A  happy new year to all our readers.

BT

 

January 2024 Ramble arrangements

Dear NERDS,

As you know the next ramble will be on Thursday January 4th where we shall join with the Gatwick lot for a stroll around Lewes. There will be a short pit stop at The John Harvey Tavern and lunch at The Rights of Man.

Seaford NERDS please get the 11 24 hrs train and pick up Lafayette and Gorilla Brown at Newhaven and then Sandyballs at Lewes.

Let's hope the weather is a bit less windy than this week and I look forward to seeing you all next Thursday the 4th.

Lafayette.

The 2023 Christmas Ramble

 

We met later than planned. We were SB. Paco. The Bish, Froggy, Matt and moi. The Bish had been writing his Christmas cards

in the pub so that he could distribute them by hand and so save money on stamps.

The weather was dull and shitty

but not raining like the previous day when Lafayette had had to trek round the life ring course in atrocious conditions to do his civic duty. The NERDS

wandered through Lewes until we came to The Gardeners

where we settled and drank Harvey's Old and looked at some old photos Paco had brought and in which we, and all our wives, looked very young.

Then we upped and walked round the corner to get the correct bus to go to Isfield. (Not the 29 which would have taken us to the closed Halfway House).

The Laughing Fish was very bright and welcoming. There was a nice fire and our table was decorated with a load of Christmas stuff

- tinsel, crackers, poppers etc.

We set to drinking the Rioja and the Malbec

and enjoying the pigeon breasts, black pudding and turkey amongst other delicacies.

This was followed by Christmas pud for some and a cheese board for others with more Malbec and Rioja.

Then coffees with cheeky infusions of clandestine brandy supplied by Sandyballs.

Eventually we paid our bills and went outside to wait in the bus shelter for the bus home.

There was an old lady waiting there who was lucky enough to be the recipient of NERDS' witty jokes

but she seemed to be glad of the company.

In Lewes most of the NERDS seemed to disappear in the direction of the station leaving only Sandyballs and Lafayette to go to The Lansdown and plot revolution and world dominance while drinking beer and Jamesons. A very good afternoon indeed!

Christmas Lunch arrangements December "Ramble"

Hi all,

Our Xmas dinner

is set for this Tuesday 5th. Deposits have been paid, choices have been given.

Only one change.....there won't be any actual walking on the day! Do I hear cheering from some quarters? The reason for the change is that The Halfway House doesn't open until 3.30 PM on Tuesdays. Good thing I checked! We could still I suppose do the usual walk across the fields without the Pitstop but...it might be raining or snowing.

So instead I thought we would take a different 29 bus

that goes straight to Isfield, Any problems for anyone?

That in mind I think we can probably start a bit later. Say the 10.53 from Seaford? That arrives at Lewes at 11.11 which gives us plenty of time for a coffee or other type of libation before the bus at 12.19.
All being well I will meet you outside Lewes station at 11.11.

Don't forget the crisp tenners! 

Harry

Christmas Ramble 2023

As Lafayette just posted, the famous Xmas ramble will take place on December 5th. This is a TUESDAY. Almost certainly we will dine at the popular Laughing Fish in Isfield. I have to call in there and make a booking and pay a deposit, But hopefully.

If everyone turns up we will be 7 at table (sorry Frog). If you do not think you can make it that day then PLEASE let me know as soon as poss

Cheers
Harry

November's very wet ramble 2023

Yesterday the weather was dreadful, awful and foul.

The luck had finally deserted the NERDS. It rained as though it was never going to stop but there again we weren't planning on rambling far.

We were Paco, Froggy, Matt, Sandyballs et Moi. We gathered at The Steamworks next to the station at Seaford. Plans for the "ramble" had been postponed due to S.B. giving a late date and nobody having any real ideas where to go. Meanwhile the Steamworks filled up with all sorts of odd bods and had obviously become the social centre for all the cool people in Seaford So we sat and drank coffee cognacs and worked out a date for the Christmas Ramble (Dec. the 5th probably at the Laughing Fish).

After a while Froggy had a plan, he wanted to take us 500 yards round Seaford to the Cinque Ports

where he had found a Thai restaurant which was supposed to be good.. So we went out into the rain ~ SB wishing he hadn't taken off his rainy trousers ~ and sloshed around down to the back end of Seaford where we found said pub and were greeted by a large , vicious, bear like dog

which wanted to chew everyone's balls off. "He's harmless, " said the landlord, but the owners always say that as the beast stands there with your throat in its mouth.

Anyway we all sat at a round table and drank Harvey's Old ~ which was nice. Then the Thai ladies came back in from Morrossons where they had been getting the ingredients for the genuine Thai meal. When this came (two courses for about £13 ) it was petit but very tasty. SB's mushroom soup was very hot (spicy). Don't ask Laf what he had ~ it was No10 on the menu. We were gratified to see that the pub monster barked at everyone who came in, not just us. So the meal was good and inexpensive and a good idea from Froggy.

Then we all came out where fortunately it had stopped raining and Laf managed to get a !2x bus which took him straight home.

