November's Bus stop Ramble

The other day we did another "bus ramble"

which took us to The Laughing Fish at Isfield.

We were six - Sandyballs, Froggy, The Bish, Lafayette, Paco and Matt.

The weather had been very rainy

and the original idea had been to walk back from the Laf. Fish across the fields to The Halfway House, have a pint there and then get the bus back. However in view of probable saturation of the fields we just got the bus back to Lewes.

First of all, to waste time we went to The Depot

and lounged around on sofas while young virgins

cocked up our orders and brought us drinks. Paco seemed to get a free brandy and get paid for drinking it - Don't ask.

So then we got on the bus - upstairs ,

of course, and went to Isfield. It was a nice ride in the upstairs sun. The landlady was very friendly and gave us separate tabs

each with our own (real) name. 

The beer was Long Man

which we quickly got used to, and the food was huge and of a very high standard. 

Towards the end

we got talking with some even Older Gits

than we were and the mystery of why they had been passing a saw back and forth between themselves was solved. They were a group called The Old Tool Pushers who did even less rambling than the NERDS but who had all been wood turners

and lurved old tools. And why not?

After settling up we once again boarded the bus and some of us ended up in The Lansdown

where we had a quick pint then headed home.

Next ramble is the Christmas one where we go to The anchor again hoping to

see Bronco.

December's Christmas Ramble 2022

Having received positive confirmation from Bronco, I have finalised our lunch date for Wednesday December 14th. 1PM at The Anchor in Ringmer. When I phoned the pub to make the booking, unaccountably they seem to know about Malcolm. “ Oh, Mr Senior, yes…” It is almost as if he was a regular there or something!

I have not paid the deposit yet but I will pop in the next couple of days and do that. Apparently the Xmas menu is on line so you can take a look at your leisure.

Malcolm tells me that he is due to have his eye cataract on December 1st. After that he cannot wait to get behind the wheel of his shiny new BMW and race around the lanes of Ringmer making Parp! Parp! noises a la Toad of Toad Hall!

Harry

November's Ramble Final Arrangements

Sorry this is a bit late. We ‘walk’ on Thursday 17th.By popular demand we will lunch at The Laughing Fish at Isfield.

Previously we had taken the 29 bus to The Halfway House for a pit stop and then taken the short stroll across the fields to the Laughing Fish .Unfortunately the bus schedules now make this difficult so we will have to take the bus straight to Isfield. There is a possibility that we could visit the Halfway House on the way back and take the return bus from there.

So, the usual 10.25 train from Seaford to Lewes. Probably then a coffee at The Depot Cinema prior to taking the bus.

I will book a table at the pub for 12 noon. Hope that as many of you as possible can make it.

Harry

Another Christmas Ramble 2022 date change

Very sorry but I screwed up

a little date on the date for The Christmas Ramble. Blame the bloody Dark Side! Instead of Wednesday 14th we will now meet on TUESDAY 13th. I have changed the date with The Anchor and they are OK with that. Apparently they have managed to change Malcolm’s usual Strippergrams

to the new date!

Many thanks by the way to El Almirante for spotting the error in my arrangements!

This new date WILL NOT CHANGE

Harry

November's Ramble date (Revised)

Hi,

During our recent Jamaican inspired lunch we sorted out dates for the next 2 Rambles. The November date was agreed on for Thursday 17th. For the Xmas date we settled on Monday 12th. Would it inconvenience anyone to switch this to Wednesday 14th?

Please let me know asap so I can make the booking with the pub.

Thanks

Harry

Christmas Ramble Advance Arrangements

Having received positive confirmation from Bronco, I have finalised our lunch date for Wednesday December 14th. 1PM at The Anchor in Ringmer. When I phoned the pub to make the booking, unaccountably they seem to know about Malcolm. “ Oh, Mr Senior, yes…” It is almost as if he was a regular there or something!

I have not paid the deposit yet but I will pop in the next couple of days and do that. Apparently the Xmas menu is on line so you can take a look at your leisure.

Malcolm tells me that he is due to have his eye cataract on December 1st. After that he cannot wait to get behind the wheel of his shiny new BMW and race around the lanes of Ringmer making Parp! Parp! noises a la Toad of Toad Hall!

Harry

October's Ramble 2022

This is what we did on the ramble.




A stellar collection this month of Froggy, The Bish, Matt, Sandyballs et moi

met up in Lewes where the weather was dull and grey. Paco was off having some medical appointment.


First of all we wasted time by going to The Trading Post in Lewes for a posh coffee. This place was so popular with yummy mummies, and it being half term as well. that we were relegated to sitting in the back garden with all everybody's kids.


Next we hiked up the Ouse and around Pell's pool

and pond until we came to your beloved Landport estate.

It's still the same as when you left it - full of working class clods

who voted for Brexit, Good job you're not working class.



Eventually we ended up at The Blacksmiths Arms at Ofham

which is a little oasis of the West Indies in darkest Sussex. When we got there the Jamaican chappy was polishing his beer taps (as you do) but found time to give us a good lunch.

