REIVERS COUNTRY

Kirstie was pleased I was crossing the Tyne and that I was near the "toon". In fact I was fixing my ride following the brigands of the borders. Here is the sort of country we will be crossing. It was lovely weather too.

ANDY HAS A SMILE

It was a great event and good to see Andy and his lovely fiancee Claire Smith. They were in fine form and we all marvel at his stoicism. Fortune Favours the Brave.

NO CURRY FOR ANDY!

While we gaily stuff curry down our throats Andy is pounding oiut his miles once more.  Here he is in Southampton and to day he was in Winchester where he was given  good send off by The Lord   Loot.

MICHAEL'S ANGELS!!

Here are the real stars of the show Michael and the redshirts. Not sure Stephen will appreciate being called an angel?Well done all of them but particularly Michael. A great fourth LMCL. And no sign of Katy!!

Sophie is just wondering what on earth I am doing. Yes, I have become a compulsive blogger, whatever next? Well done Michael, a triumph and I think the best we have had, it isn't all about money.

CHARLIE'S ANGELS

Three great supporters of the charity, Izzie Barnard, Caroline Cary who runs the Early Early Christmas Fair and Ball and Susie Freeman who has donated two fabulous prizes for the event. Thank you all.

SHINEY CURRY

And here is Stephen Shine enjoying his curry so its not "orf". He drove his CO here and and sat down opposite him to enjoy this great occasion without any ceremony. Its alright ,Sir, he didn't touch a drop.

THE CURRY IS OFF!

Well l here we are and the crowd has arrived and the Curry is off to a cracking start. The Curry isn't really "orf" it is looking fantastic.  Within a few minutes the Guildhall filled and there is no doubt this is one of the best organised of the Lord Mayor Curry Lunches and my hero on this event is  Katy Payne who seems to have escaped my blog thus far.

BIG CURRY GRIPPING

This is the most feared man in London, the Garrison Sergeant Major, Billy Mott, who has been gripping high and low but mostly high in the Library at Guildhall so that we greet HRH Duke of Kent in an orderly way. You can see the terror on the faces of those in the background!  He also gave a very good demonstration of a curtsy!!

CHEQUE HEAD

Here is Neil Baverstock Commander of 145 (South) Brigade heading over a cheque for £545 from his HQ Mess who held a function for our benefit. Getting a bit tired of the normal handover I thought we would have a headover. Also in the picture is Keith Page whose idea the event was. He wasn't so sure about the photo!!

SOLDIER RIDES IN

Three valiant ambassadors from the Wounded Warrior Project in the US are over to discuss our joint venture of 15 wounded soldiers from each nation doing a bike ride in the UK in October. Their enthusiasm for helping the wounded is awesome. At our meeting (which was not at the Ebury Wine Bar! ) we made much progress. Peter Honerkamp the mover in this idea is in the middle and on his right is Nick Kraus and on left is  Chris Carney, a great group of guys as they say in the US of A!

ANDY CONTINUES HIS CHALLENGE

While we have all been busy doing our jobs and enjoying a weekend in the sunshine Andy has been pounding the tarmac and here is a smashing picture of him in Cambridge with the Lord Mayor thereof and good old Stephen Shine who is another stalwart supporter and ambassador of the charity.  Andy was in Portsmouth yesterday and this was his 20th Marathon and he still going strong.  He did it in 6 hrs 53 mins.  Marvellous effort and one should realise that 66 days is one third of an operational tour in Afghanistan.