Saturday was good. Decent lie in then mugs of tea and You Tube music. We’d had Heart 90’s on at work in the week and I’d heard Show Me Love by Robyn (not the song of the same name by Robin S which I initially confused it with.) I’d played it loads since and it was looking to knock Nothing Matters by The Last Dinner Party off its perch as my most played tune of the week. Saturday was no exception and I was blasting i whilst ironing my t-shirt and giving it portions. I then left the house just as the door to door religious folks were arriving at the neighbours, so I missed them. Although I don’t answer my door anyway but it would have been hard to pretend I was out whilst singing Show Me Love at the top of my voice.

I headed into town on missions. Apparently I blanked a colleague on Park Street, Lizzy from Ward 4. Sorry Liz but in my defence I would have been in my own little world, focusing on breakfast and listening intently to hear if I got a mention from Sarah Champion on Absolute Radio (which I hadn’t by the time I reached the pub).

Breakfast was good and I will seriously consider reporting on it another time. Back out onto Park Street and the Continental Market was on. It’s good to see this back in town and despite people moaning about the prices on Facebook lots of folk were using the stands. My colleague Carole and I had been randomly talking about Turkish Delight in the week and then suddenly i was confronted by a stall full of it. I didn’t realise lemon Turkish Delight was a thing so it had to be done along with some of the more traditional rose flavour.

I went home. I meant to write. I meant to do garden work. I did neither. Had a rare bit of chill time. Craig came round at 6 and we headed straight for the Black Country Arms. Cider was the order of the day here, rotating between the Lilleys Pineapple and Apple & Pear varieties.. It was good to have a nice chat with the lovely April formerly of Walsall CAMRA in here and also to have a food discussion with friend of the blog Colin Walker.

Katz was next and we had a very pleasant hour outside, chatting with Jase and Mel.There was a live band on, which is the norm for Saturday nights in Katz but myself and Craig were startled when the lead singer jumped off the step into the yard and started belting out Judas Priest, a band fronted by Walsall lad Rob Halford. He did a good rendition whilst wandering around the garden with his cordless microphone, which was entertaining.

It was munchy time so we headed to Golden Moments although I still call it Golden Monsoon because Carl who I worked with at Corroy Products drunkenly misread the sign after my 21st birthday bash in 1995. Carl is a top lad and I’m so pleased we got back in touch recently after 24 years.

I wasn’t very hungry to be fair and Craig wasn’t feeling a curry with trimmings so we hit the starter menu. I went for white chicken tikka and a Nargis Kebab while Craig opted for a Tandoori Platter thing. The waiter’s mind was blown that we didn’t want main courses. We demolished the poppadoms although Craig said the red sauce was really hot and advised me not to try it. So of course I did. It was fine. I think Craig was being dramatic, I must be rubbing off on him.

The food came quickly and the waiter got his own back for the mind blowing as the Nargis Kebab was served with the omelette on the bottom which really threw me. This has never happened before. I made a point of putting some of it in it’s rightful place before proceeding. Craig necked his pint whilst I had barely touched mine and wanted photographic proof of this.

The food was great which is standard for that place. The bill came and Craig said “I’ll sort this if you get a couple of rounds of Baby Guinness in the Walsall Arms.” I was more than happy with this. I have had a Baby Guinness before but couldn’t tell you the ingredients.

We headed to The Walsall Arms. A decent singer was on and Jaz the landlady was serving which is always a bonus. I ordered our pints plus our Baby Guinness’s and asked Jaz what she wanted. She opted to join us in the shots. Craig got his card out and said “I’ll get these.” “No, I’ve got to get them as the curry house deal, plus I’m getting Jaz one.” “Don’t worry about it” he said. So I didn’t.

The shots were ace and the beer good. I repeated the order only for Jaz to say “I’ll sort the shots out.” Keeping my side of the bargain was proving problematic. I think I managed it in the end. It was epic having shots with you Jaz.

I think we stayed about an hour. It was a cracking day but despite the research, I still don’t know the ingredients of a Baby Guinness.