Month: April 2013

So over the last couple of weeks I have been visiting some pubs I have not been to before with Paul.

First up was the Portskewett Inn, which is Inn, Portskewett. Odd little entrance to the car park, and the pub itself on the side, slightly old fashioned, rather than olde worlde decor. Bar staff seemed friendly – although Paul knowing most of the old timers helped, and the 1664 was drinkable. Not had 1664 for a while and it went down well. Also had a Foosball table which I won, by “cheating” – I didn’t realise you were not allowed to spin the players..

Food seemed to be going down well, and the bogs were white and roomy and cold.

6/10

Next was the Carpenters Arms, which was not called the Carmarthen Arms as I had first put, which was in Shirenewton – a place I thought I might want to retire too – after seeing it some more, not so sure anymore. So this pub is on the main road which by-passing the village on the way to Usk from Chepstow, and by god it looks grotty. I didn’t think it was open at all, and not just open today, but ever. But it was, it has a single old fashioned heavy wooden door, and straight into an interesting pub. Little rooms and tables stuck about the place, with a teeny  tiny bar. Just Carlsberg (I think) on tap but a very interesting place indeed. Food smelt heavy on onions and grease – but in a good way. A few discerning couples where in there eating, so it cannot be too bad. Great bar man, with wispy hair and a good all round place. Probably made nicer due to the fact I was expected a shitehole.

6/10 – would like to go there for food

Mathern was next up, two pubs here, one on the main road and one more in the village.  Millers Arms is the place, and looks great, inside and out – nice bit outside and looking at their website they really get the flowers moving in the summer – didn’t notice any for us. Lovely pint of Heineken taken “al fresco” – would like a lunch down here one day. Only downside, the inside smelt a bit of disinfectant – if that is there the next time, then thats a no-no.

7/10 – food here some time in the summer.

Second pub in Mathern was the New Inn, been to its car park in the past but for some reason didn’t go in. Crap beer garden for starters. But the inside was better, looked like it had been here for some time, and it had, but was upgraded and looked good. Amstel on tap with an Amstel glass is always a good thing, but we were not here long, so will maybe come back and have some food next time?

6/10 – may re-adjust on return.

Over to Bristol today. No real reason, just fancied getting out and Bristol is close and has some stuff there.

Took a different route today, as usually we go by car, so took the choochoo out of Severn Tunnel and 25 mins later we were in Bristol. Blumming train was packed again – as usual, so we stood up all the way, then we had to buy our tickets once arrived as no one bothered walking through the carriage – 12 quid for the three of us is cheaper than driving.

Took a quick look at the triathlon shop, which was smaller and hotter than I would have liked – spend 20 seconds looking at the wetsuits then nearly fainted so had to get out into the air ;o) Off into Bristol proper, and as another change, we headed over to the docks. It was quite chilly, and  went past the Ostrich which I bet is packed in the Summer, then over to M-Shed. Nearly got run over by a 50 ton loco, travelling at 1.2 miles an hour and had a quick look in the M-Shed museum, then, as it happened there was a boat race today, so we watch Bristol have their arses handed to them by someone I thought was called UWE (but then realised that UWE is actually Bristol).

Into town proper and time for nosh, saw an interesting band on the other side of the dock, but it was too cold for any nonsense so we walked to Cafe Amour – which is supposed to be great – but we didn’t know how to work it. It has a counter where you queue, and two floors and loads of Higgily Piggley tables, none of which appeared to be free. But we didn’t know if you got a table first, then ordered, or ordered then found a seat – far too complicated, as if you found a table a- then went to order then table wouldn’t be there when you got back – odd.

So Kate had a quick Greggs, then we went to this place in St Nicks market which is supposed to do great pulled pork. It doesn’t. It didn’t look great, so we went to the pub for a livener first – then tempted fate. I have been waiting 20 years for a pulled pork roll – and it was okay, but nothing more. Very disappointing. Then we walked around for a bit back into the center and I bought a fruit bowl to use for my chinese and Indians. We watched a quietly, shouty Aussie do some “magic” in the street – then headed back to the train with a thought of having a cheeky beer if we had to wait for the train. As luck (or not) would have it there was a train waiting on the platform for us – to whisk us on our merry way home.

