Friday 1st October - Sunday 3rd October confirmed
Limited to 7 (6 + chap) unless Phil does his 'sky at night bit' and brings his 'blow-up'....................
bed that is!!
Plan A - Chap, Daz, Rog and Phil to set off Thursday night or early Friday morning, Tone, Sim & Ian to depart lunchtime Friday. (Steve unlikely to make it, but I'll check next week).
Bring a sleeping bag & towel (save me doing the washing!!) plus dietary requirements Tone are you going to the butchers again?
The first four chaps, Chap, Phil, Daz & Rog set off around 7.20pm on Thursday night. With Rog and Daz sharing the limo driving we arrived down in Cornwall shortly before midnight, via a stop at the 24 hour Tesco in St Austell to stock up with beer & crisps, etc. Settled in, we got stuck into a few beers. Rog and Daz bailed out around 1.30am leaving Phil and Chap to carry on until 3.00am.
Friday morning, weather was a bit dismal so we had a leisurely fry-up expertly cooked by Phil before deciding on a plan for the day. We set off for a walk down to Percuil along the river, a pleasant stroll even in the rain. We stopped at Percuil to admire the scenery, and to neck a bottle of Black Sheep and Bombardier ale before heading back to Portscatho via the cross country route. This was thirsty work so we had to nip into the Plume of feathers for a swift beer or 3, the Cornish Rattler cider went down well. After a relaxing pint, the four chaps wandered back up to the bungalow to unwind and wait for the arrival of the other four musketeers. Shortly before 5, the 2nd wave arrived, Tone, Steve, Simbers and Ian.
After everybody was settled we headed off to the Standard for the evening, only stopping for an initial pint as Tone demanded chips with his meal. Off once more to the Plume down the hill where we all had excellent grub washed down with more ale. Tone then suggested getting back up to the Standard early whilst he was still capable of walking back up the hill. Several more beers were consumed in the Standard with Chap doing the usual party trick of eating a whole lemon, egged on by Rog & Tone, finally around midnight we headed home. More beer, bacardi, crisps and pork-pie was the order of the evening before one by one the chaps slowly drifted off to bed. Phil comfortably won the snoring contest with a level of a good 20dB above anyone else.
Saturday - again another excellent fry-up, this time cooked by Simbers & Ian. The Chaps decided to catch the bus to St Mawes and then get the ferry to Falmouth. All went to plan with us all getting the bus and the ferry, although Phil nearly missed it due to having to throw-up when he got off the bus!!!. The ferry crossing was nice and choppy for those that like these things, although Ian did look a bit green. We had stroll through the town before sitting outside the Chain Locker having a beer. Next port of call was the sports bar over the road. The Chaps chilled in hear for a couple of hours playing pool and watching the footy on the telly as they could not show the Ryder Cup. Rog and Daz decided to get the early ferry and bus back to catch up with some Zzzzzz's leaving the other chaps to lob down to the Prince of Wales. Here we had a bite to eat washed down with several pints of 'Proper job' whilst playing pool and chatting to the owner and his missus who originated from Brum!. Finally it was time for the last ferry back at 5.00pm - this arrived in St Mawes in time for us to slurp another quick jar in the Rising Sun before heading back to Gerrans.
On arrival in Gerrans, it was straight to the pub for most of the chaps, with beer and food in mind. Plenty of ale and good food enjoyed along with a typical chap discussion regarding football players straying from their wives. Not sure if Guy the barman understands the laws of Chapism, but I'm sure will teach him if he's brave enough to come out on the lash with us next time we're down this way!. The night progressed well and Chap demonstrated his eating exploits by devouring a rather large Maris Piper - raw, something the Tonemeister took offence to (calm down Tone it's a commercial!!). Slowly the lads drifted back one by one leaving Phil, Ian and Chap to see the night at the pub through to the final curtain.
Arriving back at the bungalow, Steve had cooked some Cornish pasties brought down by Tone, however to the dismay of the 'Pasty, Pastry and Organic bread clubs the Tonemeister had demolished all of them, only leaving behind one organic loaf!!
Sunday morning, another full English cooked by Ian and Phil, followed by a bit of Chap domesticity, before departing homeward at 12.00 p.m.
Cracking weekend even if the weather was not up to last years standard, soon be next year.