Chipstead, The White Hart

(Surp)rising Damp

Tuesday 8th November:

Walkers: Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Windy and Clat. - Mrs P is being wined, dined, and taken up the Chrysler (oo matron), by Mr P in New York. She is celebrating her 60th and we all send our love to you. Lil is aerobicking tonite and everyone else is doing their own thing.

Minnie is getting back to her old self, and was bouncing around with excitement, ready for her soggy walk.

Distance: 7 miles

Finds of the Walk: a new pair of pumps (size 4), and a hat - kindly modelled by Farty. We are now wondering where the rest of the clothes are, and, is there a body?????

A new venue for some - atop a hill, views across the valley (but not today). Damp and drear, and drizzling - a perfect November day, and we were ready and willing - off we went. We are vetting the Shabden circular walk for the local community, so we had to check signage and passage, and report back. Some of the track is marked on the o.s., but other paths are permissive, if you get my drift.

The local rugby club car park was filled with Filmco wagons , so there is obviously a shoot on, and the sign Baby Cow was soon spotted. Try as we might, we were not spotted as potential stars, and moved on and into some delightful woodland, and a bit of narrative from Farty. The raindrops were popping through the trees, and the sounds were softened by the millions of leaves underfoot - with that wonderful aroma of damp.

Crossing lanes, fields, and woods - circulating all the time, we arrived at Fanny's Farm, which is good for a p. stop. Quite necessary today, as Sue seemed to be giving her bladder plenty of wellie, and needed to exercise control several times today. I won't tell you where the first one was taken - tee hee. We encountered one field of baby bullocks (the same to you, mate), but Chris and Clat very successfully dodged round a line of trees and made it safely to the other side.

At the farm, we were met by Fanny's daughter who told us that no dogs were allowed and 'there is a sign'. We've been here many times, with dogs, and they've mingled quite happily with Fanny's ( if you'll pardon the expression). She had to round up the Irish wolfhound et al (who's he?), and we thought it best not to proceed. After bladders were emptied, and a quick peruse of the shop we routed round the farm, tickled Fanny's pigs (erm), and travelled on into fields of green, as the song goes. Swedes ( the veg), everywhere, and lots of mushrooms in the fields and they were tickled too.

This is when comments started coming in about dampness in das boots. We all suffered in the end, and it just kept creeping in for the rest of our walk. Even Minnie had to be scooped up at one point, and deposited in her fleece bag to dry off a bit and get warmed-up. We have not suffered from trench foot before. However, we carried on, and came to the Wellhouse Pub, where Filmco were at it again, and bits were cordoned off, with tape and cones. We then enjoyed? hill climbing and downing, and crossed a golf course, where T.B. started to pick up golf balls, only to discover he was in a driving range - think it's best to stop there...........................

We eventually arrived back at base- quite muddy and sodden, and asap were in the pub. Lovely ambulance, good lighting, some lit fires which were very welcoming, and the loos were great, and perfumed. We ordered food - when in Chipstead one eats chips, although not many on each plate. The rest was considered ok but Clat thought her crab linguine dry and flavourless, and very grey. When in Chipstead then? However her chair creaked beautifully, which went very well with the rest of her body.

T.B. tried to fire-up his laptop but it wasn't having any of it, but we did manage to view his pics. Some of today's look really good, so he is entering them into a competition tomorrow. Farty entertained us with a halloween quiz and we did quite well. We left on a high note and ventured into the dark and murky night -anyone else read The Highwayman?

Next week's venue is set. It is the Gardeners Arms at Ardingly, where we shall have our turn at celebrating Mrs P's major achievement. See you there.