Happy NEW YEAR

 

January 2025 Ramble Arrangements

Hi all.

A belated Xmas greeting to everyone and a Happy New Year to all NERDS, NERD partners, Nerdlings, grand- Nerdlings and possibly great- grand Nerdlings (Brian?}

Anyway the date for our January non-ramble will be Wednesday 15th. A home game for those of a Seaford persuasion. Meet at the Steamworks

(NERDS approved) at the usual time. Lunch will be at the Pablo Picasso.

I will probably book a table so please let me know if you are NOT going to be there.

Must go now as I am off to have a fitting for a new pair of heavy-duty rambling boots! 

Regards
Harry

THE 2024 CHRISTMAS EXCURSION

 

We were Sandyballs,

Laf,

Froggo,

Paco,

The Bish,

Matt,

and the Admiral.

Thanks to SB who had to change the venue from the Laughing Fish

because of slowness and indifference on the part of the pub we were saved a shitty ramble across fields under a gloomy sky and a drizzly weather.

We met at Lewes and picked up SB then "rambled" round to The Gardeners

which was not open yet (it being before 11 00hrs). Laf sat outside an antique shop in Cliffe High St salivating at all the treasures within until the pub opened.

When the barmaid had finally sorted out the beer pumps the NERDS began drinking the Harvey's Old - a good aperitif,

and then had another one for luck.

Then we had to run back to the bus station to get the bus which although we allegedly had five minutes in hand, left as soon as we were on board - Whew!

We decanted at the end of Ringmer and made our way to The Anchor

where we met the Admiral who had sailed in in his flash BMW.

There was a large raucous group inside which consisted of the Fire Service one of whom was retiring. However the NERDS

were well seated and catered for

with the Christmas menu being excellent.

SB spent his time swapping his sprouts for everyone else's roast potatoes. The waitresses

were young and nubile,

as they should be and all went well.

When we broke up the Admiral took Bish, Matt and Laf back in his lovely car and the rest of the hoi polloi followed by bus.

The Anchor had been a good choice and thanks to SB for his organising.

All for now. Merry Christmas to all NERDS and their wives and see you back in 2025.

Luv from Lafayette.

NEW CHRISTMAS RAMBLE 2024 ARRANGEMENTS

 

Dear NERDS,

Sorry about this but I am going to be cancelling our meal at The Laughing Fish. The problem is that the pub has new owners and they seem somewhat disorganised at present. They have no website at the moment and although they promised to phone me to confirm my booking, I have received no call from them. They are not doing food today and of course our tentative booking was for next Tuesday. The signs were not good.

Nil desperandum. I have booked an alternative meal at The Anchor Inn in Ringmer.

This pub is well known to me and the food is usually good. They are well organised and reliable. It is also the late Malcolm Senior's pub of choice, of course. Also it is actually easier to get to by bus than The Laughing Fish - a bus every half hour rather that every 1-2 hours.

Can you all study the Xmas Menu on the pub website and PLEASE let me know your choices ASAP.

The usual 10.25 train from Seaford then. Probably a pint at the Gardeners in Lewes and a bus at about 12 noon.

Sorry about this late change of plan. The usual NERDS flexibility!

Harry.

Christmas 2024 Changes for the venue!

Dear all,

There have been some problems with the location for this year's Xmas meal. The Pablo Picasso could not accommodate us as they have a large group booked that day. So I have booked at The Laughing Fish which has been popular with NERDS for a few years now. There are a few complications. Firstly they are under new ownership so we are going to have to hope and trust that the quality is as good as before, Secondly their website has been hacked by some Indonesian outfit so I have made a provisional telephone booking. The pub hopes that an alternative website will be in place by the end of the week.

Just to remind you that the date is TUESDAY 10th. I have booked a meal for about 12.30 hrs. Hopefully we can do the usual and take a bus to The Halfway House for a pint then walk across the fields to The Fish. I have yet to work out the timings. More details to follow of course.

I trust that the Menu reaches you OK. Please find attachment? Hope I pressed the right buttons!

Harry

November 2024 Ramble

 

Well, the day before, the weather was shitty

and cold, and the day after we had sleet, but the day of the ramble we had the luck of the NERDS and the weather was very pleasant and sunny.

Just right for a winter get-together.

Laf and Sandyballs met at Newhaven bus station but there was no sign of Froggy and Matt. The Bish had phoned in sick, and Paco was on his holidays exploring the hospitals of Spain again.

Laf and S.B. waited and waited. Finally a 12A bus arrived with Les Autres and a tale of just missing the previous bus by their fingernails. Froggy had heard of an art exhibition nearby

where Mrs Froggy was exhibiting a couple of paintings so we decided to explore. The exhibition was being held on the East bank of the Mighty Ouse near a cafe (Mamouche)

in an area of Newhaven that Laf had never visited before. How bizarre.

Anyway the exhibition was being held in a large, airy, light building which had previously been part of a tech. college next to the old Customs Hall. With a bit of luck Froggy may have taken some photos of the paintings there for you , Brian. Froggy identified some of his wife's masterpieces and we all agreed they were very nice.

Time was now pressing so Laf reverted to his Plan C which involved walking over The bridge into NHN and hurrying down to The Ark

for a crafty aperitif

inside rather than outside (because it was cold) watching for the arrival of the ferry as in previous times.

After this we had a pleasant walk along the quay to La Luna Rossa

for lunch. Here Laf was greeted by his favourite waiter Sean

and his favourite owner, Rosario, who was waiting for him with a glass of wine already poured (sounds like Phiby's ideal situation).

The meal was up to its usual standard.

Matt was accosted by a strange female who was quite attractive although old, and quite unlike the usual females who throw themselves at Matt. Turned out to be a Rosemary, one of Brian Atrill's cast-offs, so good luck there, Matt.

After that we all cleared off for a pleasant walk back up the quay and homeward bound. Because of his new sex appeal and charisma Matt has been chosen to book the NERDS Christmas ramble meal in Seaford at Picassos on December 10th. Absent NERDS please note the date.

All for now.
Lafayette.

November 2024 Ramble Arrangements

Dear NERDS,

Joining Instructions for next Wednesday 20th November are as follows:

We meet at Newhaven bus station at about 11 15hrs whereupon there will be a short walk round the town with a pit stop somewhere, followed by lunch at that famous restaurant La Luna Rossa.

Anybody coming who has not yet told me, please reply as the restaurant will need numbers.

Hasta la vista

Lafayette.