Yes, the real thing! Boots on the ground. Not a zoom screen!


We meet on THURSDAY the 29th. Destination The Cricketers in Berwick. I have booked a table there for 12.30. The menu is basically ‘pub grub’ and can be viewed on line. Coincidentally Barbara and I are dining there with friends this Tuesday so I will be able to give you some feedback.

So. The Seaford ‘community’ should take the 10.25 train which arrives at Lewes at 10.41 on Platform 4. I will join you at Platform 3 where the connection to Berwick leaves from at 10.47. We arrive at our destination at 10.58 which gives enough time for a pint at The Berwick Inn (which opens at 7AM!) I don’t think we need to book a table for a quick drink - given the hour and the rural location.

See you there!

Harry

 

Hello NERDS,

2021 has arrived and we are still mired in the new year problems with Covid-19 covering all the country.  Here in France we have had snow:-

I gather that the UK has also had some snow but not so much in the Sussex area.  Today all the snow has gone and the sun is shining and the birds twittering on the bird table vacuuming up all the sunflower seeds!

Froggy has arisen from his hibernation and has begun emailing with a vengeance and appears to be back on the “sauce”.  However, he does not appear to have the universal panacea against all ills, including the present pandemic, ‘Calvados’.  Here in France we have ample supplies although the vaccination against Covid-19 will not begin soon and us oldies will only get the “jab” sometime in March!  (Macron strikes again).

We are all looking forward to the next ZOOM meeting on Wednesday 20^th January.

Froggy's suggestion for 2020 October ramble

Hi Harry

I seem to remember that, years ago The Shining Light recommended an Eastbourne pub crawl. But it was all on pavements and we can't do that sort of thing during lockdown. I am not familiar with the "far" side of the town so my one and only suggestion is to do the old chestnut favourite of walking down off the Downs to either the Pilot or the Ship (we'll have to agree on one of them for booking purposes). We would need to get off the bus at the Eastbourne Downs Golf Club/South Downs Way bus stop. We have all done this walk so there would be no surprises. After lunch we could follow the usual promenade walk and could always try and pop into the Buccaneer en route back to the bus stop/train station? I know Matt enjoys this one! One for further discussion in the zoom. Seaford ETA at 10 might be a little early, unless we take refreshment in the Old Boot, which actually opens at 10. I'll make a note of the bus times so that there's no time wasting at the library bus stop.

Cheers!

Froggy

October 2020 Arrangement suggestion

 

Hi all,


This month we meet on Wednesday 21st. I am contemplating a shortish ramble around the Eastbourne area. We haven’t been there collectively for some years and it is largely terra incognita for your Routemaster, so I would appreciate some help and ideas from those of the Seaford community.

Shall we meet at Seaford Railway station at about 10.00 ? Then a number 12 bus ride. Let me know if you have any thoughts. By the way the scheduled Zoom meeting is the day before so we may as well stick to that. I will send out the usual log-in details nearer the time - it is the same as before of course.

Glad we are not back in lockdown!

Harry

September 2020 joining instructions

This month the renascent NERDS walk on Wednesday 23rd. As previously stated, the event will be centred in Lewes, so Seaford types should take the 10.25 train and I will meet you outside Lewes station .Don’t forget your face mask! We will take a gentle stroll to The Blacksmiths Arms in Offham. We have been there before but the pub under the new management now does Jamaican food. You can look at the menu online and have a moan to yourselves about the prices. However, there should be a 25% discount on the day we visit. I have booked a table for 12.15.


We shall have time in Lewes for a coffee before the walk as most pubs (including our lunchtime destination and The Brewers) do not now open until 12 noon. I would NOT suggest a drink at The Volunteer!

No Zoom NERDS session on Sunday 20th as we are away for the weekend.

See you next week.

Harry

Covid-19 April Fools' Day

Dear NERDS,

What fascinating times we find ourselves enjoying in the twilight of our years. 

Given the slightly better weather and the drying out of the land we should be anticipating striding out in a mud-free landscape, listening to the sound of birdsong and the buzzing of bees…….Our destination would be an agreeable rural hostelry, perhaps with a thatched roof and roses around the door. Inside a smiling, buxom barmaid would be dispensing foaming pints at astonishingly low prices. Well, we can only dream.

Ultimately, when we get to the other side of all this I hope the NERDS can reconvene and rise Phoenix-like from the ashes and start rambling (and drinking) again.

Stay safe, all the usual clichés and keep in touch.

Harry

St Patrick's Day Ramble - Cancelled

Sorry, but our "ramble" for today is cancelled .

Have a drink at home instead.

Happy St Patrick's Day (Oh, the irony!)

Lafayette.

New Joining Instructions 15.3.2020

Dearest NERDS,


In view of certain fears by certain members, the ramble this Tuesday will be modified.

