Endless British Pub Crawl

The blog in the rear view mirror

Warmest regards to Fatty from Tucson for spotting this beer label (if anyone knows where to get Fat Tire in Swindon or Oxford please get in touch)

  It has been a good run — one of nearly 6 years, nearly 1300 different pubs, a few marathons and a bunch of halves (and shorter races), good entertainment, fulfilling work, and a couple of laughs.  But, it is over … at this address, anyway: I’ll…

The Codfather, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

The 2014 Chippy Challenge ended New Year’s Eve but I was hungry and had a half hour to kill and I’m still not sick of fish and chips so I popped into the Codfatheras I wandered around Trowbridge.  The fellow cooked the small portion (at least that’s what I ordered albeit a very generous “small”) to order in the packed house and by the time it came up all succulent and steaming the queue was out…

The Rose and Crown, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Dry, warm clothing donned at the Stallards after the rainy run were a special joy but now the rain had stopped and I could look around on my walk back into town.  On my right, I spotted the Rose and Crownwhich I had web-reconned and decided it looked too foodie for a stop (maybe it was the sign, maybe a review); but, the bar was crowded with fat, middle-aged blokes so I felt I could slide in…

The Stallards Inn, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

I was absolutely soaked as I entered the previous pub, but the run from there to the Stallardswas even wetter, windier, and colder (although the temperature nearly hit double digits).  It had just opened for the day (third time as first customer today), but there was already a brazier of coal started in the hearth so I knew the run was over — I had considered a loop around the outskirts of…

“Do you think that has too much chocolate?” one girl yelled over to my bartender who was licking some sort of pastry from her fingers before pulling my Corvus Stout. “Too muchchocolate?  Hang on, I need to taste some more to see what you’re on about.”  But, despite the charm of this banter what I liked most was that no one commented on the state of yours truly: drenched top-to-toe from a winter…

The Crossed Guns, Avoncliff, Wiltshire

The descent from Westwood was steep and curved and the wet tarmac incompatible with my trail shoes so once up to speed I kept an ear tuned to oncoming traffic and an eye peeled to find a soft place to bail out (because there was no way I could rapidly decelerate or drastically change direction).  Fortunately, at 10:05 am I reached the bottom without incident (literally, although often enough…

Holiday Run Streak, 1-3 January and out

Yeah, a picture of a giant batch of cassoulet is precisely the way the run streak should be represented.  I started working on it New Year Day to keep busy and take my mind off the hangover, then struck on the idea that I should have a few glasses of the wine I was cooking with, and a glass of port, then a bottle of prosecco, then a chianti with the casoullet.

Then a half bottle of Vin Santowit…

2014, The Year of Fish and Chips (recap)

“You’re going to swell up like a tick.” –Work mate when he heard about the Chippy Challenge.

“No, he did the same thing with kebabs, last year…he’ll be fine.” –Another colleague, in response.

Actually, I lost weight, starting the year at 178 lbs (12 stone 10 or, for the metric-minded, 81 kg) and spending most of the last 6 months dead on 154 lbs (11 stone even or 70 kg).  This was grand, as I…

DT #366, 1 January 2015 and the Year of DTs

aaa

This is the last of Three hundred sixty-seven Consecutive haikus.

Alright, then, maybe this one would have been more appropriate:

Woke up this morning. Got myself a beer. Future’s Uncertain, end near.

I’m really glad to see the back of the haiku, though.  Some amused me, fair enough, but most were uninspired as, indeed, most of the DT entries themselves were.  The tyranny of the daily post is not…

DT #365, 31 December 2014 (Aubert et Fils Brut)

  Twenty-nine years on, Happy anniversary At least one more time.

Name: Aubert et Fils Brut Type: champagne Venue: house

Review/notes: The Wedding Anniversary pub crawl was epic and started at 2 pm.  We hit the the Wheatsheaf (normally closed in the afternoon) for a cider then the Steam Railway for a cider and a bitter then the Goddard Arms for I don’t remember what and the Kings and the Old Bank,…

Birds Eye Battered Cod, House, Swindon, Chippy Challenge #126

[The Chippy Challenge: to eat more fish and chips in 2014; see original post for details.]

Fish: cod Sides: chips Evaluation: This was the third of the frozen cod from the grocer I’ve included in the list. It was, like the Young’s, pretty good if ugly to behold.  We were wolfing down some oily stuff as ballast against the pub crawl to come and I had these in the freezer as a back-up in case I…

DT #364, 30 December 2014 (Kiri Sauvignon Blanc)

Only one day left In the year and the challenge. Let’s have a blowout.

Name: Kiri Sauvignon Blanc Type: white wine Menu: Fish Tacos using haddock marinated in lime, olive oil, cumin, paprika, garlic and oregano with a sauce made from yogurt, limes, cilantro, capers, jalapenos, cumin, paprika, dill, and a dollop of tahini.  Topped with shredded lettuce, onion, more cilantro, avocado, and tomato.…

DT #363, 29 December 2014 (Mister Shiraz)

  I asked for shiraz. “That’s MISTER Shiraz to you,” Responds my bottle.

Name: Mister Shiraz Type: red wine Venue: house

Review/notes: This wine would have suited a juicy steak or a greasy rack of BBQ ribs but it was already open when we went for a prawn salad.  I, at least, doused mine with some hot sauce.

Run today found me killing an hour waiting for the carpet to dry, so the loop included a…

DT #362, 28 December 2014 (Egg Nog)

The weather is right And it wouldn’t be Christmas Without some Egg Nog.

Name: Egg Nog Type: booze Recipe: The old family recipe, always delicious Venue: house

Review/notes: I have this at least once every winter as a nostalgic way to prove I’m both fearless and foolhardy.  On the other hand, this is one of the finest concoctions known to man.  Twenty minutes in the freezer makes it a fine dessert…

The Crown, Westbury, Wiltshire

Trying unsuccessfully to find the Horse and Groom, I gave up and entered the Lounge Bar of the Crown.  As I walked toward the loo, a huge dog started barking at me so once I finished I took to the Public Bar to get a 6X but there was nowhere to sit so I headed back into the Lounge where the dog recommenced his barking.

  “I think it’s the hat, mate,” one of the guys at a nearby table offered.…

The Jolly Friar, Westbury, Wiltshire, Chippy Challenge #125

[The Chippy Challenge: to eat more fish and chips in 2014; see original post for details.]

Fish: cod Sides: none Evaluation: Light but flavourful crust, large piece of perfectly cooked fish…on a cold day while sweat rapidly dries 8 miles into a 10 mile run there’s nothing more welcome. Days since last: (Six Bells, Oxford)

Map link.

Monthly consolidations/compilations: January February March April May