Hi Mike

Karl Arthurs here, only just read the messages from last November between you and Phil. I can recommend the Old House. Might be better if visits are booked out of season as most of their money is made in holiday letting. However they do have a web site where you can view the cottages and get contact details. The cottages are just off the main street in Nether Stowey based around a central courtyard. Also only three doors from the pub, six doors from the next pub and 200 yds from the final pub. All essential criteria when booking a get together. Much to our shock, when we met up with Matron on the Saturday morning her first words were " I heard you lot were all in the pub last night singing". Nothing changes but I still can't work out how the hell the peasters knew these things. I guess they must have close circuit TV dotted about the countryside. I even remember sitting in the pavillion at Marsh Mills until 2am, then crawling through the bushes alongside the drive and still Big P. knew.

 

Anyway yes we did have another reunion but at my place this time with only about 7 of us. Very expensive bar bill though and the landlady wants us to have one every weekend.

 

Karl.

Hi Karlos,

I'm intrigued as to why you booked into a cottage instead of staying at the school ?

Laurie

Laurie..

 

"..three doors from the pub, six doors from the next pub and 200 yds from the final pub.."

 

Duh!

Hi Jools,

Long time since we last typed to each other.

 

I had forgotton some ex inmates like to drink. I thought that reunions were about staying sober like John Rose and the rest of us.  Still we must make allowences for you "Jubs".

 

Rumour has it that some ex inmates get drink at the old school and collapse and have to be carried to their rooms !!

 

Surely the fun must be staying at the old place, or did you have a bad time there, like being at Alcatraz.

 

What did you do when you worked there? I find it hard to think they needed a full time photographer or were you working for the "Sun" doing undercover reporting like Richard Williams.

See you at the big reunion ?

Laurie

Hi Bri,

3 doors from the pub ! Sounds a long way to walk if you ask me. Still with my wife Alison coming to the reunion, she will lick us all into shape being a PE teacher.

Laurie

PS.

 

Worse than being married to Mr Phil.

 

Woopppssss didn't say that !

Hi Karl,

 

Good to hear from you again, and I'm glad you bad lads have had a few meet ups, and it's nice to get to see the photos.

 

The Cottage sounds pretty cool. I've been up at the school once last summer, I was a little worried that I'd have to behave myself buy Matron seems quite at ease with us drinking and getting quite rowdy. I found the beer even closer than 3 doors away. I had a big box sitting under my chair, and some reason Laurie insisted on open the bottles with his teeth. I've been feeling a bit ill ever since, but I suspect it was a better option that the one he had previous suggested, involving a certain cleft of his body.

 

As for the Peaster spies .... they probably still have all the trip wires active. I'm pretty sure all the dead p(h)easants have secret mounted cameras in them ...

 

Do you think any of you lads are gonna make the big reunion??

 

Mike

 

 

Hi Laurie

As you can tell I don't get on the message board much and I see Phil has given you probably the most obvious answer of why we booked at the cottage. However being of Class 81 we are getting towards needing the home comforts. Soft beds, Warm accomodation, constant hot water and someone to clear up after you. But I guess you are all right when you say it does need to be done and I'm tempted to go back for a weekend again and relive the ' walk back from Stowey half cut at 2 in the morning ' sarga. Might even find that comfortable spot in the bottom of the hedge to sobber up in that I miss from 22 years ago.

 

Other thing that was nice about being in the village was that one night we took the place over by showing off our talent on the Kareoke and on the second night had a slap up meal in the restaurant and invited some of the old village girls we knew. Very entertaining trying to find out how many had 22 year old kids.

 

Karl

Hi Karl,

Forgot that your year was so old and have to be kept warm and dry. We can arrange for Matron to tuck you all up in bed at 9pm with hot chocolate.

Hope To See You November

Laurie

Thanks Laurie, Please arrange for Matron to tug me up in bed. Do I get the statutory 2 paracetomol as well?

Karl

Laurie

Been thinking as I am getting closer to Big P's age can I wander the grounds with 3 alsations and a .2.2 riffle instead. Sounds much more fun.

Karl

Hi Karl,

Just spoken to Matron, all fixed for the tablets, do you want her to wake you up at 6.30 am and throw the windows open (extra £5) ?

Laurie

PS

No you can't walk about with guns and dogs. Pipe bombs are allowed but must be detonated during meal times.