In two day's time, it will be all over bar the shouting!

As hinted at in the previous, and rather rambling post, there’s a lot going on, both past and present, as the run-up to the so-called “Big Day” begins in earnest. I’m not quite sure what’s so big about the 25^th December, but whatever it is I shall be relieved when it’s all over, as I’m certain dozens of other folk will be, up and down the land. I chose, quite deliberately, to go into work these past two and a half days, and with minimal production, packing and selling, it provided an opportunity to catch up on a number of tasks that had been hanging around for ages. My absence from the family home also gave Mrs PBT’s the chance to get ahead with preparations for 25^th.

I called in at Waitrose, on my way home from the factory, to pick up our pre-ordered turkey. Fortunately, it is a more sensible/manageable size, so we should be spared the chore of munching our way through turkey stew, turkey curry, and turkey sandwiches, and we’ve cut down as well on the number of nibbles, both sweet and savoury.  A nice spread of cheese, to go with the unopened bottle of port, left over from last year, the odd mince pie or three, and I shall be well away, not forgetting the odd glass or three of beer.

That 5-litre mini keg of Harvey’s Old I bought the other week, remains unopened, although I shall probably crack it open, later this evening. I’m imaging son Matthew will be contributing to the alcoholic fug with a few bottles from Armstrong’s in East Grinstead. The latter is that rarity, an independently owned off-licence that stocks some interesting Belgian beers, along with a healthy range of Samuel Smith’s bottles. Matthew’s girlfriend Charlotte will be joining us for Christmas dinner, along with her pet hound, so with four of us sat round the table, plus pooch underneath, in our recently renovated kitchen, it promises to be an enjoyable afternoon.

Apart from that, we haven’ go any real plans, apart from chilling out for a couple of days, before embarking on a major blitz to rid ourselves of some of the junk/detritus that has accumulated over the past three decades. We’re also contemplating a drive down to the coast, with Folkestone and its revamped “Harbour Arm” likely to top the bill. The Pilot, at Dungeness, and its renowned fish and chips is another possibility, alongside a visit to Rye. As several other bloggers are discovering, this corner of Kent, bordering on Sussex, is full of beery, culinary and visual delights.

A few days ago, last Sunday to be precise, along with quite a few other neighbours who live in our quiet, and tucked away road, we were invited to join a family who usually throw their house open for, as the invite says, mulled wine, mince pies and homemade sausage rolls. I appreciate that it sounds terribly pretentious and oh so middle class, but the host family are good company, and the welcoming and relaxing atmosphere that normally goes with these gatherings, helps promote a sense of community and good neighbourliness, something we could all do with in these slightly crazy times. Many people in the street have lived there a long time (30 years in our case, and quite a few, even longer), and the sense of community, shared values, plus general well-being, is something you can’t really put a price on.

Right, let’s not get too carried away, as there are plenty of other, more projects, and happenings to get stuck in and look forward to.  Mrs PBT’s and I have pushed the boat out, quite literally, by booking yet another cruise. This 16-day voyage to Norway will follow the Norwegian coastline as far north as Tromsø, calling in at several other settlements such as Narvik, Alesund, Alta and Trondheim. We’ll be setting sail in mid-March, a time of year when the Northern Lights are more likely to make an appearance.

There was another, more practical reason for choosing that time of year, which involved the company’s “use it or lose it” annual leave policy, which limits the number of unused leave days that can be carried over to the following financial year. We’d originally looked again, at Cunard, but their Norwegian cruise was fully booked, which is where, the smaller, independent operator Ambassador came up trumps. Significantly cheaper than Cunard, and sailing with smaller, and more personal ships, a couple we met on our most recent cruise, were full of praise for the smaller outfit, so we went ahead and booked. We obtained a good deal, and as another bonus, Ambassador operate out of Tilbury, a short distance the other side of the Dartford Crossing, and just 30 minutes’ drive from Bailey Towers, on a good day.

So, there’s plenty to look forward to, once Christmas and New Year are out of the way. I’m also determined to get a bit more walking in, during 2026, and having bought a guidebook to walking the rivers Darent, Medway and Eden, I’m determined to complete at least one of the river walks, detailed in the guide. Finally, if I don’t manage to squeeze out another post this side of Christmas, I’d like to extend compliments of the season to each and every one of my readers, and thank you all for your support and encouragement, throughout the year.

Computer says "No"

It’s been a couple of rather frustrating days, due to difficulties accessing my most frequently used email account. Fortunately, it isn’t the account I use for really important stuff, and it’s not the one I use for the blog, either. Blogger has its own, user-friendly platform that you can type straight into, but after having lost several posts, back in the early days of the blog, I instead type up the text in Word- built in spell-checker, plus a programme that saves as you type. I then copy and paste the whole thing in via the Blogger Dashboard.

