EOTL19: This is almost the End, almost beautiful friends.

[David Scott]

Pictures

It's taken us a while to get the arithmetic straight but Biggs and I are now agreed that there are 21 EOTLs in total. Since we’re going to end our adventure on a double Metropolitan Line high (Chesham and Amersham! *) this Saturday’s trip to Richmond was to be our penultimate EOTL.

 

Richmond is of course very posh and leafy. People like to mess about in boats there. Once again this is not what I expect from an EOTL but I’m starting to have to adjust my expectations a bit on this.

 

One thing you can certainly say about Richmond is that it has a lot of famous residents. Many residents are so famous that they only need one name. Elizabeth I lived there of course as did  Anastasia and Jagger. The Richmond resident who most clearly demonstrates this point, however has to be Rod. Rod was born and brought up in Richmond. In the early eighties he was asked by Geoffrey, Zippy and George to form a band for their new show. Rod immediately contacted his friends Jane and Freddy and together they formed “Rod, Jane and Freddy”, who remained Rainbow's house band for the next three years producing a string of hits including “Mice feel Nice”, “Song for Bungle” and “Those Sheep need a Haircut.”

 

In light of our upcoming marathon finale Biggs and I had agreed on a relaxed format for EOTL19. We invited our wives along for a picnic and agreed to meet in Richmond’s Roebuck pub. According to a blackboard in its toilet the Roebuck is the “Top pub in the UK”. Certainly sitting as it does on top of Richmond Hill it has a very fine view. (In fact the Roebuck has the only view in England that’s protected by an act of parliament.) All four of us arrived at the pub ridiculously late but within a few minutes of each other. We settled down to enjoy the view from a bench across the road. One hearteningly familiar EOTL feature here was that the road involved could be reasonably described as “dangerous”. Biggs and I drank some Summer Festival & Mad Goose ale. Eleanor's badge explained that she was carrying a Baby on Board and Judith had agreed to drive us home later so the girls stuck to lemonades. Having enjoyed beer, lemonades, view and company for a bit we headed off to Richmond Park for a picnic.

 

Richmond Park is of course very large but owing to that fact that Eleanor was pregnant and we are lazy we didn't walk far. Finding a pleasant spot we settled down and enjoyed a fine lunch, while keeping an eye on nature. Shortly some deer arrived and enjoyed a fine lunch, while keeping an eye on us.

 

“Not what you expect of an EOTL… but very nice,” I commented to Biggs.

 

“Yes. No dodgy pubs.  And we’ll be home before midnight,” Biggs said. “It’s a bit like EOTL05 . At Heathrow. One pub. And we’re driving home .”

 

“Indeed…with Judith,” I added.

 

“Indeed…” Biggs said. “Isn’t that a parakeet?”

 

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* Biggs has some exciting plans for the EOTL20&21 but I’ll not spoil the fun here… save to say that a flag and some bunting may be involved.

[Judith Fischer-Erlach]

Damn righty, Eleanor !

[Eleanor Dowling]

This is what all EOTLs should be like, civilized and serene, under the supervision of your lady wives!