EU membership?

Hello Everyone,
As of today, 6.12.2019 we appear to be out of the EU already, according to the French anyway!!

Regards
BT

December 2019 Christmas Ramble Alternative Arrangements

Hi All,

Froggy has helpfully pointed out a slight flaw in my arrangements. The pub doesn’t actually open until 12 noon - I thought it was 11 AM. This means that with the train arriving at Norman’s Bay station at 11.04 we would be faced with wandering the wilderness without a pint and subject to the vagaries of the English winter climate.

Therefore, again Frog suggested that we stay on the train to Cooden Beach and from there walk the 1.3 miles to the pub, having first sampled a pint at The Cooden Beach Hotel. Seems a good compromise suggestion.

I talked to the staff at The Star Inn and have an agreement to put the meal back to 12.30. However, they point out that there have a large party of 40 also booked for 12.30. Therefore if we can get there nearer to 12.15 than 12.30 it should be better for us.

The usual NERDS flexibility is again called for!

Thanks again Froggy!

Harry

Christmas Ramble 2019 Joining Instructions

Dear All,

For this year’s seasonal bash we will be lunching at The Star Inn at Norman’s Bay on Wednesday 11th December. Train travel is not exactly straightforward but, stay with me, the actual walk is of a reassuringly short duration.

It means that the Seaford lot have to take the 09.53 train to Lewes. Arriving there we have a few minutes before taking the 10.26 to Hamden Park (possibly time for a quick coffee or whatever at The Runaway Café ). At Hamden Park we then take the 10.43 to Normans Bay, arriving there at 11.04. we have a table booked at the pub for 12.15 - so plenty of time for refreshment and relaxation beforehand.


Our return trains are either 14.27 or 15.42.

See you all on the day.

Malcolm -shall we meet at The Runaway Café at about 10 ?

Harry

November 2019 Joining Instructions

Calling all NERDS,

Apologies for the late submission of these joining instructions! This month we walk on THURSDAY 7th . This will be a local ramble - if you live in the Seaford - Newhaven conurbation. So we meet at The Steamworks on Seaford Central station at about 10.45hrs. We plan to stroll along to Denton and lunch at The Flying (not the Laughing) Fish. If the weather is really unpleasant there are other modes of transport available!

See you all on the day
Harry

October 2019 Joining Arrangements

This month’s mini-ramble takes place on Wednesday 16th. At Charlie’s request we are going to reprise the ‘walk’ we did last year to The Laughing Fish in Isfield. If you remember we took an omnibus ride to The Halfway House on the A26 for a pit stop, thence across a couple of fields to The Fish for lunch. A place in which we have previously dined well. Then a different bus back to Lewes.

So, the Seaford lot should take the 10.25 to Lewes (for a change) where I will meet you at the station. We then have plenty of time for a coffee, or whatever, in town before taking the bus. Fingers crossed for fair weather.

Brian - is it true that you will be making the Christmas Ramble on December 11th? Hope you can make it.

Malcolm -how are you?

Cheers

Harry

September 2019 Ramble Information

Hi All,

This month we stroll on TUESDAY 10th. We thought we would revisit one of our favourite haunts - The Star Inn at Normans Bay. The food is plentiful and good value and the location attractive. What more could a NERD want?

Normally we take the train to Cooden Beach, walk along the coast to the pub and then return from Normans Bay station. However, due to the passage of time and the general lack of fitness from some members (particularly all, perhaps, of the Founder Members) I suggest a departure from this. It makes sense to simply alight from the train at Normans bay and walk from there. A sign of the times perhaps.

My reading of The Star online menu suggests that all the mains are £10 and if you eat in the restaurant the starters and desserts are free? Seems too good to be true doesn’t it ? Anyway it would seem a good idea to book a table so I will certainly do that. It would be useful if those attending would confirm to me that they will be there.

Also, when there we can investigate the possibility of booking a table for the NERDS Xmas meal at the same venue. Again the price would seem to be a bargain.

I will be back with you shortly with train times, etc.

Harry

Advance Notice of January 2020 Ramble

Dear NERDS,
I know it's a bit early for a January ramble but time is rushing headlong on and it will soon be 2020.

I plan to do a joint ramble with those very professional walkers, The Darkside, on Friday 3rd January 2020. Please make sure you have the date in your old/new diaries and have recovered from Christmas by then.

Because most of the NERDS are suffering from a variety of age related injuries the ramble will probably be from Lewes to Kingston with lunch at The Juggs - so we all know the way and no-one can get lost.

See you all soon.

Lafayette.

August 2019 Ramble joining instructions

Hi all,


This month we ‘walk’ on THURSDAY 8th. If we still had write-ups this one would probably be called: ‘ The Meet Up with Bronco, Have a Pleasant Lunch and Not Walk Very Far Ramble’ . Yes we are taking the bus to Ringmer and having lunch with Malcolm at The Anchor.

The decision to not walk very far reflects the general state of physical decrepitude of many NERDS, including (perhaps temporarily) your Routemaster. Despite this, I expect we will all have a fun time.

If members of the Seaford community take the 10.25 train to Lewes I will meet you at the station at 10.41. Malcolm will meet you in the pub at about 12 noon?

Once we are gathered together with foaming pints in front of us we will raise a glass to the memory of Mike Clarke aka Curly.

Cheers

Harry

July 2019 Ramble

Paco, Froggy, Mike, The Captain and Lafayette

There was a NERDS meeting last week chez Mike Clarke. He hosted us well with lots of prosecco and food and stuff and then the plan was to walk to Alfriston. Ha, ha; Harry and I both had bad knees and Matthew is now very old so they both went to Alfriston by car. I went in Imogen's car with Paco (also old ) and Imogen's dog, Bandido. Some of the NERDS actually walked - Mike, Froggy, Bish, and Tubb. We all ate in The George at Alfriston - a nice woodeny furnitured pub but expensive for just pub grub. Paco, Imogen, Badido and I had a little walk round Alfriston while waiting for the others to arrive. It's quite interesting to see all the cottages behind the narrow main road.

