Hello - Again

[Millay]

I was looking to see if there was a place for new members to introduce themselves but couldn't find one, so started this on Chit Chat. Of course I'm not a brand new member, but as I haven't really been around on PuG for more than three years :eek: I though I should say hello.

It's pleasing to see that my profile and stats still seem to be there, and even more pleasing to see so many of you still contributing to the lively forums. Mobyduck, Delboy, ROBCamra, Trainman, RPAdam, OldBoots, A&H, Hondo and Quinno to name just a few (without wanting to upset anyone not mentioned). A special mention should go to Bucking Fastard, who was perhaps the catalyst for my coming out of hibernation after a chance meeting in a pub recently.

I'm not sure why I've been away so long, I didn't fall out of love with PuG, and certainly not with beer. I just sort of drifted away. My personal circumstances have changed recently, having taken a redundancy package in August this year. So, until either the money or my health runs out, I'll have a bit more time in the pursuit of ebriety. This does of course mean returning to that mindset when entering a new pub and going through the checklist. Look for a dart board/pool table, is there WiFi, how many handpumps, CAMRA discount, kids or dogs about, could I get in with a wheelchair etc., and would it be safe to take a photo.

And one final thing, I've missed using these emojis :cheers: :drinkup:

Cheers
Clive

[Mobyduck]

I was looking to see if there was a place for new members to introduce themselves but couldn't find one, so started this on Chit Chat. Of course I'm not a brand new member, but as I haven't really been around on PuG for more than three years :eek: I though I should say hello.

It's pleasing to see that my profile and stats still seem to be there, and even more pleasing to see so many of you still contributing to the lively forums. Mobyduck, Delboy, ROBCamra, Trainman, RPAdam, OldBoots, A&H, Hondo and Quinno to name just a few (without wanting to upset anyone not mentioned). A special mention should go to Bucking Fastard, who was perhaps the catalyst for my coming out of hibernation after a chance meeting in a pub recently.

I'm not sure why I've been away so long, I didn't fall out of love with PuG, and certainly not with beer. I just sort of drifted away. My personal circumstances have changed recently, having taken a redundancy package in August this year. So, until either the money or my health runs out, I'll have a bit more time in the pursuit of ebriety. This does of course mean returning to that mindset when entering a new pub and going through the checklist. Look for a dart board/pool table, is there WiFi, how many handpumps, CAMRA discount, kids or dogs about, could I get in with a wheelchair etc., and would it be safe to take a photo.

And one final thing, I've missed using these emojis :cheers: :drinkup:

Cheers
Clive

Good to see you back Clive. :bemerry:

[aleandhearty]

Good to see you back Clive. :bemerry:

Seconded. Welcome back. Saw a review you did a few days ago and wondered if you'd end up on the boards again. :drinkup:

[Wittenden]

(without wanting to upset anyone not mentioned).


Clive

Not upset! Welcome back...

[Gann]

Not upset! Welcome back...

Ditto !

[Farway]

Ditto !

ditto that ditto

[Aqualung]

ditto that ditto

ditto that ditto that ditto.

I've a vague recollection of someone going on a London Midland pub tour with a go anywhere ticket and having to run the gauntlet of late or cancelled trains. Was that you or someone else? It's a different company now and some of the train liveries are slightly different but that's about it!

[Delboy20]

Welcome back to the light …..

[rpadam]

ditto that ditto that ditto.
Ditto that dittoed ditto!

[trainman]

Good to hear from you Clive! I doubt those types of emojis or sentiments have been entirely lacking in your writings, wherever they may have been - I recall an excellent travel blog some time back.
I hope all's well your end and the redundancy manages to finance some fine adventures...

[Real Ale Ray]

Welcome back Clive, look forward to reading your contributions :cheers:

[Millay]

Thank you all for the welcome back. It's pleasing that some of you remember my travel blogs. I've been re-reading some of them and they've bought back good memories. This is perhaps my favourite one, a live blow-by-blow (or beer-by-beer) account of a two day trip from London to Liverpool and back visiting 19 JD Wetherspoons pubs during their festival.

http://forums.pubsgalore.co.uk/showthread.php?12705-The-Great-Wetherspoons-Escape

[Bucking Fastard]

Thank you all for the welcome back. It's pleasing that some of you remember my travel blogs. I've been re-reading some of them and they've bought back good memories. This is perhaps my favourite one, a live blow-by-blow (or beer-by-beer) account of a two day trip from London to Liverpool and back visiting 19 JD Wetherspoons pubs during their festival.

http://forums.pubsgalore.co.uk/showthread.php?12705-The-Great-Wetherspoons-Escape

You may have bumped into Aqualung on this jaunt,he is keen on 'spoons.:)

[Aqualung]

You may have bumped into Aqualung on this jaunt,he is keen on 'spoons.:)

In October 2012 I was still going round some London ones when not in the Leyton William IV. I had been to the RJB in Liverpool and the Picture House in Stafford some time in the 1990s. I actually had a priority to visit all the Holden and Batham pubs before deciding it may be possible to go round all the Spoons. It only really became a serious venture in 2016.
I've still got a newer Holden's outlet outstanding which is in the middle of nowhere.

I still use that 08:46 service from Euston and was on it this week to go to Stafford. I only once knew it not to run and went off in a sulk to the George at Wanstead!

[Delboy20]

I actually had a priority to visit all the Holden and Batham pubs before deciding it may be possible to go round all the Spoons. It only really became a serious venture in 2016.
I've still got a newer Holden's outlet outstanding which is in the middle of nowhere.

Hi Aqualung, which one is that?

[Aqualung]

Hi Aqualung, which one is that?

It's the Red Cow (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/39264/) at Ackleton. It's listed as Wolverhampton but certainly isn't!

[Delboy20]

It's the Red Cow (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/39264/) at Ackleton. It's listed as Wolverhampton but certainly isn't!

It doesn't look easy to get to …. good luck with that one!

[Aqualung]

It doesn't look easy to get to …. good luck with that one!
It can be done, you need to get the Bridgnorth bus to another rural pub called the Wheel and wait for the very infrequent service towards Shifnal which goes to the door. The reverse journey may provide enough time for a quick one in the Wheel. I'm hoping to try and get there next month and just hope they will have the Old Ale on.

[Quinno]

Ahhh this great news! Good see you back Clive!


Maybe at a PUG meetup soon?

:bemerry:

[bcfczuluarmy]

It can be done, you need to get the Bridgnorth bus to another rural pub called the Wheel and wait for the very infrequent service towards Shifnal which goes to the door. The reverse journey may provide enough time for a quick one in the Wheel. I'm hoping to try and get there next month and just hope they will have the Old Ale on.

Sounds slightly more complicated than my dad doing Brecon Spoons from Hereford after he explained rubbish bus times, I told him just go and do more pubs till the one 8 weeks later turns up to take him home.

[Aqualung]

Sounds slightly more complicated than my dad doing Brecon Spoons from Hereford after he explained rubbish bus times, I told him just go and do more pubs till the one 8 weeks later turns up to take him home.
I went to Brecon and stayed at the Spoons from Merthyr with a train from Cardiff. It was a fantastic journey as the road goes right through the Brecon Beacons. I got the same bus up to Newtown and a railway line the following day.