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.

August 2023 arrangements

Look forward to seeing all of you at Lewes Station tomorrow. Weather looks good.
No reply from Malcolm of course.

Cheers

Harry

August 2023 Ramble first suggestions

Good to see all 7 potential NERDS on our last outing, 100% attendance! Perhaps zero need to do any actual walking was part of the attraction?


Anyway we discussed the fact that August will mark 35 years of the NERDS. The first Ramble was from Lewes to Glynde by the founder members – Matt, Lafayette and myself – with lunch at The Trevor Arms. That establishment has been closed for years so no chance to repeat that. We did discuss the possibility of going to The Laughing Fish at Isfield – an old NERDS favourite. I have checked and it is possible to take the bus to The Halfway House for a pint then a short walk across the fields to The Fish. The return bus goes through Isfield so no probs there.


Now the difficult bit. We did originally look at Wednesday 23rd but that is now difficult for me. How about Thursday 17th? Any takers?


Harry

The July 2023 Ramble

The NERDS came out in force yesterday - there was Matt, Bish, Captain, Sandyballs, Froggy. Paco and moi. We got on the 12x bus

from Seaford (at least, the Seaford contingency did ), then they were joined by Laf and on. on into Brighton to meet Sandyballs at Starbucks. Starbucks was full of very young, leggy females

who were either tourists or schoolgirls on holiday. It was hell. The NERDS sat around talking shit and comparing hearing aids. Nobody noticed all the female flesh walking around ( of course not).

Eventually a No, 77 bus

came and we all used our bus passes ( of course ) and sat upstairs for the view. Finally we got to Devil's Dyke which seemed to be a huge tourist attraction

for everybody, School holidays, you know.

So we rushed inside and bagged a table and a waitress.

Food was excellent and lots of bottles of red wine were drunk

- mostly Rioja and Argentinian Malbec

- very nice. Then the photos began.

You will see that I wuvved Froggy very much.

More than that I don't remember.

I do vaguely remember getting on the 77 back to the station and then getting a bus home to Newhaven. Must have been a good ramble.

We should have another ramble in August.