The last leg of our Scottish trip took us past the home of Beer Guide completist and overall legend Pubmeister on the way to Scotland’s First City. There may be a vibrant craft beer scene in Scotland but it isn’t producing many new Beer Guide entries (and that Hippo place closed), just the Raven this… Continue reading IN GLASGAE. IN THE DOGHOUSE
RESCUING MRS RM FROM AN AYR SPOONS
Another short post about Ayr, disappointingly free of alliteration but with comforting words about cask in Spoons. Mainly, this is for members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Mrs Retired Martin, who you’ll remember I’d left to waddle glide back into town while I looked at pub mirrors in the Abbotsford. On… Continue reading RESCUING MRS RM FROM AN AYR SPOONS
AYRS AND GRACES
Ayr is a funny old place. Wonderful beaches, classic bridges, historic architecture, and some of the shabbiest streets outside Carluke. Some really smart streets south of town toward the old racecourse though, with a couple of genteel hotels in the Beer Guide for those with the energy for a walk down Racecourse Rd. Mrs RM… Continue reading AYRS AND GRACES
TRICKY TROON & THE DEAD JELLYFISH
Ten minutes on the train from Ayr (£3.60 return) you’re in the UK centre of geriatric golf, the sort of place my Dad would have retired to a decade ago if my Mum had ever acquired a taste for deep-fried haggis. The links golf courses along the west coast of Ayrshire are still the major… Continue reading TRICKY TROON & THE DEAD JELLYFISH
AYR – THE JOY OF 6-1 AND YELLOW MUSTARD
Twenty years ago during the French World Cup, pre-children, Mrs RM and I did a Grand Tour of Scotland that went a bit like this; Don’t ask why it started in Macclesfield, or memories of a Virgin train from Euston will come flooding back, and we don’t want that, do we ? Quite a few… Continue reading AYR – THE JOY OF 6-1 AND YELLOW MUSTARD
NEVER GO BACK TO THE SAME PUB. UNLESS IT’S GOT BASS ON.
A bonus post for pub tickers sworn to the rules of GBG completion. “Never shalt ye returneth to a pub once cask hath been drank and pink marker applied“. But if I’d gone straight back to the campervan I’d have had to talk about politics or conservatories with Mrs RM, and the Germans were… Continue reading NEVER GO BACK TO THE SAME PUB. UNLESS IT’S GOT BASS ON.
COVER VERSIONS OF “ECHO BEACH” IN THE NEW BAZAAR
First pub of the evening, and last of my six Dumfries ticks, was the New Bazaar. No idea why I left this ’till last (yes I do, Mrs RM wouldn’t have gone in it with me). The riverside was all mine. On the riverfront, but not your typical riverfront pub, the New Bazaar was a… Continue reading COVER VERSIONS OF “ECHO BEACH” IN THE NEW BAZAAR
SCOTTISH SPOONS, PINK UNICORNS & PIZZA
I’m back home after a couple of days finishing Durham‘s GBG entries (just wait for the Stockton post and the Tango p**s episode). On the upside, I now have my mouse back and can write longer posts. On the downside, it’s ten degrees hotter than in Stockton. Which is still fifteen degrees too hot. On… Continue reading SCOTTISH SPOONS, PINK UNICORNS & PIZZA
“WAIT HERE TO BE SEATED”
Two down in Dumfries, four to go. But first a little tourism. With the Burns centre and the Bruce pub, it helps if you like Roberts. Sadly no Cure museum, though the Coach & Horses had plenty of their stuff on the jukebox. I thought Dumfries would be smarter; it looked unchanged since the ’70s… Continue reading “WAIT HERE TO BE SEATED”
MORE YE OLDE DUMFRIES
My notes don’t record a lunch stop, so I fear we just ate crisps (whether plain cheese or something less exotic) in Dumfries that afternoon. It may account for later grumpiness. These posts are compiled by me uploading photos and going “aha” (not the Norwegian one), but the one below took a while to… Continue reading MORE YE OLDE DUMFRIES
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