November 2025. Rye. The usual routine. 2 days in Waterbeach, leave a bag of washing in the garage for pick up later, pack light for trip to Rye via London. I cannot believe how much luggage folk drag around the capital. 22 minutes between trains.at Kings Cross St Pancras. You’ll recognise the lure of this place, but...

November 2025. Norwich. We daren’t travel too far at the moment, with declining parents and unsold properties, so it’s lucky I can get so much joy from an afternoon in a big city walking suburban streets, gazing at street art and churches, and only having to choose which pub to nip in and eavesdrop on Narrrrfolk...

November 2025. Norwich. 10 minutes out from Norwich market along residential Unthank Road to my new GBG tick, a genuine new pub from the Fat Cat stable rather than an old one you’ve walked past a hundred times and thought “Wonder when that’ll get in the Guide ?”. Looks lovely from outside, the interior of this...

November 2025. Norwich. I’ve taken more rail journeys these last 3 years than I had in all the previous 57, and despite the overcrowding on the Sheffield to Manchester routes and the unpredictable late cancellations I’m glad to get away from the car. No, really. But Monday nights trip south was a nightmare, an...

November 2025. Sheffield. Back from Leeds on Monday morning, quick walk to RM Towers to take the brown bin in, check taps, put heating down, then return to Sheffield station for the train south to Waterbeach. Wash and repeat. The rain adds something to central Sheffield. But obviously not the rail network, with a...

November 2025. Leeds. My last train back from Leeds to Sheffield would have been a ridiculously early 22:37, with a half hour walk from my gig out in Hyde Park’s student land. Could I possibly make it back ? I asked ChatGPT for my chances of making that train, based on probable stage times (often a bit earlier on...

November 2025. Leeds. A few minutes at bucolic Bramley station, waiting for the train back to Leeds. It’s late, but is it late enough to Delay Repay ? In Leeds, which is one of the most confusing stations in the UK to escape from, I head towards Swinegate, the Calls, and a pre-emptive recommendation 5 minutes...

November 2025. Pudsey. West Yorkshire. Back in Sheffield at the weekend for a couple of days to a) collect post (there isn’t any, except the Caravan Club glossy), b) put the bin out (it’s empty, but habit), c) make sure the heating is working in the middle of a sudden freeze (yep), and d) have a night in Leeds. All...

November 2025. Ely. Two hours to kill in a freezing Ely before the 3 hours back to Sheffield, with all the pubs that would have offered warmth and comfort packed with a Christmas market crowd. Celebrating Christmas ! On the Cathedral grounds, too. Cromwell, latterly of this parish, would turn in his grave, if we...

November 2025. Ely. A late lunch in Ely before the cheapest rail fare back to Sheffield (Again. And repeat). It’s a good job the trains are always late; Delay Repay is main source of income these days Ely is bustling on Saturday afternoon, but visitors aren’t here for the quaint streets and the Cromwell and the Zion...

November 2025. North Walsham. Norfolk. Obviously if this were a beer blog I’d have followed my new North Walsham tick with a return to the excellent Hop, but ChatGPT tells me that 137.2% of my blog views are referrals from ClassicChurches.com, and ChatGPT is 100% fallible. It’s also rude to walk past an open church,...

November 2025. North Walsham. Norfolk. Next up, an instant classic in rural Norfolk. No, really. The Peasants’ Tavern is Norwich & District CAMRA Pub of the Year, open Noon till 11pm all week, some bench seating, lined glasses, terrific beer, mostly local, but all that is secondary to the sheer joy in this pub on a...