Lafayette

2023 November's initial arrangements

Sorry, running late.

Meet Thursday 16th at The Steamworks
at about 10.30? Sort something out from there!





Cheers



Harry

October's REAL Ramble 2023

We went on a real ramble on Tuesday last, real because we actually walked somewhere - boom boom!


Lafayette had been called upon to check the Lewes Life rings

for Coastwatch so came up with the idea of dragging the NERDS round with him. The weather that day was very warm and pleasant, very Indian summery, and with the promise of terrible storms for the rest of the week so better do it that day or not at all.

We were Laf, SB, Paco, Froggy and the Bish.

We all met SB at Lewes station and then Laf took charge. We walked round past Waitrose then crossed over and started on the bridge

over the mighty Ouse. Lafayette had decided to do his usual course backwards to make a change but had forgotten where the start/finish was - it being a clandestine gap in a hedge somewhere. Anyway the rest of the Nerds found it before Laf and we all proceeded.

It was pleasant going along the river bank

but the weather began to get hot and some of us began to flag. We passed through the Hippys' back yard but no sign of the Hippys since it was only about 11 o'clock and they hadn't got up.

We got round to Pell's pond

and because there were about 4 or five life rings

round here to check, Laf allowed Paco and the aged Bish to opt out on this circuit and took the other two around with him.

Froggy kept us entertained with his witty banter (mindless chatter).

We finished the last of the liferings along the south bank of the Ouse past Tesco's and then went to the John Harvey Tavern for a quick aperitif. Luckily Harvey's had just started brewing Harvey's Old

for the winter season so we all got stuck into this. Good Stuff!

SB then took us to a restaurant he fancied on the site of the old Magistrates Court and despite being called Zorba's

was in fact a Turkish restaurant. 

It turned out to be really good. Nice food, pleasant surroundings ,

good service, definitely NERDS Approved.

Then the Bish went home to wash his hair or something. and the rest cleared off to The Lansdowne

where some of us drank large brandies (Paco and Laf) and then staggered back homewards.

It had been a successful ramble doing a new route for some of us and with good weather and sussing out a new eatery.

Next month we go back to the Halfway House and the Laughing Fish so let's hope the weather will be OK.

Joining Advice for October 2023 Ramble

Hi all,

The next lunch meeting will be on TUESDAY 17th. Location will be in Lewes, just for a change. There will be a modest walk involving a tour of some of the life-belt stations around some parts of the River Ouse. For those of you who don’t know, the life -belt tour is one of Lafayette’s onerous tasks as part of his Coast Watch duties. After the walk we will have lunch at one of the hostelries in Lewes. Not yet decided where. No faux Italian eateries will be involved!

So, the usual 10.25 from Seaford and I will meet you outside the station. No Matt of course. May well be a mystery guest though.......

Harry

October's 2023 suggestions

Hi

We have not yet agreed a date for this month’s “Ramble”. One of the problems now facing the NERDS is that we seem to have morphed into some kind of Luncheon Club who don’t really walk anywhere at all. Perhaps inevitable given the age and general degree of physical fitness of most of us. Another problem is there is not an inexhaustible supply of faux Italian restaurants!

Anyway I would like to hear any comments you might have. Let us do something this month at least. I will try to put something together. There is not an available Wednesday free for me this month so how about Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th, Friday 20th,Monday 30th or Tuesday 31st? Maybe a stroll along the sea shore Seaford to Newhaven?

Heres hoping.......

Harry

September's "Ramble" 2023

Last Wednesday we went on a trip to Eastbourne. It wasn't a ramble because we didn't walk much. The story goes as follows.

Sandyballs was thinking about going to Eastbourne for a change but then got hit by an important doctor's appointment which he couldn't get out of on the same day. So he asked Froggy, who had some ambitious rambling plan, to take over as Routemaster.


The day came and Sandyballs reckoned he might be able to join the NERDS somewhere along the ramble after his appointment so, because of time constraints, Froggy scrapped the walking bit and just got everybody on the same bus into Eastbourne

so that we could do something.


We were- - Matt, Paco, Froggy, Moi and eventually Sandyballs. We got off at Eastbourne station and headed directly for Wetherspoons, previously known as The Slug and Lettuce. The weather was still warm after the heatwave of the previous week and people were still trolling around in shorts.


Wetherspoons was ( as it ever is) tatty, packed and cheap. While Laf bought a round we sent Matt upstairs to get a table so that he could change his mind and the table as much as he liked. The round getting was interrupted by S. B. ringing to say he was on his way and would meet us wherever. Upstairs the place seemed to be dominated by Ladies who Lunched lunching and a load of blokes sat round a table drinking what looked like a delicious bottle of red wine. Because it was Wetherspoons the NERDS had to drink the cheapest beer which was Ruddles at £1.99p a pint

and which actually, despite its price, wasn't bad at all.


After a couple of pints Matt said we were all boring and he meant to emigrate to the wine drinkers' table because they seemed to be having more fun. Time for lunch, we thought so Froggy and Matt decided to take us to one of their favourite restaurants. Down a side street was Picasso's

(presumably a Spanish eatery.) It was great. There weren't many people in so we got served quickly and the food was pretty good. So was the Argentinian Malbec.

