2024 May's Ramble Event

 

                                                                     

Fortunately out of all the shitty weather this week the NERDS picked the one day that was warm (actually hot), not raining and which did not have a gale blowing

the slates off the roofs, ie it was OK.

Lafayette organised it and we all met at NHN railway/ bus station on a bright ,warm, sunny (did I mention hot)

pleasant day, Sandyballs came by train, the Seaford contingent - Paco, Froggy and Matt came by bus. Bish

, Dio and Gorilla Brown sent their apologies.

Laf wanted to take everybody to The Sidings Supercaff

next to the river but again it seemed to be in financial difficulties so was not open. Oh dear, twenty minutes to waste until the Ark

opened at 11 30hrs so it was a very slow saunter over NHN bridge and down the road to the pub where at least you could sit in the boiling sun

(did I mention it was blisteringly hot?)

on the terrace to wait for the bar to open.

So pints served, we sat overlooking the river nervously watching out for the ferry

(why? we were no longer employed and there was no office to scamper back to) so we just sat (in the sun) and drank. Froggy

started to get noisy as usual but finally he twigged that he was actually going deaf (not to mention the rest of us), and could not hear how much he was shouting. (needing to turn up the television a lot gives a good clue Froggy!) So he decided to buy himself an ear trumpet.

After a second pint we slothed onwards towards The Hope

which was booked for lunch. When we arrived most of Newhaven had got there before us so that they could sit outside in the boiling, searing loverly, hot sun and drink lager and watch the ferry go by (which it did).

The food was ok. Laf had Caesar salad with chicken,

Matt and Froggy had fish and chips,

and Paco had a steak.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Sandyballs had to go home from The Ark because he had urgent familial tasks and a theatre trip.

Finally someone had a dessert and Paco and Laf had coffee cognac

with an extremely dubious brandy which nobody had ever heard of (made at the Newhaven Distillery, I guess).

Then we set off in the really, really hot burning, searing sun

back to NHN Centreville. On the way Matt wanted to stop at the COOp to get a Magnum

(no, not a gun!)

and so of course we all had to have one - except Froggy who got half a bottle of rum

to keep him going back to his house, and to counteract the effects of the awfully hot, boilingly searing sun which we had had to put up with all day.

So. a nice warm ramble with no photos cos Froggy is now officially deaf and can't hear your pleas, Brian. Just sprinkle a lot of dodgy looking fairies

into the picture section of the blog. ( I especially like the green ones with suspender belts)

and People will think you've (I've) written a masterpiece.

So long, enjoy the sun.

Lafayette.

May's Ramble so far

 Hopefully the "Hope Inn" 

is all set for the arrival of the NERDS on 15/5/2024.

BT

May

Ode To May

by Peter Burn 

Queen of months, supremely fair,

Cloth'd with garments rich and rare,

None in beauty can compare

With thee, sweet May. 

Lovely month, thou bringest mirth,

Spreadest sweetness o;er the earth,

Causest Nature to give birth

To fruits and flowers. 

Thou art lov'd by young and old.

Joys for each thou dost unfold;

Never shall our hearts grow cold

To thee, sweet May.

May's Ramble initial arrangements

Dear NERDS,

Sandyballs is taken up with other matters this month so has asked me to organise a "ramble"

The May ramble will therefore take place on Wednesday 15th and will start at between 11 00hrs and 11 15hrs from Newhaven Station.

We shall probably end up lunching at The Hope so if you can come please let me know so that I can book.

Hope to see some of you there.

Lafayette.

April Ramble News

 

Happy Saint George’s Day

As April’s ramble has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances we hope May’s will be itemised shortly.

Regards to all.

BT

Reply to Sandyballs' suggestion for April Ramble date

Sorry, Harry. I can only do 17th and 19th that week. I know the following week is out for you but the week after that is still technically April.

Charlie.

April's Ramble first arrangements

Hi,

This month there is a problem choosing a Wednesday, for me anyway. Anybody have a problem with Tuesday 16th?

Harry

April 1st 2024

 

Towards April

 

                                         So: March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day Ramble - Non Event!

