Last Saturday I was heading to Birmingham, to hopefully get one blogs worth of material and visit the two pubs I needed to finish another. However when I got up it was raining so out came the postponed signs again.

Then Josh messaged asking if I wanted to go to his to watch Walsall playing at Notts County. Hell yeah to that. Josh and his wife Lyndsey have been welcoming me round lots of late for Sunday dinner. I wasn’t aware that dinner was to be provided this time as well, and what a blinder Josh played. Fish, chips, beans, and a slice of meaty pizza with the peppers removed (he knows me well) and bread too. “Are you happy with your sandwich?” he asked. Oh right, it’s not just plain bread then. Turned out it was a fish fingers and baked beans sandwich as I’d mentioned my fondness for them that morning in a message. Absolute stunning meal as was the Walsall win. I really must give Josh’s food a good review on Tripadvisor.

Afterwards Josh dropped me in town and with the Birmingham budget still in my pocket I decided to have a wander around. I passed what was Taylor’s Music Shop/Beneficial Bank/WM Travel shop whichever you remember it as. I think planning permission has been granted to turn it into a restaurant and work is certainly going on inside but it was now also being used to advertise a “Winter Funland” with 19 posters for said attraction being plastered across the windows. This is a particular bugbear of mine. Why not just one poster? I can only assume they are on commission for each poster planted, then again when you are boasting of the world’s largest bouncy castle I guess you have to make sure the message gets out there. I hate Winter and I don’t want to go to a land, fun or otherwise devoted to it.

I went to St Matts Hall first, as it’s always good to start with a cheap Wetherspoons pint. A nice bit of Walsall FC chat ensued at the bar and I opted for White Christmas, a beer I’ve never had before.

A group a couple of tables along burst into a rendition of The Beatles classic “8 Days A week”. Whilst it was good I really hoped they didn’t follow it up with the new song “New And Then”. They didn’t and everyone let out a sigh f relief. Before departure I popped to the loo. Coming back I got to the top of the stairs just as a lad got to the bottom. I gave him right of way as his need was greater than mine, and he ran up the stairs. Actually ran up those stairs in Wetherspoons, even doing 2 or 3 jumps over some of them. Very impressive. I almost applauded him when he got to the top but I was far too excited.

Black Country Arms was next and another untried beer, this time a Salopian called “Push”. Decent name and I approved as I’m far better at pushing than pulling. I went upstairs. A group of people arrived on the next table and they included a nice lady who recognised me, said she’d read my blog from the week before and had shown it to the owner of Silhill Brewery who was really chuffed at their mention.

Also on her table was a lad who struck up a conversation, starting with Walsall FC, always a good place to start. We ended having a really good chat about all sorts of things. What’s this? I hear you ask. Me talking to people i don’t know in pubs. Whatever next? I enjoyed the conversation so much I stayed for a second pint. I supped up and bid them both farewell, I even wished them Happy Christmas which is something I usually refuse to do before I’ve broken up from work

The music is always good in the Black Country Arms but as I was leaving on came a curve ball. Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up. What a tune. When do you ever hear that? I wondered if their follow up single All 4 Love, which I think is better was also coming on. I didn’t have a set schedule for the evening but I was already behind it so I left.

The walk to Karz was in a record quick time though I will admit it was wind assisted and not coming out my arse like normal. It was blowing a gale behind me as I headed down Goodall Street, and as I turned into Bridge Street there was an outbreak of fireworks somewhere nearby. Okay guys, Walsall won today. Let’s not go overboard with the celebrations.

Katz was rammed and with a rock band on, who were going down a storm. Standing room only in both bars so after a quick pint I headed to The Watering Trough. It’s had a bit of a face lift of late and looks good so stopped for a photo. The bouncer asked why I was taking a picture so we stopped for a chat. He was a decent lad and told me about events. I then wished him a speedy shift and headed inside.

The Trough isn’t a rock pub anymore and Bob Marley was playing as I walked in which was fine withh me. I was a bit jealous of the couple sat at the bar with a take away, even having one of those big fuck off plastic tubs of salt like you get in supermarkets. i headed outside for a mooch. The big punch machine has gone which was ok. I’m a lover not a fighter. Yeah I wish.

After a quick pint I headed off, having another chat and a handshake with the bounce. Last up was The Walsall Arms and another untried beer this time another Salopian called “Low Hanging Fruit”. I don’t do fruit, be it low hanging or giraffe approved but I was intrigued and it was decent. There was a live singer on and as I got served he launched into the amazing Red Light Spells Danger. I’ve never heard this performed by anyone other than Billy Ocean and he did a great rendition. Unfortunately I find that when you get some yin, then a good dollop of yang isn’t far away and this was to come with 3 UB40 songs. By the third I had to escape outside. I’m still in Whamaggedon so am trying to not hear Last Christmas during December. Avoiding UB40 however is a lifelong struggle.

I needed a song to pop into my head to try and block out what was emanating from inside and what was it? It was the song from an advert off those Jasper Carrot compilation shows. “I think I’m wearing no knickers.” It was still in my head at work on Monday and probably not for the best as when a nurse appeared from nowhere and I was standing by my bench singing “I think i’m wearing no knickers”.

From inside I could hear the singer had moved onto Eddie Grant’s “I Don’t Wanna Dance”. Great song. Nobody was dancing as I walked in which I thought was a nice touch of respect from the drinkers.

I finished my beer and headed home. I don’t do pubs anywhere near as much as I used to and I’ve not done a solo Walsall crawl in ages so it was a good fun night, and I didn’t have to go to Winter Funland for it.

Cheers for reading as per usual. I’m off for a cuppa and I ought to get dressed as I think I’m wearing no boxers.