BREAD AND CIRCUSES

The August - and that's the month. not the walk itself - was from Findhorn to Roseisle and then on to Burghead. At least that was the plan. It didn't quite work out like that.

The day started very bright and warm and Pam and Sharon caught some rays waiting for the others to arrive. It gives a whole new meaning to a table-ender.

Once we all arrived were soon on our way into the deep blue yonder.

Then onto the beach and striding out.

It was almost continental - even Dave looked a little Greek, walking with his hand in his pocket pondering the fall of the Euro.

Pam, Jacque and Sandra were too busy talking to see John Stonehouse disappear over their shoulders.

A very large duck in the sand.

A short stop where Sharon picked up even more nuts.

You had to be there!

It always amazes me how far the Dinosaurs have come - and here is a picture to illustrate that.

Another stop in the sun. Notice that Jimmy is not in this photo.

The reason is that he had been up to something fishy.

Dave seemed a little unsure as to the freshness of the mackerel. How right he was - you could say the fish was the high point of the day.

However, that just made us all hungry, so it was time to stop at Roseisle for our barbecue in the woods. While people prepared luncheon, Jimmy sat under a tree and sulked that no-one had appreciated his close relationship with a fish.

Indeed he moaned so much about our lack of appreciation that Jacque looked as if she might murder him - indeed, from the look of her hands she might already have done so.

Man he make fire!

Sharon, in her professional capacity, decides Dave and Pam are not to be trusted with a naked flame and food.

Sandra, meanwhile shows a remarkable degree of sophistication in having brought a bottle of wine to have with her luncheon. As one does.

Unfortunately the sophistication did not last too long!

Once a gym teacher, always a gym teacher. Dave decided that we should all play some games after lunch and he taught us all a relatively simple ball game that had few rules and 2 teams. What fun!

It all started sedately enough, although not too elegantly.

However, Dave had reckoned without the competitive nature of women of a certain age. I actually took these photos having had to retire due to a blood injury. 

You can see here how Pam and Jacque closed in for the kill.

And here it is!

It only got worse.........

......and worse.

And so we abandoned the rest of the walk - mainly because we were too knackered after all that running and jumping, or because were injured. It was back to Findhorn for a cosmic experience at the Foundation cafe.

We had all made friends again after the tooth and claw of Dave's simple ball game and here is the proof in the group photo.

We had such a good time with the barbecue, that we have decided to do the same walk, with barbecue, for the foreseeable future at the same time of year. Mayhem on the playing field will be optional, but anyone who doesn't  take part will be stigmatised for some time to come.

Thanks to Susan and Robin for a good idea and thanks to Dave I will be scarred for life - mentally and physically.