                                            Oh to be in England 
                                            Now that April 's there,
                                            And whoever wakes in England
                                            Sees, some morning, unaware,
                                            That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
                                            Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
                                            While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

                                                 

                                             In England—now!

We all hope April’s ramble will be much better with participants, perambulation and the weather. I don’t think that it will be on All Fools Day, but who knows what Sandyballs will arrange? Froggy should be back from the far east should the arrangements be later in the month.  Our local flock of sparrows are busily feeding on the bird balls preparing for their parenthood.

Here in southern France the apricot, cherry and pear trees are in full blossom

and one can hear the bees busily collecting nectar from the flowers. Our local vines are still just sticks 

jutting out of the ground but will soon be putting forth green shoots and hopefully the wine this year will be fantastic. French Catalunya still has water restrictions as we are in the third year of a drought but it is not as bad as in Spain. I’m sure Paco has more up to date information on that score.

Saint Patrick's Day Gathering 17th March 2024

In lieu of a Ramble this month, Charlie and I plus a Mystery Guest

will be celebrating St. Paddy in Brighton this Sunday. Meeting in Wetherspoons - The Post and Telegraph in North Street - at about 11.15ish. Then to The Fiddlers Elbow for traditional music and the wearing of silly hats.

All are welcome.

Harry

2024 March Gathering of The NERDS

 

Hi all,

This month we are not walking anywhere (so what is new, I hear you cry). Instead we are joining forces with the millions of people throughout the world who identify with the Irish diaspora

( Joe Biden for example) and celebrate St Patrick's Day.

In Brighton. The day - March 17th - falls on a Sunday but that should not detract from the fun.

I am envisaging meeting for lunch in Wetherspoons

at lunchtime for a spot of grub and then moving on to The Fiddlers Elbow

for some Guiness and didlee-dee music. I am not expecting a huge turnout for this event but there may well be one or two non-NERDS to boost our numbers.

Back to normal next month. Whatever normal means these days,

More details to follow.

Harry

Budget Day 2024 for the NERDS

Budget Day and the NERDS

Not such a good day for us, as none of us are actually working and would be eligible for a National Insurance payment reduction! All the other adjustments do not effectively mean anything to us. We all have our own homes, cars, children, pets and alternative lifestyles!! So; until next month, when the increase in the OAP and CSP come into force we will just carry on and keep calm! Froggy is off to the “Far East” but has a return ticket! BT is complicating travel to Laos and Cambodia if the conflict abates otherwise will continue drinking wine and Calvados in the South of France. Harry will probably be chauffeuring his children around Sussex and Charles will hibernating in his “man cave” leering at the scantly clothed wenches on ‘Vevo’. Paco will be recovering from his latest holiday in the Mediterranean being cared for by sultry NHS district nurses! The Admiral will be covering his back in the light of the problems with the RNLI. The Bish will be drumming up money to pay for the slavery reparations of the CofE

The NERDS will continue and make the best of the UK except BT who is immured somewhat in Pyrénées-Oriental.

Regards

BT

February's 2024 Ramble

Yes. it was wet and ultimate very windy!.

Seaford station ticket kiosk was closed. So usual old git struggles to work out R/T

to Cooksbridge. Train delayed by 6 mins. Thinking about a kraken in Steamworks

when El Almirante appeared looking decidedly wet and bedraggled,

quickly followed



by the Bish,

with tales of woe about passport and the entire contents of his fridge theft

from outta Hilary's bag in Lisbon. Their trip to Cabo Verde was consequently cut short.

Delayed train at Newhaven took on board Steve and we 4 met Harry on platform 2

as arranged. Stepping out at Cooksbridge into light but insistent rain.

Timed the

walk along the noisy road to 12 minutes to the Rainbow. [That is 5 miles per hour!]. Somehow I don't think

that this is anywhere near a mile (though it felt like it in days of yore).

So, table for 5 in the backroom together with another group of 13 at another table. Noisy

enough to out-shout usual Nerds volumes but not enough to be in the face as was the

last lot next to us in the Rights of Man for Charlie's 77th birthday ramble. All plumped for the carvery.


