Archive for the ‘Buy Me A Beer’ Category
*This is the last post on THIS blog site. I have used up my entire allotment of media space for 1pumplane.wordpress.com so this remains, as long as wordpress will allow it to, as an archive of the first 6 years (almost) of the Endless British Pub Crawl. I also have an offline version stored (a bit more than a DVD’s worth) for shits and giggles once this archive leaves the ether. If you are still interested in following my progress toward a) drinking in every pub in the country, b) running coast-to-coast and North-to-South, and c) becoming British (both figuratively and literally), you’ll find the Endless British Pub Crawl Continues at
This was never supposed to last this long. When I started the blog in January 2009, I had been in Britain 5 days and thought it might be a good way to dump some photos and post some updates where a few friends back home could find them and without having to post or email them individually with items that all of them would be getting, anyway. I thought it might last into the middle of Spring at most. But, I found the landscape and culture too compelling (and this medium as both a diary and a newsletter too personally entertaining) to quit. Now, it has metastasized into a sick addiction…and the few regular readers that stick with it are just perverse voyeurs (God-love-ye!).
I don’t think the writing will improve much as this continues but I will, initially at least, strive for quality in lieu of quantity. And, more frequent knob jokes. See you there.
Unsuccessful week
In most of the ways that count.
Time to get loaded.
Name: Hardy’s Bankside Shiraz
Type: red wine
Venue: house
Review/notes: Decent fillets, some broad bean and parmesan mash with roasted potatoes…perfect start to a drinking evening. The wine is okay at £4.99 but not worth full price (same as the rosé a couple of days ago). That’s all…Gotta dash!
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Another burger,
Another early work day,
And we’re out of wine.
Name: Luis Felipe Edwards Rose
Type: rosé wine
Venue: house
Review/notes: Famished after another early start turned late finish, Jax had the wine waiting and I rushed out to heat the BBQ in the gale force winds. Halfway through the meal I went to the fridge to replenish my glass; “I only got the one bottle,” she called out before I could open the door, “but, there’s iced tea.” A vile trick to play on a working man, indeed.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
The Kennet and Avon Hash House Harriers were running tonight with a start at the Lion and Fiddle. With the wife working till 7 and myself on holiday I figured why not go flour bomb the trail (if it was prelaid and easily found). Check and check, so I got a suitably nice run in following and enhancing their planned trot. Thirsty work, indeed, and it was a pleasure to barge into their ostensible start a bit ahead of the pack.
I ordered a Doom Bar and retired to the tables outside this fine, old inn when I spotted someone else coming in dressed as though they might be planning a run. In due course I finished and, dropping my glass off at the bar heard the barmaid (who was on the landline) as she looked my way and said to whomever it was on the other end, “oh, he’s just popped back in…yes…mm-hmm….” but I really had to dash.
[The Chippy Challenge: to eat more fish and chips in 2014; see original post for details.]
Fish: cod
Sides: none
Evaluation: Absolutely delicious and quite a generous portion. Very hungry after the 15 miler (and 4 pubber…follow links backward from the Dumb Post if you are interested), this was just what the doctor would prescribe.
Days since last: 1 (Three Goats’ Heads, Oxford)
Map link.
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
June
July
The Wellesley is a family run joint and the family seems grand, to me. They were doing a lively lunch trade when I came in covered in sweat and still stinking of equal parts goat shit and stinky American and I had to wait a couple of minutes to put in my order for a Corvus Stout (a marvelous beverage and far superior to the Irish one you might be more familiar with).
This bar felt very familiar to me, from the chef (the pa of the family) popping his head out of the kitchen to ask the diners how they enjoyed the meal and then describing his innovations that made it possible [hint, mint was available and basil was not], to the semi-obscene peanut packet display discretely kept within sight but not without searching. The couple seemed very affectionate with one another, the staff (whom I reckon to be family as well), and with the punters all of whom came out of their way to offer their custom.
This was turning out to be an awesome day out at the pubs (see the Bell House and the Rising Sun for the earlier stops, and the Dumb Post for the following one).
Bremen, beautiful.