The frustrating thing with not being able to access one’s account, is having to change the password, each time, and earlier this evening I had to change it twice. Perhaps I didn’t allow enough time between changes – who knows, but being an inquisitive type, I resorted to asking Copilot. I didn’t expect quite as much chapter and verse, but this is what the much-vaunted AI came up with.

 Guidance for Resolving Problems Accessing Your Email Accounts

Introduction

Many people experience difficulties when trying to access their email accounts. These issues can arise from a variety of sources, including forgotten passwords, technical glitches, or security measures. This guide provides step-by-step advice to help you regain access to your email accounts.

Common Reasons for Access Issues

• Incorrect Password or Username: You may have entered your credentials incorrectly.
• Account Locked or Suspended: Multiple failed login attempts can result in a temporary lock-out.
• Forgotten Password: It's easy to forget passwords, especially if you have multiple accounts.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Problems: Issues with receiving codes or using authenticator apps.
• Connectivity Issues: Poor internet connection may prevent you from accessing your account.
• Browser or App Problems: Outdated browsers or apps may not work properly with email services.
• Security Compromises: Your account may have been compromised and temporarily disabled for protection. 

  Ensure you are using the correct email address and password.

1. Check for accidental use of CAPS LOCK or incorrect keyboard layout.
2. Use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page.
3. Follow the steps to reset your password via your recovery email or phone number.
4. Ensure you are connected to the internet.
5. Try accessing your email from a different device or network.
6. Ensure your web browser or email app is up to date.
7. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then restart the browser.
8. Check your device for 2FA codes.
9. If you cannot access your 2FA method, use backup codes or contact support.
10. Watch for messages about your account being locked or suspended.
11. Follow the instructions provided to regain access.
12. If none of the above steps work, visit your email provider’s help centre.
13. Provide as much information as possible to verify your identity.

Additional Tips

• Use a password manager to keep track of your passwords securely.
• Regularly update your recovery information (phone number and alternate email).
• Be cautious of phishing emails and scams that attempt to steal your login details.
• Periodically review your account’s security settings.

Conclusion

While it can be frustrating to lose access to your email account, following these steps should help you identify and resolve the problem. For persistent issues, contacting your email provider’s support team is the best course of action.

I don't think the problem I had, was due to any of the above, especially as most of the suggestions AI came up with were blindingly obvious. But whatever the cause, it does demonstrate just how reliant we all are when it comes to communicating electronically, and just how vulnerable we all are when something goes wrong!

ps. Normal service will be resumed over the next day, or so, as there's lots of beer, pubs and upcoming travel experiences for me to write about, as well as my review of the year. All, far more interesting than my technology problems. 

 

 

A rare foray into clubland

A couple of weeks ago, I made a brief and, for me, extremely rare foray into the world of clubland. Those who know me will be aware of my disdain of clubs, as there is something about these places that has never appealed to me. Clubs may well be places where cheap beer is available, but they often come across as soulless places, seemingly lacking atmosphere. And yet, whilst putting this article together, I was reminded that early on in my drinking career, myself, plus a handful of sixth form pals, were regular users of a club, on the outskirts of Ashford – the town where I grew up and went to school.

I have my school friend Roy, to thank for this early association with working man’s clubs, and he was also the same individual responsible for introducing me to beer in general, and to many of Ashford’s public houses. Another former school friend was responsible for familiarising me with a large number of rural pubs, mainly to the east of Ashford and down onto Romney Marsh. This was down to the fact that we both had motor-scooters, and enjoyed heading out into the Kent countryside, exploring the many pubs in the surrounding villages, under the pretext of enjoying a game of “arrows”.

That’s a story for another time, and for now, it’s back to clubland, and specifically the club house of Houchin Aerospace, a company which manufactured parts for the aviation industry. Houchin closed in 2014, with the loss of 47 jobs, but for 70 years, their factory on the edge of Ashford had been a successful enterprise, and a major employer in the town. Roy’s mother worked for the company, and I believe his sister did as well, and it was through their connections, that us sixth former's were able to use the club.

Before going any further, a quick word about clubs and their origins in the industrial heartlands of the North of England, the Midlands and South Wales. As institutions, Working Men’s Social Clubs came into being at the tail end of the 19^th century, by and for working class people in industrial areas. The very first social club was founded in Reddish, Greater Manchester, to give workers a place to relax. As well as the sale of alcohol, food was often provided, along with games such as pool, snooker and darts. In their heyday of the 1970s, there were some 4,000 working men’s clubs in operation across Britain, providing space to congregate, communicate, celebrate and, of course, to drink beer.

