May 2021 Ramble notes

LUCUBRATION ON A PEREGINATION




Thursday the 27th of May dawned cloudy but the sun soon drove off the cotton wool shadows and the NERDS awoke knowing that the ramble to The Rainbow pub at Cooksbridge was soon to commence. The Seaford contingent boarded the train betimes, however Paco nearly missed the carriage as he was sitting having breakfast at home in his underpants and had temporarily forgotten it was Ramble day. Everyone assembled at Lewes station and the muster rota showed that Sandyballs, the Routemaster, was there with Lafayette, Froggy and Paco but the Admiral was absent due to family business but had intimated that he would attend later!

The Pullman conveyed the NERDS onwards from Lewes to Cooksbridge where they rambled the half mile into the hinterland from the station to The Rainbow pub.

At the door to the Rainbow everyone was met by a youth by the name of Eddie! He looked about 17 years of age and with his amazingly painted on eyebrows was very. very camp but was obviously pleased to see some customers. (In fact he reminded Lafayette of the principal character in a book his mother used to read him at bed time to frighten him into going to sleep. (This was Little Black Sambo but of course nowadays you can’t say “Little”. “Black”. or “Sambo”, because it’s against The Law!!)






Anyway everyone sat outside in the very pleasant sunny weather and Eddie brought us some Harvey’s Best. That was OK. We failed to get a steak “meal deal” because it was the wrong time of day!!! But had steak anyway and it was very nice. The two bottles of wine ordered was Malbec but found it tasted sub-standard so Lafayette went back to Eddie and demanded a swop for some Merlot which was only slightly better!

Just then the Admiral rolled up in his Rolls (actually a BMW), joined us, made disparaging remarks about the wine list (Wot Wine List?) and set to at the pie he had ordered .






Pudding was pretty good, a crumble with ice cream and then we got to coffees and cognacs. Once again the Rainbow failed to deliver. We we offered “Three Barrels” brandy (it was that type of establishment) which we reluctantly took since there was no alternative. So if you’re going to The Rainbow in future remember; Food Good, Drink lousy!.

The NERDS needed to get back to the station quickly for the hourly train back. [Do you remember, Brian, how difficult it is to get boozed up NERDS to do anything quickly?] (Especially on “thee barrels brandy). So Harry set off at a pace down the road - by himself and the rest of the NERDS were kindly offered a lift in the Admiral’s rolls, back to the station. Lafayette thought it was really a treat to get in a car that wasn’t covered in seagull shit, for a change.

Thankfully everyone caught the train to Lewes and ended up in The Landsdowne Arms where we spent the rest of the afternoon looking out on the sunny road, drinking Harveys and boggling the home going schoolgirls and in some cases their Milfy mothers.

A great day, all in all, and thanks to SB for organising and to Eddie for waiting on us all.

I remind all that this is NOT a “write-up” and future essays to this blog will………………

But I digress

 

Hi All,

This month we go on THURSDAY 27th. Lunch location is The Rainbow in Cooksbridge. Seaford participants will need to take the 10.53 service which reaches Lewes at 11.11. A gentle stroll over to Platform 2 ( the last time I was there The Runaway Café was closed - but that may have changed) for the onward 11.27 train.

The service arrives at 11.32. There is bugger all to do in Cooksbridge so we will have to walk quite slowly to get to the pub for 12 noon, which is the opening time. This may involve sitting outside for a few minutes! Fortunately the weather forecast looks to be OK.


The Carvery is not available on a Thursday so you can study the menu online and make your choices. We should be 5 at table, including El Almirante. Matt cannot join us this time.

See you on the day


Harry

Hi all. Hope everyone involved did enjoy the renaissance of the NERDS last month. It was good to be back, although I was a little concerned with the level of Matt’s reliance upon the over-consumption of tap water! Not very NERD-like!

Anyway, let us discuss the date for the May ‘ramble’. Does anyone have a problem with THURSDAY May 27th? We talked about possibly going to The Rainbow, just a very short walk from Cooksbridge station. I will contact them soon to make a booking if that is OK with everyone.

Harry

                                       April Ramble  2021

The day broke fair and cloudless.  Lafayette amble down to the station at Newhaven and waited patiently for the train to arrive.  He had purchased his “old age pensioner” specially reduced fare from the booking clerk who knew him so well she had no need to seek proof of his antiquity!  The train from Seaford subsequently arrived and Lafayette clambered aboard to meet Paco, Matt and Froggy who we’re saving him a seat.  The train ambled on to Lewes where where everyone disembarked  and they all met up with Sandyballs.

The trouble began when Paco decided he perhaps ought ton buy a ticket (like you usually do on a train journey) and went to the office instead of down to platform 3.  Of course he missed the train to Berwick and was left to kick his heels in the waiting room while Laf’ phoned him to give him new instructions and to tell him how everyone was basking in the sun in the Berwick Inn garden and drinking Harveys’.

The NERDS had met Ed Coombe on the train to Berwick and he was going on to meet Wayne Wrath and a couple of other IOs for a drink somewhere near Polgate.

The NERDS continued to bask in the sunshine garden of the Berwick Inn and one pint morphed into two.  Soon it was realised that the following train from Lewes had stopped and no Taco had appeared so it was surmised that he had bypassed the Berwick Inn, foregoing the pints of Harveys’ and gone straight on to The Cricketers.

So began the actual ramble.  The road between the two pubs was largely devoid of traffic due to inevitable roadworks.  The party even got to the A27 and were able to stroll across.  On arrival at The Cricketers ,Pace had thoughtfully got a round in (as per Lafayette’s telephone instructions) and everyone was assigned a table outside in the garden as per National Instructions.  

Just then the weather decided to turn cloudy.

The food was good - everyone had chicken pies.  Then the company had disgustingly yummy puddings and coffees augmented by Lafayette’s hip flask, contains some exotic

spirit.  The weather turned cold, everyone sat around freezing and rubbing their hands for warmth.  The sun was a distant memory and the clouds above looked threatening.  Laf’ sat shivering and wearing his gloves.

When all could stand it no longer everyone hiked back to The Berwick Arms, drank some more beer and saw how many trains could be missed before returning to Lewes.

Apart from the later cold weather all had a good time, even Paco.  What was more amazing was that we had actually walked about at least a mile.  Froggy also took some pictures.