Run Report by Doug
Yes, our very own Spellbound reaches his diamond year and, accordingly, the Albert is our venue for this weeks run.
Whilst sure I may be missing someone (and with due apologies) I recall Kate, Amanda, Jools, Jerome, David, Brett, Michael, Presso, Stevie T, John, Rodders, Selwyn and myself as the running group. We were later joined, at various intervals, but with only one resounding gaffe, by Fred, Spider, Duds and Aude, Carters, Ollie and Jackie.
Based on subsequently mailed feedback, this would appear to have been one of the ‘Group’s’ most enjoyable evenings. The recipe for such pleasures is clear: 45 minute pleasant run, nothing too strenuous, followed by more beers than usual and a lift, stagger, cycle home. Let this be a lesson to those who would dare to juggle with the proven formula; the very basis on which our ‘spiritual leader’ instigated these jaunts all those years ago.
As ever, I really have little clue as to our route for the evening, but we went up a little and along a short while before one of the earliest fattie/fittie splits I can remember. We fatties then undertook a long downhill into Skirmett (yes, a landmark I recognised) before an equally long uphill, apparently “towards the convent”, flattening out for another while, then back down to our starting point. As we headed ‘homeward’, Jerome broke into the relevant Simon and Garfunkel number. A gift of great wonder, Jerome’s voice. For those of you who have not had the pleasure, he has agreed to run through his repertoire of S and G songs at Kate’s curry evening. Look out, in particular, for his remix of ‘Keep the Customer Satisfied’….
As we ran, David kindly shared his US Open bets and pointed out the futility of my own. As I suspected at the time, his rather more in-depth research would appear far more likely to bear fruit than the ‘hunches’ of Jerome and myself. ‘Twas always thus.
Fitties arrived back at much the same time and, given the outstanding pace we maintained in our group, really can’t have gone much further.
Selwyn very kindly bought the first round to celebrate the previous days milestone. I remember being amazed when Selwyn reached his fortieth (and slightly more amazed to be at my first ‘friend’s 40th party’ at the age of 27!), but, at 60, he continues to belie the years, continues to pound the footpaths, fields and lanes of South Bucks and continues to put away the Stellas with great aplomb. An inspiration in every way. Many happy returns Spellbound.
Brett did the honours of thanking Selwyn and presented him with a ‘go faster’ slinky top and a most unexpected card, which Fred had signed by then….
I made the mistake of getting the second round in. There must surely be some form of basic aptitude test in existence for bar staff/landlords etc. “One drink at a time……£2.90, £2.90, £2.90 (in fairness, when I ordered 6 bags of crisps, he did group them together as three lots of £1, rather than 6 x 50p) and, whilst £51 seemed a little on the steep side at the time, I would have paid double to be relieved of the responsibility – this chap will not be working in Dublin/Cork for some while yet…
Conversation slowly deteriorated to that old favourite of ‘porn names’ and though I have always been quite proud of my own ‘Dusty Wishart’, I certainly bow to Ollie’s alliterate ‘Shandy Smith’ (?). Duds lifted ill-fitting carvers, Jerome lifted tables with his lithe manoeuvres and our ‘spiritual leader’ watched over his flock regally, Stella in hand, at peace with the world and in love with everyone…
Next week’s run will be from the Golden Ball at West Wycombe. 7pm start.
Whilst sure I may be missing someone (and with due apologies) I recall Kate, Amanda, Jools, Jerome, David, Brett, Michael, Presso, Stevie T, John, Rodders, Selwyn and myself as the running group. We were later joined, at various intervals, but with only one resounding gaffe, by Fred, Spider, Duds and Aude, Carters, Ollie and Jackie.
Based on subsequently mailed feedback, this would appear to have been one of the ‘Group’s’ most enjoyable evenings. The recipe for such pleasures is clear: 45 minute pleasant run, nothing too strenuous, followed by more beers than usual and a lift, stagger, cycle home. Let this be a lesson to those who would dare to juggle with the proven formula; the very basis on which our ‘spiritual leader’ instigated these jaunts all those years ago.
As ever, I really have little clue as to our route for the evening, but we went up a little and along a short while before one of the earliest fattie/fittie splits I can remember. We fatties then undertook a long downhill into Skirmett (yes, a landmark I recognised) before an equally long uphill, apparently “towards the convent”, flattening out for another while, then back down to our starting point. As we headed ‘homeward’, Jerome broke into the relevant Simon and Garfunkel number. A gift of great wonder, Jerome’s voice. For those of you who have not had the pleasure, he has agreed to run through his repertoire of S and G songs at Kate’s curry evening. Look out, in particular, for his remix of ‘Keep the Customer Satisfied’….
As we ran, David kindly shared his US Open bets and pointed out the futility of my own. As I suspected at the time, his rather more in-depth research would appear far more likely to bear fruit than the ‘hunches’ of Jerome and myself. ‘Twas always thus.
Fitties arrived back at much the same time and, given the outstanding pace we maintained in our group, really can’t have gone much further.
Selwyn very kindly bought the first round to celebrate the previous days milestone. I remember being amazed when Selwyn reached his fortieth (and slightly more amazed to be at my first ‘friend’s 40th party’ at the age of 27!), but, at 60, he continues to belie the years, continues to pound the footpaths, fields and lanes of South Bucks and continues to put away the Stellas with great aplomb. An inspiration in every way. Many happy returns Spellbound.
Brett did the honours of thanking Selwyn and presented him with a ‘go faster’ slinky top and a most unexpected card, which Fred had signed by then….
I made the mistake of getting the second round in. There must surely be some form of basic aptitude test in existence for bar staff/landlords etc. “One drink at a time……£2.90, £2.90, £2.90 (in fairness, when I ordered 6 bags of crisps, he did group them together as three lots of £1, rather than 6 x 50p) and, whilst £51 seemed a little on the steep side at the time, I would have paid double to be relieved of the responsibility – this chap will not be working in Dublin/Cork for some while yet…
Conversation slowly deteriorated to that old favourite of ‘porn names’ and though I have always been quite proud of my own ‘Dusty Wishart’, I certainly bow to Ollie’s alliterate ‘Shandy Smith’ (?). Duds lifted ill-fitting carvers, Jerome lifted tables with his lithe manoeuvres and our ‘spiritual leader’ watched over his flock regally, Stella in hand, at peace with the world and in love with everyone…
Next week’s run will be from the Golden Ball at West Wycombe. 7pm start.
2 comments:
Good one Dougie !
Duds ('cos I can't remember my password/user name/open ID/URl/whatever next)
Excellent - a certain fluency to your prose
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