WMC’s remain fixtures in local communities, more than 120 years after their foundation and are run in much the same way as they always have been. Most are affiliates of the Working Men’s Club & Institute Union or CIU, although nowadays that reference to working men has been dropped. At the current count there are 2,200 registered social clubs within the CIU, with numbers still biased towards the North and the Midlands. Working men's clubs are run by their members through a committee, usually elected annually, with each club having its own set of rules, that include the payment of an annual subscription.

Whilst anyone can join a WMC, there is still a process that prospective members must apply through, before full membership is granted. This usually involves filling out a membership form, which will then have to be seconded by two members who know and can vouch for you. Your application will then be put before the Club committee and an interview held with you. The committee can, if necessary, discipline members (common punishments being a warning, or a ban for a period) for violations. Non-members are not allowed entry unless signed in by a member. I don’t recall having to do any of these things, back in the early 70’s, although with our school friend as a fully paid-up member, and us as quite free-spending individuals, I don’t think anyone was particularly concerned.

Life moves on, and in the autumn of 1973, our quite tightly, close-knit group of friends went our own separate ways. A small number remained in Ashford, having already gained regular employment, one joined the British Airways Flight Training School, at Hamble (somewhere in Hampshire, I believe), and eventually passed out as an airline pilot, but most of us went to university, in various cities and towns, scattered across the UK. We never really got back together as a group, and I’m fairly certain that with one possible exception, none of us set foot inside the Houchins’ club again.

I was much more interested in pubs when I returned to Kent for the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks, and had also developed a growing interest in cask beer – or Real Ale. Cask was a real rarity in clubs, and whilst it was still clinging on in many pubs, especially some of the smaller and more rural ones, it was viewed as having had its day. As we know, events proved otherwise, as CAMRA’s well-thought-out, and highly effective campaign, not only managed to stem cask’s decline, but set the scene for a spectacular turn around in its fortunes.

When I returned to live in Kent, back in the late 1970’s, real ale was quite readily available, at least in local pubs. Clubs were a different matter, not that I knew of any, and it wasn’t until I settled in Tonbridge, half a decade later, that clubs once again, re-entered my consciousness. As well as an being home to an important railway junction Tonbridge was also a “print” town, with two large printing works and associated publishers, based in the town. Whitefriars’ Press were one such company and had their own WMC – the Whitefriars’s Press Club. Their spacious premises, close to the station, are no more, having gone the same way as the printing company itself, but there were still several other WMC’s based in the town.

Over the years, I must have visited most these establishments, mainly for social events, either work or family occasions, and these included Tonbridge Working Men’s Club, Constitutional Club, Royal British Legion Club along with the aforementioned Whitefriars’ Club. None of these establishments stocked cask and therefore were of little interest to me. Things slowly changed, but not as quickly as us cask lovers would have liked, and not long after the demise of the Whitefriars, the same fate befell the Working Men’s Club. There were a few bright spots along the way with several, relatively nearby clubs not just stocking the odd cask beer, bur majoring in it as well. Locally we have Tunbridge Wells Constitutional Club, and Marden Social Club, but a little further away is the Dartford Working Man’s Club, an establishment that has since become a bastion of real ale.

To bring the story up to date, a couple of weeks ago, Mrs PBT’s and I attended a family function at the Cinque Ports Club in Uckfield. Over the course of the past 3-4 years, this mid-Sussex town has become home to Eileen’s sister, plus her niece with her own extended family. This was why, on one of the wettest Sundays in a long time, that we found ourselves, at this extensive and rather rambling club, slap bang in the middle of Uckfield. When Mrs PBT’s and I turned up, looking like a couple of drowned rats, we had to be signed in, in true club fashion, but despite my initial reservations, my spirits were raised by the sight of a bank of three hand pulls on the bar, dispensing a range of Harvey’s beers (Best Bitter, Old Ale & Mild.)

The Cinque Ports Club began life as the Commercial Hotel and then the King’s Head, before later becoming a social club.  As hinted at earlier, it is quite a rambling building, with an older, inner core and a couple of more recent additions. Like most other clubs, the Cinque Ports is owned by its members and run for its members, and as well as the aforementioned, well-stocked bar, the Club provides regular live entertainment and social activities. Membership is £15 per Annum with a £10 joining fee. Over 1800 members enjoy facilities including a large function room suitable for up to 200 people, a stage, large projector screen for TV and presentations and round banqueting tables. The main bar area has three seating areas, fruit machines, three plasma screens for live sports, a pool room, plus a digital juke box updated weekly with the latest music. For the more traditional minded, there are two darts boards, plus a pool table. 

