August 2026. Lutterworth. The Great British Bank Holiday never disappoints; our trip home from visiting Dad wrecked by bumps at Grantham and, after a switch from A1 to M1, Leicester. We paused at Lutterworth, not as exciting as Shepshed or Rothwell I grant you, but it’s only 5 minutes off the motorway, and has a… Continue reading WHY STOP IN LUTTERWORTH ?
Tag: life
BASS AND CRISPY BEEF NIGHT IN CAMBRIDGE
August 2026. Cambridge. I drove down to Waterbeach yesterday to see Dad. The back pain is worse than the pain from lack of recognition now, and I at least got to watch “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. Having sold Sunnyside I’ve got to find somewhere cheap to stay overnight to break the journey, and Whittlesford opposite… Continue reading BASS AND CRISPY BEEF NIGHT IN CAMBRIDGE
THAT RONNIE O’SULLIVAN MURAL
August 2026. Sheffield. Part 2 (of 2) from Cluedo Pubs with Walsall Evo, which was one of those days that makes this blogging lark so worthwhile. As a shy 22 year old newly qualified accountant with a stammer I wouldn’t have believed I’d be chatting to such interesting folk every week as I approach middle… Continue reading THAT RONNIE O’SULLIVAN MURAL
REMEMBERING ALVECHURCH’S FA CUP HEROICS
August 2026. Alvechurch. A well-trod three and a half hour drive back from Cardiff to Sheffield, M4/A449/A40/M50/M5/M42/M1, and I got as far as the M42 before I needed to stop (bones not bladder). It’s a quarter of a century since I last stopped (for a Balti at the New Dilshad) in Alvechurch, pop. 6,564, so… Continue reading REMEMBERING ALVECHURCH’S FA CUP HEROICS
CARDIFF BAY
August 2026. Cardiff. A whole day in Cardiff with no plans. No football, no pubs, no Chinese takeaway trail through Splott. A quick look at the market, a triumph of function over form, and a dither at the big clock facing what used to be (in my mind) a run of top Brain’s houses. The… Continue reading CARDIFF BAY
SPOONS OR NOTHING, THEN
August 2026. Bristol. A day in Bath, a day in Frome, two (2) identical Chinese takeaways from Twerton’s wonderful Bamboo Garden, which proves I know how to live. After the Zig Zag beer in Frome, the Zig Zag rail journey home, as a fallen tree (posh version of cows on the line) near Bristol Parkway… Continue reading SPOONS OR NOTHING, THEN
“MAINSTREAM MUSIC” AT THE LUBBER FIEND
July 2026. Newcastle. Last week my son told me I had “mainstream music taste“. Let that sink in. “Matthew has to be contrary” says Mrs RM. “I suspect your son enjoys winding you up” says ChatGPT. And you can rely on ChatGPT, folks; it told me so. ChatGPT was helping me to find some mainstream… Continue reading “MAINSTREAM MUSIC” AT THE LUBBER FIEND
THE WORLD CUP FINAL, TATER TOTS AND TEMPER TANTRUMS
July 2026. Sheffield. Back from Darlington and a disappointing Chinese takeaway (life lesson : never go back) I popped next door (ish) to see how many folk were going to watch the World Cup Final at our local. The Blind Monkey had decent crowds this last month for the England matches; I even heard people… Continue reading THE WORLD CUP FINAL, TATER TOTS AND TEMPER TANTRUMS
YE OLDE MUSTARD POT, MIDHOPESTONES
July 2026. Midhopestones. Sheffield. The Number 57 from the bottom of our hill (doesn’t really narrow it down) terminates at Unsliven Bridge 49 minutes later. I had no idea what Unsliven Bridge was, apart from a sense it was beyond the darkest recesses of Stocksbridge, a Sheffield suburb I’ve barely touched and for good reason.… Continue reading YE OLDE MUSTARD POT, MIDHOPESTONES
THAT 18 MINUTES IN GRANTHAM SPOONS IN FULL
July 2026. Grantham. From Sheffield to Waterbeach to see Dad and back in the same day isn’t ideal. But I don’t really want to be hanging around in Cambridge when I could be back with Mrs RM, planning the next leg of our epic Cask Camino (which hit a slight big snag this afternoon). Life… Continue reading THAT 18 MINUTES IN GRANTHAM SPOONS IN FULL