Category Archives: Out and about

Progress

I’ve visited the Leigh Arms, in Newton le Willows, three times and almost a fourth. The fourth didn’t happen because I was at the station due to rail disruption and, although the pub was visible from the platform, I was uncertain as to how much time I had. Plenty, it turned out. 

The fourth time was technically the first, so the first now becomes the second. I hope that makes sense. Anyway, the second time I visited Newton le Willows, and the first time I had a beer in the Leigh Arms, was around 13 years ago. This was also due to train issues, but there was enough time to call in the pub. It wasn’t the best of experiences, but that was because it had generally been a rubbish day. 

Neither of my other visits were planned, rather spur of the moment things when in Manchester and Liverpool for work. I went to meet up with a mate and we could both get to Newton le Willows. This would have been six-ish years ago, but there are some similarities between one of my last visits and today. 

With time on my hands today, I decided I’d rather have a beer than do last minute Christmas shopping. Since it’s only a short train ride from Manchester, I bought a return ticket. Only then to find that there were no trains due to engineering works. While this did bring back memories of my last but one visit, when trains were cancelled and I feared I’d be stranded, I was assured the there was a good replacement bus service. 

And, so, I made my fifth visit to Newton le Willows. 

Sadly, my fourth time in the Leigh Arms didn’t happen. A man told me it’s been closed for years and is being converted to flats. In a way, that turned out to be a good thing. The place had clearly fallen on hard times and probably wouldn’t have been the best of pubs in its last days.

Back to Manchester then. 

As long as my heart keeps pumping blood

My second in command are now having our first beer of the day. 

After a lovely breakfast in Egg cafe. 

After a good night’s sleep in the Crowne Plaza (staff discount). 

After an amazing gig last night at the Academy. 

That picture was actually taken over a decade ago, by my youngest child, at the same venue. It’s possibly the best ever Eels related photo. 

Anyway, last night was reputedly the final Augustines performance. And it was one hell of a performance. 

I took no pictures though, it felt right not to. So you’ll have to take my word that this was a loud, emotional evening. The auudience’s we are Augustines chant is still in my head.

The event was streamed live on the internet, hopefully there’ll be recordings. While I do understand why this is the end of their road, I can only hope that’s not the case. 

The end

The end of Augustines. At least for my second and command and I. There’s a gig in Belfast, then a final one in Liverpool, but we’ll not be there. It’s quite an emotional time for my second in command; she’s been addicted to their music for some time now. 

And, so, we’re seeing them this very evening in Glasgow, my favourite city. 

We’re currently in the 13th Note, which happens to be my favourite bar. A bar that serves the most delicious falafel burgers. 

My second in command lost her (most expensive ever) Brewdog hat this afternion. In the Horseshoe Bar, she believed. But it’s not there. 

It’s possibly a day for lost things; Augustines, my second in command’s Brewdog hat and, technically not lost today, but purchased across the road to this very bar a few weeks ago, before being mislaid the next day, sheriff’s badge. 

One of the above has now been replaced. 

Edinburgh

Had a great day in the company of old gentlemen, in Edinburgh. I have no pictures, because beer needed our concentration, but I’ve been in some astounding bars. And I mean astounding. 

In one of which, I had a pretty great Ynot a dog, a tofu hot dog. And It was really nice. 

While in Brewdog, one of the last bars we visited, I bought a present for my second in command. 

She’s a big soft southerner, so wears hats in every month before/after the summer. 

But this is a good hat. 

  

Goatshead

No, we’re not in Goatshead yet. We’d called off in Oxford for breakfast, but a visit to Oxford involves a compulsory pint of stout in the Three Goats Heads. 

It’s an excellent Sam Smith’s pub, lovely both outside and in. My second in command’s not partaking of stout though; she’s shopping (and is disappointed that the Apricot store has not only closed, but is in the process of being demolished).

Shopping is generally a good thing for me; I get to have a pint (or two if I’m quick) before my second in command arrives (for a fruit beer). 

Coincidentally, Sam Smith’s fruit beer is made (partially) in Stamford, where my second in command was born. A picture of the brewery, taken a few days ago. 

Tent

We bought a huge tent a couple of years ago, but found it impractical for use in an insect-ridden Cambridgeshire. So we rushed out to buy a smaller tent; a new one was needed anyway, since my old festival tend had been abandoned a couple of days earlier at Glastonbury. 

The new tent’s been great, but we also still had a large tent for use where insects don’t swarm. Which is why we brought it to Devon. Something a person can stand upright in must surely offer a better camping experience. 

On arrival, we set about erecting the non-insect-proof tent. It was quite windy, so the task wasn’t easy. And, unfortunately, my second in command managed to break two tent poles. The outcome was the tent being deposited in a bin. 

Fortunately, we had the foresight to bring the replacement festival tent as a contingency. Better still, while a person can’t exactly stand up inside the tent, it’s not exactly small. 

Our back-up tent, pictured with Daisy. 

Augustines II

My Ubuntu phone seems to be permanently signed into YouTube as my grandchild, so I’m unable to upload a video directly from the phone. Instead, I must connect to the PC to copy, then upload from there. Hence the belated posting of a clip from last Wednesday’s Augustines gig.

At some point I may also add the video of our bus journey across Manchester (the day tickets were a bargain at only four quid).