May 2023. Only two nights in Tallinn (and Riga and Kaunas) so we needed to make the most of a gorgeous evening where we had the famous Old Town cobbles to ourselves. 454,000 IT literate souls live in Tallinn, but they’re obviously tucked up in bed early as the streets were largely deserted as the… Continue reading ONLY 3 SECONDS, BUT WHAT A LEGACY THE SCOTS LEFT IN ESTONIA
Tag: Scotland
PRE-EMPTIVE TICKS IN KIRKWALL. DOES A SINGLE MALT COUNT ?
Five Kirkwall GBG pubs ticked, and it’s only 7pm as we enter what professionals call “Pre-emptive time”. This is where CAMRA comes in, What Pub providing a list to all the cask outlets in Kirkwall, the closest of which attempts to bewilder us with its pointy arrows. The Neuk was closed, the Bothy Bar was… Continue reading PRE-EMPTIVE TICKS IN KIRKWALL. DOES A SINGLE MALT COUNT ?
THE AULD MOTOR HOOSE
9th September 2022. One more Beer Guide pub in Kirkwall, the penultimate tick in the whole GBG. Back to the Auld Motor Hoose, with this classic car seeming to guide us through the quaint shopping streets on our way. A plain exterior greets you, but the interior is a motor-themed marvel, particularly for fans of… Continue reading THE AULD MOTOR HOOSE
Despite Garth Brooks, the St. Ola in Kirkwall was a classic
9th September 2022. We’d ticked three of the Kirkwall Five, and our research confirmed the Auld Motor Hoose wasn’t closing any time soon, so let’s Do the Ola (a popular dance move in 1950s Orkney). The beer in St Ola wasn’t the best of the night (but still a cool NBSS 3), but I’ve rarely… Continue reading Despite Garth Brooks, the St. Ola in Kirkwall was a classic
A SCAPA SPECIAL
9th September 2022 (still, obviously) The big night in Kirkwall, the day before the completion of the Good Beer Guide (what could possibly go wrong now ?). The Auld Motor Hoose left till later, the Ayre ticked with a half of foam, we now reached three (3) GBG entries IN A ROW. This is what… Continue reading A SCAPA SPECIAL
KICKING OFF IN KIRKWALL
Look who we met today ! Yes, it’s Colin the Cauliflower (in back pack) and his “friend” Simon. What a joy to bump unexpectedly into BRAPA when you’re minding your own business in Kent. Simon and I compared progress on our respective blog; BRAPA will report to you in December, my post in December (’23).… Continue reading KICKING OFF IN KIRKWALL
SAY “YES” TO YESNABY
Before I start, a big “Thanks !” to reader “Pauline” from Greater Maidstone. Although she couldn’t meet me in my chosen GBG pub today on account of there being pashminas to wash, she very kindly visited it to confirm I wouldn’t get stabbed. Let that be an example to you all. Back to the blog… Continue reading SAY “YES” TO YESNABY
HARRIS OR LEWIS ?
Some more reflections on the frankly manic trip round the Western Isles at the end of August in search of two ticks. Disappointingly for my readers, if not Mrs RM, both the Westford and the Crown were OPEN. Take notes, English micros. Sadly, our schedule was limited by family dramas and music festivals, so we… Continue reading HARRIS OR LEWIS ?
GO UIST, LIFE IS PEACEFUL THERE
More offcuts and outtakes from the first assault on the Scottish GBG entries at the end of August. This really is the “Hatful of Hollow” of Retired Martin. But then, “Hatful of Hollow” is The Smiths best album. Best track, of course, was this cracker. That’s the best 2 minutes in the history of film,… Continue reading GO UIST, LIFE IS PEACEFUL THERE
“Chiquitita”, arm wrestling and more than adequate cask. No Mallaig malaise…
Last post I was rehashing old material filling in the gaps from the mini posts from The First Great Scottish Beer Guide Assault in late August. We’d arrived in Mallaig at 11pm, keen to find out from locals how to pronounce Sgeir Dhearg, Rubha na h-Acasirseid and (Come on) Eileen na h-Acairseid, all of which… Continue reading “Chiquitita”, arm wrestling and more than adequate cask. No Mallaig malaise…
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