Fancy a day out?

Some of you might remember me talking about a trip by train, to a UK destination that I’ve never been to before. As I get older, the realisation that there are still many places in this fair isle of our that I’ve never been to, becomes increasingly apparent, and reaches the stage where it’s something I’m more and more aware of. But what to do about it? The answer, of course, is to travel a lot more, and take up opportunities, as and when they arise, then do something to improve the situation.

I’m lucky in having parents who were interested in visiting different parts of the UK, and from a relatively early age, mum and dad would take me and my sister on holiday. These weren’t luxury or exotic holidays, as growing up in a post-war Britain, hit by crippling debts (thank-you Uncle Sam!), plus the costs of rebuilding both damaged infrastructure and bombed out housing stock, meant there was precious little money to go round. For the record, I was born, just 10 years after the end of the most damaging and devastating conflict the world has ever known, but none of that registered to a child who started school in 1960.

Family holidays ranged from a stay at a holiday camp – not Butlin’s (or even Maplin’s, for fans of Hi-Di-Hi), but a camp of sorts – that bore an uncanny resemblance to Jo Maplin’s, situated on Hayling Island. Traveling by motorbike and sidecar, the journey from our home in Ashford, seemed to take an age. I’m also unsure how my parents found room in our already cramped mode of transport, for our luggage.

Fortunately, dad was able to afford a car for subsequent holidays, even though the vehicle he acquired was a converted Austin A35 van. Small matter, as this little workhorse became our passport to the exotic lands of East Anglia (Suffolk) in the main, and later, South Wales. From staying with my paternal grandparents in Suffolk, and then later, staying at various Welsh caravan sites – Pembrokeshire and the Gower, my sister and I became quite well travelled, compared to some of our contemporaries. As always, the journey was part of the adventure, and with a very rudimentary motorway network, and a jumble of narrow and often crowded A roads, getting to our holiday destination, was often as exciting as the holiday itself.

At the end of my Vth year at secondary school, I undertook my first overseas visit, a two week, “educational” cruise taking in Portugal, the Azores and Madeira.  Oddly enough, this is the very same voyage that Mrs PBT’s are about to embark on, although the accommodation will be rather different. That’s for another time, though. University afforded more opportunities for travel, both home-grown, as well as overseas, and the latter culminated in a month-long journey, by train, around western Europe, accompanied by a student friend.

Regardless of the foreign travel, I’ve also always looked for opportunities to visit places closer to home, and over the years I’ve been filling in some of the gaps. This has been a very gradual process, and it largely just happened, rather than being properly organised, let alone properly planned, but in recent years there has been the added attraction of beer and pubs. Actually, that’s not quite so recent, because visiting a different part of the UK, or even a different town or village, invariably provided the opportunity to try a different brew, in a pub or even a town that I’d never visited before.

Since before the pandemic – that unpleasant dividing line that still separates more recent events from the more carefree times of less than five years ago, and continuing into the present day, I’ve enjoyed some excellent days out, in the company of some equally fine beer and pub enthusiasts. So, with legendary topers, like Retired Martin, Stafford Paul, Pub Curmudgeon, plus several other beer and pub enthusiasts, I’ve enjoyed some fine, “Proper Days Out” in places as diverse as Birmingham, Bath, Sheffield, Manchester, Burton-on-Trent, Farnham, Black Country, and even a strange little town called Shifnal, that I’d never heard of before.

But now it’s my turn, and as hinted at the beginning of this post, I’ve arranged a day out for myself, plus anyone who’d like to, or is able to join me. The location I’ve chosen is the Devonshire town of Topsham, a settlement on the River Exe, a few miles to the south-east of Exeter. Some readers might remember me writing about Topsham and its classic locals’ pub, the Bridge Inn. My interest was sparked after reading “A Pub For All Seasons”, by Adrian Tierney-Jones.  Adrian is former British Beer Writer of the Year, and the Bridge Inn is one of his favourite pubs. The Bridge pops up several times in Adrian’s book, which is perhaps not surprising, seeing as the author lives in that area of Devon, but ever since reading his book, I’ve had an increasing longing to visit it.

Today, I bit the bullet and purchased an Advance Saver, return ticket to Topsham, that whilst on the dear side, was a considerable saving on the standard fare price. I shall be making the return journey on Friday 21^st November, and if anyone cares to join me, my train arrives in Topsham at 10:35 and departs at 17:09. Apart from the Bridge Inn, I am looking to visit two other pubs in the town, and these are the Passage House Inn (free house), and the Lighter Inn (Badger). Timings are based around the slightly old-fashioned hours of the Bridge Inn (12-2.30 & 5.30 – 9.30), but with the Passage House opening at 10am, and as with the Lighter, offering food, all day, there should be ample opportunity to visit all three.

