New Roads

Left to my own devices on a day off, it usually follows that I find myself pootling around Nottingham or its outlying areas attempting to amuse myself before meeting friends. As regular readers will know, when out and about I usually try to find some ideas, words or reflections to improve my writing and thought processes on these jaunts and today was no different, so much so that it distracted me from my new book.

It was after enjoying a meal and a pint whilst  finishing one book (Childhood’s End) and starting another (Lost Horizon), that I decided to go and actually look for something to write about rather as opposed to either hiding in a book all afternoon or just hoping something falls into my lap, which it usually does. I like to think of my days out as a series of happy accidents.

I found it really interesting that I hadn’t considered this idea before in any great depth, especially as I tend towards the curious wherever possible. Buoyed by a pint and a full stomach I thought I may as well make the most of the opportunity and do something.  Straightaway I found myself somehow drawn to the Beer Dock, a place that has been open for three months but had singularly failed to capture my attention on account of its unassuming frontage and my attempts to avoid the woman who always sits at the bus stop asking everybody who passersby for 12 pence.

I took the no entry sign over the road to mean that I couldn’t enter the outside world which is as good an excuse as any to stop off for a beverage.

I went in to have a nosy at the new micropub in Sherwood and met Os, the owner who showed me around the ‘pour house’ which handily doubles as an off licence selling bottles from around the world including places as exotic as Alaska and Ghana. My first question was what’s the beer with the best pun/humorous name and Raging bitch was the outright winner.

Settling in to begin my musing I chose a draught ale combining coriander and ginger which was an excellent combination and produced both a warm,tangy and refreshing tipple. As I sat with the pleasing sound of chillers – the only thing encroaching on my thoughts – in the peaceful haven from the busy world outside, I examined the aircraft carrier grey walls but decided what it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in choice and most probably clientele as well.

After leaving there and spending another couple of hours wandering aimlessly (which took in such sites as a supermarket, some back streets and a newsagent)  I found myself ravenous and having grabbed a snack, needed somewhere to eat it. The graveyard of the nearby church seemed like a nice place, despite the overcast look to the sky which rather added to the atmosphere.  It was that good kind of overcast though, you know when you don’t care if it rains because you just feel invigorated by the thought of it, which is not something a graveyard usually makes one feel.

A hearty meal beloved of train commuters everywhere and also a testament to my lack of imagination when it comes to photography.

Glad that I had for once bothered to eat, I parked myself on a bench and took in the view, it was sparsely populated place but with plenty of trees and some welcome invisible barrier reducing the next door traffic noise so I could reflect on this timeless place.  Interestingly the only other visitors were a Polish mum arguing on the phone and man with headphones playing too loudly who passed through but like me and my pen, those two and their tech’ are transient here, fully refreshed I moved on to go meet friends.

It is strange that places of calm can be found next to a busy road, this one being the main thoroughfare to the Northern side of Nottingham city centre but perhaps I was lucky with my timing or perhaps it’s always like that at those times but I am happy to have spent a few hours doing little and yet being productive.  I’m now finding it increasingly interesting to be inquisitive and hunt for unexpected things, I did attempt to venture into the church adjoining the graveyard to see if I could find anything interesting about the history but sadly it was closed, still now that the idea is implanted, my aimless wanderings can have focus whilst also being more amusingly varied and haphazard.

it was a clear line of sight when I took this photo but trees love a good photobomb.