No wine, only Harveys and Long Man. And no dessert. Quick walk back and thence to Lewes.

Parted from Harry, who had grandad driving duties

as none of his family cared about the

fact that he was on a ramble, and as such the sacred "allowed all one could drink and excused

of all duties" adage went truly out the window! Not that Harry or any of us seemed to care anymore.

Missed Charlie and Paco and Matt. And had they came, we would have had the maximum attendance

of modern day Nerds, at 8. The cords have a similar maximum number, so we must count our blessings

for such modest maximum turnouts and not worry too much when the average attendance dips to 3/4.

Sadly Brian, I never once thought to take any pics. It wasn't the kind of ramble to encourage it. Sorry!

Froggy

Tomorrow's final line up and arrangements.

Hi,

We meet tomorrow, Wednesday, to visit The Rainbow Pub at Cooksbridge. I have been informed that both Charlie and Paco have reported sick with (Man) flu. Fear not, Matt is going to attend, albeit by car and The Admiral has promised to be there as well. With Tony and, hopefully Steve we should be 5 or 6 at table.

There is a very good chance of rain tomorrow so wear something sensible or take a brolly!

Cheers
Harry

February's Ramble arrangements

Hi,



First of all, very sorry to hear about Paco. Hope for a speedy recovery and a safe return to Blighty. Via a luxury hotel suite with hot tub perhaps! Paco – stay away from the Canary Islands!

Anyway, this month we meet on Wednesday 21st. A gentle stroll to The Rainbow

in Cooksbridge beckons. We will be enjoying the carvery which was excellent last time. I have booked for 5 or 6 as I don’t know how many we will be at table. Steve hopefully will be joining us.

I’m not sure if Matt will be driving or taking the train but I have booked the meal for 12.45. Those arriving by train should take the 11.24 from Seaford. I will meet you on Platform 2 at Lewes station.

Cheers

Harry

Happy Chinese New Year 2024

 

Malcolm's Wake

 

                                                                   Malcolm (Bronco)

Yesterday we waked Bronco although it was anything but woke. He had sadly died on January 5th and had been cremated by Maria a day or so ago.
The Bish alerted the NERDS to the wake which was to be held at Malcolm's favourite (and nearest) pub, The Anchor at Ringmer.
Lafayette got on the phone and managed to round up Steve Gorilla Brown, Colin MBE Crowe, and Roger and Ed Coombe from The Darkside ( a minor rambling group). Surprisingly they all managed to make it (one with only a couple of hours notice).
The grand meeting took place at Lewes station where Lafayette, Paco and Froggy met Les Autres and were then bundled off quickly to Waitrose to get the 28 bus.
With five minutes to spare we got the bus and Laf. telephoned Sandyballs so that he could be picked up at the end of his road.
Getting a bunch of NERDS and Les Autres into the same location from disparate places is a logistical nightmare but finally we arrived at The Anchor just as things were starting to kick off. Apparently the whole pub had been reserved for this special occasion and there were lots of people we didn't know there who had come to celebrate Bronco. Maria was not there, however, even though she must have paid for it all.
The NERDS et Les Autres grabbed some tables by the fire and got served drinks by a jolly waitress. Then more drinks, then more drinks. The waitress service was pretty impeccable and in addition there was a hefty brandy ration doled out to everyone so that we could drink to Bronco's memory.
Then we had more drinks and laid into the free sausage rolls and sandwiches and took lots of photos of each other so that we could remember who we were. At one point a small delegation arrived from Newhaven Port. There was Shirley and another nice girl plus Can of Beans and somebody else called Simon. It was all very jolly which is what a proper wake should be.
Finally someone thought we ought to pay for the vast number of drinks we'd had and then, since we were probably in the middle of Storm Zebedee and there was a bus to catch which only turned up once a week, we wound it all up and departed.
Lafayette has vague memories of leading everyone into The Lansdown Arms but after that things got a bit misty.
It had been a good wake with lots of people there all of which testified to Bronco's popularity and in his favourite pub too. We shall probably all remember him for different reasons but especially for his good nature and bawdy humour; he was the Rabelais of The NERDS.
All for now.
Lafayette,