Brett and Sarah's - 23rd July 2008

Run Report by John

Brett and Sarah's decision to postpone their barby from earlier in the month bore fruit as the sun shone and the air temperature reached something that might reasonably be called 'summer'.

Apart from the temperature, nothing else really changed. There was the usual delay at the start - no not from the Roddick / Huxtable circus nor Fred leaving the house late. This was the very popular local builder from Oakwood who had endeared themselves very early on to Brett and Sarah by damaging their wall during week one of the development progressing opposite. Not surprisingly Brett was not in the mood to assist with his broken down white van but everyone else was so Brett left us to get on with it. With enthusiasm that could only be described as maniacal, we sprinted up the road with the intention of giving the van a push. Once there a full service inspection was carried out by Roddick, Huxtable, Taylor with a bemused builder looking on . The conclusion after much discussion and with full Minutes taken was that the van was f#####d. A few sighs of relief were heard amongst the assembled mechanical ignoramusses and with guilt building by the second, the party just about managed to drag themselves away for the main purpose of the evening.

With Sarah leading the way, we embarked upon a very pleasant jaunt through Coney Copse, up onto Harvest Moor and Hillgrove Wood to the outer edges of Cookham Rise and down through Winter Hill golf course where the party split and made their respective ways home either via Cock Marsh or Patches. (Yes I know the area well).

Brett and Sarah's water bill ballooned through the roof as the girls decided to shower and change whilst the 'sweaties' decided to drink beer and annoy Brett with questions about the forthcoming new property over the road. Apparently demolition had started but that did not put off the Roddick / Huxtable clan from parking within demolition distance of the main property. Jules looked suitably put out when some polish lady demanded that he move the car otherwise it would be locked in. Bloody foreigners.

Welcome additons at this stage were Presso and Diana. Presso was boasting that he had been working that day (its ok for some). He also managed to confirm his position as number one phyromaniac with a bonfire that had nearly destroyed adjacent commercial installations - all described without a hint of concern. He was obviously entirely confident about Rodders' accidental damage insurance. Diana was doing her best to look happy at the prospect of a weekend away with David at a local B & B in Bournemouth. David was struggling to recall all the details but no doubt he will reveal all next - that's if Diana hasn't dumped him.

Superb ribs, kebabs, burgers, sausages were supremely cooked by Brett and guzzled down by the assembled gut buckets alongside salads, spaghetti (sorry don't know the technical name), potato salad and dressings. I did consider a second helping bearing in mind Jerome wasn't there. Fat chance - the naughty bench and Susie had scoffed the lot (proof of how delicious it was). PS. Naughty bench was Steve and Presso with Kate stuck in the middle really stirring it up. Yes she was drinking which probably didn't help. Oh yes and then came the puddings served elegantly by Amanda to both tables - probably so she could ensure her favourite didn't get eaten and the portions were rationed accordingly. Lime cheesecake and brownies with lovely thick clotted cream were enjoyed washed down with Rebellion beer and a very nice red. Sorry didn't try the white.

All that remained at the end of the evening (apart from waiting for Rodders to finish his brownie and clotted cream) was to say an enormous thank you to Sarah and Brett for hosting and supplying all the food and most importantly feeding my kids. You did us proud and hugely appreciated. I hope that you managed to get lots of volunteers for clearing up..................yeah when hell freezes over maybe.

Next week I have decided rather inevitably on The Squirrel in Penn Street.

See you all there.
John

Grouse & Ale, Lane End - 16th July 2008

Run Report by Richard

A very warm and muggy evening in Lane End started out with runners Jules and Amanda, Chris and Susie, Steve and Steve, Selwyn, David, Brett and myself.

Jules took us up through ASBO central, as we passed the playground I was in last place and felt exposed to attack from the snipers on the swings and the potential ambush from the hedges. Hastily I caught up with David and Selwyn to provide the attackers a greater choice.

The run was excellent with only one moment of deliberation over the correct route, this took us into the middle of a corn field where we found a sign post doing an impression of a bus stop. I’m sure pictures were taken. Susie fell over on route but was up and running in seconds without complaint and Amanda started to questions her husband’s accuracy over how far we were from home, even asking to view the map! Mutiny in the ranks! We split off into two groups for the final leg but all arrived back within 10/15 minutes of each other, I was sweating like an Israeli bus driver.

Drinks consumed included Broadside, San Miguel, Kronie, G & T, Fosters and White Wine. Food has progressed since I last ran, we were served posh chips the size of mars bars, stacked in a way that made you want to play jenga not eat them. This raised the question as to whether they were cut from one potato or reconstituted from mash? Were they even triple fried? Well they were certainly good with salt and ketchup and we rationed them out 1.5 each. Susie described her days of childhood, having breakfast in the kitchen dressed for school but minus knickers while mum dried them on the boiler. (I hope I’ve got this correct) Anyway Susie joked that it was always a worry that she’d leave for school commando! Jules creatively added that having the milkman walk in while the girls were having breakfast and strategically placing bottles of milk on the floor would have been interesting. (Is this correct? Wednesday seems a long time ago) Jules then went on to the random content of his dreams……………………….. In future I think we should stick to crisps and nuts.

Brett very kindly said that next week he and Sarah would host a BBQ (weather permitting), I’m sure he’ll provide info on what to bring etc.

The Gate, Bryants Bottom, 9th July

Sorry for the latesness of this report, it's taken me this long to work out how to post on the blog, but I have managed it all on my own with no help from our blog master!


