Ooh, a grumpy statue. Me so topical. James is home, and we can explore exciting Fen Edge villages in the hour before lunch. Like Rampton. Our one, not the one with a secure hospital up the A1. This was never going to be an epic trek, so Mrs RM came too. I might have promised… Continue reading ROCKAWAY RAMPTON
LINCOLN LEGENDS
Ten years ago I made a Friday evening trip up the A14/A1/A46 to lovely Lincoln. That journey can be done in 1:48 hours now, but the extra 8 minutes gives you time to admire the statue of your favourite UK Prime Minister (#FACT) in gorgeous Grantham. I was paying homage to another trailblazer at… Continue reading LINCOLN LEGENDS
BYE BYE SHEFFIELD
I’ve just brought James back from Sheffield. A 3 year course in Computer Science that started with Morris Men outside the Brown Bear, ended with a Covid19 wimper. Morris Men or Covid, what’s worse ? The exams seem to have gone well. James never did get to celebrate with a pint of Cloudwater DIPA in… Continue reading BYE BYE SHEFFIELD
SWEETZER !
More of that football with a pub recommendation you love. A 1-0 win against the champions-elect that took Cambridge to the brink of the Second Division, only 8 years after displacing Bradford PA. Big Ron had jumped ship in February for the lure of West Brom’s desi pubs, but a dour Scot (aren’t they… Continue reading SWEETZER !
CHRISTINE (WOULDN’T COME WITH ME TO) BRINKLEY
Yes, I call Mrs RM “Christie“, rather than Mrs RM. Honest. She’s busy doing something called “work”, so my latest trip east of the A11 was a solo trip. She missed a treat, and I didn’t even bring her back a four pack of Punk. This is horseracing country as well as commuterville, the eastern… Continue reading CHRISTINE (WOULDN’T COME WITH ME TO) BRINKLEY
DOING THE 92 – PIGBAG, PARMOS AND PHIL STAMP
Not a great programme from the collection, but a significant one. Before there was GBG ticking there was football ticking. I finished my pursuit of the 92 League Grounds on a crisp March Sunday afternoon at the Riverside. A first visit to Middlesbrough, which we immediately deduced was the Watford of the North, but a… Continue reading DOING THE 92 – PIGBAG, PARMOS AND PHIL STAMP
MAKING WILBRAHAM GREAT AGAIN
Nice witch. And a cat. Apart from that the highlights of my return to the Wilbrahams are all thatch, beams and topiary. So, should you break your journey along the A11 or A14 to see where Wilbraham gets its greatness ? Probably not if it’s drizzling, to be fair. It WAS drizzling this afternoon, so… Continue reading MAKING WILBRAHAM GREAT AGAIN
HAIL THE MIGHTY SPARTANS
Some of you (all called Paul) have principles, and will be continuing their boycotts of Wetherspoons when pubs eventually re-open. Even if it’s only Spoons that re-opens. I don’t have the luxury of principle; some of my remaining 400 ticks (probably 300 by the time Lockdown lifts) are Timbo emporia. Like the Wallaw in bucolic… Continue reading HAIL THE MIGHTY SPARTANS
A HOLE IN THE WALL, A GAP IN THE MARKET
Well, a big thanks to the UK Government for their unswerving clarity on the timescale and conditions for when pubs (and inessential businesses) might re-open. Whoever leaked 22 June as a possible date last night is off my Christmas card list, if I had one. Mudgie’s latest post is depressing but sadly spot on. Still,… Continue reading A HOLE IN THE WALL, A GAP IN THE MARKET
TAKE COURAGE – IT’S THE NEW DEN
Today’s trip down memory (Cold Blow) Lane takes us to Millwall FC, an essential stop on any visiting American’s tour of Bucolic Britain. My only trip to the New Den came on a damp Wednesday night in April 1995 that Mrs RM still hasn’t forgiven me for, as I dragged her to a meaningless… Continue reading TAKE COURAGE – IT’S THE NEW DEN
retiredmartin 