If anyone fancies a day out on the south Devon coast, then please get in touch, via this blog. I appreciate that Beer & Pubs Forum members prefer Tapatalk, but it’s a rather strange app, and one that I’ve never really got on with. Cheer, Paul.

 

Lots of changes on the Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells pub scene

There are a lot of changes taking place on the local pub front, at the moment, and many of them seem to be happening at the same time. The type of changes I am referring to mainly concern changes of ownership, but this seems to coincide with a change of name for the licensed premises affected as well. Tonbridge has got off lightly, compared with neighbouring Tunbridge Wells, so let’s get the town where I reside, out of the way first.

The Somerhill, prominently sited on the junction with Priory Street, and Pembury Road, is a pub with a rather chequered history. When I first came to Tonbridge it was a rather basic, working man's local, called the Somerhill Arms. Somerhill is the name of the family seat of the D-Avidor Goldsmid family - the local big-wigs, cum-Lords of the Manor. The property has an interesting history, which you can read about here, but for the time being it is worth noting that after being bought by a member of the Goldsmid family in 1849, it was substantially enlarged, making it the second largest house in Kent, after Knole House, Sevenoaks.

Returning to the Somerhill pub, after a succession of different licensees, the pub was bought in the early 1990's, the Hooden Horse Group. The latter were a small independent pub chain, were based in Ashford. Following the purchase some major alterations took place: the ceilings were lowered, the bars were knocked through into one, and the serving area was moved over to the back wall of the pub. There were plenty of bare boards and beams, plus candles for lighting, but the whole thing wasn't really in keeping with what was a typical, late-Victorian building. Nevertheless, the Wonderful Hooden Horse, as the pub was renamed, made a point of majoring on traditional draught beer. Hop Back Summer Lightning was one of the regular ales, alongside Old Hookey from Hook Norton.

Despite the place being something of an architectural fake, I rather liked the pub especially as it was only 10 minutes’ walk away from Bailey Towers. Unfortunately, in common with other similar fads, the Hooden Horse chain ran into difficulties, and the pub became increasingly rundown. Under new ownership, the pub interior reverted to something resembling its original layout, the with the false ceiling removed and the bar counter restored to more or less its original position.  Most importantly, the pub's name reverted to something like its original, but instead of the Somerhill Arms it became just the Somerhill.

The place did really well for a number of years, proving particularly popular with local builders and fellow tradesmen.  Beer wise the pub was nothing special, with Greene King IPA as the token cask ale. However, when the first of several economic slumps started affecting the construction industry the Somerhill's trade really began to suffer. With just one solitary cask ale, and a rather rough and ready clientele, the pub lost any appeal it might once have had; certainly, as far as I was concerned, and despite several brave attempts by a succession of wannabe licensees, shut up shop, earlier this year.

I can’t say exactly when this occurred, despite driving past it three days a week on my journey home from work, but a chance remark from a friend who lives almost opposite the pub, piqued my interest. My friend had heard that a licensee from the St John’s area of Tunbridge Wells, was interested in the place, and even had plans for it that would certainly be of interest to pub lovers like me. Despite these rumours, the Somerhill remained shuttered, its doors and windows covered with that awful looking tin-sheeting, used by property owners to secure a building, and prevent undesirables gaining access to an empty building.

Imagine my surprise when, when driving past last Monday evening, I noticed the tin-sheeting had been removed, and there were lights on inside the building. A member of the local CAMRA WhatsApp group, noticed this development too, and commented that the windows had been white washed over, as developers and decorators often do when they don’t want people peering through, and seeing  what they are up to. I took a walk past the place, on Friday afternoon, and saw several builder’s vans parked outside, along with a skip. There was also a notice advising that the property was under new ownership, and requesting that people should not block access to the site whilst the refurbishment works take place. Of special interest to the local school kids, was a substantial pile of chairs, stools, sofas and light fittings, all laid out, unceremoniously, outside on the forecourt with a notice that all items were free, and that all must go, too.  