Haarlem, nice. But nothing can
Surpass Amsterdam.
Name: Veltins
Type: pilsner
Venue: China Restaurant Peking, Bremen, Germany
Review/notes: I had Veltins on the birthday run but this time it made it onto the daily tipple…only alcoholic beverage for the day, in fact, despite being off from early afternoon.
Checked into my hotel and as it was nearer to Haarlem than Amsterdam I spent the twilight hours stoned to the gills on White Widow I picked up at in Haarlem and wandered the town till 11…they had an evening footrace of some sort and there were crowds everywhere. Caught a train back to Amsterdam and topped off the buzz then wandered the canals and the outskirts of Vondelpark until close to 1. I probably would have wandered till dawn but when the skies opened I took the next bus, drenched to the bone, back to the hotel. Homesick.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
The Teutonic Shake
At urination finish:
Twice sharply then zip.
Name: Franziskaner
Type: weissbier
Venue: Double Ti, Bremen, Germany
Review/notes: Sometimes the stereotypes are right there next to you and on this occasion the location of ‘right there next to me’ was in the pisser. He dried his drain with fascistic efficiency and the only thing missing was a click of the heels and a short bow before leaving.
On the other hand, sometimes you get the stereotypes all wrong. From the sign and the outward appearances I noted as I was passing the Double Ti, I reckoned it was a lesbian bar until I got in at which point I decided it was a middled-aged dude gay bar. I guess I was wrong on both counts and it was just a very nice little local pub (with some frankly screaming features that may just be very Northern German).
I think the bartender was one of the Ti’s in the sign (or maybe it was her double Ti’s that were indicated, to large to defy gravity the way they did). Awfully nice crowd, there, and I only wish my German was good enough to speak with them (as it was, I was struggling to keep up with the conversations I eavesdropped on).
Regardless, I enjoyed the weissbier well enough and there was a countdown clock to the France v Ecuador match which gave me a chance to get back to the hotel in time for the Marsellaise.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
All transport was late,
Missed my train in Enschede,
A beer hour to kill.
Name: Jupiler
Type: pilsner
Venue: Cafe Het Bolwerk, Enschede, The Netherlands
Review/notes: The train left Schiphol late and instead of having 20 minutes to kill in Amersfoort I found myself running at full speed to make my connection to Enschede which left 5 minutes late so I needn’t have bothered. Even with that delay, it would have left me a 10 minute buffer to change at Enschede…except it lost another 12 minutes on the way and I arrived in time to see the train to Munster in the distance. Next one in 58 minutes…pub time?
I found the central square full of restaurants and with side streets full of coffeeshops (mental note for next time). I also spotted a pretty pub which turned out to be the oldest one in the town, so result. Great selection of beers, too, and I could have spent a happy evening there but instead settled for a couple of Jupilers. Jummi, jummi Jupilers.
The train to Munster was right on time, but experienced net fifteen minutes delays on the way.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
Quiet day at work.
Not busy but quite steady.
Then, it’s gin o’clock.
Name: gin and tonic
Type: booze
Recipe: add some tonic to some gin
Venue: house
Review/notes: No imagination, but this is always a good choice. Just ask the Queen.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
You must always choose.
Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride.
Just like before, right?
Name: Blossom Hill White Zinfandel
Type: rosé
Venue: house
Review/notes: Two white zins in two days. Cheap and tasty like Bazooka Joe bubble gum.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
May
Weeping in a secret room!
Hide in the wardrobe of darkness!
A jar of shadows!
Name: Money for Old Rope
Type: stout
Venue: Far From The Madding Crowd, Oxford
Review/notes: One of my favourite stouts, full of nut and varnish and viscosity. If “Guinness is Good For You” then Money for Old Rope is life itself…despite the macabre labels that Bespoke Brewery uses. Also, I’m a bit sensitive to neck related items this week.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
April
By the vested pow’r,
I hereby pronounce you two
Beavis and Butthead.
Name: Box Steam Brewery Chuffin’
Type: bitter
Venue: The Bell, Selsley
Review/notes: Box Steam is always good, and this ale, with its little hint of chocolate and slightly astringent finish was perfect with the fish and chip lunch mid-hike.