If I lived where Eileen’s sister lives, (just 15 minutes’ walk away), then I’d almost certainly become a club, as the well-kept Harvey’s alone would be the deal-maker. Clubs have certainly come on a lot since the days when my school chums and I would spend evenings drinking fizzy Courage, keg beers, in the somewhat basic surroundings of the Houchin Sports & Social Club. I make that final statement guardedly, because the UK's public houses, will always hold a special place in my heart, and that's because as the name suggests, pubs are open to everyone regardless of gender, race or religion and, most importantly, with no membership requirements either. 

 

The firm's Christmas bash, December 2025

Last Friday evening saw me heading over to Tunbridge Wells, for my company’s Christmas party. I’ve kept the identity of the venue quiet, until now, partially as a bit of a tease, but mainly because I wanted to experience the place myself, before reporting back. Tunbridge Wells is a 10-minute train ride away from Tonbridge, and despite being the larger to the two towns, TW is not as well served by rail links to other parts of the country, as its older and more historic counterpart.

Although my train departed Tonbridge on time, we were held up by a red signal at Somerhill tunnel, one of several single-track tunnels on this line which runs between Tonbridge and Hastings. There is a reason for single track working, which dated back to a number of fraudulent cost-cutting scams that took place, during construction of the line. I won’t go into details here, as I know not all readers of this blog are train buffs, but if you want to know more, then by all means,  click on this link.

Despite my late running train, I was still 20 minutes or so in advance of the 6pm kick-off so, to kill a bit of time, I called in at the recently renovated Bedford Arms, opposite the railway station.  I found to my cost that this traditional stop-off for home-coming commuters, had been changed into an establishment catering exclusively for the 18-30 crowd, although looking around, the clientele seemed almost exclusively male. 

So, plenty (too much) of testosterone floating around, but much worse than that, a video juke box set to maximum level, where you could feel the bass notes and drumbeats come crashing into your chest, whilst your ear drums were rapidly atrophying. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been to some pretty loud rock concerts in my youth, including The Who and Led Zeppelin, but they were in a different league, and context, in the setting of two large stadiums, rather than that of a relatively small, town local. The Pig & Porter Apparition Stout was in good form, and I learned from the local CAMRA WhatsApp group, that the pub is quieter at lunchtimes, but my advice would be to go elsewhere if you want to enjoy a quiet pint in Tunbridge Wells.

So now for the main event, which took place at the White Bear, situated just a short stroll from the station in the heart of Tunbridge Wells and a stone’s throw from the Pantiles. Described as a stylish tavern with a sun-room terrace, the White Bear re-opened under its original name, following extensive renovations by Young & Co. I said, “original name”, because when I first knew the pub, it was called the White Bear. Whitbread, its owner at the time, closed the pub in 1985, but three years later, it re-opened as “Ruperts”. Soon after, it changed its name and layout, to “Bar Zia”. This in turn closed, and in 2007 it reopened as the "Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill."

Pub and hotel company, plus renowned former brewery, Young's, bought the site in 2019 and took it back to its roots by renaming it the "White Bear." Prior to reopening, Young’s sent out a press release, stating, "Our understanding is that this pub was hugely popular in its original incarnation, and we hope to welcome back all the locals." The release went on to say that "The venue has been restored to its former glory by Young’s and has reopened as a quintessentially British yet modern pub under its original name.”

It was therefore with some trepidation that I entered the White Bear for the first time in 40 years. My initial observations were that the place was heaving – hardly surprising for a Friday night during h run-up to Christmas. The other observations that the interior was much larger than the one I remember, but as everything looked so different, it wasn’t an easy comparison to make. I’d already met up with a few of my colleagues outside the bar, so when the boss turned up, armed with the company credit card, we all ordered ourselves the first of many drinks of the evening.

Beer-wise, there were three hand pumps serving cask ales, but with the pump-clip for TT’s Landlord turned round, it was a choice between Young’s London Original, and Harvey’s Sussex Best. With the contract-brewed Young’s a travesty of what was once one of the finest beers in the land, it was a no-brainer for me to opt for Harvey’s. It was in good form too, but don’t ask me how I scored it, because I’ve more or less given up on beer scores. Having obtained our drinks, one of the bar staff conducted us round to an open plan area at the rear of the building, that had been allocated to our party. This area was set at a lower level, and was more or less self-contained, but in order to do justice to the pub, I’d need to return during, the hours of daylight, and at a time when the place is far less busy. Other colleagues started to drift in, and whilst not a full house, our contingent still managed to occupy four tables.

People’s food choices had been ordered several weeks in advance, and when the grub turned up it was tasty and well-presented. My main course of Pan-Fried Seabream, with creamed celeriac, Brussel tops, and samphire, whilst flavoursome and cooked to perfection, was missing something to soak up the creamy sauce, because there wasn’t a lot of substance to the creamed celeriac. Fortunately, I managed to procure some bread for a colleague and myself. Christmas pudding with cream and brandy sauce made a good desert, and by way of accompaniment, a nice glass of Port fitted the bill.