A good find, this restaurant.


So then we all got back on the bus to go home, upstairs when Lafayette noticed his daughter Number 2 getting on downstairs (the blonde one) so he told all the NERDS to be nice to her when they got off and not to scare her with their combined ugliness and old age. She did survive.


So that was September's trip out. Eastbourne can be fun - especially for old NERDS.

Froggy's final arrangements for September 2023 Ramble

Fellow Nerds

Here's the deal; we take a 12X to Eastbourne Station

and chill in the Wetherspoon's opposite the station

(that was once the Slug and Lettuce)

If everyone wants to be on the same bus, Charles

can you please pick it up at Lower Place at 10:57?

Anyone who wants to pick it up at Seaford Library

should do so at 11:09. And Matt and I will join you

upstairs at Sutton Corner at 11:11.

I still don't know when Harry can get away and join us

but we can move around a bit and keep in touch by phone.

Tony will not be with us so even if both Mike and Paco

attend, we can only be a max of 6. And as, there are

numerous lunch venues, booking so far is not an option.

Hope this all works out tomorrow?

Phil

Hope this helps, Harry?

Froggy's arrangements for September Ramble

I have literally just returned from Devon and felt obliged to write this without (proverbially) getting my coat off. Your pressure email Matt came though to my spam. Imagine that?


OK you Nerds, thanks to the limited time left to organise Wednesday's outing and not knowing when and where Harry could find us, I have decided to scrub the idea of walking the 3 miles from the pier to the marina and instead suggest we keep close to the station and possibly meet you Harry in the Wetherspoons (formally the Slug and Lettuce) opposite said station. I shall look into suitable pubs but can't in all honesty make a booking without knowing numbers. I know Laf and Matt are coming but could you Tony, Paco and Mike please let me know if you fancy a gentle stroll or not. Who knows? we might even venture as far as the Rainbow and visit some Old Town pubs?


I'm in the Tower first thing tomorrow but I'll continue with suitable bus times, selected venues etc. in the afternoon and then send out joining instructions. I'm thinking of maybe getting to Eastbourne @ 11:30 so I'll work backwards from that.

Watch this space

Froggy

Harry's cancellation

Hi all,
Sorry about this but I am going to have to cancel myself from the ramble. I have been diagnosed with a heart complaint – atrial fibrillation. No big deal, I think it is reasonably common. I went to see the Quack today and he has put me on some medication. I will also have to attend a cardiac ward at some time in the future. Anyway the Doc wants to see me – you’ve guessed it – next Wednesday. Ramble day! He was not too impressed when I tentatively asked if I could come another day because I had a social engagement!
Anyway I suggest you go ahead with the Ramble. Perhaps I can join you later? The surgery is very close to Lewes railway station. Maybe .
Have a good time you lot. See you soon.
Cheers
Harry

September 2023 date for ramble

Hi,

Let us meet on Wednesday 13th. Eastbourne. Details to follow!

Harry

Hello all,

Just trying to get a date organised for next month. Hopefully a visit to the fair town of Eastbourne. By bus. How about Wednesday 13th or 27th? Any thoughts?

Cheers

Harry

August 2023 Ramble

Last Thursday was the 35th anniversary (Coral) of the NERDS (more or less). Lafayette's records show the 3rd ever ramble took place on 17th August 1988, and the day before yesterday's was on the same date (only 2023 of course). There had been 2 previous rambles, the truth of which has now been lost forever.


The latest ramble consisted of Sandyballs, Laf, Froggy , Bish, Matt, Paco, and Admiral. The weather was nice and hot and sunny. Most of us wore shorts.

S. B. led us off to Lewes Depot where all the yummy Mummies were camped out outside with their kids (school holidays). We ordered drinks which were brought to our table

by young yummy waitresses. Paco chucked his beer all over the table and Froggy told us he used Old Spice

for toothpaste (why?)

then we walked to the bus stop outside Waitrose and got the number 29 .


A short while after we arrived at The Halfway House, a pub with grumpy personnel

but a pleasant garden

where we all began bickering about something

or other and admired the view over The Sussex Countryside. Froggy took a load of photos.

Now came the interesting bit. Find the route across the field towards Isfield. We got it Ok and after that the way was fairly straight forward. We came across horses who were cold and wore blankets

, and cows who didn't wear blankets.

The way was pleasant, warm and rural.

Eventually we got to The Laughing Fish

and all squeezed on to a table with Froggy at the head.

Food was good and the Malbec was good.

Nobody disgraced themselves and, as usual, we were the last to leave the pub. Rambling was over for the month so we got a bus back

to Lewes. Paco and Laf hijacked a bus back to Newhaven. which had been standing patiently in the centre of Lewes waiting for them.

Oh, someone showed around some photos of us all when we all looked about 16. These must have either been taken at previous rambles or in the office. Even you're on one or two, Brian.

So a good anniversary ramble thanks to Sandyball's organisation. We all seem to be older and stiffer now but then what do you expect from ancient NERDS.