A beautiful day didn’t dawn for Too Posh’s 69th birthday run.  Rain and 4C made it thoroughly miserable.  So the hare decided her overnight guest, Hornblower, had to suffer as well and be co-hare.  I was still recovering from England beating Scotland at cricket, but had Le Pro in my ear about the rugby (he’s Scottish y’know).  The Scots are off to the football world cup, doubtless they’ll be back without troubling the scorers, and given the US ticket prices they will be bankrupt again (Darien Adventure, look it up).  But I digress…

  Le Pro didn’t make to the run as didn’t many others and it was a very small pack of about 15 or so, and without a pre-run circle I didn’t realise we’d even started.  The first check was either extremely difficult or we missed part of the trail.  (It was still raining).  As we splashed down the edge of the golf course I remarked to RHUM that this is a very sandy area so should be reasonably dry – this turned out to be utter bollocks – and as RHUM pointed out, the ground was saturated.  (It was still raining).  A good back check turned the pack and I found Dormouse at the front suitably attired in wellies, this led to a regulation left loop round to the windmill.  Sadly no golfists to annoy today, so on to the Skimington Castle via black top and footpaths.  (It was still raining).  Arriving there 11.50, I thought ‘great, a suitably short run commensurate with the conditions’.  But no!  Suddenly the trail went down past the Skimmington Castle, heading away from home in a southerly direction.  (It was still raining). 

  Hash Flash and I read the runes (well Google maps) and local knowledge, and decided enough was enough, and headed back to the start.  There discovering the shorter-cutters and also-rans, huddled beneath umbrellas and the tail gate of Teq’s beer mobile. (It was still raining).

  The circle was delayed awaiting the 3 FRBs who had disappeared on the South Skimmington Loop.  (It was still raining).  Downs-downs were curtailed by the abysmal weather; Too Posh for 69 and Atty for a convoluted story involving Ms Bean, car keys, Putney and running shoes, all for the dog in her life: Spud.  Guess what?  It was still raining!

  On On,

  Doug the Tub