Yesterday, a lot of people I’m guessing woke up feeling fine, having got Walsall FC on their minds. I on the other hand work up an hour later than I wanted (10am), bursting for the loo and with the UK’s 1995 Eurovision Song Contest entry “Love City Groove” stuck in my head as Craig and myself had been discussing it in The Registry the night before, and I don’t know how it cropped up in conversation.

The plan had been to pop to town to renew my passport and then head to Brewers Fayre to demolish the all you can eat breakfast which I’ve not done for many years. I played the Motive by Then Jerico on You Tube whilst ironing my t-shirt to try and shift Love City Groove (it worked) but by the time I was ready to leave the house it was only time for a quick breakfast in Jack & Ada’s as I had to to be on a bus to Wednesfield as the Walsall and Wolverhampton branches of CAMRA were having a joint social round there.

After an arduous two bus journey I was in The Royal Tiger, the Wednesfield Wetherspoons. The beer choice was a bit meh so I had the Ruddles as it was the cheapest. I also needed refreshment after that journey so had a bottle of Hooch as well, something I’ve had only once previously and had nothing but disdain for people who drank it in the 90’s. I will admit now though that it is nice.

I joined the lovely Amanda from Wolverhampton CAMRA. She apologised for the lack of turn out from her branch (just her), I apologised for the lack of turn out from my branch (just me) and we got down to drinking. Amanda had bought three 3 friends along though Keith, Simone and Helen who were to be good company.

I was still peckish, having eaten far less than I had planned too and I was just eyeing up the ham, eggs and chips which was on special offer when Amanda announced that we were moving on.

Our next port of call was The Dog & Partridge. A sign on the door advised “no large groups” which I’ll certainly bear in mind if I’m ever that way with my bevy of beauties. In here it was Hobgoblin Gold and a £1 ham cob which was epic. There was a decent discussion about Tupperware, and whilst I own a piece or two of this I really didn’t have an anecdote that I could contribute. As the conversation moved on Simone, clearly still influenced by the prior conversation started a story with “at a Tupperware, erm no Ann Summers party….”. Imagine getting those mixed up for real. Heading out to buy something to store your salad in and coming back with a sexy white bra and pants set. Your lettuce might be limp the next day but your boyfriends willy wouldn’t be.

Amanda told how she was proud of me, having in her words “bullied me into joining CAMRA and that I was now Walsall Branch Chairman”. She was less impressed later when I mentioned that I’m stepping down from that role and have only 1 branch meeting left

Next up was The Vine. A superb pub run by Black Country Ales. They had my favourite ale Salopian “Lemon Dream” on. They also got my peanut order right (dry roasted every time) unlike a pub in Darlaston last week, which I didn’t notice until having a mouthful. Devastating times.

The first discussion in here was about motorbikes which again I couldn’t contribute too although my mind drifted back to when 11 year old me and my friend Nitesh used to ride around his garden on my bike pretending that we were Street Hawk. Although I stopped doing this on my 12th birthday as part of my strict growing up procedure.

We were in the quiet back room with only one other customer and were soon joined by a barmaid selling raffle tickets with the prize being a Wolves away shirt. It was left to Amanda to break the silence. “He supports Walsall, he supports Aston Villa.” The barmaid left us to it.

We were joined by John and Joanne, two local CAMRA branch members who were really nice but soon it was moving on time.

It was just Amanda and me who walked back down the High Street. It was time to visit The Angel. On pub challenge one when I said I was going to Wednesfield, 2 Wolverhampton based colleagues warned me not to go in The Angel. When people tell me that it makes me want to go in more. That night it was superb, everyone was friendly and I remember the barmaid apologising for the toilets but I cant remember why.

I thought I’d be doing this one on my own but Amanda said she’d join me, and she bought the round. I insisted on buying it but she ordered the barmaid “don’t let him pay”. My ex missus could learn a lot from her.

It was standing room only so we headed out back where there was a really nice grassed area, in the sun which was totally deserted. “They must be vampires round here” was Amanda’s thoughts. We had a very pleasant chat but then it was time to go our separate ways.

I had a little time to kill before my bus arrived and because the stop was right by The Vine, I popped back in. The Lemon Dream had gone so I had half of Strawberry Cider and enjoyed the playing of “Oblivious” by Aztec Camera which was song of the day by a good distance.

The no 9 bus was bang on time. It goes from Wednesfield to Walsall but via Bloxwich, Pelsall and Rushall. I’m sure it would sneak in Kent as well if petrol wasn’t so expensive. I got off in Bloxwich and left it to go on it’s long route back to town. I went in The Bell and then headed back to town.

I recently saw a post on Facebook from The Oak Inn that they now had Thatchers cider on but I hadn’t got round to going in so I did and was soon sat at the quiz machine with a cloudy lemon for company. I played Battleships and when you lose on this you get offered a bonus at the end, to entice you to play again. This time it was “same questions”. I’d got 1 right and crashed and burned on the second. Yeah, cheers for that. I politely declined.

I had a pint in The Registry then headed to Katz as the singer in the band they had on I’ve known for a long time but I was flagging so I grabbed the most expensive king prawn fried rice I’ve ever had (£6.20 from Lucky Star) jumped in a taxi and ate it whilst listening to Nick Abott on LBC.

Great day, always nice to do something different. Big thanks to Amanda and friends for the welcome. Next time though, I’m winning that meat raffle.