retiredmartin

I’m on the way back from Scotland now, (Spoiler) defeated in my quest to reach the fabled Orkneys but buoyed by the accumulation of a wealth of scenic discoveries. And 30 ticks. So the chances of this blog being up-to-date by the end-of-month review are Less Than Zero. But I’ll press on, back at Dunkeld… Continue reading DARKNESS DESCENDS ON DUNKELD

Eagle-eyed readers of this blog, of whom there won’t be many, will have noticed that the Bridge of Allan is virtually next door to Dunblane. Hurrah ! Now I’ve always wanted to visit Dunblane to pay homage to Sir Andy.  As someone who once managed to hit a ball, underarm, over the tennis fence I’m… Continue reading DUNBLANE : TENNIS HERO & TAPPIT HEN

Some fast paced ticking action now, as the No. 54 brings you to the heart of Bridge of Allan, birthplace of Judy Murray, the most powerful woman in Scotland. Another Scottish town with a population between 5,601 and 8,901 to add to the growing list I was to tick off on the trip. Between Stirling… Continue reading OOR WULLIE

Before start on Scotland, I understand there is a gnashing of teeth that you can’t post your scathing comments on today’s posts. My advice is, write your comments on a piece of paper in pink pen, click your heels and throw the paper in the bin. I’m sure that will work. From (Raheem) Sterling to… Continue reading A STIRLING EFFORT

With BRAPA having safely left the Lakes, having drained it of barley wine, I thought it was safe to stop for a half (or whatever I didn’t tip in the plants) in Cumbria. It took over 3 hours to trundle up past Penrith, as some dreadful family from Sevenoaks (probably) chose to break down on… Continue reading THE RIGHT WREAY

Another post mainly for the benefit of Mrs RM, who features more prominently in this tale as Orkney looms larger. Onto Manchester, where Matt and the charming and chatty Emma were meeting us at the year old Northern Monk Refectory before the City game. Yes, Refectory. James remarked on the closed and sad looking boozers… Continue reading SONS OF SEITAN

Yes, this is the week I had all to myself, time to put the Orkneys to bed and make a huge splodge of pink at the top of that Beer Guide map. Light traffic means only 13hr57 minutes, or 13hr55 minutes if I borrow Mrs RM’s car. To put that in context, it only took… Continue reading EVERY TRIP TO THE ORKNEYS MUST INEVITABLY START AT THE SHEFFIELD TAP

More childhood memories as I plunge back into rural Northants, just for you. LifeAfterFootball may even know some of these places from his career at the Cobblers. These are undiscovered lands off the old A45 from Purgatory to Despair, far from the neon lights of Pop World and Yates in Northampton. Some 43 years ago,… Continue reading FINE AND DANDY IN EARL’S BARTON

It’s always important to get Bedfordshire clear before the end of October, before the tourists arrive in their masses. My last tick comes in the tourist honeypot of Upper Dean, just south of Thrapston Services and not far from that Ellington pub that BRAPA loved when I drove him round the Hunts. Look how frantic… Continue reading FINISHING BEDS – BEER, SKITTLES AND CRABAPPLES IN UPPER DEAN

Five trains headed north from Archway to High Barnet before one eventually took me south to Goodge St. Why is that? Who’d want to go to Barnet? This stretch of tourist London north of Hamleys is unknown territory for tickers and giggers, What pre-emptive potential would the Cock hold ? More to the point, how… Continue reading SAM SMITHS – COCK OF THE ROOST