October 2026. Rye. Dad’s death sent me into action mode on Monday morning. Meeting care home staff who’d come to love his smile over 2 years, contacting funeral directors, letting relatives know and urgently clearing out a rather spartan room and taking four bin bags of clothes to recycling, leaving one of photos to sort… Continue reading ON A DAY WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO FEEL NORMAL, WE HEAD TO THE GLOBE
Tag: Pubs
THE MERMAID, RYE. SURPRISINGLY PUBBY
October 2026. Rye. East Sussex. The six minute bus ride from Rye Harbour into town costs a curious £2.90, which is just the level at which you’ll consider striding hobbling along the footpath instead, taking in the bucolic views of the oil refinery. There’s a very pretty walk through the nature reserve into Rye, but… Continue reading THE MERMAID, RYE. SURPRISINGLY PUBBY
A MURKY FINISH TO GBG 27 KENT
October 2026. Swalecliffe. Kent. An evening in London, then a visit to see Dad in Waterbeach, where Sunnyside is aquiring new thatch, a quick drop-in to the in-laws in Kent, then back to the coast at Rye. It never stops. And then back up to the north Kent coast to complete another section of the… Continue reading A MURKY FINISH TO GBG 27 KENT
SINKING SHEPS
October 2026. Tonbridge. I decided to let the train take the strain from Sheffield to Tonbridge; at £29.60 advance it was probably cheaper with diesel over £2 a pint or whatever they sell it in. Sheff-St Pancras, quick dash, St Pancras-London Bridge, quick dash, London Bridge to Tonbridge. I just wish it was easy to… Continue reading SINKING SHEPS
DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
October 2026. Derby. Rushing out of the Tiny Tap to avoid the strains of the debut Duran Duran single I find myself at the Darley bus stop with a (late) bus called either 9.1 the nines, 6X the sixes or the comet approaching. I try to pay on my phone. It fails, the driver taps… Continue reading DRAUGHT BASS AT THE FLOWERPOT
DERBY’S ODD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEER GUIDE
October 2026. Derby. Mrs RM has been down in RTW, as the kidz call it, arranging care packages for my father-in-law. Just because it’s been on the horizon for ages doesn’t make it less draining. I’d had to take the morning train (like Sheena Easton) back to Sheffield to get the boiler serviced, clear out… Continue reading DERBY’S ODD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEER GUIDE
A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
October 2026. Morley. West Yorkshire. Dave “US” Southworth often asks which places surprised me. A good question, which today gets “Morley, West Yorkshire” added to the answers. Wiki says “Morley is a market town and a civil parish within the City of Leeds metropolitan borough; the largest town (pop 44,440) in the borough after Leeds… Continue reading A WORD TO THE WISE. MORLEY’S SEVEN HILLS IS A CLASSIC
SEPTEMBER ’26 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
Right, now I’ve reached the end of September I can bring you the highlights; none of this posting a summary two (2) days early nonsense. Nothing particularly startling about the travel map; but September 2026 was a notable month for good and bad reasons. Beginning with the privilege of taking James and Matt and Emma… Continue reading SEPTEMBER ’26 STOCKTAKE + OCTOBER PREVIEW
THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
September 2026. North Hykeham. Lincolnshire. Friday was a perfect day, and not in a corny Lou Reed charity single way. I drove down to see Dad, who despite advancing dementia was as chatty as he’s been for many months, was eating well, and had somehow acquired the Russian resident’s hat. I stayed a couple of… Continue reading THE BEER GUIDE PUB OPEN FIVE (5) HOURS A WEEK
ADMIRING PUB AI IN SOUTH ANSTON
September 2026. South Anston. South Yorkshire. Obviously I’m not actually aiming to complete the Beer Guide again; not sure I could afford all those helicopter flights and ferries in the final year anymore, never mind the stress. But I’m still visiting as many new Guide pubs as I can, and a bit more conscientous about… Continue reading ADMIRING PUB AI IN SOUTH ANSTON
