October 24th was a Friends Of Highgate Brewery social, a pub crawl of Sedgley and Upper Gornal. As Walsall FC are a massive club now and were not playing due to being live on Sky on the Monday, I was available. I did nearly have second thoughts due to the shocking weather, with Storm Boelo incoming but it simply had to be done.

Breakfast first in St Matthews Hall. This was an 11th hour change, the original plan being to review a cafe in Willenhall but this was scrapped due to lateness of leaving.

No drama on the 529 and in Wolverhampton they’d moved the bus stop for the number 1 since the last time I did Sedgley. In Birmingham, it’s a constant source of hilarity for our transport overlords to keep moving the 51 stop with no clues to its new home. This mirth seems to spreading.

I found the stop okay (saw the bus and followed it – if I’m being totally honest and manged to get on it. Result. The arrangement was to meet in Sedgley Wetherspoons The Clifton between 12 and 12.30. I strolled in at 12.27. I like to cut things fine.

Bob was already there and enjoying an Oakham Citra. I went for a latte and was given a half measure. I have drunk gallons of Wetherspoons coffee this October and took this as a sign from God that I need to cut down a bit. I didn’t of course and used the other machine for the obligatory free refill and got a full measure.

Strange pub this. Rare same level toilets for a Wetherspoons and they are far brighter than the pub itself. Most importantly to see where you’re pissing.

We talked of the day ahead; we’d already had apologies in from non-attendees and I fessed up that I’d nearly sacked it off too but wanted to see folk and it was going to be my last FOHB jolly so couldn’t miss it.

“You’ve coming on the Hydes trip though?” Bob asked. The annual Hydes Brewery trip is legendary. We get treated like royalty there and the number of free beers they put on is amazing.

I explained that as I don’t drink anymore, it would be pointless me going to a brewery plus as it’s so popular, it wouldn’t be right for me to occupy a seat on the coach that a drinker could have.

“Well, they always put a great buffet on. That’ll need eating.” I have absolutely no idea what he was insinuating.

We were joined hy Steve, who cadged a lift off his daughter who was going to Wales, with him claiming “Sedgley is on the way.”

Andy the FOHB Chairman was also now with us, and we had a quick discussion. The plan had been to go to Upper Gornal from here but Bob advised that the worst of the rain was due between 3 and 6 and with The Beacon shutting at 3, maybe we should go there next and save the close togetherness of the Gornal pubs for when the day was at its wettest. Motion carried.

The Beacon was busy. Standard. It’s a cracking pub with different room and was in front left for the first time, delighting in being served through a little hatch.

You know how I love a pub sign and I saw one advising black pudding Scotch eggs, and I’ve been craving one of these for the past couple of months, with them being out of stock the last couple of times that I’ve been in The Black Country Arms in Walsall. It had to be done.

It came wrapped so I decided that I’d stick it in my coat pocket for later, but then as soon as I’d taken the picture, I panicked and demolished it straight away.

We were joined by Geoff who had had an absolute mare in missing one bus and then others not turning up.

Steve went straight into Anecdote Mode which is always entertaining. My favourite was about in a beachside restaurant years ago, he ordered two prawn dishes and they’d gone overboard with them on both, making him think they were maybe on the way out and they were just getting rid of them. Must have been right as they got returned orally to the sea shortly afterwards.

The White Lion across the road was busy, every table was full bar a little one so we commandeered that and borrowed the last spare chairs from elsewhere. Not sure if it’s got new licensees but last time I was in there it was just myself and local legends Amanda and Tony.

I had Heineken Zero. Some of my friends would say normal Heineken counts as zero which is harsh.

I’d been paying for everything with notes so it was nice to get some shrapnel out of my pocket as I was starting to regret not wearing a belt.

Bob was enjoying his pint and likened serving decent ale to being as simple as making a cup of tea, culminating in “keep your beer in good condition, and people will come and drink it.”

It was one of those days where it was noticeable when the door was opened, and it kept catching on the carpet. I felt for the poor bloke next to it who had a full-time job, getting up to close it upon each use.

Recently I had a rare 5 minutes to myself so went on Pubs Galore and found out that there is 25 pubs in the West Midlands with white in their name and I’ve pondered ticking them all off. That mission starts here. 24 to go.

We only had one, then departed with me being last so I could make sure the door was closed.

Next up was The Bull’s Head and we walked into Belinda Carlisle on the televisions, taking time out of her day to reiterate that Heaven Is A Place On Earth. I am aware of this but opted to stand and watch to absorb the message fully.

I made a friend in here of the canine variety. I know not the make of it and didn’t ask but did approach for a fuss which is most unlike me. I’m not really a dog person, and give them a wide berth in pubs due to being bitten on the shoulder by a Great Dane when I was 10.

But myself and Josh’s dog Mad Max have bonded so much – to the point that Josh’s wife Lyndsey now says that I’m Max’s favourite person, and I’m now more willing to engage with them. This dog was ace and I happily let him jump up me. The owner said he’s been bringing the dog to this pub since it was 4 months old. Great parenting that.

We had another committee meeting. Andy suggested Sanzibar next whilst others favoured The Stump. I announced at this juncture that I was “sacking off Upper Gornal” and yes, that’s how I worded it. I’d have gone if it had been after Wetherspoons but now it was getting into late afternoon. I also voted for The Stump.

Mount Pleasant aka The Stump was duly selected as the next pub. New tick for me and it’s a proper historic place. Steve advised it as being very long and like 400 miles to reach the back. Had it been 500 and then 500 more I’d have been tempted as long as there was a lovely lady at the end like The Proclaimers had.

This was another busy pub and the numbers were boosted shortly afterwards by a group from Telford CAMRA arriving. They’d been to Upper Gornal and advised that one of the pubs had no ale. This caused Bob to “cross the chamber” and join me in the “not going to Gornal” delegation.

I did make the pilgrimage to the loo which I think was about 380 of the 400 miles then Bob and I departed to be joined shortly afterwards by Steve who now also opted against Gornal too.

On the 529, someone either didn’t know, or didn’t care about the new £100 fine for playing loud music on public transport. I toyed with the idea of enforcing it as boy I could have used that cash but I couldn’t be arsed if truth be told. I’ll be a fair-weather enforcer.

Back in Walsall and it was absolutely pissing down. If the worst of the rain was finishing at 6pm I was glad to have missed that by an hour.

Walking up the market I needed a towel and nutrition. I opted to deal with the latter first and headed to Danny’s Chicken. The lad serving commented on how wet I was and said he’d given me an extra piece of chicken on the house because of this. It went down a storm literally. Top man.

Back home and Storm Boelo had struck. My garden waste bin had blown over. If only I’d thought of weighing it down with some nicely pruned foliage.

Cracking day. I think I dried out by the Wednesday. The chicken was good.