retiredmartin

A 4.30am start, or lunchtime in your money, for a 5 hour coach trip to the Grand Canyon. A journey currently enlivened by “School of Rock” and Australian girls discussing their belief in the paranormal and how Bananas in Pyjamas went downhill when CGI was introduced (those last two are connected). Let’s just hope there’s… Continue reading WHEAT BEER AT THE ARIZONA RODEO

  Time for a pub cat !  Definitely the star turn at the Pineapple.  As someone remarked during a gap in service, if he could pour pints he’d be perfect. 7) The Pineapple – Kentish Town A rare community pub in the Beer Guide in North London, rare cool beer, Bass mirror and “Are you one… Continue reading MORE GOLDEN PUBS 2017

Once I get home I’ll do a proper post on America; the Chinese takeaway chains, shambolic coaches, and irritating habit of adding tax at the till. You’ll be glad you live in Runcorn. Or Canada. Vegas is astonishing though. Believe me, it’s better than going to the real Eiffel Tower and Pyramids. Fake Venice is… Continue reading WHADDYA EXPECT FOR $2.50 IN VEGAS ?

These titles get worse, they really do. But not as bad as BRAPA poetry, oh no. This post is brought to you by the WiFi on board the Bolt Bus from LA to Vegas, with upload speeds of about 1 photo per Hershey’s bar. The technology that forged the moon landing 48 years ago, folks.… Continue reading BEVERLEY HILLS HOP

I know it’s not the end of December yet, but I won’t be flying back mid-holiday to tick an identikit micro pub in Southport, so I’m calling it (as the Yanks say). Here’s a couple of extracts from the giant spreadsheet. Don’t ask me what it all means.  Basically, I’ve been to about 80% of… Continue reading DECEMBER STOCKTAKE

I have now got cold AND hot running water in the Travelodge, and removed an offending article from the drawers, so our hotel is approaching Bates Motel standard, at least. But consistent WiFi, of course is still beyond Los Angeles in 2017. If you want to see how to run a hotel in the UK,… Continue reading SHUT UP ABOUT WEST COAST IPA ALREADY

Rubbish internet = short posts. Great fun on the metro back from Santa Monica. BRAPA can caption this one, Mrs RM made me go in the English pub that WAS open. No Bass in the Britannia, but something to remember the homeland by on Christmas Day.

  In no particular order, ten of my favourite pub photos from ten of my favourite blogs of the year.  Less effort went into this than you can possibly imagine. The top image is Simon approaching the Fat Cat by Richard Coldwell of BeerLeeds A classic image of a man who knows how to wear… Continue reading TOP PUB PHOTOS OF 2017

More ramblings from the West Coast onto a mobile phone, as my son hogs the only laptop. The boys enjoyed Universal Studios without us standing behind them complaining about queues.  Interesting to see the only other folk getting there by public transport were the Japanese, who share our fear of hire cars and taxis. Good… Continue reading A UNION JACK AND HUMMUS