For the last time ..

1 Well, for the last time this year the FRBC set out from the Square. I had cycled there so I was able to enjoy the company as we cycled back to East Grinstead and from there continue our journey to Redhill Aerodrome. Our leader led and we followed along the Worth Way to Maidenbower, and then to Three Bridges, and by way of cycle paths to Horley and to eventually to the aerodrome.

1.1 Notice the old world. It appears on the wooden arm-posts. The aerodrome.

2 But the swift movement from the Square to the aerodrome conceals the interest of the ride. We followed the cycle paths through Crawley and so found ouselves cycling by the side of a wide stream, sufficiently wide to warrant being called a river. At one time, as we cycled through these Riverside Gardens, a lake was on one side and the river was on the other. At Gatwick. we cycled along a wide path with the railway on one side and the road on the other. Under the railway station we passed, on the cycle-path to a bus-stop where the waiting people stood back as the cyclists rode by. To Horley, past the Archway theatre, and on to open country, always following, to the aerodrome, to the cafe there.

2.1 Cycling, like walking, does take a person to parts which are not otherwise visited. Back-roads, roads that are not made up, roads which link main ones, roads which are used by horse-riders, paths that run through quiet residential areas - these were the ways which took us, eventually, to the pleasure of the cafe.

3 It could have been early spring. The sun was warm on the face. The cafe was welcoming. Some of my companions ate their full breakfasts. Two police officers ate their food whilst wearing their full armed-response kit, including the armoured jacket, two hand-guns, and various other bits and pieces. In the Sunday Mirror there was a piece about Mrs Gordon Brown's step-grandfather, if I recollect correctly, who had accompanied the nuclear material to Christmas Island for one of the tests and who had flown in a sniffer Canberra. (Perhaps he was one of the crew in the Canberra which was piloted by our Master (recently-retired) of Grapple Re-union ceremonies.) According to the piece he died of leukaemia some 50 years after his exposure.

4 A shorter return ride, but one which was sufficiently long for me to try Andrew Chadwick's new bike. Just a top-of-the-class road-bike. The saddle was so high that I could barely put my feet on the pedals. Even so, I could recognise a highly-bred bike for what it was. New Year, new road-bike for me. I must begin my conversations with Ian.

5 About 40 miles of level cycling. In all probability, the concluding bike-ride of the year. There is a chance that I might be able to ride for an hour tomorrow afternoon. I'll need to be organised. I have two SSAFA visits to make, and then there re jobs to complete in East Grinstead, one of which will be the purchase of a saw so that I can saw at least something of the silver birch which has fallen across the Forest Way. And silver birch burns well.

6 I have spoken of your being in phase 2 of a three-phase holiday, phase 2 being the sea-phase. Even a prosaic description of the phase - the boat, the company, the congregation of mother and daughters - presents an enviable picture. Enviable.