That was my only “exotic” drink of the evening, as I stuck to the Harvey’s for the rest of the time, but I did observe quite a few cocktails being ordered, mainly by the ladies – and I’m not being sexist here, at all. There was a time, when drinks at the staff Christmas bash were limited to beer, cider or wine, with spirits and/or exotic cocktails ruled out. We’ve got a new accountant, these days, as well as a new General Manager, and both seem rather more lenient (if that’s the right word), than their predecessors. All the same, I’ve noticed over many years, that many people go a little over the top with their drinks order, when there’s a “free” bar.

That aside, it was a most enjoyable evening, with good food, and good company, providing a real chance for staff to let their hair down, after what has been quite a tough year. I wasn’t too late in leaving, as I was offered a lift back to Tonbridge by our Office Supervisor, who’d been tasked with looking after a couple of Japanese colleagues. They were in the UK for a short “exchange” visit, which included an invitation to the Christmas party. They were staying in Tonbridge, at the Rose & Crown, and I’m not sure whether my colleague wanted directions, or just some companionship during the drive back, but whatever the case I was glad of a ride home to Tonbridge.

Somehow, we all managed to squeeze into her car, although as I was sitting in the front, I had plenty of leg room! The visitors were dropped off at the Rose & Crown, and it was good to see this imposing and historic, old coaching inn back in favour, with visitors from head office. Incidentally, I’d called in at this historic old inn, the day before, primarily to see what the place is like now, after having lost our custom, for several years to the two, local Premier Inns. My verdict was the Rose & Crown was fine, and from the feedback I heard from the visitors, they enjoyed their stay there too.

 

 

Free to travel

My new UK Passport arrived in the post yesterday, and today, my soon to expire old passport, was also delivered by Royal Mail. The latter was just a week after returning the document, whilst the actual application took just 9 days from filling out the online application, attaching the electronic photos and paying the fee, prior to approval. Three days later, my shiny new passport arrived in the post, as advised via email, from HM Passport Office.

I have to say I was really impressed with both the speed of the service, plus the ease of the renewal process itself. I remember talking to some friends about this process, back in the late summer whilst on a CAMRA – organised day out in Broadstairs. They said how easy and straightforward the process was, and I am delighted to discover they were right, despite my reservations that the run up to Christmas might not be the best time for dealing with renewal applications.

 So, no more hunting around for a “person of character” – doctor, lawyer, priest etc to verify my photo, and no more struggling to position the photo onto my application (Cunard & DVLA please take note). And for anyone looking to do the same, then nip along to your nearest branch of Snappy Snaps, and they’ll take care of the photographic process for you. Not only will they take a photo with the right posture, they will frame in for you, cut the sheet into four, and then email a unique, time-bound code which when inputted onto your electronic n form, will upload the photo directly onto your application. Easy, peasy, as the saying goes!

So now, I am the proud holder of a new UK Passport, and whilst it does have the blue cover that Johnson and the rest of the Brexiteer loons were getting all het up about, the colour used is such a dark shade of navy blue, that to all intents and purposes, it might as well be black! Finally, full marks to HM Passport Office who, after many years of criticism, have finally got their act together, and come up with a system that works, as well as being user friendly. I know it goes against established wisdom, but sometimes, government departments, can get things right!!

More reasons to shop at Morrisons

More reasons to shop at Morrisons, or so the advertising jingle goes, and whilst Morrisons is not up there amongst the market leaders in the grocery trade, it can occasionally surprise its customers. Northern-based Morrisons is the 5^th largest supermarket chain in the UK, known for its competitive pricing and commitment to sourcing British produce. Whilst not positioned as a premium supermarket, Morrisons is known for its high standards in fresh food categories like meat, fish, and vegetables, and is a favourite for those who don’t want to break the bank.

For many years, Morrisons had a presence locally, with a medium-sized store in Tunbridge Wells, next to the town’s rail station. That closed several years ago, but now the company is making something of a comeback, by setting up a number of small, one-stop-style, convenience stores. We have one of these outlets in Tonbridge, a store that was run as part of the International chain, a group that was the successor of the Home & Colonial Stores. As the name suggests, the company dated back to the days of empire. The Tonbridge International became a Gateway store and then a Somerfield store, before eventually morphing into one of the Pound Shop chains.

The latter eventually closed, as after all there’s a limit to the amount of cut-priced tat that the market can support, and this is when Morrisons stepped in. The majority of the building was demolished and then re-built as flats and apartments, to suit Tonbridge’s growing status as a dormitory town, but the ground floor unit, fronting onto the High Street, has remained as a retail unit, which is now occupied by Morrisons. With a High Street position suited to attract impulse buyers and lunchtime shoppers, this Morrisons Daily is deservedly doing very well, but imagine my surprise when the Christmas before last, I called in for some last-minute shopping and discovered the store is now selling beers from one of Britain’s most respected family brewers.

