Last night it was our barbecue and the weather followed the same trend as the previous two - not too bad to start off but deteriorating as the evening went on, shame really because it had been a very nice day. Anyway everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and that is what really matters.

But let me take you back a bit, back to the last barbecue. In fact exactly a week before the last barbecue. It was 7.00pm and I was just settling in to my comfortable armchair after a tiring day of busy leisure when the doorbell rang. I probably gave one of those questioning looks like they do on television each time the doorbell or the telephone rings which always causes me to impatiently shout "Never mind the look, just answer it, for goodness sakes!" Or probably words very close to that.

The only way to really find out who was the cause of this disturbing noise was to relinquish my chair and answer it. So I did.

I was met with a face that was beaming from ear to ear. Well, and the rest of his body of course. It was none other than Dynamo Dai Harris.

"I'm not too early am I?" he asked.

"Just a bit," I said "but it's always good to see you Dai, actually you're seven days early."

Now Dynamo Dai is a pretty fast and fearless rider once he gets going but I didn't think that even he could have ridden so spectacularly quickly that he arrived a week before he set off. I looked over at his bike and I could see that his saddlebag was bulging with beer cans. After a few pleasantries and his reassurance that we would meet again seven days hence he remounted his bike and set off into the evening and the sunset. Just another rider and his saddlebag looking for a party.!!

Now come forward in time just a bit, not quite to the present but strangely enough to exactly seven days before the starting date of this barbecue. Once again I was relaxing in my armchair (go back to paragraph 2 if you want the full description) and the doorbell rang.

Do you ever get that feeling of 'deja vu, all over again'? I opened the door expecting to see the Dynamo but I'd never seen this man before. Who on earth was he? A gatecrasher perhaps!

His right arm reached out and I instinctively shook his hand. Strange, I thought, cyclists are not usually this formal.

"Sorry I'm late," he said "got a bit delayed. Brian Davies."

"Right" I said, hesitantly and with a slight question mark at the end.

"From Anglia," he said "we have an appontment."

"I don't think so." I said.

"This is no 15?" he said.

"Yes," I said "Derwen Fawr Road."

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry," he said "I wanted Rhyd y Defaid Drive." He backed away and proceeded to his appontment even later than he was originally.

Chwarae teg, fair play though, at least he didn't try to sell me double glazing.

OK so I've got this far, now what do I say? An onlooker would find me visibly musing now and in a musing fashion I spy my glass of beer, I raise it to my lips, I taste. "Not at all bad," I say to myself "What is this one? And as you are probably interested to know I shall now tell you. It is none other than Tangle Foot, what's more it has the adjective 'Legendary' attached to it. I pick up the bottle to find out more and on the neck it bears the slogan 'Deceptively Drinkable' which leaves me wondering exactly to what lengths they went to make it appear, at first glance, undrinkable. What sort of marketing man managed to come up with such a slogan? I read the label on the back and this is what it says:-

'Many years ago, the Head Brewer, John Woodhouse, invited his staff to sample his latest creation. On rising to go, he experienced a sudden loss of steering and so unwittingly fell upon a name for this legendary ale. Tangle Foot is a "deceptively drinkable"golden ale with hints of melon and pear developed from fermentation. Ideal for steak and ale pies.'

Now I am sitting in the garden writing this and I have not tried to get up since finishing my Tangle Foot. If it so happens that this story does not make it to the website can someone please call an ambulance!"

Well, what do you expect from a beer brewed by Badgers!

Talking about slogans there is a local wine merchant (who shall be nameless) claiming to give 'the ultimate wine buying experience.' If I was gullible I would be really impressed by this because 'ultimate' must surely mean that it is the best in the whole wide world. I have been to the shop and there can be no doubt that they stock a good range, they are very competitive, are knowledgable, friendly and polite. Come to think of it that's rather good really so lets just say that it is certainly 'The Ultimate Buying Experience' in Swansea.

Good luck Dylan!

I remember years and years ago standing at a bar with my business partner in a little pub outside Kidderminster when a group of young people came in. One of the girls had obviously got her first car and was really pleased with it "Over the moon" I think the expression is. She was telling her mates all about it, how fast it went, how good it was on corners but then she said "It literally turns on a sixpence!" Now I seem to remember that this girl was by no means overweight but for her car to be able to 'literally turn on a sixpence' must surely have made it (literally) smaller than a dinky toy. How on earth would she have got into it?

Finally I have to tell you that 'The Great John Cardy' has now embarked upon a study of the correct use of the comma so if he should come up to you all wild eyed and excited and starts a conversation with "Now there are four types of comma ..... " just be firm and claim to have a subsequent engagement, make your excuses and leave.

It would make sense.

I don't know - 'deja vu, all over again', Badgers that brew 'Deceptively Drinkable' beer, ultimate wine buying experiences, cars that literally turn on a sixpence and now John Cardy arming himself with even more knowledge. The world is going mad!

Lets get back to the status quo!!

Many thanks to all of you who enjoyed yourselves here last night especially as, on entering my kitchen this morning I find that all the washing up has been done and everywhere is clean and tidy.

Thanks

Happy pedalling

Lew Spokes

For the complete Wednesday and Sunday rides programme click on the link at the top of this page, or if that is too much trouble then click here.