When the Cat's Away
It was a select band that assembled at the Sun not that long ago. One of the issues with all this drinking outside is that we have established a short list of suitable venues so it does get rather samey.
Late again, I arrived to find Hotblack, Tomsk, Joergen and the Hustler and we were soon joined by William Symington.
Tomsk was on a strict timetable (an actual one not a Joergen "go on twist my arm" one) so we knew we would be without an Elder present for a good part of the night - always a recipe for subversion and off topic ramblings.
Knowing as we now do that the Sun is a far from secure venue for discussing any controversial topics, we did, at least, manage to steer clear of any of those. Well, we did, apart from the apparently controversial topic of cyclists trying to stay alive on our roads and suggesting some infrastructure improvements.
Tomsk had barely scrunched his way out of the car park than insurrection was in the air. Hotblack, not content with being the leader of his ti-circle, wants an exclusive inner wheel of ACME which he has christened J.ACME. Plans are at an advance stage with branded ti mudguards, ti-cap badges and ti-ties all on order. Not all of our regular venues are able or willing to supply a velvet rope to separate out the hoi polloi so Hotblack has been crafting his own custom version (with ti-handles of course). Joergen seemed all in favour (it's quite something for a boy from up north to be asked to join something exclusive) but I could see the Hustler already scheming to bring his own brand of anarchy to bear on proceedings. I forecast much storming of the ti-barricades.
In an effort to calm the situation, I moved the discussion on to a fascinating exploration of marine engineering issues with Symington. I think even Hotblack might have been losing the plot as we (literally) bored into the minutiae of separate fuseholders for Volvo MD2010s. How time flew.
We sampled Whitstable Pale Ale and Bishop's Finger. The latter was the clear winner.
I managed an uneventful ride home in pleasant temperatures and without being challenged about what I was doing. It was slower without puffing after Fandango but who cares when it is quiet and warm.