We’re talking about a range of bottled beers from Harvey & Son (Lewes) Ltd, a situation that is very unusual, because Harvey’s used to have a policy of not supplying their beers to national chains, or supermarkets. Staunchly conservative, Samuel Smith of Tadcaster, still operate such a policy, and used it as one of the USP’s that set them apart from off-licence chains, or supermarkets. I remember one of their sales managers explaining this to me, over the phone, when we first opened our own, staunchly, independent off-licence!

Fast forward to a couple of days ago, when a message on the local CAMRA Beer Social WhatsApp group, alerted me that 5 litre, metal kegs, of Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale were being sold at Tonbridge Morrison's, for the bargain price of £24.99 each. In other words, £5 per litre of this dark, and delicious, seasonal old ale! The following morning, I called in at the store, on my way to work, and grabbed one of the two kegs remaining on the shelf, along with a selection of Harvey’s bottles. 

At the till, I expressed my surprise (and pleasure) at seeing these mini kegs on sale. The person serving me, said they’d been selling quickly, and the store was looking to order in some more. Today, I just happened to call and saw they had all gone although, in their place were a number of Harvey’s Best Bitter kegs. Earlier in the week,  I mentioned the Harvey’s kegs to a work colleague, who thought that the smaller, Morrisons Daily stores operate on a franchise basis, which allows quite a bit of autonomy for managers/franchisees. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it might explain the very welcome appearance of Harvey's beers, in one of our local supermarkets. 

I shall leave broaching the keg until a few days before Christmas, but earlier today I called in at the town's Organic Village Market, an interesting establishment that often carries an interesting range of beers. The shop is normally a good bet for Westerham Brewery bottles, and occasionally you might come across Samuel Smith's. Even rarer, are the German beers that are sometimes in stock, and today, I was even luckier, as the Organic Market had just received a shipment of beers from Bamberg. Needless to say, I bought a few, despite their £3.99 price tag. As with the Harvey's kegs, I shall be adding the German bottles to my Christmas stash. Much as I detest that corny old, crooner's song, I can safely say "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas".

     

Reflecting on a recently deceased Beer Blogger, in the tranquility of the Wheatsheaf, Bough Beech

During the run-up to Christmas, I’ve been spending a bit of time visiting pubs that I normally wouldn’t go to the trouble of frequenting. It’s all part of my scheme to visit as many pubs as possible, during 2025, and to beat last year’s total. That number was a miserly 70, significantly down on the previous year’s score of 84, but the good news is that 2025 will represent something of a record for me, with the magic one tonne (100), already passed.

There probably won’t be many opportunities now, to increase that total much further, not unless I can arrange a few pub crawls around towns that I am unfamiliar with, but numbers aren’t everything, and somewhere amongst that 100+ figure are several pubs that I haven’t been in before. A handful of these represent some of the finest establishments in the country. That brings me on to the other issue, and that is location, because after visiting many of the pubs within a 10-mile radius of Bailey Towers, I’m increasingly having to cast my net further and further away. Before doing so, I’m filling in the gaps, although perhaps that should be worded the other way round, because I’m currently ticking off the small number of public houses that so far, have escaped my clutches.

First stop then is the tiny hamlet of Bough Beech, just five minutes’ drive from my workplace at Chiddingstone Causeway, three miles to the east of Edenbridge, and five miles south west of Sevenoaks. The settlement is close to Bough Beech Reservoir, a man-made body of water used to supply drinking water to a part of West Kent and East Surrey. The Wheatsheaf is the only surviving local pub, following the closure several decades ago, of the Chequers; a pub that sadly closed it doors many years before I became acquainted with the local area.

The Wheatsheaf is a pub with a rich heritage, as evidenced by parts of the building which are reputed to originate from the 14^th century. This would have been during the reign of King Henry V, but it is a later Henry, who left more of a mark on the building, after using it as a hunting lodge. This was the tyrannical King Henry VIII, who was one of England’s most bloody and infamous kings. 

 

Today, the building is Grade 2 listed, and renovations have occasionally revealed clues about its background and its history. These clues include a rare medieval crown post, in the roof, plus a wattle-and-daub wall. In 2014, the pub underwent an extensive refurbishment by the current owner who, according to CAMRA, is a director at Westerham Brewery. The refurb revealed a number of notable oak beams, spacious inglenooks and distinct areas designed to accommodate both drinkers and diners. This is evidenced by the bar which occupies the central section of the pub, whilst the dining areas take up the spaces on either side of this area.