So much for rambling - not wise in this heat.

Very sadly Mike died on 24.7.2019 just a few days after this ramble.  He will be remembered by all with affection.

Further information

Hi all.

Next walk is on the 18th, which I believe is on a Thursday. We have been kindly invited to partake of stirrup cups at Mike Clarke's place prior to the walk to Alfriston. Mike suggests we get to his about 10am?

See y'all then. I may well be a velo ( Matt look it up!)

Harry

July 2019's Joining Advice

This month we walk on THURSDAY 18th. We have been generously invited by Mike Clarke to partake of pre- ramble refreshments at his house. From there we make our way, perhaps a little unsteadily, to Alfriston for lunch. I may well have to do the actual walk by bike if my knee problems persist.

To change the subject, there has been some interest in an expedition to watch a T20 cricket match at Hove this summer. The Sussex versus Surrey game on Friday July 26th has been identified. It should be an enjoyable local needle match and starts about 7pm. The tickets are £23 each although there may be a service charge on top. If you are DEFINITELY interested in going then let me know and I will arrange tickets.

Cheers

Harry

June 2019 Joining Arrangements

Hi all NERDS


This month we perambulate on Wednesday 5th. This time we revisit an old walk which we had a go at about a year or so ago. Although the actual route …..was problematic.

Basically we take a bus from Churchill Square to Woodingdean, jump off the bus and go straight into The Downs Hotel for lunch. Last time the food was OK, good value pub grub. After lunch we set off across the Downs with the ultimate destination of Rottingdean and from there a bus home.

Some of you may remember what happened last time. Instead of ending up in Rottingdean we ended up in …….Kingston near Lewes! As it is customary now to blame every failure on Brexit I am claiming this excuse!

Anyway, that won’t happen this time. I have done exhaustive research and nothing can possibly go wrong! So let us meet at Starbucks in Churchill Square at 10.30-ish and see what transpires….

Harry

May 2019 Ramble Joining Instructions

This month’s walk will take place on Wednesday 15th, Just for a change, we are going to visit an old favourite pub- The Abergavenny Arms in Rodmell. However, a slightly different route. We are taking The Egrets Way from Lewes, which follows the Ouse .

So, the familiar 9.53 train from Seaford/ Newhaven and I will meet you outside Lewes station. That should get us to the pub at about opening time - 12 noon. Tony has a hospital appointment on the day but will hope to join us at the pub.

Going back is slightly less straightforward for the Newhaven/ Seaford types. I will be taking the very occasional 123 bus back to Lewes at 2.45 hrs. You lot can join me and take the (free) bus back to Lewes railway station then the train home. Unfortunately, the 123 bus service going south only runs at 1.16 or 3.42 - not ideal. Alternatively, you can take the train back from Southease at either 14.06 or 15.06 - obviously allowing plenty of time for the walk to the station.

Hope that is all clear and look forward to seeing all of you on the 15th.


Harry

April's Joining Instructions

Well the NERDS are still going strong, it seems, but I have been out of the nucleus for a time. Harry’s first instructions for the April 2019 ramble are as follows:-

Hi All,

We will go with Charlie’s arrangement for departing on the 9.53 from Seaford next Tuesday the 16th. However, getting the connecting train to Plumpton will get us to our destination too early. Walking to The Half Moon from the station will mean that we will be faced with closed doors as the pub doesn’t open until 12 noon.

Therefore we can kill a little time in Lewes ( I would suggest the Brewers) and then take the 11.21, arriving at 11.29.

Hope this is OK
Harry

However the response from Lafayette is below!

God, not The Brewers again - I'm always in there. Still, it does open at 10 o'clock.

Lafayette.



I look forward to any information on the resulting promenade.

MARCH RAMBLE 2019 ideas

Fellow Nerds


Those of us not going to Gibraltar can now have a chance to take part in an alternative optional bus pass lunch in Shoreham.


The preferred date for this outing is Wednesday 13th March.


The idea would be to meet up in Starbucks @ 10:30 and then take the 700 coastal bus westwards.


Frog One X


St Paddy's Day extravaganza is still on the cards in Brighton on March 17th, though it would be on a Sunday.

FEBRUARY 2019

It appears that the February Ramble was cancelled in preference to a pub crawl!

February 2019 Ramble ideas

Wet stuff predicted for Wednesday. Looks bloody awful. I suggest we put the Plumpton ramble in the bank for use at a later date. Shall we just meet at Seaford for a few beers and some lunch?


This is the new, softer, less hard-core NERDS. In reflection of the older, perhaps frailer demographic.

Shall we meet at the boozer on Seaford Central station ( Steamworks?) at about 11AM Wednesday?

Cheers

Harry.

Harry,
It sure is going to be rainy. I vote we do a Seaford "ramble" and put plumpton on hold.
Laf.

January 2019 Ramble

Ramble Number 350



Those present:- Lafayette (Birthday Boy); Paco; Curly; Froggy; Matt; Dio and Sandyballs.



The 4th Began with a gathering at the Purple Palace

where everyone attended

with the exception of Sandyballs who was otherwise engaged! Calvados flowed

, chocolate biscuits were munched and birthday cards were opened by Lafayette. Nostalgia came to the forefront as photographs of a NERDS gathering at Jane’s were ogled over.

Eventually everyone set off to The Hope

where Sandyballs was met and all the NERDS tucked into a huge meal.

Later everyone staggered back to Lafayette’s abode where more Calvados was drunk until everyone staggered to their respective homes.