It’s always heart warming to rock up at The Old Smithy in Church Lawford to meet up with fellow peripatetic old codgers (9 of us this time).
But this month’s walk was not a normal one in three ways. Firstly a shock to the natural progress of time. Secondly a drop in the MMI. And thirdly a welcome return of a pelagic favourite.
What was the shock you ask? Well for some of us the appearance of Pete C a full six minutes before the scheduled departure time hinted at a break from the natural order of things.
Off we set and already a couple of codgers were thrown by the walk being conducted in a clockwise direction – which they found quite disorienting.
On we walked through the beautiful, sun-blessed fields with their attractively coloured crops – including potato plants which so covered our path at times that they threatened to trip us up.
All went well … until it didn’t. We came to a corner of a field which we knew all too well. And recognised as a clear indication that we had missed a key turn into another field wherein lay our path. Much discussion ensued. Maps were consulted. Runes were read. But no immediate solution was forthcoming. It was at this point that some of us realised that we were suffering a severe drop in the MMI – i.e. the Mirth Memory Index. Eventually order was restored and we found ourselves in that field wherein grouped a small herd of young bullocks – who looked rather too interested in us! Fortunately they did not come too close and let us go on our way.
Which took us to lunch in The Old Smithy. Which was where we had the joy of seeing Terry’s face light up as he welcomed his old oceanic friend Moby Dick – and proceeded to eat one of the largest fish & chips in Warwickshire. A very satisfying end to another excellent walk – with thanks as ever to Richard.
MIRTH 