I called in, shortly after opening time, last Saturday, and noticed three cask ales on sale, from the bank of five handpumps.  The beers were Larkin’s Traditional, Westerham British Bulldog, plus Harvey’s Sussex Best. I was the pub’s only customer for a while, and with the log fires blazing away in the bar, as well as the left-hand dining area, the pub felt cosy and relaxing. It was certainly different to my previous visit, several years ago, when I sat out in the attractive terrace garden at the side of the pub. 

According to the Wheatsheaf’s website, produce sourced from the attached kitchen garden is often incorporated into the menu. The pub welcomes cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers (with or without dogs), horse riders, and beer bloggers! It's a different place though during the winter months when, after a brisk cross-country walk, there’s nothing better than settling down by one of the open fires at the Wheatsheaf, a pub, where even dogs receive a warm welcome. The pub interior is tastefully decorated, honouring its long history that stretches back over seven centuries. The Wheatsheaf’s careful attention to detail, makes it a wonderfully cosy spot for anything from Sunday lunch, a hearty evening meal or a few drinks on a Friday night.

Peter Edwardson aka Pub Curmudgeon 

Ending on a more sombre note, I would like to dedicate this post to the memory of fellow blogger, and dedicated pub-man, Peter Edwardson, who sadly, and quite unexpectedly, passed away at the weekend. Writing under the name of Pub Curmudgeon, Peter didn’t always live up to his name, although quite rightly, he could be particularly scathing of the big brewers, and their attempts to “improve” their tied estates.

He came across as quite a private individual, sometimes, very matter of fact, although under the right circumstances (a decent pub, and equally decent beer), he could be good company. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, including a fleeting visit he made to Tunbridge Wells, 10 or so years ago. However, Peter was at his best on the various pub crawls I joined him on, including Burton, Shifnal, Stockport and Macclesfield. I think that 2023, pre-Christmas meet up, in Macc, was the last time I saw him, and like the other occasions, he was good company.

"Old Mudgie", as he was affectionately known, had his own criteria for visiting pubs, but the words “solid”, “traditional” and “unspoilt” spring to mind. Like me, he wasn’t out to break any records, when it came to number of pubs visited, but he certainly had the knack of sniffing out the good ones. So, farewell fellow pub lover and beer enthusiast. I'm sure that your name will continue to crop up, when it comes to writing about days out, and pub crawls around historic pubs.

 

 

 

Return to Madeira, half a century on

We’ve been home now, from our late autumn cruise, for just over a month, and I suddenly realised that I hadn't written anything about our visit to Madeira – officially the third port of call on our two-week voyage. However, as things turned out, with our aborted attempt to dock at Praia de Vitoria, Madeira was actually the second location we visited. Our ship docked at Funchal, the lovely and rather charming capital of Madeira, where we had an overnight stop at Funchal. This gave us two full days in which to explore this charming town along with the surrounding area.

As I’ve probably mentioned before, I’d visited Funchal before, again arriving by ship, although that time it was a school “educational cruise” in a converted, former troop ship. As almost 50 years had passed since that visit, my memories of Madeira are rather limited. Having said that, I’m pretty certain that my school mates and I just proceeded down the gangway and walked into Funchal, rather than being bussed into town, as Eileen, me and other passengers were. The drive itself took around 10 minutes, if that’s anything to go by, but after half a century, who really knows.

The coach dropped us off at a bus station on the seafront, where there were landscaped gardens, shaded with palm trees. We decided to explore the immediate vicinity before finding a suitable place for lunch. Eileen’s niece, and her husband had visited the island recently and had strongly recommended a restaurant situated further along the seafront. She hadn’t indicated how far along, but after reviewing the location on Google Maps, we realized it was a good 45–50-minute walk. This was rather too far Mrs PBT’s, and further too than I’d care to walk, just for a bite to eat. Fortunately, we discovered several excellent alternatives in the vicinity.

Our first stop was a small café with outdoor shaded seating, beneath a canopy. We dropped in, ordered a coffee each, as well as a delicious Portuguese custard tart. Sitting there gave us time to figure out where to eat later. We then wandered down one of the side streets that run parallel to the shoreline—narrow, bustling, and full of charm. 

There were plenty of local cafés and bars opening onto the street, all very inviting and tempting, although one particularly proprietor was rather too vocal and persistent for my liking, in his attempts to encourage visitors to try his rooftop bar. It may well have afforded views out over the seafront, but he didn’t get our custom, no matter how good his establishment might have been.

