February 2026. Turin. In 1985 the New Musical Express gave a legendary review of The Jesus & Mary Chain, berating them for no longer having the energy to play the twenty minute sets, slipping into the “rockism” of hour long shows with encores. Similarly with blogging, it’s harder (for me, anyway) to write concise posts… Continue reading TURIN – SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Tag: travel
A PINT IN MONACO OLD TOWN
February 2026. Monaco. One night in Monaco, as Murray Head nearly sang; one day is plenty, but not more than enough. I really enjoyed the principality, but you can walk from shops to casinos to the Old Town in half an hour, though you’ll appreciate those evcr-present free elevators on the walk back. We left… Continue reading A PINT IN MONACO OLD TOWN
A NIGHT IN MONACO. OR IS IT ?
February 2026. Monaco. Finally leaving Genoa after what readers of this blog will say feels like a month, we take the train to Ventimiglia and then reach a third country in 30 minutes on a colourful French train, daringly taking an earlier departure to Monte Carlo than the time we’d booked for. Does Monaco even… Continue reading A NIGHT IN MONACO. OR IS IT ?
THE PRICE OF AN ITALIAN ESPRESSO
February 2026. Genoa to Monaco. Four nights in Genoa, never enough, with a final Capricossa from Bacia la Mano. 45 seconds from oven to our room on the second floor of the B & B Hotel at Principe Station. That pizza oven is a design classic, similar to the Pavoni espresso machine we brought back… Continue reading THE PRICE OF AN ITALIAN ESPRESSO
THE BLACK BULL, PAVIA
February 2026. Pavia. I’d booked Trenitalia tickets to Pavia, reckoning a 7pm return* would be ideal to allow us to have a quick pint before a mad 20 minute dash for the train to Genoa (though I would caution against ever making Mrs RM dash for anything). But as we stood outside the Black Bull… Continue reading THE BLACK BULL, PAVIA
PASTA IN PAVIA
February 2026. Pavia. For those bored of foreign muck, here’s a Bass mirror from Turin last night. Quite a bit of travel to go before we get there, though. A week in Italy was enough to confirm the greatness of Genoa, tick a new country, finally see what Turin is all about (food) and revisit… Continue reading PASTA IN PAVIA
THE CINQUE TERRE ON THE CHEAP – LUNCH IN CAMOGLI
February 2026. Camogli. Italy. 25 years ago we flew to Genoa, hired a car, and set off around the Ligurian coast towards the Cinque Terre looking for signs saying “Zimmer Frei” “Camera” to stay for the night. In a world before websites and Booking.com, turning up at 4pm with two toddlers without accommodation seems reckless… Continue reading THE CINQUE TERRE ON THE CHEAP – LUNCH IN CAMOGLI
RAISING A PINT (OR TWO) TO MUDGIE IN WIDNES
January 2026. Widnes. A confession. I intended to make that post on Mudgie’s funeral a long read including the post-wake pubs, but Mrs RM had finished her pint/wine/Amaretto Disaronno in St Annes Spoons and I had to press “PUBLISH” in case the WiFi ran out in our Travelodge (£29.99). It would have been rude not… Continue reading RAISING A PINT (OR TWO) TO MUDGIE IN WIDNES
MAGICAL MERSEYSIDE MURK IN MOSSLEY HILL
January 2026. Liverpool. I thought I’d have a night in Liverpool before Peter the Pub Curmudgeon’s funeral 2 stops away in Widnes on Friday. Normally one hour thirty-six to get to the edge of the Pool, say Google Maps. But this was far from a normal rail journey, as I first had to push the… Continue reading MAGICAL MERSEYSIDE MURK IN MOSSLEY HILL
A MORE SOBER RETURN TO THE PIPEMAKERS
January 2025. Rye. The trains in Rye are fairly reliable; one an hour to Ashford or Eastbourne. Buses are less reliable (like I’m surprised); the number 313 back to our caravan timed to depart just before the train arrives, or not arrive at all. So my options are a) wait 40 minutes in the cold,… Continue reading A MORE SOBER RETURN TO THE PIPEMAKERS