I wasn’t tempted, as Mrs PBT’s and I are in the process of getting shot of unwanted furniture and other clutter, and besides many of these items looked as though they’d seen better days, but I took this clear-out as a positive sign that the Somerhill’s fortunes might be on the verge of changing for the better. What I would really like to see are the reports that my friend heard about the pub, coming to fruition, as nothing would be better in my book than to have a decent pub, within easy walking distance of home. We shall have to wait and see, but a such a friendly and welcoming local, stocking an interesting selection of decent beers, is the stuff of dreams, especially as it would save a lengthy walk into the centre of Tonbridge.

Now, what about the Tunbridge Wells pubs, I mentioned earlier? The first development concerns the Bedford, a well-known and quite prominent Greene King pub close to Tunbridge Wells station. The Bedford closed its doors for a substantial refurbishment on 14^th September, and reopened just a few days ago, on 15^th October. According to the pub website, "The Bedford is back, refreshed and ready to pour you something special. Marlowe’s burgers, live music, live sports, quiz nights, karaoke, and the return of our late-night DJ basement! A proper good night out!"  You probably get the picture, and the initial reports from WK CAMRA are mixed, with the number of hand-pumps reduced to three (there were six, at one time). Still, it’s early days at the moment, and we shall have to see how things pan out.

Next up on the list, is the Ragged Trousers, another well-known pub that is an essential stop on any visit to the Pantiles. The pub has been purchased by the owners of the Hopbine at Petteridge. The Hopbine is an attractive small, pub in the tiny hamlet of Petteridge, close to Paddock Wood.  

When I first knew the pub, it belonged to the late, and much-lamented King & Barnes Brewery, who were based in the West Sussex town of Horsham. King & Barnes closed in 2001, following a decision by some members of the owning King family to cash in their chips. The brewery and its 50+ pubs were sold to Dorset brewers, Hall & Woodhouse. The sale included the Hopbine, and although Badger beers were available at the Hopbine for a few years, it made little commercial sense sending a dray all the way from Blandford Forum to West Kent. The pub was sold off, and is now a free-house.

I’ve visited the Hopbine, quite a few times during recent years – probably more times than the Ragged Trousers, and have to say that the Ragged seems a strange acquisition for a rural pub like the Hopbine to be making. I’m not sure of the details yet, although despite my misgivings, I’m sure the new owners know what they are doing. It was originally reported that the Pantiles outlet would be renamed as the "New Ragged", but that idea seems to have been dropped. The refurbishment work, and other alterations also appear to have been completed. .

Next on the list are two Tunbridge Wells pubs that I don’t know particularly well; the Pantiles Tap and Alkins Ale House. The Pantiles Tap is located in the cellar of what is reputed to be the oldest hotel in Tunbridge Wells. Although long closed, the underground setting of the former “Gloster Tavern" (note the old spelling), provides an atmospheric backdrop for the Pantiles Tap, which is partly underground. Its stripped-back, bare-brick walls, tiled floors and old original fireplaces, is evidence of the building’s age, and reminds me of a couple of pubs in Prague. The “Tap” is basically a basement bar and, unfortunately for real ale lovers, is a craft keg only establishment. This wasn’t the case when the pub first opened its doors, but due to restraints placed on this historic building, combined with its location in a conservation area, meant that outside cooling equipment, such as condensers and heat exchangers, are a big “no-no”.

Opened in late in November 2014 by Geoff Wentworth and his partner Jo, the “Tap” was a welcome addition to the local beer scene. Cask was trialled for a while, but difficulties in keeping the beer cool, especially during the summer months, led to the pub becoming a “keg only” establishment. Beers from New Zealand, Europe and the USA were usually to be found, and with its legendary “Great Wall of Cider” offering cider and perry from a wide range of producers, the Tap received a number of awards for Cider Pub of the Year.

Now the news is that Geoff and Jo are moving on, and the Tap will close at the end of the October. This follows its acquisition by the Cardiff-based, Mad Dog Brewery Co Ltd. Mad Dog have another taproom in Brighton, so I suppose this move makes sense, but the brewery itself is an unknown quality, as far as I am concerned. A complete refit and makeover is planned for Tunbridge Wells, and when the place finally reopens, it will be known as the Tunbridge Wells Taproom.  

The final, Royal Tunbridge Wells outlet, undergoing change, albeit it a relatively minor one, is the Allkin Tap & Bottle, situated at the far end of Calverley Road. The people behind this establishment are Allkin Brewery, who are based in Eridge, just a few miles across the border into Sussex. Allkin Brewing started life as “Good Things Brewing” back in 2018. The brewery was housed in an attractive 17^th Century barn, next door to the family home, and by generating their own electricity, drawing up their own bore hole water, established itself as the most sustainable brewery in the UK. Things were working out fine, and the company even managed to survive lock-down, until on Sunday 25^th July 2021, the brewery building was tragically struck by lightning and burnt to the ground.

