Apologies for the lack of blogs of late but I really don’t have the cash to go out on missions at the moment. However it was payday last Friday so I set myself a weekend budget, ensuring that some would be left for Sunday.

After good Friday and Saturday times, I was up for a lighter Sunday. Shopping first though. Savers for soap and vitamins, Heron for bread and Pot Noddles. The doctor has told me to eat more fruit and veg so to tick this box I no longer undertake the arduous task of removing the sweetcorn from Pot Noddles. I now feel like I’m getting full value for my purchase of them so win win.

I had no idea that Savers did Pot Noodles and at 30p cheaper than Heron I took advantage. I sacked Heron off and headed to the Co-Op instead for bread. As I approached the checkout a man appeared and broke into a brisk march in a bid to get there before me. Bloody hell George, if you’re in that much of a hurry, be my guest. I heard him ask for a number 18 scratchcard so I purchased one myself hoping he’d lose and I could take advantage.

I popped to St Matt’s Hall. They had Salopian “Lemon Dream” my favourite beer on. Motion carried. One of those please. I’ve just given up my CAMRA membership and pondered using a 50p off voucher (whilst still valid) which I never do but on the morning I really couldn’t be arsed to look for them. Still, at £2.55 it was bargain and tasted great. I got the scratchcard out and won £20. Best quid I’ve spent in a while.

Next up was Katz. I’d been in the day before and was intrigued by a beer called Fanny Ebbs. However the main purpose of that visit was for the pig roast which I was very excited about. So much so I panicked and just ordered my usual beer. The pork bap was amazing though.

On arriving at Katz I was disappointed to see that the beer had gone. Joe the barman explained that it had flew out the day before. Missing out on the fanny. Absolute story of my life.

I was peckish but although Katz and The Walsall Arms do amazing Sunday dinners, I wasn’t quite feeling one of those. To my surprise and delight, Jean the dinner cook came out with a big tray of free samosas, and insisted I had 2. Well I prefer even numbers so I kept her happy.

Earlier in the week it had occurred to me that I hadn’t been to a pub bbq or even heard of any this year. Appreciate that the weather has been pants this Summer so understood why they weren’t happening but then Jaz from The Walsall Arms posted they were having a Bank Holiday Sunday one so once the start time of it came I headed up.

Double delight as they had also got Lemon Dream on. Kerry the lovely barmaid was her usual welcoming self and she didn’t need to ask what I wanted. I think she was raising the glass to the Lemon Dream nozzle as soon as my mossiv head appeared turning the corner into the bar.

The bbq was on with the added bonus of the food being free but with the request for donations to the staff Christmas party fund. No problem there. The donation tin was by the karaoke booth and it felt a bit strange approaching that and not requesting a song to sing. A lot of people were watching Newcastle v Liverpool and I guessed they wouldn’t want me nailing “Shut Up And Dance” over the top of the commentary.

I’ve got to be honest, I stayed longer than I planned to. The songs between the karaoke were all classic disco songs, “Red Light Spells Danger” being the pick of these but the singers were good too. A very energetic rendition of 4 Non Blondes “What’s Up”? was entertaining.

Shortly afterwards another singer was due and the opening lyrics came up on the screen which was “mmm mmm mmm” leading me to believe we were getting some classic Crash Test Dummies action but then Mad Marie as she is known called up the singer and announcing she was doing Celine Dion. I didn’t pay much attention until near the end when I decided that I liked the song and wanted to hear it again. I just about managed to type the lyric “bless the day” into my notes and Google has just worked out that it’s called “I’m Alive”. So I’m listening to it now as I type this. I’m no Celine Dion expert by any means but this bought back memories of the time back in the 90’s when Paul Mitchell and I were arguing in The Fullbrook about who was the bigger fan of her. I won as he’d never heard of “Only One Road”. You had these type of conversations in The Fullbrook in those days whilst waiting for the next fight to watch.

Mase and Martin had arrived and the former quizzed me on my shopping. It felt a bit Generation Game as I listed what I’d purchased earlier. He was impressed at my soap choice of Imperial Leather. I explained that it’s the only bit of luxury that I get these days.

Anyway the pub was busy. it was a great atmosphere and I had a really good time. Thank God for the free food though else that 4.5% Lemon Dream would have kicked my arse on the walk home.

While I’m on apologies again for the lack of blogs but if you want more me content with some Sean action too here is another episode of The Long And Shot Of It, this one from Katz. This episode is different to the one I posted on Facebook and Twitter on Monday. All previous episodes are on the You Tube channel. Cheers.