Like Bristol, not happy with the pork. Will have to be sausage and mash when I return on Thurs…

Off to Bath today – it was wet.

Looking on the trainline suggests a straight through service which takes over an hour, by nipping into Temple Meads and picking up another train there it only takes 45 mins – odd, so that’s what we did.

We sat outside Kate’s gym for an hour waiting for her to finish, and I felt the feeling of needing a wee raising – this was only after 20 mins. Still I am not quite too old yet so I managed to wait until be finally boarded the train. £19 and six tickets later we were on our way to Bristol, with a seat, together. So we ignored each other and read our books! In no time at all were at Temple Meads, then a mad rush to the Paddington train to get the connection to Bath. It was bust, so we stood in the Buffet Car – feeling hungry but not rich we didn’t sample the fare.

10 mins later we arrived in Bath, and decided we needed a late breakfast  the first place we saw was Giraffe, which I had heard of, but never been – I had thought it was child focused, but that didn’t seem to be the case. I had a quite Delicious scrambled egg and bacon and toast concoction with a diet coke – the coke being a bad idea. Our waitress said too much and they automatically put the tip on the bill which I was going to remove to make a point, but then didn’t because I didn’t want to make a fuss – how terribly British…

Had a good walk around all parts of Bath, in the drizzle, and went to get Kate some shoes from a place which had tickets like you used to get at Tesco’s meet counter. The counter said 19, we picked 28, but there was no one there. Then a slightly pleasant, but odd lad came to serve us, and repeatedly said to Kate – Stand up big and tall for me, we found some shoes in reasonably quick time, but then tried 20 sizes to get one that matched her wide foot. The ladies there had quick disconcertingly high heels on, which seemed really stupid for a shoe shop.

There was a band playing upstairs in the street, in the drizzle, and a couple of older spoons had a little dance and a jig – that’s what I used to do – now I just felt sorry for them.

Once we had had enough of walking around we stopped at the Griffin, behind the Theatre for some drinkies – seemed like an okay place, a little small, but it was nice to have a sit down and a beer. By this time it was too late to have a late lunch if we wanted to catch the next train, so we hightailed it out of there and got the busy trains back home.

I like Bath more than it deserves I think.

Back to the sunny ‘Shire this weekend for Easter.

As I was working half day on Thurs we managed to get away around 13:00, with the boot full and the cycle strapped to the back we had to take it steady back as I was scared of loosing the bike. I don’t think I put it on right, as once we were up to about 50 miles an hour the bike rack (Bones 3) raised up. Luckily the straps held fast, but I felt myself loking back every 30 seconds. Driving an under 80 is scarey, and far more dangerous than just zooming along in the fast lane. But we made great progress and in a little over 1.5 hrs we were passing a closed Mill-Ford arms and into town. We had a nice relaxing evening, no beer, and a fantastic fish stew (thanks Pop’s if you are reading this!! ;o) Then early to bed ready for the cycle in the morning.

By 9 I had had a number of slices of toast, and got on my bike for the Tri route. Sian was off also, down to Manor Park with her mum. I was back in the house about ten to 12, so after a shower and a load of bacon sarnies I was outside Mr Bradleys house, suited and booted and looking forward to an ale or two. He wasn’t ready. He had only been waiting 7 months, but no, he ponced around a while whilst I drank water (good job really). Finally he was ready and off we trotted. After a disagreement about the Glen, we settled on the Georges for the first pint – not great, and I sat on the formica table whilst Ders regaled me with tales of exciting new ventures. Down into toen next, and a 10 minute wait to get cash – we decided to head to the Fishguard Arms, it was full of dodgies and many kids, so we headed around the corner to the Farmers Arms. Last time I was here it was the new opening with the landlady I knew at the time – this time it was half full of locals – who stared at us as we entered. Well used to that I suppose. Drinks bought we retired around the corner to an empty table.

