retiredmartin

May 2024. Berat. Albania. The first afternoon of our Albanian trip took us to Berat (pop. 30,000 and falling), a town seemingly existing on German tourists arriving on the excellent coastal road in cars and coaches parked at the entrance to the castle walls, then heading straight to the restaurant with the best view. I… Continue reading LIZARDS IN BERAT

May 2024. Tirana to Berat. Mrs RM sees herself as an aspiring travel “influencer” (ugh) and was about to take thousands of photos of Albanian pastries and beer for her own Instagram page. At the very first hurdle we forgot to take a pic of the breakfast spread at the just opened Mercure on that… Continue reading ALBANIA ON A BUDGET 

May 2024. Luton to Tirana. Back to ticking Europe. I miss Europe. When I completed the Guide two years ago I thought I’d never again have to rush around, leaping from plane to bus to ferry. May 2022 with its sixty (60) GBG ticks looked like this; But that May of Antrim and Alderney and… Continue reading ALBANIA TICKED

May 2024. Waterbeach. The night before another venture east to tick Europe, we stay in Waterbeach to give Dad a special viewing of the major construction project across the road, order the Chinese from Chung Hwa (new dish alert : No. 61 Chicken with Spring Onion and Ginger), and wait for it over a pint… Continue reading THE REMAINS OF THE SUN BEER FESTIVAL

May 2024. Sheffield. More exciting holiday snaps coming shortly, after some haute cuisine from Walkley’s two closest alternating GBG entries that bring the boys to the ticking door. Simon didn’t warm to the Raven (GBG24) as much as the Monkey (GBG23), and it lacks the lived-in factor and quirkiness of its neighbour, but it has… Continue reading THE SIREN CALL OF THE PACKET OF POPPADOMS WITH MANGO CHUTNEY DIP

May 2024. Sheffield. This Monday lunchtime went; Pint, Pie, Peas, Painting, Pint, Pleasantly P****d. Which is my best rum of alliteration in a year. The painting came outside Kelham Island Museum, just behind the Fat Cat’s pie and peas. Yes, a Bessemer engine makes a great still life study, but I prefer pics of pubs… Continue reading “Which beer goes fastest, mate ?”

May 2024. Sheffield. Before I start, Happy Birthday James, a quarter century just flew past. A big day in our household as Alfie, Baa Baa and Charlie get their annual wash, a first for Charlie. I put them on the lowest wash and spin so they wouldn’t shrink (#domesticated), and popped out for a pub… Continue reading SHRINKFLATION

May 2024. Sheffield. One of the bonuses of moving to Sheffield 3 years ago is that I get so many visits from famous Pub Men and Women; the really nice ones even stay over. That’s what a guaranteed 3 new entries in the UK’s top pub city gets you. Can you imagine visiting someone in… Continue reading AN UNTAPPD WIN v THE PUBMEISTER IN TRIPLE POINT

May 2024. Sheffield. Sunday brought a (flying) visit from the Pubmeister, and record crowds had gathered on the streets around the station that Bank Holiday weekend to cheer Duncan on. Or perhaps they were celebrating the survival of Wednesday/relegation of United. Whatever, I’d never seen Sheffield so busy; it’s a city that takes its New… Continue reading ALL THE PUBS IN SHEFFIELD BY FOOT – THE LORD NELSON