Notes on the Haiku: Jackie pointed this one out on the way to Selsley:
And, at the famous church in Selsley, I spotted this:
We will never grow up.
[DT =Daily Tipple, explained in DT #000 here]
Monthly consolidations/compilations: January
February
March
A lot of shows disappoint, but occasionally you stumble into one that exceeds all your expectations.
Granted, I didn’t expect much. I loved Lloyd Cole’s first record to hit big in the States (Rattlesnakes), and subsequent material was pleasant enough. But, I really hadn’t paid much attention in the ensuing quarter century. So, when he walked onto the stage and started playing without introduction or opening act I was a bit surprised.
And, rivetted. Two songs in and I was so glad we made the trip to Stroud. Then, it turned out he was really funny, too. Very dry, but truly hilarious. And, self-effacing, as it turns out (the Daily Haiku is almost verbatim from his banter).
And, in following a theme of the day for me (see my review of the Greyhound loos from today’s lunch stop), he seemed obsessed with urinals (it turns out that Stroud has some famous ones he desired inspecting before leaving town).
If you get a chance, especially in a small venue, go see him. Better with a Brit audience, but he’s an American (sort of) now so if you don’t live near a good golf course in Britain you might have to suffer the hoots and hollers of a Septic audience.
For some reason, the Stars and Stripes were projected on the back wall during the show…spooky.
Okay this could get out of hand…later, we also killed off a bottle of Cava and more Christmassy bevvies, but on the way home for the evening (and, by the way, the five hour duck! which is the four hour duck browned an hour longer at 170º C) we decided to pay a visit to the Beehive (our coolest local) which had another good christmas ale on Wantsum Brewery’s Figgy Pudding. No review as this is a bonus bevvie, and I’m tied up fininshing the asparagus to go with the duck. Previous one (breakfast) here.
[transcript of note to colleagues after one of them reported a water leak in the labs]
Hi, all,
If there is an emergency at the labs and you think I should know about it, please call my land line at
01xxx xxx xxx
This should be posted outside the labs, as well.
Do not, under any circumstance, call my mobile phone number. It is posted because the person that collected the numbers on the contact list refused to believe that I only use it to make calls or to receive calls that have been prearranged. I’m not sure where it is right now but I’m sure the battery has needed charging for a few weeks. It has this one great app, though, where I can turn off the phone and all calls roll over to voice mail for me to delete when I next turn it on, 4-6 weeks later.
Illustrative example: I put 10 quid on the top-up balance (bringing it up to £12 ) in May 2011 before a trip to Maasstricht and used it heavily there arranging accommodation around the Netherlands. I next topped up with another £10 early last month, so used about £12 in 30 months. Most of the calls were to order takeaway or taxis or to book a table.
The phone has not been used in public without at least stepping into a doorway, but most often I look for a phone box to step into first. I could rant about how I feel about people who make or, worse, take calls in public but it would rapidly become a rude diatribe and, for some of you, quite personal; besides, I think you all already know I’m older than dust….
So, use the land line. Sparingly.
Thanks, and Happy Hols.
The first half of the run to the Red Lion in Water End from the Martin’s Pond was on pavement and much of the next quarter was on a flat, wide verge, as well. Then, just as the road tipped downhill there was no verge at all, just steep, muddy, brambled embankment. As it was downhill and pitch dark out, I used my torch to light a way to sprint most of it and with 100-200 yard bursts (interrupted by moments clinging to shrubbery as cars passed) I eventually found the Leighton Buzzard Road a hundred meters from the pub. Invigorating.
The Lion is a nice old coaching inn on the outside but inside has a completely modernised feel. However, unlike most of these retrofits the Red Lion’s architects made something completely modern that feels sturdy, looks pretty, and still doesn’t detract from the ancient character of the house. Well done.
They have a reputation as a pizza place and if I didn’t have so long a jog back into Hemel I would have given it a try. The wood fired pizza oven is authentic and the cooks throw dough like pros and everything smells like it should.
