Holly Bush

My second performance in England was at the iconic Holly Bush Inn in Makeney. The pub was recently featured on Tony (Baldrick) Robinson's series 'Walking Through History' and is a popular place for locals in search of decent real ales and/or a top-notch Sunday lunch. It is quite close, about five minutes' walk, from another of my favourite Derbyshire pubs, The King William in Milford - so it means I get double the fun whenever I visit the area...
I saw an advert for a Thursday night spotlight evening as I left the pub after enjoying an Easter Sunday pint, so I quickly fired off an email when I got back to my digs. "Can I play?"
Sometime on Monday, I got a response. Affirmative.

We caught a taxi down on the Wednesday night. If anyone needs a taxi in Belper or nearby I can recommend Steve's Taxis. Nice car, top fellow, fair tariff.
We got to the pub and I ordered a beer, as you do. A real ale named 'Halcyon'. It wasn't until I'd paid for it that I realised it was a strong one - 7.4%
"This is like wine", I said to the barman.
"Yeah I know, I probably should have pointed that out..."
I nursed my pint for what must have been a world record duration. The chap running the venue, Howard, was a nice guy and kicked things off with his take on a few timeless classics. A bloke named Gordon assembled what he called a Djembe from some pieces of wood stored in what I thought was a laptop case, and he provided accompaniment for performers, if they wished. Very good it was, too.
The small room filled with performers and punters of all ages.
When it was my time, I explained to my new mate Gordon that he wouldn't know the songs, but I thought he'd manage them without any danger if he wanted to play along. Gordon nodded in a quietly confident manner that suggested I'd not needed to say anything.
I did my set, calling (once again) on songs I've known and loved for years. I didn't have the luxury of rehearsing so it was a case of diving straight in with another borrowed guitar. I managed to get through my short set without resorting to making up lyrics or fudging chords. I guess I know my songs pretty well these days. Somebody has to, I guess...
I'm not sure if it was the novelty of coming from 12,000 miles away (as introduced) or something else but I went down a treat. Again.
We hung around for a while afterwards and watched a few more of the performers. I drained my Halcyon and plumped for a pint of the exotically named 'Jesters Ferrett' - a much gentler 3.6% abv.
It was a shame to leave but time waits for no man, nor does a late night cab booking. As we rose and made our way towards the door my understated attempts at saying farewell and thanks were trumped by spontaneous applause and wishes of goodwill from all and sundry. One lad yelled "Epic!" and I knew my night had peaked.
Well played, Holly Bush. I hope to see you again soon.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Beer Hunter: 20/3/2013-20/4/2013

One of the joys of visiting England is the opportunity to drink a decent beer or two. I am a fan of real ales, from the cask, and here is my 2013 list.
This does not include repeat beers in the same pub, but does include repeat beers in different pubs. If you know what I mean.
There's one beer on the list that wasn't a real ale. See if you can find it.

