Oktober

[Sweder]

Born of a black-hearted mother over foaming primeval seas the spectral outriders swept south across the land. Through the Scottish highlands, the wild, craggy parks of the north, the drab cityscapes of industrial middle-Britain, ever onward towards the shivering south. Teeth bared in a deathly grin they flew with indecent haste, dragging a veil of ice-chilled gems in their lusty wake. Just south of London they veered east, the seaside town of Brighton in their sights. They dropped, hugging the undulating downland, banking hard left to crash along the coastal trails. Behind them the hills wept, shrouded in mist and piercing rain that permeated fabric, skin and bone.

Another windswept flog into the teeth of a heartless storm.
The clouds seemed to part as a monstrous stream of rain-soaked wind crashed over us, barrelling into the east, a maelstrom on a mission. I’d battened down in my lightweight wind-cheater, still in shorts (my legs rarely feel the cold), new scarlet Mizuno’s clawing manfully across the slippery turf. Three outings in three days – whatever next? A decision to make on Sunday – Lewes Downland Ten, certain to be an ugly struggle amongst a field of swift, lithe operators; or a gentle trundle along the cliff-tops with post-Berlin Steve. My heart says the former, my head the latter. I suspect it will be a case of degrees of stiffness on the day, or at least on Saturday night.

I pondered last night's doorstep discovery. A bundle, abandoned without ceremony or so much as a feeble knock, tripped over on my way out to badminton. The distinctive Flora insignia gave a clue, the bulky nature gave the game away; my tough-luck fleece from Mr Bedford. Ah well, I make a much better cheerleader than I do a runner. And it is a rather fetching shade of powder-puff blue . . .

Alice Cooper did his best to squeeze an extra yard of pace from my ailing legs, dishing up an eclectic blend of fabulous rock including a 1964 recording of Zeppelin performing My Girlfriend She Got Long Black Wavy Hair. Surprisingly good given the title, yet another reminder of just what a fabulous outfit they were. I lumbered home in forty-nine minutes, pleased with the effort if little else.