A period of crowdfunding then followed, and the firm resurfaced as Allkin Brewing Company. Looking for a place to showcase their beers, Allkin acquired a former shop unit at the far end of Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, which they opened as the Allkin Tap & Bottle.  The interior is long and slim with bench and stool seating, looking towards the bar counter and serving area, situated to the right of the building. The Tap has a bright and airy feel and is a place where customers can relax and enjoy a choice of 15 keg lines serves up a mix of beers and ciders from approved brewers, based throughout the UK. Cask appears to have been dropped, although it was available a couple of years ago, which was the last time I called in.  

The change here relates to Allkin beers being contract brewed at Hasting’s-based Brewing Brothers. I’m presuming that this move is only temporary, as according to their website, Allkin are building what they claim will be the UK’s most sustainable brewery, at their Oakridge farm, near Eridge. Watch this space!

 

Celebrating one thousand beers on Untappd!

Last Saturday evening I finally hit the magic 1,000. One thousand what you may ask, and the answer is 1,000 unique beers ticked on beer-scoring app Untappd. The latter is the well-known app that I've been using on and off for the last dozen or so years ago. Untappd allows users to tick or “tap” beers in real time, that they’ve been drinking in pubs, bars, restaurants, or hotels, but not only places away from one’s dwelling, but at home as well. Using tracking software, linked to the app, the technology keeps a record of each individual beer scored by the user. It’s clever enough to note each time you tap a beer that you haven't tried before and then keep a running total. Slowly, and overtime, your score of tapped beers continues to rise until, like me, you hit a significant milestone.

Untappd is surprisingly straightforward, as long as you don’t forget to tap those beers as you go along, and slowly, but surely, over the years you will build up a record of all the beers you’ve encountered and enjoyed over the years. You can also track of the beers your friends, and acquaintances have been enjoying – as long as those people are fellow Untappd members, of course. Once you’ve set up your account, the Untappd will store details all those beers that you’ve sampled, even the ones that you’ve long forgotten about. 

Last Friday, I knew I was inching closer to that magic 1,000 beers, especially as I was convinced that the beer I had just cracked open, was a new one (unique, in other words). I was wrong though, and if proof was needed that Untappd doesn’t lie, my beer tally was stuck stubbornly on nine-hundred and ninety-nine! I wasn't even sure if the beer I'd picked next was a new one either, although I could have looked on Untappd first, but instead, I decided to take a chance. As luck would have it, this was indeed my first check-in with that beer, and the satisfying notification confirming that I'd finally passed the 1,000 mark. The beer in question was a 5.6% abv Festbier from Privatbrauerei Ettl, based in the small Bavarian town of Teisnach, situated approximately 95 km to the east of Regensburg. The brewery can trace its history back to 1543. It was a good beer to celebrate the 1,000 mark, even though it was an unexpected one.

On reflection, I have consumed well over 1,000 different beers during the course of my lifetime, with a substantial majority not recorded on Untappd. We are talking here about a period of over half a century, and many of these beers were regional brews from my youth, that are no longer available. Others were enjoyed in distant places—sometimes on the other side of the world. Examples here are the United States, Japan, and, to a much lesser extent, China.

One notable example relates to a brewpub near Solingen in the Wuppertal valley region of northwest Germany. I visited this area with a group of friends from Maidstone CAMRA, back in 2017, during a visit to Düsseldorf. On the second day of our visit, our tour leader had brought us out to the Wuppertal region so we could have a ride on the unique Schwebebahn Suspension Railway, but not before lunch and a few beers at a large brew-pub, houses in a former municipal swimming baths.  

 Gräfrath Klosterbräu was another brewpub, that was just a short trolley-bus ride away, and was situated halfway down a hill, and away from the main road. All the shutters, doors and windows of this attractive pub were painted a bright green almost as if it was some form of corporate colour scheme. There were three or four “house beers” on tap, and here friends with better, faster and cheaper, mobile data than me, were able to tick off these beers on Untappd. 

 

There have been countless other examples of missed opportunities to “tap” more beers, and I’m thinking here about the four Beer Bloggers and Writers Conventions that I attended during the years 2014 – 2018. These events, organised by American-based “Zephyr Adventures” saw me visiting European cities, such as Dublin, Brussels and Amsterdam, and then culminating in a visit to Virginia, USA and a long weekend spent just outside Washington DC. All four of these events allowed conference delegates to enjoy a wide variety of different beers, as well as visiting a number of iconic local breweries.