1. Ruddles 'Best', Standing Order, Derby 3.7%
2. Falstaff 'Zsa Zsa Gabor', Spotted Cow, Holbrook 4.0%
3. Welbeck Abbey 'Henrietta', Dead Poets, Holbrook 3.6%
4. Ruddles 'Country', Dead Poets 4.3%
5. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', White Hart, Bargate 4.3%
6. Lincoln Green 'Tuck Porter', Dead Poets 4.7%
7. Ringwood 'Filly Drift', Dead Poets 4.7%
8. Kimberley 'Best Bitter', White Hart 3.9%
9. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', Dead Poets 4.0%
10. Dancing Duck 'Ay Up', Dead Poets 3.9%
11. Sarah Hughes 'Dark Ruby', Dead Poets 6.0%
12. Wells 'Bombardier', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.1%
13. Marston's 'Burton Bitter', Eaton Farm, Long Eaton 3.8%
14. Marston's 'Pedigree', Eaton Farm, Long Eaton 4.5%
15. St Austell 'Tribute', Ye Old Dolphin, Derby 4.2%
16. Nottingham Brewery 'Centurion ND', Ye Old Dolphin 4.9%
17. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Lion, Belper 4.0%
18. Courage 'Best Bitter', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.0%
19. Oakham 'Bishops Farewell', Black Bulls Head, Openwoodgate 4.6%
20. Wadworth '6X', Queens Head, Belper 4.3%
21. Ringwood 'Boondoggle', Nags Head, Borrowash 4.2%
22. Marstons 'Pedigree', Nags Head 4.5%
23. Marstons 'Black Boy', Black Boy, Heage 3.9%
24. Falstaff 'Phoenix', Hop Inn, Openwoodgate 4.6%
25. Courage 'Best Bitter', Smith & Jones, Belper 4.0%
26. Marston's 'Pedigree', The Wheel, Holbrook 4.5%
27. Navigation 'Lepus', White Hart, Bargate 4.3%
28. Oakham 'Sweeney's Revenge', Hollybush Inn, Makeney 4.1%
29. Theakston 'Old Peculier', King William 5.6%
30. Peak Ales 'Bakewell Best Bitter', Red Lion, Bakewell 4.2%
31. Caledonian 'Deuchars IPA', Hurt Arms, Ambergate 3.8%
32. Lancaster 'Blonde', Coach and Horses, Ashbourne 4.1%
33. The Scottish Borders Brewery 'Foxy Blonde', Hanging Gate, Shottlegate 3.8%
34. Thornbridge 'Halcyon', Holly Bush, Makeney 7.4%
35. Oakham 'Jester's Ferret', Holly Bush, Makeney 3.6%
36. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Devonshire, Belper 4.0%
37. Vale Brewery Co 'Conspiracy', The Telegraph, Bridlington 4.1%
38. Theakston 'Best Bitter', Ye Old White Hart, Hull 3.8%
39. Tetley's 'Extra Cold', GW Horners, Hull 3.6%
40. Jennings 'Cumberland Ale', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 4.0%
41. Theakston 'Best Bitter', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 3.8%
42. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', Stirling Castle, Bridlington 4.3%
43. Thwaites 'Nutty Black', The Plumbers Arms, Belgravia, London 3.3%
44. Hogs Back Brewery 'Rip Snorter', The Plumbers Arms, Belgravia, London 5.0%
45. Fullers 'Brit Hop', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 4.1%
46. George Gale 'Seafarer', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 3.6%
47. Fullers 'London Pride', The Old Pack Horse, Chiswick 4.1%
48. Thwaites 'Daniel's Hammer', The Eight Bells, Dover 5.0%
49. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', The Bell, Aldgate, London 4.0%
50. Timothy Taylor 'Landlord', The Bell, Aldgate, London 4.3%
51. Fullers 'Chiswick Bitter', Red Lion, Westminster, London 3.5%
52. Samuel Smith's 'Old Brewery Bitter', The Angel, Covent Garden, London 4.0%
53. Samuel Smith's 'Old Brewery Bitter', Chandos, Trafalgar Square, London 4.0%
54. Nicholson's 'Limehouse Cut', The Cambridge, Cambridge Circus, London 4.5%
55. Portobello 'VPA', The Cambridge, Cambridge Circus, London 4.0%
56. Fyne Ales 'Avalanche', The Crown, London 4.5%
57. Shepherd Neame 'Spitfire', The Barley Mow, Westminster, London 4.5%
58. Harvey's 'Sussex Best Bitter', The Barley Mow, Westminster, London 4.0%
59. 'Jester Jack', Zetland Arms, South Kensington 4.0%
60. Butcombe's 'Bitter', King William IV, Totnes 4.0%
61. Dartmoor Brewery 'Jail Ale'', King William IV, Totnes 4.8%
62. Hunter's 'Half Bore', Queen's Arms, Brixham 4.0%
63. St Austell 'Dartmoor Best', Queen's Arms, Brixham 3.5%
64. Marston's 'Single Hop - Pacific Gem', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
65. Banks's 'Cereal Thriller', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
66. Nethergate 'Bowler', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.0%
67. St Austell 'Trelawny', Blue Anchor, Brixham 3.8%
68. DBC 'Jurassic', Blue Anchor, Brixham, 4.2%
69. Bridgetown Brewery 'Whaler Ale', The Dolphin Inn, Dartmouth 4.3%
70. Otter Brewery 'FBI Bitter', Ferry Boat Inn, Dittisham, 3.6%
71. Sharp's 'Doom Bar', Ferry Boat Inn, Dittisham, 4.0%
72. Otter Brewery 'Amber', The Steam Packet, Dartmouth, 4.0%
73. Wadworth 'Henry's Original IPA', The Steam Packet, Dartmouth, 3.6%
74. Rudgate 'Pursuit of Hoppyness', The Vigilance, Brixham 4.0%
75. Orkney '1878 Strong Ale', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.5%
76. Vasileostrovsky 'Siberian Red', The Vigilance, Brixham 6.0%
77. Celt Experience 'Continental Drift', The Vigilance, Brixham 5.9%
78. Hunter's 'Pheasant Plucker', Maratime Inn, Brixham 4.3%
79. Palmers 'Copper Ale', The Poole Yacht Club, Poole 3.7%

Cheers!

