Remembrance

HI,

This Thursday, the 30th, marks one year since the passing of Charlie Swann. To mark this I thought it would be an idea to meet up for a drink. Therefore Barbara and I will be in The Rights of Man in Lewes from about 1PM. I realise that this is short notice and that the CORDS are meeting the following day. No need to confirm attendance or otherwise (unless you want to of course) just turn up if you fancy it.

If the weather is fine we msy well be upstairs on the sun terrace.

Cheers
Harry

Times passed - just 36 years!

Ramble number 20 —Tuesday 28.2.90

Participants:- Sandyballs, Lafayette, Matt, Felipe, Tonker, Maid Marian.


The day started on a dramatic note when Sandyballs received an early morning phone call from the Managing Director of Fray Bentos accusing him of illegal consumption of one of his products. Sandyballs thought this was a load of pie in the sky but nevertheless, terrified at the thought of an Argentiinian death squad arriving at his house t rub him out, immediately telephoned Rent-a -Diplomat and requested assistance. Lafayette, who was trying to eke out his pitiful language allowance and who was moonlighting for the said company, was despatched to pour oil on troubled waters. He ended up with sore and chapped w3workaday hands and has vowed since that he and Sandyballs will become vegetarians!

Things then went from bad to worse for the ramble with half the NERDS crying off because of suspected food-poisoning, domestic strife or just a general unwillingness to get up on a wet February morning. Nevertheless a quorum of hard-core types was assembled chez Sandyballs and bundles into Matt’s car to set out to meet Tonker Toms who, as this months organiser, was due to guide us round some obscure part of Sussex.

On arrival at Withyham we found that our guide seemed to have swapped his luscious wife of the night before for a new Caledonian girlfriend who seemed vaguely familiar to those participants of Ramble No:14. She har last been seen carrying Donut Dennett’s cool-box around and acting as (almost) sole rep from Gatwick. Maid Marian (for ’twas she) quickly rejected her supposed role as Tinker’s aide de camp and stated firmly that she was her own mistress and would outdrink us all at the first pub we came to. (Fair enough, we thought, if we’ve got to have a woman along she might as well be a boozer. Who knows what she’ll do after a few pints, heh! heh!).


So off we went into the driving rain. Tonker sett a crippling pace which took poor Felipe quite by surprise and left him a good half a mile adrift. Evidently he was musing about whether to try out a new career as a barrister in view of his recent outstanding legal success. Meanwhile Lafayette had come across the remains of a dead rambler lying in the middle of a field and was insisting on being photographed while giving him a decent burial. However the stench from poor Yorick’s skull quickly put an end to such altruistic intentions.

We were led through woods, around race tracks, up hills, down dales and through mud. Sandyballs, it is well known hates mud. He hates getting wet even more and treated us all to a delicate and unsuccessful balancing act while changing his trousers in the middle of the road. Not a good idea this. The NERDS fell about with helpless laughter while Maid Marian had to be physically restrained from throwing herself on Sandyballs in sheer lust. (Jim’s been away a long time). Eventually the contortions were finished so we chucked a bucket of water over M.M. and got under way again.

Stopping briefly to play “Pooh-sticks” at a famous bridge in the Ashdown Forest, Felipe and Sandyballs had to give up almost immediately because they had both left their glasses behind and couldn’t distinguish between their twigs and the local brand of effluent which was lazily drifting downstream. Felipe kept trying vainly to uncork the wine he had brought along for elevenses but Tonker hustled everyone away in the direction of the pub where we were to dine.

Dinner was at The Anchor in Hartfield where to celebrate the day we ordered steak and kidney pudding (what else!) and remembered the poor demented souls who had been unable to join us. It was decided that Tinker’s sense of direction had occasionally outshone that of Sandyballs (but bot that often) and that his taking us all up a nasty hill of pure mud and then back down the same way qualified him for life membership of the NERDS Fukarwee tribe. And so Tonker was awarded his orange badge for persistence, as was Maid Marian who promptly repaid Sandyballs by squabbling with him about his choice of malt whiskey and by playing footsie with Lafayette just to get him jealous.

Congrats therefore to Tonker for his robust attempt at orienteering and to Maid Marian who, by unanimous decision, was voted a full member for the Dieppe Raid II due to her ability to hold her drink but who had sadly refused to wave her knickers in the air to show us what colour they were. We shall work on this aspect of her education next month in France. 