Sitting at the bar with my Tring Side Pocket ale I spotted Wild Turkey 101 on an upper shelf then noted that the spirits stock was absolutely grand…Patron, several craft bourbons, malt from EVERYWHERE (an intriguing Japanese beckoned, but ‘not tonight’ I wisely decided).
I don’t have anything to add to this photo. It made me laugh: I need to grow up.
In Hemel Hempstead, I sought food for quite a while after my first-day run and found myself on a side street drawn, moth like, to the lights of the Old Bell Gate. On arrival I noted that the curtains were all drawn, a sign in most places that the house was closed for business but it was still early so I gave the door a tug and it flew open.
Inside, I found the only ale on tap to be a Tring Moongazer which was a real treat. I found a seat and watched a bit of Spanish football with the boys, making light of some of the poor play. Another fellow came in and started a conversation about antiques that I eavesdropped on but which seemed a bit beyond my expertise; the WIFI is shit in my room and I haven’t had a chance to see if the website he was banging on about was really mysalesman.com and I didn’t get to ask directly as he was called away to a phone call when his Dr. Who ringtone filled the room.
UPDATE 15 October 2013: The order has been placed, and I think I got all the sizes requested, plus the running vests and the sweatshirt hoody. They should arrive by a week from Friday so I’ll start sending them out before the end of the month. Thanks for the interest.
I’m putting together an order for new t-shirts. If you want one, here’s the deal:
They cost you one t-shirt from a dive bar in your area OR a t-shirt from a lower-level sporting team from your area (think Savannah Sand Gnats or Tucson Toros or Peoria Rivermen or Toledo Mudhens or Chicago Cubs, etc). Small university shirts (Troy State, Chattanooga State Technical Community College, etc), will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
HOWEVER, if it is a team, it has to be a minor league AND you have to include a payment of
£15 – £15 x (12000 minus miles_as_the_bird_flies) ÷12000
to get the Drunken Bunny shirt. For instance, if you want to trade for the Ghana National Baseball Team Shirt from Accra, that is 4280 miles from the house so I would expect the Buy Me A Beer account to see a deposit of
£15 – £15 x (12000 – 4280) ÷ 12000 = £5.35
but someone with a Bristol Badgers shirt could get it for 6 pence (truth be told I would probably go buy one next year). Sydney Blue Sox, who originally pissed me off by their draconian shipping charges, would need to deposit £13.30. First shirt that arrives per team or venue, only (hurry, I need clothes).
Real dive bars, only, please…you know who you are (I’m looking at you, Meet Rack).
Check with me first ( doborodin@gmail.com ) as only the first shirt of its species qualifies and we’ll need to exchange shipping details. Offer ends when I place the shirt order.
The Endless British Pub Crawl 
The Endless British Pub Crawl is dead! *
*This is the last post on THIS blog site. I have used up my entire allotment of media space for 1pumplane.wordpress.com so this remains, as long as wordpress will allow it to, as an archive of the first 6 years (almost) of the Endless British Pub Crawl. I also have an offline version stored (a bit more than a DVD’s worth) for shits and giggles once this archive leaves the ether. If you are still interested in following my progress toward a) drinking in every pub in the country, b) running coast-to-coast and North-to-South, and c) becoming British (both figuratively and literally), you’ll find the Endless British Pub Crawl Continues at
http://drunkenbunny.wordpress.com
This was never supposed to last this long. When I started the blog in January 2009, I had been in Britain 5 days and thought it might be a good way to dump some photos and post some updates where a few friends back home could find them and without having to post or email them individually with items that all of them would be getting, anyway. I thought it might last into the middle of Spring at most. But, I found the landscape and culture too compelling (and this medium as both a diary and a newsletter too personally entertaining) to quit. Now, it has metastasized into a sick addiction…and the few regular readers that stick with it are just perverse voyeurs (God-love-ye!).
I don’t think the writing will improve much as this continues but I will, initially at least, strive for quality in lieu of quantity. And, more frequent knob jokes. See you there.
* Long live the Endless British Pub Crawl!
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