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Queens Head

I'd been trying to make contact with The Queens Head in Belper for months, hoping to get a gig there while I was in town. I particularly wanted to play at the Queens Head because Andy White seems to appear there whenever he tours England, and because it's close to "home".
I'd received no responses to emails and the website contact form, and the pub was shut when I visited, so I'd pretty much given up any hope of playing. Just before I went to sleep on Wednesday night, I made one more effort, using a Facebook link I'd discovered, to contact the Queens Head about playing there...
It worked. There was a reply waiting when I awoke. All hail Zuckerberg.
We arrived at the pub after walking up from the marketplace, cold and uncertain. I had a pint. Lynn had a half. After asking around, we made our way upstairs to the venue. I introduced myself, and got sorted out. Everyone I spoke to was warm and friendly. What a great spot. Because of the last-minute nature of things, I had to borrow a guitar from a fellow performer. I'd had to do exactly the same in 2010 when I played in Derby. This time though, I didn't have plectrums, harmonica, capo, tuner etc. I, who have nothing. I had to borrow a pick.
With a sense of joy outweighing any anticipation, I took the stage around 9.45. I was wondering how I'd go down with the crowd. Everyone seemed to be up for a good time, so I rattled out a few of my favourites. The banter was good; I trotted out some of my travellers' tales between songs. It was great fun and the time flew. I finished with Say Goodbye and then said goodbye.
Audience reaction was positive, and feedback was good.
Now I can add The Queens Head, Chesterfield Road, Belper to the list of venues played.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Long Eaton

As part of my slightly absurd search for my roots, we went out to Long Eaton to have a look at the first house I ever lived in. It is still standing, and it sits on the Nottingham Road on the outskirts of Long Eaton itself, just over the railway bridge.
It was another cool morning, I was pretty happy that we managed to navigate the buses and find the house without any dramas or wrong turns. It was a nice moment, standing out front. I resisted the temptation to knock on the door.
Long Eaton itself looks to be a pleasant sort of place; it  is on the border of the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire counties and, despite its Notts post code, it is most definitely part of Derbyshire.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Listen, snow is falling...

The last thing people want to see in spring, after enduring a long, cold, lonely winter, is more winter weather. Luckily, we are on holiday and the weekend's snow was a terrific experience. Looking out the window on Friday morning we were like kids on Christmas Day. It was like something out of a movie. Everything was white. Neither of us have ever experienced snowfalls so our trips out to the local shops and pubs were great fun, if a little challenging.
Walking down the street, treading carefully, throwing snowballs and marvelling at the views, we must have looked like loons to the locals. Not that we were bothered...
If it keeps snowing, it might affect some of our walking and travel plans, so it can brighten up anytime it wants now.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

50-year-old delinquent

I was born in the Queen Mary Maternity Home, Duffield Road, Derby on the twenty first day of March, 1963. Spring Day in England. The hospital isn't there anymore, but some of the buildings remain, fronting the pleasant-looking housing estate on Queen Mary Court. It seemed appropriate to head out for a visit last week, as part of my 50th birthday celebrations. It was a bitterly cod, but dry morning, and it was a good adventure with which to start the day. We had a nice wander around and took a few photos.
It's not every day that one turns 50, so I thought I'd make the effort to mark the occasion in memorable style. After my pilgrimage to the hospital site, we went into Belper and bought a copy of the Derby Telegraph (to preserve) before heading 'home' and receiving some greetings, cards and presents from friends and family, near and far.
Three of us went to The Spotted Cow at Holbrook for lunch, where I enjoyed mushroom stroganoff, roast vegetables and yorkshire pudding. Washed down with a pint of the rather curiously named Falstaff's 'Zsa Zsa Gabor' ale.
I was lucky enough to receive some more gifts, and a birthday cake, in the afternoon. I'd also had some internet purchases waiting to be opened so I was able to thumb through some 1970s Richard Allen novels.
The whole day was brilliant, and obviously quite different to my usual birthday minimalism...

This old man was happy with his lot.

www.davidrobinsononline.com

Half the world away. Again.

Here I am again, back in the Old Dart. The flight over was surprisingly easy; we were very well looked after by the good folk of Singapore Airlines. Only having a short layover in Changi helped too.
Passing through the UK Border at Heathrow is always a nice moment - it's good to have the journey (almost) done, and it's great to be back in England.
We arrived in Belper around tea time on Tuesday night and were quickly settled in and enjoying not being on a plane, coach or taxi.
Our first couple of days were spent finding our feet in Derby and in the local village. The weather belonged more to winter than it did to spring. Undaunted, we braved the elements and had some fun.

www.davidrobinsononline.com