RAHRAS 2: winter Reigate Hill

Tuesday 3 December

The Reigate Unhill Walk
Walkers: Farty, T.B., 8 Legs, Lil and Clat. Sadly, no Windy as she wasn;t feeling much like it, and this coldness makes her eyes watery - so be it - I shall lend her my swimming goggles for next week.

Find of the Walk: a purple and mauve stretchy bracelet.
Distance: 7.5 miles

Gloria Martin's Love Child?

A miserable grey day, with a November damp rawness trying to get into the bones, but we weren't having any of it. Suspicions were raised as Farty handed Clat a brown substance - turns out to be something called Dukka, which is a mixture of herbs. You dip your bread in oil and then into this concoction and voila - ecstasy - how easy is that? Must contact Anne Summers............. She also produced a photo of Paloma Faith dressed head to toe in the Graham of Monteith tartan - one of the BCAL choices, and reminded us of someone who we used to fly with.
Say no more, but there are some tales to tell there. Let's get going then. Today we cobbled together some linear walks which meant very few hills were involved. Along the North Downs Way to Colley Hill and the rather fetching memorial there. It has a domed roof with a painted ceiling. A lone poppy had been sellotaped to one of the posts in memory of a certain fallen hero - v.c. no less. The belted galloways are still lurking in these parts, and sheep are safely grazing (as the poem goes), in the nearby fort - we had a quick look at this, and declared it quite boring. We kept going - quite a pace to be had, with Sue having to bounce in the bushes to keep going in a different way. We went downwards a little and stopped for a break, to re-arrange T.B., and to view views, which involved quite a few bonfires smoking away. We decided no messages were being sent, and carried on, more uphill this time. Eventually we came to the Pfizer offices, and did a u-turn, and along some new pathways adjacent to the M25. Over the footbridge to the site of the hanging underpants, sadly no longer there. Trekking on, through the golf course, and no sign of Lil's lost 60 balloon either. We stopped at The Sportsman displaying signs telling us Strictly no walking boots - and went in. Gorgeously warm, a perfect table just waiting for us, and 3 big dogs at the one next door. Sue managed to distract Minnie from causing world war 3, as our Min gets very territorial. Funnily enough, out in the bundu, she doesn't have the attitude at all. Our waitress was welcoming and suffering from amnesia. Farty's shiraz was omitted, the two lime/waters came with soda instead, and 'no garlic mayo ple

ase' came smothered in it. Oh well, it was very busy. We sang 'happy birthday' to a man called Dan or was it Dad, but weren't given a slice of the action. Our food was very good- Farty still in fishcake mode, and a good selection of burgers and jacket potatoes to be had. They even had a Roo burger, but none of us fancied doing a Bush Tucker Trial, but, - an improvement on last time. In the loos were printed sheets quoting a certain Regina Brett (90), who wrote 45 Lessons in Life, which gave us food for thought. no 40 seemed quite popular 'if we threw all our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab them back', and no 43. 'no matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up' - so there you go. It was getting dreek as they say in bonnie Scotland, and we had to spray on

the WD40 and get cracking. A bit of retreading on our route and after about 45 mins we got back to base, relieved ourselves, and shoo-ed away the crows trying to sate their rubber fetish by pecking at bumpers and wipers - that's why they bounce around - ha ha ha. Time to go home as they used to say on Andy Pandy - well, all Ted wanted to do was get him or was it a her? into the basket, and who knows what. There's an arctic blast on the way so keep those drawstrings tight. See you next week. xx

Interior of monument

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time some time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.

I'm in the 7%

Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!
Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves!

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Reigate Hill - The Sportsman

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Reigate Hill - The Duke's Head