Although Untappd is a global app, accessing it does require an internet connection, either by Wi-Fi, or whatever data package is available on your phone. Although things have improved in recent years, prices for data, overseas, can still make accessing Untappd, expensive. For these reasons, there are some quite glaring gaps, in my beer-ticking record, especially during the second decade of the century. Whilst many individuals utilise Untappd to document their beer experiences; the platform primarily serves as a tool for personal record-keeping rather than for obtaining recognition or impressing others. It is common for users to comment on, or toast one another’s selections. Thus, Untappd functions as a social networking platform within the beer enthusiast community.

Founded in 2010, Untappd is a beer-rating app that encourages users to “check in” the beers they’re drinking, tagged to a physical location like a bar or restaurant—or, during the COVID pandemic, at home. It is a platform where users can rate beers, earn badges, share beer photos, and browse local tap lists. Headquarters: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States.  

If you're just getting started with Untappd, the process is quite straightforward. First, create a profile, then search for beers and "check in" whenever you try a new one. Each check-in lets you add comments, upload photos that highlight your beer, and specify flavour tags like hoppy, strong, or smooth. You can also note how the beer was served—whether on draft, from a bottle, can, or as cask ale, which will appeal to real ale enthusiasts. Additionally, you can record where you purchased and enjoyed each beer. All of your check-ins appear on your own timeline as well as in your friends' feeds within the app.

The journey toward this milestone has been enjoyable, although I am unsure what lies ahead for the next 1,000 beers. I noticed I was awarded the 1,000 Beer Badge, which may be worth highlighting or displaying on the website, although as stated earlier, Untappd is about keeping tabs on the beers you have enjoyed over the years, rather than an excuse for "bragging rights".

Final point. A growing number of pubs and bars display Untappd on screens, within the bar – usually when the screens aren’t being used to show sports events, or news stories. I noticed this the other day, at the Nelson, in Tonbridge, the day I finally managed to track down the first Harvey’s Old of the season. There, at the bottom of the screen, displayed in real time, was my Untappd profile picture, along with the words Paul Bailey is drinking Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale, at the Nelson Arms. I really ought to have taken a photo!

Some Harvey's Old, at last!

After my frustration, earlier this month, in searching for Harvey's Old, I was finally able to track some down this afternoon, thanks to a random notification on the West Kent CAMRA WhatsApp forum. Talk about the answer to a beer enthusiast’s prayer, it was as though the forum knew I was looking for this particular beer. The source mentioned that this fine, seasonal dark ale, had been spotted at the Nelson Arms, in Tonbridge, and, to coin a phrase, was drinking well.

This was contrary to what was showing on the normally reliable, Real Finder app that I’ve been using over the past few months. I had noticed that the Nelson’s listings hadn't been refreshed in weeks, so perhaps the pub has stopped using the app or had just forgotten to update its entry. To make sure, I checked the beer listings on the Nelson’s website, and these confirmed that Harvey's Old was indeed available, at the pub.

So, after taking care of a few chores along with some other mundane, household activities, I found a genuine excuse to go out. We were running low on milk, and I knew the milkman wouldn't be coming until the day after tomorrow. Mrs. PBT’s seemed genuinely surprised at the milk shortage, to the point of accusing me of tipping some away, just so I could go out and get some more! I was surprised too, but putting subterfuge to one side, the lack of the “white stuff” as football pundit, Ian Wright used to call it, was the perfect opportunity not only to pick up some more, but also to stop by at the Nelson Arms and enjoy a pint of Old.

Off I went, and enjoyed a pleasant stroll into town. The mid-autumn sunshine was just what was needed, after several days of gloomy and overcast skies, and despite a slight chill in the air, it was a fine mid autumn afternoon. Sunshine really does wonders for lifting one's spirits, and I had a real spring in my step as I headed down into the centre of Tonbridge. I stopped at Sainsbury’s to pick up a two-pint container of milk, along with some toiletries I needed, before crossing the High Street towards the sports ground—often called Tonbridge Park, these days, rather than its correct name of the Racecourse. 

