Last Saturday was roughly planned out. Do stuff in the house, go and watch Walsall Rugby Club then head to Cannock to work at the beer festival. Naturally stuff over ran so I didn’t make the rugby (Walsall beat Malvern 42-0 but knowing me I’d have missed 40 of the points) but following the cancellation of the train strikes I was on platform 1 bang on time and ready to head to Staffordshire.

Cannock Chase CAMRA were holding their beer festival at The Prince Of Wales Theatre although it should surely be renamed King Charles III centre in light of recent events.

My first jobs at the festival was to collect empty glasses and also rubbish on tables. Perfect. There were lots of people there that I know so this was an ideal way to work the room and get some hellos in. The glasses were gone in one sweep and as I started the round with the bin bag, the band came on. So I headed to the front tables. Everyone would be looking at the band during the opening numbers so I thought it would be rude not to let them see me as well.

Whilst on litter patrol I collected a half can of foreign beer that had been abandoned. I headed to the toilets to dispose of the liquid down a sink, and I was confronted whist doing so. “What you doing man? Can’t you take your beer?” “Excuse me?” “Why are you pouring your beer away? Can’t you drink?” I explained that it wasn’t mine and that I was collecting rubbish, even showing him the bin bag to try and back up my story but he wasn’t having it. Odd moment but it made me smile.

It was a nice hour ambling around the tables. People I don’t know recognised me from working at Walsall Beer Festival and some good conversations came from that. I was asked if that event would be returning and I said I really hoped it would but it not coming back already is one of the numerous reasons as to why I’m stepping down as Walsall Branch Chairman in a couple of weeks.

A short while later I was asked if I wanted to work the bar. Hell yeah. Confidence has never been a friend of mine but stick me behind the bar at a beer festival and I can talk to the whole world. Even women. Although it does help massively that they have to talk to me also.

A customer came up and asked “what’s the haziest thing you’ve got”? My memory was the first thing that popped up in my head but I don’t think he’d have wanted to drink that.

The band were class. There was a guy rocking a double bass which bought back memories of Leslie Nielsen in Airplane. The highlights were I Saw Her Standing There and Twist & Shout. The latter being almost as good as the Ferris Bueller and Chaka Demus & Pliers versions.

It was nice to be able to watch the band on stage in between customers. I’ve performed on that stage many times so it was good to be in the audience for once. I’ll be back on that stage on November 25th & 26th for the AMCS show Musicals That Rock. Tickets still available https://boxoffice.wlct.org/event_description.aspx?eventid=1151&fbclid=IwAR0i3UdrQOtDoHFSR89umDMsfDDR3MkY7i9t0o63p3r3JIGICYUyF4mjaMI

As my time drew to a close a couple of lads came up the bar. “What do you want?” asked the one. His friend looked at him and replied “I just want a bag of crisps”. We all have that feeling every now and again.

I said my goodbyes and made my way down the stairs. As I did I burst into a rendition of the chorus to I Saw Her Standing There. Well I can’t visit that theatre without singing. The people following me down the stairs joined in which I really enjoyed.

It was a great event and very well done to Cannock Chase CAMRA and all of the volunteers who made it happen.

Back in Walsall I was ambling up Bridge Street and my favourite taxi driver saw me, did a u turn and pulled up alongside me offering me a lift home, which I declined. I was heading to the Walsall Arms for a night cap and I could manage that pilgrimage on foot.

In the pub, a singer was on and he rounded his set off with a selection of Oasis songs. I sat back and relaxed after a hectic and busy week. This was nice. The Importance Of Being Idle in the Walsall Arms.

On the Sunday it was a trip to Brownhills to present The Jiggers Whistle with the Walsall CAMRA Cider Pub Of The Year award. The wind was blowing and the carrier back containing the certificate nearly had an altercation with a couple of lampposts but it made it to town unscathed.

I’d been fannying around all morning and hadn’t eaten so I was up for a Geggs Steak Bake. Unfortunately, the queue was out of the door. I considered doing a Philip Schofield but opted not to. I don’t want any bad headlines before I become Mayor of Walsall. There will be plenty of time to accrue those once I’m in office.

I headed to the CO-OP instead for meal deal action. As is standard behaviour for me I chose carefully to ensure I got the most expensive item in each category thus getting £7.55 worth of goods for £4. Job done.

The Jiggers Whistle is a great pub. They always have good ales on along with a fridge full of boxes of ciders. Colin and Teresa are always welcoming and the award was well deserved.

Myself and fellow Walsall CAMRA member Dennis had a very pleasant hour and half but it was soon time for the bus. I wanted a souvenir of the visit so opted for a bottle of 1985. I love 1985. It’s the year of Back To The Future, a great song by Bowling For Soup and it was also the year that I had the deep joy of leaving my bastard hole of a primary school. This happiness was cut short 6 weeks later when I had to start going to my bastard hole of a secondary school. 1985 is also a great lager from of my favourite breweries Wye Valley so this was a perfect take away bottle.

The no 10 bus is shit. My friends Chris, Mary and Matt always have issues with it and now it was my turn. It didn’t show and Dennis (who got to stay in the pub for an additional 10 minutes waiting for his bus) got something on his phone which showed that the next one would be 10 minutes later than scheduled. He suggested I got on his, the 937A to Aldridge.

I’ve never got on the 937(with or without the A) and I appreciate that I’m sad and got absolutely no life but getting on a bus route for the first time always excites me. What would I do in Aldridge? Turtles Head for a pint? Chicken wings in The Avion? Suddenly it hit me. The Crown. Oh yes. A massive carvery. I sat back and dreamt of roast potatoes.

I was soon in Aldridge and marched into The Crown. A quick glance at the menu and carveries are no more in there. Rubbish. One thing caught my eye but my heart was set on a carvery. I waited until the bar staff were distracted and snook out.

I went to Brewers Fayre in Walsall and had their carvery. It was epic and so nice to eat a good meal. I don’t eat properly nowadays, mainly just snacking so a big dinner went down a storm. I then won £5 on the Pointless quiz game.

My mate Kimbo was in town so I joined him for a pint in St Matts Hall then I headed to the Walsall Arms which was very busy. At 8 o’clock the pub went from loud Mark Morrison “Return Of The Mack” to total quietness for the minutes silence for the passing of The Queen. I’ve done minutes silences in football grounds loads of times but never in a pub before. It was perfectly observed and the music resumed at the end. I remained silent until a couple of songs later when “The Love I Lost” West End Featuring Sybil came on, which I gave portions to.

I had a couple more beers and headed home where I had a pack of Crispy Bacon What Crunchies whilst hoping the lad from the beer festival managed to get some crisps of his own.