January, 2017, Joining Instructions

Dear NERDS, Darksiders and other guests


Joining Instructions for Wednesday January 4th. - We shall meet at Lewes Station between 10 30hrs and 11 00hrs and will then proceed to The Juggs at Kingston.
There are so far no train strikes scheduled for that day so (it is to be hoped) we should be OK.

Can those who have not yet given me their lunch preferences please do so asap as I have to let the pub know in advance.

I need to know from:Marion, Robert, Roger, Shaz, Paco, and Dio.

See you on the 4th.



Charlie. [Lafayette]

The 2016 Christmas Ramble

NERDS' Ramble No 325. Wed. 14th Dec. 2016.

Those Present – Sandyballs, Lafayette, Froggy, Paco, Curly, Bronco, The Bish.

Yuletime 2016

This was to be the “Ramble of the Year” in which the NERDS have their Christmas dinner and see how many pubs they can “ramble round” in Lewes. Despite an inconvenient train strike most of the NERDS managed to make the start. Matt, unfortunately had to bale out at the last minute for medical reasons (old age, bits dropping off etc.) but the rest of us managed to get to The Brewers Arms for 11o'clock

where they found Lafayette stuck up a corner with a pint in front of him having already completed the second draft of the write-up (Whoops!)
Lafayette was finding it strange to be in The Brewers in daylight; he was usually a Thursday night aficionado and none of his fellow vampires

were there at that time. People were sitting around drinking coffee (ugh!), reading newspapers and discussing how big their turds had been that morning. (Laf. had been listening to some strange conversations.) But the NERDS sat around with pints in front of them

and looked for the “Famous Person” from last month – but he was not to be seen. And so, tired of the unexciting atmosphere of The Brewers the NERDS moved

on to The Lewes Arms.

This place, according to Sandyballs, was the mega-bourgeois-snobby pub of Lewes.

The NERDs perched in the front room where Sandyballs had often been given a frosty reception because he was considered too chavvy. It must be said there weren't any common people there at all – a situation quickly remedied by the NERDS and their sparkling repartee. Class distinctions apart, The Lewes Arms had a good selection of beers and the staff were youthful and helpful.

And so, it being near lunchtime by now, we rolled down School Hill towards Cliffe High Street where we picked up Bronco who suddenly appeared from the bus station. Dear old Bronco, we only see him once or so a year but he always looks the same and greets you with that enormous grin.

The “ramble” continued by way of secret twitterns and car parks until we arrived at our lunchtime destination, The Dorset Arms where The Bish was to be found outddoors sitting at a garden table nursing a pint. We were now completely quorate so entered the pub with high expectations.

Strangely enough we seemed to be the only ones in the pub

at this time, somewhat worrying since on previous years the place had been packed to the extent that even cats had been known to walk in off the street attracted by the smell of Christmas dinner. However we were greeted by our waitress for the day whose name was Ella and who was just eighteen. Ella seemed born to the role of looking after a load of curmudgeonly old NERDS.

She charmed and sparkled and took photos of us all

(You'd think we'd all know what we looked like by now) and served us up with our dinner. Most of us had pheasant

; there was no turkey much to Froggy's chagrin, but now he's been invited back to sit at the family table that might all change. As you might expect much alcohol was consumed – the house red wine wasn't bad and Laf's nougat pudding went well washed down with amaretto.

Finally everyone staggered out blinking into the daylight and whipped round the corner heading to The Volunteer which was handily just opposite the bus station. Just then a blonde angel descended on us

and claimed she was related to Sandyballs, and that he was pissed and needed taking back home. Now SB was not really any more pissed than anybody else and fought off the angel saying he was perfectly capable of getting home by himself. He pushed The Angel Becks away and threatened to disinherit her if she interrupted his drinking. Not even the offer of a taxi swayed him, so the NERDS bade farewell to the blonde angel and entered the pub for a few more scoops.