It would probably not be a good idea to go into Brighton and mingle with the dirty, filthy hoi poloi that infest this den of iniquity.

We shall therefore meet as usual chez moi for a St Patrick's drink and visit Rottingdean for drinks and a meal at The Plough.

We shall be travelling on public transport so those who are scared of infection may wish to book their own taxi or sedan chair.

See you all on Tuesday. Keep washing those hands! 

Lafayette.

Joining Instructions for St. Patrick's Day Ramble March 2020

Dear NERDS,



We shall celebrate St Patrick, patron saint of Jamesons, on Tuesday 17th March.

The plan is to meet up chez Lafayette between 10 and 10 30 where we shall have a drink and hatch our plans.

These will probably include taking the bus to Rottingdean and going to The Plough for lunch.

After this a trip to the fleshpots of Brighton cannot be ruled out.

So dig out your old green jumpers and don't forget your buspasses

See you all on the 17th.

Lafayette.

March 2020 day Arrangements

St Paddy's Day (on a Tuesday the 17th) has been chosen for the March ramble and we'll at least be able to welcome Dio, who absolutely loves doing this!

Twill be sad not to see Michael there but I'm sure he'll be toasted and remembered more than once.

2020 February's "ramble"

We had a very strange ramble today with me being the only one to leave Seaford. Charlie joined me at Newhaven and Harry at Lewes. No sign of Matt, Tubby, Bish, Paco or Malcolm at Lewes with Harry. So, even though this was Tony's gig he notified Harry that he couldn't come as he had a cold and was going off somewhere tomorrow - huh! Matt chose to drive to the pub as he had a cough (didn't hear it once) and Tubby had his usual better offer. Don't know about Malcolm but Paco also turned up in his car at the pub having arrived for the next train and re-reading Harry's joining instructions! We 3 arrived at the Rainbow at 11:05. No alcohol until 12:00 and the coffees were lukewarm! Pleasant chilling was interrupted by migratory wildebeest old trouts and we had to get to the booked table sharpish to get out carvery roasts in sensibly good time! Good value roasties and we all enjoyed a good lunch. Matt was going to Sainsburys and took Harry & Charlie so I chose to go with Paco and check out North Way to see if anything was happening with Mike's gaff - zilch, nada, nothing! Apart from actual rain-called-off rambles, this one has to go down in history as the shortest ramble I've ever been on (sung to that well known Philby tune). Found myself at home well before 15:00!!!

February 2020 Ramble joining instructions

Our next meet is on Wednesday 12th. Once again we can look forward to a short ramble this time, which may be music to (some of ) your ears.

This time we can thank Tony for our choice of lunch destination. 

He spotted that The Rainbow Carvery just outside Cooksbridge does a roast dinner on a Wednesday for only £8.95p. Apparently the food is good as well, as Tony has tried the carvery there on a Sunday.

I will book a table for 6 persons as I ever know how many NERDS are actually going to turn up.

Anyway, the train to go for is the 10.25 from Seaford. I (and hopefully Malcolm) will meet you on Platform 2. There are trains going back to Lewes at convenient times.

See you on the day.

Harry

Further February Ramble date suggestion

Hi all,

How about Wednesday 12th? Any objections?

Harry

February 2020 Ramble suggestions

Happy New Year to all Nerds...........


.........and now what about the February ramble? I'm having such a bizzy life (ho bloody ho) that dates need to be agreed before my diary fills up (no bloody no). It was somewhat left at "mid Feb" and I was hoping that maybe we could ramble and remember MC on his birthday on 15th Feb but alas that falls on a Saturday. Over to you Nerd Founder Members................and let's hope there can be a walk of sorts, one that can accommodate gripey knees and other such ailments? I myself am having a hell of a job just getting my left leg into undies!!! I'm told it is hip. But I don't see anything cool about it!!!

Froggy XXX

The New Year, Lafayette Birthday Ramble

The January 2020 Ramble


Starting at Lewes Station the NERDS:- Froggy, Paco, Matt, Malcolm, Harry, Tony, Dio and Lafayette were joined by the Darksiders:- Ed, Sheila, Jane, Marion and Debbie.

A trip went up Southover street and immediately had a pit stop at The Kings Head. Harry and I had sussed this revamped place out previously just to make sure it was still selling beer. It was. Then along the road to Kingston for lunch at The Juggs.

Lunch wasn't bad. Malcolm turned up late so we ate his starter; then he turned up - ha, ha! I spent a fortune on prosecco for the girlies (and everyone else) but it was nice stuff and I'm not an expert. Then the NERDS all seemed to slide off leaving me to take all the Darksiders to The Depot by the station where we all drank gin. So not a bad ramble - but a bit expensive.

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