NERDS' Ramble No 279 - 6th Feb 2013
Those Present – Lafayette, Froggy, Matt, Paco.
Posh House ramble 2013
Unfortunately our esteemed leader was not to be with us today – taking Mrs Sandyballs to hospital for health reasons – so he had carefully briefed Lafayette on the long and complicated route and on his responsibilities as that day's routemaster. Lafayette was rather excited, after all we were going to the place where he had been knighted in the hall by King Matt on a previous occasion.
Froggy took a few photos after a bit of prompting – just to show what a shitty wintry day it was. Soon, however we had arrived at the warm welcoming Stanmer House where we were to take lunch.
Lafayette led everyone and their pints to a comfy sofa infront of the fire whereupon Matt promptly went and sat on another sofa and accused Laf. of being snobby and not joining him and Froggy.
Laf said he had no intention of sitting on Matt's lap since his sofa was so small and he preferred to sit with Paco anyway – so quarrel no.1 of the morning. How many more could we kick off? Luckily the London Pride beer was excellent and the more we drank together with the warmth of the fire made us less inclined to fall out.
Grave Matters of State were discussed like the dates of the next two rambles, and Lafayette handed out some catalonian NERDS badges thoughtfully sent over from France by B.T. who seemed to have taken up donkey breeding according to the badges. Froggy suggested we have a pre-Spain meeting so that other important issues could be raised and discussed – such as which particular bit of the garden he would be marginalised to sleep in, and who would be allowed to use the lavatory first in the morning.....
Lunch at Stanmer House is always good – if somewhat expensive, especially if you have three courses and coffee and brandy after.
The service was a bit slow but we realised there were tons of other people lounging around scoffing sandwiches they had presumably ordered before us. Paco told us a story of how his first wife had been attracted to him because she thought he bore a strong resemblance to Mick Jagger ( never considered him in that way somehow and he sings like a drain).
Matt reckoned that the C***s were going from strength to strength and were pulling in the most charismatic members of the Newhaven retirees....er, yes. Lafayette was still not persuaded to take part; after all, he was both a knight and a Lord so why should he put up with the whinges of peasants about pensions and holidays?
So, after the magnificent meal we all lounged around on the comfy sofas again and Lafayette telephoned Sandyballs to see what he was doing.
He was missing us dreadfully; a great shedding of tears came through the phone conversation; we promised we'd have a drink in his memory now he'd given up his position of Routemaster. (See how subtlely Lafafayette mounts his coup).
Anyway, having dispensed with Sandyballs the rest of the NERDS were led blinking into the outside world and back through the Stanmer estate to Falmer. We were all so full by this time that nobody even thought of stopping off at say, Chez Bob for a drink so we all cleared off back home.
Thanks go to B.T. For the marvellous donkey badges and we hope that Sandyballs gets over being downgraded in the NERDS hierarchy in due course.
Spain is getting ever nearer!
Lafayette.