We moved on and looked elsewhere, and after taking a shortcut, back towards the sea front, we found the terminus of the city's famous cable car. For €20, you can ride right to the top of the hills (mountains) behind the city, and enjoy uninterrupted views stretching right across Funchal, and out to the sea beyond. Having watched the film “Where Eagles Dare”, I've never been that keen on cable cars. Mrs PBT’s felt the same, so we decided to skip that activity, and walked a little further in the direction of the ship. There we noticed a contemporary and laid-back place called “Loft”, with a few tables overlooking the grassy area we'd just passed through.

Wanting something light for our lunch, we checked out their menu, which included some nice bruschetta’s, and decided to give the place a try. We found a table, in the shade, and ordered some drinks. A half litre of Coral White – the local lager, for me and whatever Eileen was having - mineral water I expect. Our food arrived, looking nicely presented, and tasting as good as it looked. It was just the right size for lunch, as without wishing to sound too self-righteous, we were trying to be mindful about what we ate, despite being on holiday.

Afterwards, whilst Mrs PBT’s got stuck into her obligatory coffee, I decided to try the Coral Stout, but somehow, I ended up with another White beer. Something had obviously been lost in translation, but no matter. On our way back to the coach terminal, we found the inevitable souvenir shop and picked up a few goodies, including a couple of the ever-popular fridge magnets. No pineapples though, just to disappoint those who get excited about such things! Afterward, we took the bus back to the cruise terminal and returned to the ship.

The following morning, at Mrs PBT's suggestion, I went into Funchal on my own. If anything, the day was hotter than the previous one, and I was left wishing I'd brought my water bottle with me – an "elementary school boy error", as one of my colleagues would say. But I hadn't, regardless of my colleague’s advice, so after staying in the shade as much as possible, I found a nice little corner café, close to Funchal’s rather modest looking cathedral. I sat outside, in the shade, enjoying a coffee plus a bottle of ice-cold water, before contemplating my next move.

It had been quite a climb up to the cathedral, although given that Funchal is constructed on a hill, this wasn’t surprising. I’d ended up on the other side of the main thoroughfare that bisects the town, so I headed in a roughly easterly direction, and ended up close to where Eileen and I had been the day before. 

Not all the shops were open, as it was a religious holiday, but the restaurants, bars and souvenir outlets were certainly trading, as were the ice-cream sellers, so hiding behind the pretext that a cone, or small tub would cool me down, I ordered a generous scoop. It was one of those places that leave you spoiled for choice, but whilst tempted by mango, I opted for the pineapple ice cream – what is it about that fruit that is so tempting?

After crossing the busy highway that runs down from the upper parts of Funchal, towards the seafront, I realised I was back in the maze of narrow back streets where we had walked the previous day. I was tempted by a small, local fish-restaurant, where patrons could sit outside, and enjoy a meal whilst watching the world go by. With menus in English, and photos to guide one, I opted for a freshly grilled sea-bass – highly recommended according to the friendly waiter. Served with some freshly cooked, boiled potatoes and garnished with parsley and butter, it was the perfect lunchtime meal. A glass of Coral Stout - the beer I'd missed out on the day before, went down well with my meal, as well as being another tick on Untappd.

I went inside to make use of the “facilities” and also to pay the bill. As I was counting out the cash, the waiter, and the chef, offered me a glass of “Poncha”, a traditional alcoholic beverage, made with sugar cane rum, honey and lemon juice that is popular in Madeira. The rum was over-proof, so this shot, which was on the house, had quite a kick to it.  A nice place, though with good food, nice surroundings and friendly people, what more could one want?

With the afternoon drawing to a close, I returned to the bus terminal and took the bus back to the ship, aiming of course be back on board with ample time before the scheduled departure. I’m sure many of you will have seen those YouTube clips of late returning passengers running along the pier, waving their arms in a vain attempt to signal the ship to halt. This of course is a futile gesture, as once the vessel has prepared to depart, and cast off its lines it cannot return to the quayside, unless there is a dire emergency. Not allowing sufficient time to be back on board, doesn’t constitute such a situation.

Later that evening Mrs PBT’s and I sat out on our cabin balcony, watching Queen Victoria slide away from the quayside, before heading out to sea. With the lights of Funchal twinkling away in the background, the ship followed the coastline of Madeira for a while, until we reached a point where the island’s main airport came into view. The latter is quite a construction, on an island with very little in the way of flat land. The airport’s designers’ solved this issue by supporting the runway on concrete pillars, which rise above the hill side and an adjacent motorway. With the lights, and later sounds of an approaching aircraft, I retrieved my binoculars from the cabin and watched as the plane made a text-book landing. 

According to Eileen’s niece, it’s quite a scary descent and landing, so maybe arriving and departing by ship, is the way to go. It’s how both my visits to Madeira were achieved, although I’m fairly certain that airport hadn’t been conceived, let alone built back in 1971, when I first came to this charming and captivating Atlantic island.