Undeterred by the extreme weather conditions a fine turnout by clearly the heartiest and most disciplined members of our running crew…..Kate, Jerome, David, Selwyn, Amanda, Jules, Duds, Steve, John, Chris and I. We met in the Gate Car park, you could tell the serious runners were out in force by the now familiar rectangular bulge at their wrist.(Hidden from view under waterproof jackets) Duds and I had brief discussion on whether we could tape a tic-tac box to our wrist to give the impression we were also serious runners but in the end we decided the rattling of tic-tacs would give the game away.
As has become customary we set off up a steep hill to really get our hearts pumping. I don’t remember much more about the run apart from rain and more rain, endless puddles and very wet feet. We did all stick together for the complete route but I think the old “ it’s really not much further this way……..” is wearing a bit thin!

As I don’t have one of those bulges at my wrist I can’t give you the run stats but I’m sure it was a least twenty two tic-tacs.

We received a warm welcome at the gate, which has been smartened up and apart from the canaries is really quite an acceptable venue. The girls missed most of the initial conversation as they decided that the car park was really to wet to get changed in and they would have to resort to changing in the ladies loo. …it’s so much easier to do your lippy with a proper mirror instead of squatting by the car and using the wing mirror!

Kate kindly lent her towel to Duds and then discovered he’s used it to dry his ‘ nads. (Duds even gave a lively demo of how he dried his ‘ nads….mmmm lovely!!) I expect that’s one for the boil wash, Kate.

Luckily the conversation moved to slightly higher ground, when Amanda commented on David’s smart grey ensemble and there followed a debate as to whether it was indeed a tank top with t-shirt attached or if it fact they were separate items. David soon clarified the matter, it was actually a twin set from Polo.

The usual banter followed….

Next weeks run from the Grouse and Ale, Lane End.

Susie

The Fox at Ibstone, 2nd July 2008

Run Report by Amanda

I have been tasked with doing this week’s run report. I guess it is my turn and Steve, please note that it has been completed and posted prior to the imposed deadline so hopefully I will not incur any penalties.

The following showed up: Duds, Kate, Jerome, Selwyn, Brett, Spider, Pete, David, Jules, Chris, Steve and me. Jules and Chris ran there and just arrived before we all set off. I had drunk rather too much wine at lunchtime and had decided in advance that I was going to do a short run at a slow pace .Brett did then have a very sensible idea that from now on one person had to come along to the run having got bladdered at lunchtime - great idea Brett (not I can tell you). Luckily for me all agreed that it as to be a short 40 minute run as I knew that I would not be able to last any longer without passing out.

Just after setting off Chris disappeared into the bushes and I cannot repeat what Jerome referred to it as because Kate might never speak to me again. Steve marked arrows at every junction for Chris so he could follow our tracks. Chris did catch us up but he had taken a different route and failed to see the big arrows marked on the gravel. For the first 20 minutes most of the run was downhill so I knew what we would have to face to get back to the pub - a big long hill and it was just that. However I made it up the hill in one (albeit very slow) go - thanks to my pacemaker Jerome.

Jules has just read this report and mentioned that I have not said much about the route – the reason for that is that I have no idea where we ran although he has told me that we ran across Ibstone common, downhill through the woods to near Turville, turned right and then back up the hill and that there were some great views.

We made it back to the pub in 42 minutes - much to the disgust of Jules and Steve who reported that we had only run about 3.25 miles. It was certainly the shortest run of the season so far. The Fox has recently been refurbished and we sat outside on the newly decked patio in the sun. Pete said that he was going to buy the first round to celebrate the fact that his daughter Laura had just achieved a first class honours degree in marine biology - congratulations and thanks Pete. Pete did also mention that wife and oldest daughter had also got firsts so I guess the first rounds are on Pete for the next few weeks!

I cannot remember the topics of conversation in the pub although at various times Kate was in hysterics and I was not sure if she was laughing or crying. Hope your ribs get better soon, Kate.

Brett and Sarah have very kindly offered to host a BBQ from their house next week so we will be running from Cookham Dean. Brett will send out an email with details soon.

See you all next week and I will not be the drunk one next week.

Amanda

Kate's House, Flackwell Heath - 25th June 2008

Run Report by Pete

An Indian summer?

A very lucky 13 of us (Kate – our hostess, Rodders, Amanda, Jules, John, Jerome, Spider, Brett, Sarah, Heather, Duds and Doug and myself) gathered at Kate’s (address withheld to avoid the washing-up) for the annual curry run!!

Heather, looking tanned and relaxed, was bragging about how good Radiohead were and forgot to taker the first turning onto the path after 250 metres! She was not seen again (don’t mention female navigators). The beautiful run down to the Crooked Billet was only spoilt by having to stop and wait whist Jules has a p… If he isn’t getting excited about his bike frame then the flora and fauna of South Buckinghamshire seems to set him off. Either that or his mum keeps letting him out without sending him to the loo.

Straight past the CB we went and headed up into Bloom Wood where the “big loopers” left the “little loopers” (and Jerome, who went straight back to Go). We LL’s had a perfect view of the Thames valley on a fantastic evening as we ran down towards Little Marlow cemetery, where one or two of should have stopped! The run straight back up that hill to Flackwell Heath was not motivational and it was only as we hit the main road that I realised that I was a, alone and b, not near Kate’s!

Arriving back at Catherine’s Tandoori Emporium, we were served the most delightful supper. Presso, David and Selwyn who had not attended due to the fact that said restaurant did not serve Brakespeare’s on tap missed a royal feast. Malai Wali Murghi, Lamb Rogan Josh, Saag Aloo, and Baghari Phul Gobi were all perfectly cooked and complemented by basmati rice, fresh naan bread and multiple pickles. It was so good that Jerome and John went back three (3) times (allegedly). Brilliant Kate, many thanks.

The only surprising thing was there was not more Phul Gobi on the menu after the appalling state of the England Cricket team that evening.

Next week’s run if from the Fox at Ibstone. 7pm.