March 2026. Wuppertal. Germany. Only three (3) nights in Cologne with the boys, but so much to explore in North Rhine-Westphalia, which kindly lets a group of five of you travel round the state all day for 59,80 euros. We’d had a big argument family planning meeting that first lunchtime in Gaffel and decided to… Continue reading I❤️WuBÄRtal
Tag: travel
Brauhaus Gaffel am Dom
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. A short family holiday in Cologne, the first since New York in 2019, a year before Donald J Trump was unceremoniously booted out of office. And a year before the pandemic briefly made pubs insignificant. In 2022 we met up with a former Pub Man of the Year and her husband… Continue reading Brauhaus Gaffel am Dom
PEAKS AND PIES AND PINTS
March 2026. Sheffield and the Peak. Last weekend we “hosted” (ugh) Meighan and Dave from Chicago during their whirlwind tour of Europe. I have never seen Mrs RM go into such a cleaning frenzy, which sadly extended to getting me to mow the lawn. What happened to the wild garden craze ? I knew nothing… Continue reading PEAKS AND PIES AND PINTS
CHECKING OUT KELHAM IN ADVANCE OF THE AMERICAN INVASION
March 2026. Sheffield. Back from Driffield in triumph, East Yorkshire GBG complete, I find Mrs RM in full-on “Operation Yank Invasion” mode, with a list of jobs to make the house ready for Chicago guests (not Dick and Barb) last weekend. Saturday night had been earmarked for a Curated Exploration of Kelham Island Public Houses,… Continue reading CHECKING OUT KELHAM IN ADVANCE OF THE AMERICAN INVASION
THURSDAY IS THE NEW FRIDAY
February 2026. London. From Charlton the train takes you back over the Thames, then stops abruptly at Cannon Street. It’s a quarter to six in the City of London; let’s have a look. Not many suits or bowler hats or folded copies of the Financial Times, but young workers pack the pubs. Plenty of pubs,… Continue reading THURSDAY IS THE NEW FRIDAY
AIN’T HULL LOVELY ?
February 2026. Hull. Mrs RM was away in Rome with mystery chum, leaving me to fend for myself in Sheffield. Middle age (59 to 99) is supposed to see you settle down to home comforts, isn’t it ? But by Sunday lunchtime I was itching to get out. Half an hour walk down to Sheffield… Continue reading AIN’T HULL LOVELY ?
STUBBORN TICKING
February 2026. Timperley. Greater Manchester. At Sunday School we used to sing “Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam“. No, not the Wolverhampton pub serving 9am pints of Abbot, Paul. I guess I’ve maintained that positive outlook on life, finding the best in everyone and everything. Even Maidenhead. But that relentless positivity is occasionally tested by… Continue reading STUBBORN TICKING
TO BE FRANK, TIMPERLEY IS A CURATE’S EGG
February 2026. Timperley. Greater Manchester. On Saturday I dropped Mrs RM off at Manchester Airport after an exciting trip through Wynatt’s Pass and less absorbing trek along the A555, which let me tell you in no A57. Mrs RM was off on another planet-killing trip with a very famous pub blogger, but it wasn’t me… Continue reading TO BE FRANK, TIMPERLEY IS A CURATE’S EGG
RETIRED MARTIN MEETS ROCKIN’ RICH
February 2026. Sheffield. One of the best things about retirement, and goodness knows it’s been epic, has been getting to meet nice people over a pint in comfy pubs. And so it was that I finally met one of the many nice guys from Yorkshire, Rockin Rich(ard) Clark from Harrogate. He’d been trying to arrange… Continue reading RETIRED MARTIN MEETS ROCKIN’ RICH
TIRED OF LICHFIELD, TIRED OF LIFE ?
February 2026. Lichfield. Quite a rarity for me to get three new GBG pubs in quick succession these days, on a bus line as well. The number 36 rumbles between Walsall and Lichfield every half hour purely for the benefit of Beer Guide tickers, and Lichfield Council have also provided some parking spaces for campervans… Continue reading TIRED OF LICHFIELD, TIRED OF LIFE ?
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