(Lafayette had goat curry

with rice and peas - very nice). The food was fine although S.B. said his steak was stringy, but there was very little electric light in the place and it was quite cold. Cuts, I suppose.


Since no bus back seemed forthcoming we walked back into Lewes which was a lot further than anyone remembered.and found solace in The Elephant and Castle

where Sandyballs had a mega dump

and the rest of us drank beer.

Then we all went home. Or tried too since the trains to Seaford were all late "due to a signalling incident" but we were only actually delayed about ten minutes.

So, a ramble where we actually rambled for a change. Lafayette hopes this new departure will not become a habit.

November Ramble is the 17th and we see that Sandyballs is already trying to alter the date of the Christmas ramble. Plus ca change....

Lafayette.

Final Arrangements for October's Ramble

Hi all

Just a gentle reminder that we walk tomorrow, Friday. The good old 10.25 from Seaford and I meet you at Lewes station. We will lunch at The Blacksmiths Arms in Offham. Jamaican grub. I have booked a table for 12.30 hrs. As the pub doesn’t open until 12 noon we will probably have coffee in Lewes first.

Please bring your diaries so we can book dates for November and the all important Christmas Ramble. Lafayette and I are thinking about going to The Anchor in Ringmer for the Christmas bash and linking up with Bronco.

Malcolm - any dates we should avoid in December?

Cheers

Harry

Another New Date for October's Ramble 2022

Sorry about this but I am going to have to change the date of the October Ramble. Domestic confusion over appointments!

Instead of the Thursday, let us meet on FRIDAY 21st. This is OK for Lafayette. I thought that we would revisit the Blacksmiths Arms in Offham for some Jamaican cuisine. This entails a pleasant Autumnal stroll through the leafy Lewes suburb of the Landport Estate (BT’s old stamping ground).

So the usual 10.25 from Seaford and I will meet you outside Lewes station. This new date will not change!

Harry

October's New Date for the Ramble

Hi all,


It has been decided by the NERDS Executive Ad Hoc Steering Committee

(me and Charlie)

that this month’s Ramble will take place on THURSDAY 20TH. (The day before Trafalgar Day).  Details to follow!

Hope some if not all can attend.

Harry

October's provisional ramble arrangements!

All,

We haven’t been back long from the Big Fat Greek Wedding and I haven’t had time to think about the Ramble. I know that last month we talked vaguely about October 5th but that obviously won’t happen. What about Wednesday 19th or any day that week?

NERDS famous flexibility once more required!

Harry

September's short unpopulated ramble 2022

Concerning our last ramble yesterday. Unfortunately the weather was not as we hoped, nor was the attendance one of the most prolific.

We had entered the season of thunderstorms and lightning strikes;

summer was obviously over. We were the same as the last ramble - Paco, Froggy, Sandyballs et moi and met in The Steamworks next to Seaford station.

Paco was first to arrive with his hair looking like that of Albert Einstein,

all sticking up and windswept. Then came Sandyballs drenched to his underpants

having been caught in a storm while going down the hill into Lewes. Froggy and Lafayette made it without any mishap and so we all sat and drank coffee

since it was a reasonably early hour.

Sandy balls said a lot of NERDS had been put off by his saying we might eat at one of the many Italian style restaurants in Seaford. so wotsa da problem? Some NERDS obviously got no taste!

We got bored with coffee so adjourned to the Wellington for a beer, Lotsa different beers here!,

Sandyballs seemed to spend most of the time on the phone to the CEO of Shell.

Either about his on going energy dispute or else he was being offered a job.

Then we got lost a bit in Seaford but ended up at the Mediterranea

in High St. The maitre de was very accommodating and most of us had superb fillet steaks covered in yummy cheese sauce.

(And they talk about heart attack breakfasts, not lunches). Lots of chianti

was drunk and Froggy entertained us with anecdotes about his Aunty Gladys (again),

Then we walked up Broad St rather quickly because it threatened to rain, and then we diasporised.

So another short, short ramble, but sadly the weather and old age

were once more against us.

New date for September 2022 Ramble

Hi,

This month we ‘ramble’ on THURSDAY 8th. This will be a Home Game for the Seafordites as we are just going along the promenade for a stroll probably lunching at one of the faux Italian eateries in the town. Failing that, some chips on the seafront or a bag of Cheese and Onion crisps at The Dog and Duck. I will leave that decision to one of the locals.

OK. Meet at The Steamworks at about 10.45?

Never let it be said that the NERDS don’t visit some exotic locations !

Harry

Advanced warning of September 2022 Ramble and sad news

Hi all,

Charlie has just passed on the news that Ian Jordan has unfortunately died. Not many details. Apparently he has been receiving palliative care for a while and eventually succumbed to pneumonia.

Anyway, we will raise a glass to his memory on the next Ramble. I am thinking about Wednesday Sept. 7th. Could be another day around that date, let us be flexible as always.

No idea of the location yet….

Harry

The "Ramble" of August 2022

                                                        The August 2022 “Ramble”

The heat drove most people inside until our ramble of the 17th,

when we had planned to travel to Berwick for an aperitif then proceed to The Cricketers

for lunch.

