I swear that dinosaurs aren’t extinct. Well, I had an encounter with one a few minutes ago in Newcastle.
It was a huge Pterodactyl. I mean HUGE.
While I didn’t exactly see the beast, the amount of shit it dropped on me meant it couldn’t have been even the biggest of birds.
Fortunately, the Gents’ in the Forth has running water, where a shit-on gentleman may remove dinosaur deposit from his jacket.
Today didn’t start very well. I’d planned an early finish, but messy deadlines at work meant that wasn’t possible. My second in command had a similar problem, finishing even later than me.
We did, however, meet our goal of attending the annual Gateshead beer festival.
I’ll return to the beer festival in a moment; while on my way home from work, the internet informed me that, after a prolonged wait, Guinness is now vegan. Ok, so I can’t buy a can or bottle yet; that’s still work in progress. But keg is now good (I’d never buy cans anyway).
With a half hour to spare before meeting my second in command, I ventured to my local. Where I enjoyed my first pint of Guinness in a very long time.
Here’s the press release, by the way.
You might need to zoom in a bit. After enjoying my Guinness, we walked down the road to the Gateshead beer festival. Where I was surprised that I enjoyed a sour beer (Great Heck – fishless beer). And some other stuff. We also had veggie chilli.
Afterwards, we called at our local again for a nightcap. I decided on Guinness. I also had a very nice vegan pie. Well, it’s also the annual Gateshead international pie festival (in my local, the Three Tuns).
Where I enjoyed a very nice vegan pie. With peas and gravy. There was mashed potato, but that was consumed by my second in command.
I’d already eaten, but the pie was free. I’d have bought one anyway. Tomorrow, I may buy two. They have six vegan pies.
I recall the first pie festival; there were a few vegetarian pies. Now there are many.
We live in Gateshead. It’s not exactly the vegetarian/vegan capital of the north. But my local always has (generous) veggie alternatives at all of their events.
I’d intended completing parts four and five of the ceiling today.
But my second in command suggested a pub lunch. As a result, part four was completed and we had a pleasant stroll down the hill to Station East.
And we’re now in the Central.
Back to the subject of plastering, though. My favourite plastering bucket, which Has served me well for several years now, is approved by the Vegetarian Society. I’d not noticed before today.
Apparently, the ein is overkill. A couple of years ago, shortly before heading off to the airport (and home), we stumbled upon a cool bar near Bismarckestrasse. I made a mental note of its approximate location, but recognised that finding the place again would be a pretty remote possibility.
However, by pure chance, on this very evening, our hotel is just around the corner to the bar.
Today could have ootentially started badly. Fortunately,though, I only needed a pee on arrival at Central Station.
After work stuff, there was a visit to the Euston Tap. After a couple of nice pints (no pictures were taken), there was the Dolphin. And another couple of pints.
Oh, and more toilet issues.
Yesterday involved: Station East, The Central, The Bridge Hotel, The Box Social, The Union Rooms, Wylam Brewery, The Town Mouse and The Hospur.
A pleasant afternoon.
Yesterday, we travelled to Birmingham to see Elbow. At the Academy, a much better atmosphere than an arena gig. It was a shame that Newcastle wasn’t on their tour list, but somehow travelling for a gig adds to the whole experience.
I’ve long since stopped taking a camera to such events, it’s just something else to carry. So, I make no excuses, these are phone quality pictures.
Earlier in the day, we discovered a new old pub. In Digby.
Which claims to be the oldest pub in Birmingham.
There were some others, but none quite as nice as the Old Crown. Although we were also taken by the Victoria, near New Street. Oh, and most notably the Lamp Tavern, a tiny old Irish pub (not of the O’Neills variety, a genuine old one).
Breakfast this morning was in a rainy Burton on Trent. None of us had ever been before. Breakfast was nice.
I’m in transit to meet my second in command, well having a sit down while on my way to meet my second in command. In the Doctor’s Orders, a very nice micropub just outside Nottingham city centre.
I’m having a lovely pint of Magpie IPA. Earlier, I stopped off at a Wetherspoon’s, by the canal. For coffee.
I last called into that bar in 2005, when I was here for an Eels gig. We’d almost stole a table number (for the kitchen table), but conscience (and security cameras) deterred the theft.
Last night, we visited Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.
Allegedly the oldest pub in England. The only pub built into a cave I’ve ever been in.
High Fell social club, just down the road to us, closed a while ago and has since been converted into flats. I’d never set foot inside the place, but I do recall a time when such places were a (bustling) social centre in most northern towns. Social clubs had their problems, of course; they were inherently sexist until recent years and most simply haven’t kept up with the times.
A couple of years ago, I visited Kings Cliffe ex-servicemen’s club. I can’t say it was very busy, but a band was playing and the evening must have been reasonably profitable.
There was a second visit last night.
It wasn’t a busy night.
But at least they now have a decent selection of Sam Smith’s beer. At a very reasonable £2.20 a pint.
Alas, probably not for much longer. Surely the place can’t survive much longer.
While my resolve was strong, I was drawn into Fanny’s Ale House. An amazing choice of beer (Berliner Pilsner for me) and a great fire.
And a link to the Northeast too.
And some blokes playing guitars and ukeleles upstairs.
Yes, Saltaire’s ok.