Another day, another county falls. With Covid cutting the churn, that only meant five newbies this year, but the last of them is, excitingly, deep in the heart of South Cheshire farming country next to the River Weaver. Perhaps Peter Allen got this far north on hid canal trips ? This is the architectural highlight… Continue reading WEAVING INTO WRENBURY
CONFUSED BY PALINDROMES IN COTTERIDGE
The geography of Birmingham gets wonderfully complex around Bournville ward. I’m sure the Ember Inn nearest Cadbury World (which is probably what visitors call the area) was marked as King’s Heath (or is it King’s Norton ?), or was it Selly Oak, which is the Parliamentary constituency ? Anyhow, Stirchley is it’s own ward, but… Continue reading CONFUSED BY PALINDROMES IN COTTERIDGE
BOURNVILLE
Peter Allen lived in Stirchley, and during Lockdown he produced a lovely guide to the village/ward/suburb and it’s main drag, voted one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK in 2020. In a small tribute to Peter I took a wander from Cadbury World to Maggie’s Munchies before the hearse set off from the legendary… Continue reading BOURNVILLE
REMEMBERING PETER ALLEN
I’m just back from celebrating the life of Peter Allen in his adopted and much loved home town of Birmingham. South Brum, importantly, not far from Cadbury World. Or the hills. It really was a celebration of life, with friends from his fascinating career and hobbies providing memories of Pete’s work, quizzes, love for Carling,… Continue reading REMEMBERING PETER ALLEN
PUBS v GARDEN CENTRES IN THE FENS
My weekly trip “home” to Waterbeach is centred on getting Dad out of the house so he can stock up on new seeds and socks at the garden centre in Horningsea, the “posh” village that’s about to get a sewage works from Milton. Residents are, understandably, thrilled. Leaving the door, Mum surprised me by saying… Continue reading PUBS v GARDEN CENTRES IN THE FENS
TAKE YOUR PICK(ERING) OF OPENING TIMES
And so to my penultimate North Yorkshire tick for GBG22, in peculiar Pickering. The final one, God willing, will be the Slaters Arms in Bradley near Skipton. Fire up the welcoming committee with the Barry Manilow soundtrack. The Black Swan is a quality pub with good beer, but I’m afraid it’s also a little case… Continue reading TAKE YOUR PICK(ERING) OF OPENING TIMES
THE 199 STEPS TO A WHITBY TICK
Has anyone ever driven up that lane next to 199 steps in Whitby ? Hard enough for most visitors to walk it, and BRAPA had to moan about the step count last week, didn’t he, but I’d not drive up Church Lane if you paid me enough to afford a room overnight on a Saturday… Continue reading THE 199 STEPS TO A WHITBY TICK
NO FREE PRAWN CRACKERS IN PONTELAND
Leaving Whitburn I contemplated my culinary options. Some folk only read this for my authoritative (if minimalist) views on the best post-pub grub, so here’s fish and chips from Minchella’s Chips in Seaburn. Growing up I’d always believed that the South must have the best fish and chips since that was where the money was,… Continue reading NO FREE PRAWN CRACKERS IN PONTELAND
WHITBURN WINNERS
I first came to Sunderland in Easter 1997. Petrol in Roker was 59.9p a litre, the match with Charlton a sell-out as the move to a new stadium loomed, denying me a vital tick on the way to The 92. It was a year before I made it back to the Stadium of Light. Petrol… Continue reading WHITBURN WINNERS
FULWELL (NEARING THE) END
Suddenly I was within two (2) ticks of completing Tyne & Wear GBG, and all that was needed was an hour on the metro to north Sunderland and then another hour slog in the biting cold along the coast. See, it’s easy. The hardest part was finding a loo at Monument before I jumped on… Continue reading FULWELL (NEARING THE) END
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