Thursday I was in Brownhills. I wanted to visit Mario’s Other Plaice. The opening hours are a bit niche. It only opens between 5 and 9 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I found this out the hard way, on a cold wet Monday night in February. It was my own fault. I’d been on their Facebook page looking for a menu but didn’t check the opening times, which are listed. 

So I decided to wait for a warmer, dryer and lighter night to make that walk up the path at the side of Parkview Medical Centre again. Didn’t mean to leave it this long but you know, I’m a busy boy.

Work first though. I don’t go to chip shops much nowadays and it’s fair to say I was getting increasingly excited as the day wore on. “What are you having?” Asked Joel. I have no inclination to add to the world’s current fish shortages so said “kebab meat.”

“Are you going just lamb or half and half?” “Definitely half and half, this is acceptable with kebab meat. Not so football scaves.”

Work done and time for the walk into town. I had to move on Bridgeman Street to avoid a car driving half on the road half on the pavement to avoid the queue for turning right. I had to stand and admire as he fully took to the road as space allowed. Add pavement driving to scarves for things that shouldn’t be half and half.

Standard for me on the number 10 bus, I got my stop wrong. I wasn’t paying attention and missed the stop at the top of the High Street. It worked well though as it stopped by Parkview Medical Centre. Bonus.

The walk up was far more plesant in the light. As I reached the road the number 10 came along. Yep, I should have researched that route fully.

There was a queue at Mario’s. Always a good indicator that an eaterie is decent. Wording under the clock advised “time to eat.” I fully concurred. The menu advised a “chip cob.” I had no idea this is a thing. Chip buttys yes but not chip cobs. My colleague Kerrie had spookily been on about one that she’d had from a chippy in Stone Cross the night before. I considered getting one but I was far too excited.

As I approached the counter, the holder hosting all the goodies like chicken, pies and onion rings was mesmerising. Like I said earlier I don’t get to chippys often nowadays. I was like a kid in a sweet shop and could have admired this for hours. Whilst Parkview Medical Centre boasts a great view of said park, this was the sight doing it for me so far.

I ordered the medium mixed kebab. Lamb and 2 types of chicken. As I mentioned in The Lockside review, I’ve only recently got into onion rings, and the ones here looked amazing. Big enough for Pat Butcher to use as earrings.

So I ordered those too. “What’s the magic word?” Asked the lady serving. I panicked slightly thinking I’d forgotten to say “please.” The man behind me in the queue told me what the secret word actually was so I relayed it and got the onion rings free. 

The bloke behind the counter said it was just a little promotion to thank regular customers. I fessed up that I wasn’t a regular and it was my first visit. The man behind me said “you’ll be a regular now then.” I thanked them all and left, stopping only to grab a picture of the place. I’d done it upon arrival but wanted a better one.

I cracked open the onion rings. Although they were free, she hadn’t scrimped on them. They were crispy and delicious.

Halfway back down that path to Parkview, something nagged at me. ‘Have I got my reading glasses?’ I checked everywhere and no. I tried to rewrap the remaining onion rings and despite there only being half of them left, I couldn’t do it anywhere near as neatly as the lady in the shop did. I observed the green cross code mostly but must have looked a right sight as I ran across the road with all the food food clutched to my chest and Walsall FC rain coat under my arm. Apologies to anyone who witnessed this.

Fortunately my glasses where still by the shutter of the shop next door where I gad left them while taking pictures.

I resumed the walk back. The kebab meat was plentiful. The sized of tray used counts as a large at some places, here it’s medium. The large must be massive. The meat had been freshly cut off the rotisserie, not fished out of a metal tray with tongs – bonus points for that. The battered chips epic, I swear one looked like a fish and there was some of those batter bits too which were ace.

I call them batter bits but know they have different names. Years ago there was a phone in on Radio WM about what they are called and scraps seemed the most popular name. I should have text Daz Hale “batter bits” after the Walsall match yesterday. I’m sure they get out of date texts regularly.

So to summarise Mario’s was great. Good things come to those that wait. I won’t leave it nearly 9 months next time.

From there it was The Jiggers Whistle which is a must visit when in Brownhills. Nice to see Colin and Teresa, the former querying if I’m still off the beer which I was happy to confirm.

Music was 80’s starting with the great song ‘”Words don’t come easy to me” – I can certainly relate to that sentiment. This was also spooky as despite not hearing it in decades it had popped in my head at work, and it bothered that I dont know the artist. I don’t like gaps in my music knowledge.

From there it was The Jack Jigger Taylor. Daymo of The Registry fame was hosting his weekly music quiz so I popped in to say hello. 

It was already 3 rounds in and I’d just missed the 80’s one. Probably for the best as no doubt one of the questions would have been who sings “words don’t come easy to me?”

The team names were on the screens, my favourite being Gin’ll Fix It. There were others that amused me that I couldn’t possibly repeat on a family friendly blog.

I did quite badly on the 90’s round. It would appear that I don’t have gaps in my music knowledge but holes in it big enough to drive a truck through.

During a break a barmaid brought over a football card. Not enough pubs have these nowadays. It was mostly empty. No Walsall. This happens a lot on football cards and whilst it’s annoying, I appreciate that they can’t put all 92 clubs on. Card would be almost as big as the voting form in the Clacton By Election. 

So I went for Huddersfield as it’s what Tommy won on one with in an episode of Early Doors.

I did best on the Coldplay round. Please don’t shout. Some guesses. I was doing well on the Michael Jackson round but had to go to the toilet half way through. I was smashing the Celine Dion round, much to my surprise but it was now 8.50 and I needed some mutt action. Good quiz though and nice to see Daymo.

The Shoulder Of Mutton is the me pub of Brownhills. I was greeted outsie on the way in. I hadn’t even been served and the licals were including me in banter. A lad to my left said “watch him he’s CID, be careful what you say to him.”

The lad to my right turned and said “how many have you had to drink? Blow into this.” “I’ve only had 8 pints. I’ll be ok I’ve only got to drive to Coventry.” First place I could think of.

A screen was showing promotions and jokes. “Ghost walks into a pub. Barman says “sorry we don’t serve spirits.”” More pubs should do this.

There were a few folks in, atmosphere was good and a TV was showing Bournemouth winning a European game in Spain. I remember us beating them with 10 men in the 3rd tier. 

Enjoyable visit this and I even got a kiss off a lady as she left. 

The number 10 was bang on time and back in town there was an X51 in which surprised and delighted me in equal measures. I thought they finished at 6. 

So I was home earlier than expected and I had a great night. And I’ve plugged a gap in my music knowledge. I googled and that song is simply called Words and it’s by Fr David. Sounds like he’s from Craggy Island. And I’m listening to it as I type this.