The site was obviously chosen to deter all but the most hardened runners, or those that can leave their offices/homes half way through the afternoon. For The Rope, it was a very convenient location for a change. There were still a good number of runners and having parked in the shadow of a disused brick works (another victim of the economic crisis?), the pack set off back down the road up which they had just driven. Not so Vatican Rag who was seen lurking around the far end of the brick works looking for paper when stumbled on by the Scribe and visitor, Pete Adams. This was indeed the right direction and after several minutes there was the paper and the pack quickly coming up the rear (so to speak). The area had apparently been used for practice by the East Timorese militia during training for their scorched earth policy and there was not a tree, bush, plant or any other living vegetation in sight.

The sun was beating down and the ground was cracked and dried, the pack spread out across the wilderness but could still be seen for miles. A haven appeared in the distance – a virtually dried up stream at which the pack came to a halt and started looking for a bridge until some brave sole plunged into the water which was only ten centimetres deep (4 inches for the Americans and elderly Brits amongst us). The paper continued across the wilderness and then disappeared up what seemed to be a tree filled valley.

At this point, the Scribe with a very red-faced and panting Pete stumbled upon Vatican Rag again who was heading left on an earth track. After a short while, we suddenly found paper as well as Magic Dragon. This intrepid band instead of heading back home headed out on the in-trail to meet the pack on their return, or so was the plan. Other lost soles wandering around in the wilderness were Jungle Fucker, snapping away, Tarzan and MGM. After ten minutes of striding out up the in-trail, the pack was no where to be seen and the light was fading – time for our intrepid group of four to head back meeting up with Jonesy and Tom Jones (not related are they?) on the way. So by six o’clock, the group in front of the beer truck comprised the afore-mentioned and the hares. By 6.20, less than half the pack were back and those were only the front runners.

A late start as the stand-in HM, Superbrat had only just arrived back. The stand-in RA was Froggy. Magic Dragon launched into a short song in praise of the present President and the MM, Colonel Bloodknock, entertained us with "These Foolish Things". The run discussion was too short for Superbrat – surprise , surprise. Konkorde got lost and bumped into Pretty Boy and Hradcase. Tarzan went through a swamp – was he on the same run? Froggy thought it an Irish run – full of dried out Paddy’s Mudguard liked it whereas Magic D was reminded of Froggy – unending piles of bullshit.MGM thought everything was either long (the drive, the run) or good ( T shirts, exercise, run). Fucking Wendy complained about the lack of a boat – where was he?

At this stage the Hares were beginning to panic as there was no Crusty Nuts who was an essential part of their Beatles first album anniversary celebration. Konkrete Kock disappeared in his car searching for him. Col Blood. Took his DD for sponsoring the T-shirts when it was noticed that despite the design having different logos on each sleev, Yantino had two left sleeves. What’s more Fanny had two right sleeves. Well it was funny at the time. MM sang a popular little ditty entitled "Sixth Floor" and at this point (7.05) Crusty returned on an Ojek with combed hair, clean shoes and wearing a big smile – where had he been?

Froggy stepped in to action with a series of DDs based around the influence of the Germans in launching the Beatles and the British Royal family as well as DDs for a group of oldies from "The Club". Col Bloodknock described how Froggy nearly died of cancer after eating grass while running which led into several near death experiences and a story from Konkorde about pains in various parts of his body.

The Hares gave two sets of Beatles songs dressed for the part and Sgt Pepper’s lot much to the entertainment of the local populous. Both sets were excellent – when can we obtain the CD, cassette, book, poster etc? Froggy gave it to BA pilots, those married to fat slags and doctors who drink 50% more by his logic.

Thanks to Crusty Nuts for the barrel and to Finexco and Dewo Sri for the T-shirts