Ah, the Hilda Ogden approach to decoration. They've got the ducks - shame the "muriel" is a framed pic only.

So this is what Ball is up to now. Haven't heard about him since his shoe shop closed down - it was opposite Preston Rail Station, now a Tesco Express. We used to go to his dad's shop on Friargate nearby.

"Craft beer" and its fans liked to imagine itself as a social revolutionary movement. It died when they realised it was actually just about the money.

Whenever I go to Manc (usually to change trains), I look out of the window and think "This place will be GREAT when they finish it." I've been thinking that for over 20 years.

It's a lot to lose on a single 3 day event. CAMRA now in major damage limitation mode.

The theme for "The Shoe People" was written by Justin Hayward of Moody Blues / "Nights In White Satin" fame. He's on X but I daren't ask him about it. Just like I never asked Neil Innes about The Raggy Dolls.

Happened a lot later than I predicted back in 2014 :

seeingthelizards.blogspot.com/2014/08/inte...

Jimmy and Marty have made their pile. They're unlikely to be worried about what beer geeks think.

"A little chat"

If you're going to quote soul singers - next time your out Greater Manchester way, Sam Cooke wrote "Another Saturday Night" after a disappointing post-gig experience in Rochdale.