HOTEL WILL DO
January 2025. Leighton Buzzard. Death sets in motion a whole chain of events, many outside your control. The only thing I knew on Monday after a day of interviews and statement taking and a lot of advice was that I couldn’t stay in Waterbeach that night. Hence that trip to Mum’s birthplace, and a night… Continue reading SOMETIMES, ONLY A NIGHT IN A LEIGHTON BUZZARD SPOONS HOTEL WILL DO
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