Saturday 2nd of May. Last day of the football season for millions of fans. I’d have loved to have been at Bromley but despite nothing to play for, Walsall had sold out the away end and I couldn’t get a ticket. So I decided to get an all transport modes day ticket and go mooching about.

First though, McDonald’s. I needed a sausage and egg muffin with a toffee latte chaser. A strange thing happened within. They played “Hey Mickey” by Toni Basil. A song I detest and the bane of ny life as a kid. It’s probably why I still hate being called Mick or Mickey to this day. However, since November 2023 I’ve started to become happier and slightly more positive in my outlook on life. And I started to sing along. I shocked myself. It was a shame that the women on the next table didn’t join in as it could have looked like that scene from Wayne’s World. Turned out she was saving her vocals for the next song “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This” which she joined in loudly. I didn’t.

In the Saddlers Centre, I got my first look at the new 3 Men In A Boat display. It looks good but that clock needs tearing down by an angry mob and replacing with one that displays 4 correctly – IV.

I got my day pass and hit the bus towards Darlaston. I wanted to tick off the new railway station. Other West Midlands social media content creators had visited straight away when it opened. Naturally I’m more relaxed about things like this.

When this station was proposed, along with the other newbie up the line at Willenhall, it was going to be on the reinstated Walsall to Wolverhampton service. However our transport overlords had a wobble, decided against reinstating said service and instead put these stations on the Birmingham to Shrewsbury line service to much disbelief and hilarity on social media.

I’m not too distraught. When Walsall to Wolvo was axed in 2008, I was a regular visitor to Wolvo, but now I go probably once a year. I do feel for people that use the 529 regularly though. The axing of the X529 express service was what made me finally leave SciChem after 22 years.

However when we play Shrewsbury (a) next season there should be a few drinking in The Globe on Darlaston Road then strolling to James Bridge for the train.

I hadn’t looked at timetables and as I approached, a train was pulling out in the direction I was hoping to travel. Oh well, time to mooch. The car park is massive. Very ambitious. Can’t see it ever being full. The lifts worked and didn’t stink of piss. I’m sure they will soon be brought in line with other West Midlands station lifts. The next train to Willenhall was an hour away. Bollocks to that. Would have been quicker to walk to Bentley and get the 529. Maybe. But the way I walk? Alright, no then.

A train to Birmingham however, was in 10 minutes. Ok. I’ll do the day in reverse.

At New Street, a tram came in straight away. I’d seen on Facebook that The Black Eagle in Hockley was closing on May 10th so opted to make one last visit.

On entry the barmaid was mid tirade about paying Council Tax. ” They want payment for the whole year up front. I aint doing that, I could be dead in July.” A level of pessimism I could certainly get on board with.

In the back room, much to my surprise and delight there was a cement mixer. I, like most folk would rather play with that than the pool table. There was a big hole at the front to put your 50p in. I didn’t have any change though.

I so must have looked like a doomed pub tourist. None  regular, clutching a bottle of Diet Coke and taking pictures. It was only my third visit. First time on pub Challenge 3 and second time when I was spotting birds through the medium of pub names (blog here). I know it’s a legendary pub and many will mourn its closing.

Back at Soho Benson Road, the tram came straight away. With a bit of thought most unlike me, rather than go back to the stop near Snow Hill and walking round to it, I jumped off at Jewellery Quarter and headed for the train to Stourbridge. It is my mission to meet George the Stourbridge Junction cat, and today seemed as good a day as any. He wasn’t about.

I jumped on Europe’s shortest branch line, with that amazing little people carrier train thing and was soon in actual Stourbridge. Previous missions here have been with Blackpool Jane but this was my first solo trip. Find a pub? Go on then. Jane was always in charge of directions so I didn’t know where I was going, couldn’t see a sign saying Town Centre so picked a road and started to walk.

I started to think I was going the wrong way but then a nice family with a pram stopped to let me pass. I thanked them but felt compelled to carry on walking so I did. 10 minutes later I looked around, there was no sign of them so I went into reverse and headed back whence I’d came.

Back at the bus station I saw a sign saying Town Centre stuck on the side of a bus stop so finally headed the right way.

I was pondering food in Wetherspoons but I saw Greggs first. At this juncture I must point out that I eat sensibly during the week. Yes I used the word sensibly rather than healthily on purpose. However on a Saturday, I let my albeit limited hair down and pig out. Into Greggs I headed.

The lass serving was great. Friendly and helpful. I grabbed chicken goujons and went for double cock action with the new chicken roll. Food in Greggs can be very hit and miss regarding temperature but the nice lady said the chicken rolls were just out of the oven. She offered dips for the goujons so I opted for mayo. She said I ought to have 2 as one wouldn’t be enough. She also said I should get the Greggs app. I promised I would. As,I write this 3 weeks later, I still haven’t and I probably won’t. Things in life that I have no need for number 1,267,087 – the Greggs app.

Food was great. Chicken roll was ace. I did only need the one mayo so I stuck the other in my pocket. I cannot waste mayo. My Belgian forefathers would never forgive me. Before I left I clocked something not seen before. A food waste bin in a takeaway. I absolutely do not waste food. Things I have no need for number 1,267,088.

Time was getting on so I decided to start heading back. Stourbridge Junction was rammed this time. I hoped they were all there to see George the cat and equality disappointed as me at his none appearance.

Rather than go back to Snow Hill, I opted to alight at Smethwick Galton Bridge in search of a New Street train as I still wanted to tick off Willenhall railway station.

Galton Bridge is odd. 4 platforms split over 2 levels. I’m easily confused and I think the architect had me in mind when designing it. A sign said platform 4 was offering a train to New Street. I couldn’t find it and ended up at platform 1. There I saw saw a train to Wolvo was arriving  at platform 3 so  dashed to that only to find it cancelled upon arrival.

I eventually found platform 4, got to New Street and was looking for a train to Wolvo then saw the one to Shrewsbury via Willenhall was in 4 minutes.

I dashed to the red zone passing a little kid who was singing “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” He applied the claps too. I took it he didn’t know the Walsall score – we’d lost.

Willenhall railway station seemed very familiar. Reminded me of another one but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

I had a pleasant wander around Willenhall and earmarked a couple of places for a review then popped to The Crown.

A couple of the drink fonts had post it notes on them saying out of stock. More pubs should do this. As I walked from the bar, the new song by sombr “12 to 12” came on. The line “in a room full of people, I look for you”was a bit odd as at that point I was the sole customer but as a great pub I knew I’d have fellow punters soon and so it proved. Two guys that sat at the next table greeted me like old friends.

I headed home, totally getting caught in a rainstorm. I changed, grabbed a cuppa and on the night headed to the Walsall Arms. My old pal Wayne Swift was performing. I’ve only seen him sing once before, a few years ago and it’s fair to say I was twatted that night so it was nice to be seeing him, in a state where I’d be able to remember it.

I’d missed the first half, it’s not just Walsall games where I do this.  Wayne was on good form. Highlights were “Losing My Religion” – the song that changed my musical path in life and also “Town Called Malice”, “Baggy Trousers” and Erasure’s classic “Stop.” Great set Wayne and I promise I won’t leave it so long to see you next time.

Great day. I think I got value out of my day ticket and I want to use the close football season to have more adventures.