However the luck of the NERDS - usual on a Wednesday, did not hold out. 

Many people could not come so Lafayette

met Froggy

on the train and we went to Lewes where we teamed up with Sandyballs.

Laf had been on at Paco to attend but he was so in love with his new big black car ( a Hyundai? - they all look the same)

that he couldn't bear the idea of walking away from it so decided to drive to the Berwick Inn instead.

This was fortunate for the other NERDS since it started to pour with rain the moment they got off the train.
One pint turned into two, the rain kept hammering on the roof and the NERDS enthusiasm for going outside and walking kept diminishing. Finally an executive decision was made to share Paco's Lovelymobile and keep dry going to the Cricketers.

We got there although there were a few dodgy moments with child locks which might have left Laf incarcerated in the back with Froggy. Fortunately Laf crashed his way out and freed Froggy. The others had raced ahead to avoid the rain.

It was packed inside the Cricketers because (obviously ) nobody wanted to sit outside, The hostess and her (student) helpers served three of us with Steak and Ale pies

(very good) and the creme caramel

with a biscuit,

We raced outside again towards the car, to avoid the appalling tempest which was cruelly preventing us from rambling back to The Berwick. Paco stroked his black treasure and car whispered it into taking us up to the pub. We sat around and drank coffee and stuff until Sandyballs had to run for his train. He had to get back to take his washing in

which he had completely forgotten about. You always put out washing when it's going to rain. It's a law of The Universe.

Anyway after that Paco took both Laf and Froggy home - which was nice - and so nobody managed to actually walk anywhere cos it was so wet, but we'd all had a GOOD TIME. Especially the car. So thanks to Paco

for all his consideration.

Another ramble next month - perhaps. But only if it's raining, otherwise we might have to walk.

August 2022 Ramble joining arrangements

Apologies for the late submission of theses Joining Instructions! This month we ramble on Wednesday 17th. I thought we would revisit an old favourite walk - the short leisurely stroll from Berwick Station to The Cricketers for lunch. Not forgetting the obligatory pit stop at The Berwick Inn, of course.

So the usual 10.25 train from Seaford Central to Lewes. A quick change there should get us to Berwick for 10.58. I will be booking our table at The Cricketers for 12.30. If anybody intends to dispense with the actual walking and will be driving direct to the pub - fine, but please let me know. Also if you are not coming at all, please inform.

See you on the day. Don’t forget the Factor 50, a hat and water etc.

Charlie - what about Steve Brown?

Harry

2022 July' Ramble events

Lafayette met only Froggy off the train at Newhaven, No Bish, no Paco, No Matt, No Captain. No Sandyballs WTF?

Sandyballs turned out to be in The Sidings already.

This is Newhaven's new trendy bistro situated next to the river, It was warm and sunny so the three

of us had a trendy cup of coffee,

Then began the ramble proper.

We three NERDS went over the bridge and down the back of Elphick Road. Laf had decided not to ramble far because of the heat so headed for The Jolly Boatman

which looked ominously dark and closed looking. It was. Probably not open till 12 or something.

So, heading for The Ark (it was that sort of ramble) Laf came across a very sober ex drunk who lived just up the road from The Boatman. " It closed about a year ago," he said sadly "But I've saved a lot of money." he added. Well Whoopee!

The Ark it was then. The three thirsty NERDS staggered through the concrete heat and found The Ark was thriving - not closed, not abandoned and selling alcohol.

Quel Paradis! The NERDS sat outside in the sun and drank and drank.

Laf got a phone call from Matt who claimed to have driven to La Luna Rossa with his girlfriend

and was waiting for us, More lies! We uprooted ourselves and went to the Luna Rossa

where we met Paco who had also driven there (sans girlfriend). 

We all had a good meal and drank some excellent Italian wine, Then - what else? we rambled in Paco's car back to The Ark and sat in the shade in the back garden and drank some more, Good ramble this,

Eventually Sandyballs got bored with the scintillating conversation and went home, Matt had gone already with his fictitious girlfriend, Paco gave Froggy a lift back to Seaford and Laf was left to reflect on a pretty rambleless ramble where most NERDS seemed to prefer driving to walking. They all like drinking, so that was all right



Lafayette.

July Ramble arrangements

Hello Sandyballs,

Sorry you couldn't make the original ramble date but thanks for re arranging for 21st July.
I think we now have a quorum of those who can make it - you, me, Matt, Froggy and possibly Paco, so I shall book lunch at the Luna Rossa for 13 00 hrs.
Bye, bye.
Lafayette.

July Ramble new date

Hi,

I have had a few replies to my message about the date change for the Ramble. Therefore let us have a bash at switching to Thursday 21st. We have Lafayette as Guest Routemaster. He will be in touch with the Joining Instructions!

Cheers
Sandyballs

July 2022 Ramble expectation

Dear NERDS,

The next ramble is on Wednesday 20th July when we shall explore the environs of Newhaven and have lunch at La Luna Rossa,

an Italian establishment known to many of us,

Can you please let me know if you will be coming so that I can make culinary arrangements accordingly.

See you soon,

Laf.🙋