AWW 10.12.2008 Walking for Christmas Pre-Amble

Faced with pressing deadlines, the DCB is forced to jump the queue and put out these moving pictures of the Walkers actually walking before the Chief Blogger can complete his Festive Blog. The incentive for the walk itself was, of course, the mulled wine, etc., etc. awaiting us at Patricia's, but the leader had to hold us all back for about ten minutes a furlong or two out from the finish so that the mulled brew could reach the correct temperature. But then Ian S., impatient as ever, broke away despite Rod's restraining hand.

The pack then followed, streaming down the hill after him. Ian (off-stage left) can be heard trying to make amends by suggesting that "walking backwards" would slow things down. It may have been his innate modesty that preventing him from singing the words of the immortal Goon Show song, but more likely it was that he didn't want to pay the performing rights fee to Spike Milligan's estate.

For those below a certain age, who were not exposed to the Goons in their prime, and haven't a clue what I'm going on about, the words of the nonsense song (circa 1956) went something like this :

"I'm walking backwards for Chreeestmas

Across the Irish Sea

I'm walking backwards for Chreeestmas

It's the only thing for me.

I've tried walking sideways

And walking to the front,

But people just look at me

And say it's a publicity stunt."

Any way his attempt was too late and in vain because the rest of the walkers did not succumb to the temptations of public relations, possible celebrity status, whatever, and marched off determinedly with only the forthcoming sumptuous banquet on their mind.