Finally Lafayette would like to thank all his supporters who had shown their concern for his safety as a result of the incident last month with the ‘Chartres’. In addition he would like to answer one or two questions which people even now keep asking him:-
Yes, he was glad to get back.
Yes, the crossing had been a bit bumpy,
No, he has not been awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the mayor of Dieppe.
. No, Sylvie had not been screaming at the sight of his naked body when he had been putting on his life-jacket - in fact she had thought she was going to drown.
No, the Captain of the ship did not seek his advice on what to do next when the window was smashed on the bridge.
And No, Brigitte Langchamp did not ask him to marry her and father her children as a reward for holding her hand when things got rough.

So now you all know.

Au revoir. See you next month in Dieppe.

Lafayette.

Notes from the July 2026 gathering

July “Ramble” 2026


We first visited The Trevor for an expensive pint. Maybe the prices had been increased for the Love Supreme festival? Anyway we sat in the pub garden in the sunshine and chewed the fat

After an exhausting ramble to the other side of the tracks we relocated to the Glynde branch of the Steamworks. We enjoyed more reasonably priced foaming pints and cheap pub grub.

There you have it. An enjoyable time had by all. We could do the trip again some time but reverse the schedule - have a pint in the Steamworks and eat in The Trevor?

Slim pickings but at least it is something!

Sandyballs.

July 2026 Final arrangements

Hi all,

Hope everyone is looking forward to the trip to Glynde. We should be 5 or 6 at table. I shall book a table at the Steamworks after a pint at The Trevor Arms.

Travel details as follows: Take the 11.24 train from Seaford, arriving at Lewes at 11.41, Plenty of time for a coffee or whatever at The Runaway Cafe before the onward service at 12.14.

See you on the day

Harry

July Final Arrangements

Thanks for the replies, guys. Let us meet on Wednesday July 1st. Details to follow!


Cheers

Harry

June 2026

At the recent CORDS meeting, some Legacy NERDS members expressed an interest in meeting up for a non- ramble at Glynde. We had previously discussed taking the train to Glynde and visiting both pubs, probably lunching at the Steamworks.

Looking at the calendar I would suggest Wednesday 1st July or possibly 2nd, 6th or 7th. Let me know if any of those dates are good for you. If I have some idea of numbers I will try to book a table at the Steamworks.

Look forward to hearing....

This feels like old times!

Harry

1st April 2026

 

NO March Ramble this year 2026

So March 2026 is passing with no “Ramble” organised! Sandyballs has been in and out of hospital, Froggy has been performing at the odd pub gig,

 Matt has been seen at the local pubs and restaurants, Dave has been visiting Sandyballs and keeping up his spirits, as for Paco I don’t know where he has been, and I’m enjoying the delights of the Pyrénées-Orientales spring 

and attending the local Mayoral elections. We do not get much news of Great Britain over here but it seems that the United Kingdom has gone to the dogs under “Sir Keir Starmer” that well known ‘toolmaker’s’ son.

 But who are we to complain as we have our own problems under the Parisienne electorate!

World events being what they are we are all waiting to see what happens next in the Middle East.

 So far my baby brother, that well known cinema projectionist, is managing the hazards of his family’s location.

To end on a different note our local flock of sparrows have been making the most of the spring weather 

and being what they are they are all pairing off to make further offspring. Even the odd visit from the sparrow hawk 

has not been too much trouble for them.

I hope April and Easter will be more adventurous with all the NERDS gathering!

Cancellation of February's Ramble 2026

Hi all.

I guess all or most of you will by now have heard of Harry (and Matt's) woes. As we get older even the slightest accident or surgery can cause more longer-lasting grief than when we were younger.

Without the 2 remaining founder members, it just wouldn't be right to continue with Wednesday’s planned outing to Glynde. Let us hope that normal service can resume sometime soon.

Best wishes to you all and see you whenever?

Phil

(Froggy)

February 2026 Sandyballs' fall!

Hi All,

Bit of a disaster. I had a fall at home and have damaged my tibia. Needs an op.Am currently in A&E Brighton waiting transferred to the ward

Can you email the NERDS and tell them the news. Obviously I cannot make the ramble. Might be an idea to postpone? Please let me know what you think.

Also include the Bish.

Will keep you posted. No booze involved in the accident!

Harry