Since there were no trains that day we had to be very careful to get the 123 back to Newhaven – otherwise we would have been stranded for days in Lewes with all its pubs (shucks). Sandyballs was finally escorted home by Bronco whose kidneys seemed to be weathering the festive onslaught quite well. The rest of us went to Newhaven where Paco started to demand more drink. Lafayette (unsurprisingly) knew which were the shitty pubs in Newhaven and which were the good ones so determined to put us right. Paco was dragged kicking and screaming to The Jolly Boatman which was down the end of the road where Lafayette had used to live.

The Jolly Boatman

was living up to its name and was full of people having a pre Christmas drink and none of them looking as though they were employed. In fact most of them looked well over sixty. This seemed to be the present Newhaven demographic. There was a good atmosphere going and the NERDS seated themselves in a comfortable circle within easy reach of the bar. Lafayette found the aged barman a little strange. He seemed to be deaf but was able to lip read and was OK at serving drinks.

The Bish found that he was making a new friend. In the sensual and cosy atmosphere which abounded he found himself sitting next to a female who started to pay him interested attention. This vision of beauty seemed to be dressed in a red santa suit

and obviously loved talking and singing and drinking. She was known as Mad Jane. Lafayette knew her well and had spent years avoiding her round various pubs in Newhaven where she had consistently screwed up his games of darts by her presence. Mad Jane had obviously taken a fancy to The Bish and serenaded him with various Christmas carols and tried to get him to dance. The Bish was not impressed; he probably thought she was after his money. Eventually when this siren had gone to the bog the NERDS slipped out of the pub and ran for it. Lafayette presumes that everyone got home safe and sound and were not pursued by any other local “characters.”

And so ended this year's Yuletide “ramble.” It had been a rather interesting pub crawl and had been nice to see Bronco on one of his rare outings. Thanks go to Sandyballs for organising the meal which wasn't too bad at all, and we hope that Froggy gets his turkey on Christmas day.

Next month on the 4th there is the joint NERDS/Darkside ramble to the Juggs to celebrate Lafayette being thirty (again) so make sure you all join the cast of thousands.

Merry Christmas, tout le monde.

Lafayette.

Christmas Ramble arrangements

Fellow Nerds,

I've already sent this to Harry and Charles, so you now need to see this and if we are in agreement, this is what we could do.

Thanks to Tony for spotting there are no rail replacement buses.......at all!!!!! OK us Seaford/Newhaven people can get back to Newhaven on the 16:25 no 123 from Lewes bus station. It is not so far to walk from the Dorset, either.

However, to get to Lewes we have only a choice of 2 no 123 buses from Newhaven Lower Place; the 08:58 arriving at Lewes Station at 09:22
(a bit too early) or the 10:25 from Newhaven Lower Place, arriving at Lewes Station at 10:52 (a bit too late). We have no other choice, except by taxi.

I would suggest the latter, so that bus passes can be used to get to Newhaven. There is a 12X bullet bus at Sutton Corner @ 09:55, which
leaves Seaford library on the hour and gets in to Newhaven South Way at 10:07, allowing enough time to get over to Lower Place and meet up with Charles.

Harry, would it just be easier for you to make your own way to the Brewers and we'll get there @ 11:10 ish? Up to you mate.

Charles are you ok with this plan to meet us @ 10:15?

OK lovely boys, we can make this work. See you on the bus or at Newhaven "bus station".

Phil

2016 Christmas Ramble Joining Instructions

Hi all NERDS,



The high point in the NERDS social calendar approaches. As I am sure you know, we meet on Wednesday 14th and will be enjoying our turkey-free

repast at The Dorset in Lewes. As usual we meet at Lewes station at the traditional time - about 10.15 but see below. We will then take part in an urban ramble where SB will point out some of the architectural and cultural attractions. It may not surprise you to hear that some of these attractions are licenced......

We are scheduled to arrive at The Dorset at about 12.45 with a view to sitting down to eat at 1PM. There should be 7 of us on the 'walk' and the plan is that we meet Bronco at the pub - unless he fancies walking? So 8 at table.

One last thing. The Bish has informed me that on the day there will be yet another rail strike. So for Seaford/ Newhaven types it will be the normal rail replacement buses. Hopefully chaos will be avoided and we will meet up OK.

Looking forward to Festive Fun.

Sandyballs