After there we went back to the Fishguard Arms, still had a number of slightly wierd looking people in, but less children, so we braved it. I asked for a Stella after spying the Chalice glasses, and she looked at my, then at the Stella, then at me, then she picked up a Carling glass. Hmm I said, looking at the glass – In that case, I’ll have a carling.. Was I too scared to ask for the “right” glass, or was I scared of Stella – I don’t know – but it was a cheep round – just six quids. Starting to get a little tipsy now, and was accosted in the toilets by a “ruffian” “You not from around here, but”, “Yes” I squeeked, “Originally”. This threw him so he repeated – “You not from around here, but” no from Magor I said – “Where’s that too” he remarked – “The good side of the Severn Bridge” – “Ah” he relied “Good match wasn’t it, but”. So we then chatted like great mates about how “we” defeated those rascal English. He seemed quite content.

After the Fish, and neding a little wee-wee we set off for the County, only to be told it was residence only. In the old days we might have just booked a room there and then to spite them and have a drink anyway, but those days of excess are long gone, so still needing a jimmy-riddle we set off the miles it took to get to the Milf. I had told Ders it had been shut the sday before, but we went anyway – it was shut. Damn. He suggested I might have a tinkle behind the garage, cos the bloke who runs it was a “Tw@”, but I thought I could wait until the Trader.

Once at the Trader I ran to what was once the Gents, but which had a sign mentioning “Art Gallery” I burst through anyway, Jackson Pollocks, it was still the Gents – aaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Sat outside here for one, the the Fuse came and regailed us with tales of paint and scaffold, and we had anothewr two pints. Then off to the Wetherspoons (no idea what it was called) were we had some okay, but cheep beers and a wine for the poof and sat in the Window seat. I think we had another one or two here, it was starting to get a little bit blurry now, and Fuse had a fake fag which enabled him to blow “smoke” everywhere, which seemed like a really fun thing after a few beers.

Fuse left to look after his family at this point, so we headed back to the Trader to finish up. I realized at this time that I was going home at 5:30, which left me with minus two hours to go, so Ders ordered a bottle of wine for himself and I had a beer. Arranged for a life home at 8 and I slipped down the final beer and left Ders, outside the Trader with a large glass of Pinot and a big smile on his chops.

Next day was pretty quiet.

We did go to The Georges and had the pork special in a hot, spicy Creole sauce which was nice. I had one pint all day – Yes, the shandy man can.

Next day was with Sian’s family, where we ate, drank, hid, then searched for Easter eggs, played games, ate again and went to bed.

In between all that we did managed to go for a little walk through Haverfordwest, we started at the Green and walked down passed the old Forum, which is now just a load of homes – oh the old days there, 50p to get in and 50p for a bottle of Pils. Ders walking around with a pint of Vodka and Coke – one day he tripped, fell forward and banged his head on the table – but still managed to not spill a drop of his Vodka.. Walked down Tower Hill and passed the Mariners and the Greyhound, up past St Martins to the Castle. I cannot even remember being here before, but I must have been. Then down into town and a quick call into Costa (perhaps my second only visit to a “coffee shop”) for a cupachar. Across town to the Trader and up to the Parade. We had a little look around here, and spend a few minutes watching an imaginary game of crown green bowls, our claps and murmurs of “Good shot, sir” got a strange look from the locals. Back up passed the leisure center and back.

Monday was home time, we waited for Kate to get up – picked up the bike from mothers in a hurry to get home. We got to St Claires and realised we didn’t have the %^$£% $£%£^% £^£^£^ &&*&^%% %%%%%% key for the house. So went back to meet Becs. Bike rack stayed put this time, and we got home slightly faster.

Good weekend – it flies.