From there, it wasn’t far to the Nelson, and I stepped inside, a little after half past two. Upon entering, I was surprised to find the pub nowhere as busy as I expected, apart from a couple of recent arrivals, just ahead of me in the queue. They were taking their time, deciding which beers they were after. I felt like stepping forward and stating, “I know exactly what I want: a pint of Harvey’s Old, dark, mysterious, and tasty, a beer which I’ve been craving ever since it vanished for the season, back in March!” I didn’t of course, and politely waited my turn, and before long, the friendly and ebullient barmaid was pulling  my pint.

I stood at the bar, raising the glass to my lips, savouring those first tentative mouthfuls of beer. It was almost black in colour, with a loose ivory coloured head on top, pure nectar in a glass. I didn’t note the price, because I paid by card, and after communicating my satisfaction regarding the beer, to all those in earshot, made my way to a nearby table, in sight of the bar. It was a pint to savour, but the thing puzzling me was how unexpectedly quiet the pub was. Checking the Nelson’s website, I noticed that Sunday’s food offering is roast dinners only, served between 12 & 3.30pm. I was there a around 2.40pm and saw few signs of anyone eating.

A mystery, although there’s probably a logical explanation. As far as I was concerned, the fact that the Nelson was serving Harvey’s Old, was sufficient for me, and I’m banking on enjoying many more pints of this classic old ale, before the long autumn-winter season is over. 

Out of step, out of time, and missing a few heartbeats!

Looking back to a post I wrote in February 2020, reminded me about the recent failure of my Smart Watch. The same watch that I’ve been using, since that article, on a daily basis to record my movements and track my fitness goals.  So, what happened, and what has failed? Mrs PBT’s and I had a lie in yesterday (Friday). For me, the day marks the beginning of three days of R &R, because whilst my 3-day work week ends on Wednesdays, I have to get up reasonably early, in order to take the lady of he house to her workplace. That place happens to be a scaffolding company, based on a nearby farm. Her one day a week work routine, is something of a token gesture, and before I’m accused of being patronising, she’d be the first to agree with me.

She would also admit that her part time job gets her out of the house, stops her going completely stir-crazy, whilst allowing her to reconnect with the outside world, even if it is just for one day. The 9.30am start still means a lie in for us both, and for me departing the house at 9.15am, is definitely more preferable than leaving the house at 7.45am, in time for an 8am start at my own place of employment.

Back to the narrative. After arising shortly before 9am yesterday, I made my way downstairs, as usual, to make us both a cup of tea. Returning back to the bedroom, with said refreshing and stimulating liquid, I glanced at my watch and was mildly surprised to notice that my step count was precisely zero. Perhaps, like me, my Garmin Forerunner 45 was taking time to get going, so I thought little of it, apart from placing the timepiece on charge, because the battery indicator was advising a recharge was necessary.

After a fairly hectic schedule the day before, I didn’t have a lot planned, apart from catching up with this blog, and sorting things out for our forthcoming cruise. The weather was dull and overcast, but I was still looking forward to a walk, after breakfast. When I fastened the watch back around my wrist, the step count was still showing zero, even though the power indicator was showing the unit was fully charged. That was when the “fun” started.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most tech-savvy of people, and I will also say that smartwatches aren’t the easiest of devices to programme or adjust. There are five buttons, located around the periphery of the watch casing, and whilst one is just a light, the others allow access to a number of other functions that allow the user to scroll up and down. They have to be pressed in the correct order, sometimes holding one down whilst pressing another. This isn’t exactly intuitive, and there have been past occasions where I have ended up accessing the completely wrong part of the built-in programme, and I think this is what happened when I attempted to re-engage the step-counter.

Unfortunately, rather than re-connecting the step counter, I ended up by disengaging the heart-rate monitor, so I now have a smartwatch where two of the most important functions don’t work. Not smart at all, and despite various online guides and You Tube videos, I have not been able to rectify the matter. Mrs PBT’s had already told me to stop obsessing about the issue, saying that it’s just a watch, and to a certain extent it is. However, both functions, although more so the step counter, form part of my daily routine, giving me something to aim at each day, as I head off on a walk, or make a decision to leave the car at home and go on foot instead.

The ultimate solution, of course, would be a factory re-set, but as I don't know how to do that, I shall leave things until Monday, and consult one of my work colleagues. The person in question, is not only very tech savvy, he’s also a smartwatch user as well – a Garmin model too, albeit a higher spec model than my own. He’s a keen cyclist too, and uses his watch to record his various cycle rides, so if he can’t help me, then I don’t know who can.

First world problems, of course, but still a very real one, and for someone determined to remain fit well into the next decade, a rather important one as well.