Seduced into joining EFOG

Seeing one of our new members' (Dave) recent blog-entries prompted me to recover a reminder of how I first joined the Group.

Some of you will have seen (or heard!) this before, but I thought it was fun when I wrote it, and hope that it is still! It might even act as a warning for any potential new members...

Unless Dave just hasn't mentioned the Rodings Rally, then he got off lightly when HE joined!

Read on....

The Sirens of Epping Forest

It was the 2005 Forest Festival

And I went along to the EFOG stall;

To see what sort of things they done;

But walking and cycling seemed their idea of fun

At once accosted by a chap

Who told me about this and that.

I said "No - for I know what that entails -

I've done all that walking for miles and miles."

"But now I'm somewhat past all that.

Not age, nor am I none too fat -

Much as I'd like to join you all,

I've got creaking joints - and I tend to stall."

I said "I think I'd better go!"

But two girls came up and they both said "No!"

They grabbed an arm each up my back;

Said "We might provide the things you lack."

"Because we do lots of other things",

"Well, that sounds interesting," I grinned

"But you see, I'm not sociable, at all!"

But they said we don't believe you, and we meet in a local hall.

"We meet there every Thursday night -

And we think that you might be just right.

We really think you ought to come along."

Their talk was sweet - but their grip was strong.

So I found myself on that Thursday evening

Wondering if I'd lost my reasoning.

Wondering if I would be OK,

But the group encouraged me to stay.

That first quiz night was a clever ruse,

Because soon they had me paying dues.

Was I right in doubting what I'd done?

Because the harder stuff was yet to come!

For quite a few weeks what they had to say

Was about the Rodings Rally Day.

But what this was, they didn't quite let on;

Sort of, letting newcomers just tag along.

Then, weekends tracking through the trees

Mostly followed by aching knees;

With a compass, a map and surveyors measure -

This outdoor stuff is hardly leisure.

Checkpoint plotting is what they said

In trackless forest - they're sick in the head

But an indoor evening thinking up clues

Was a bit of a laugh and banished some blues.

And then the big night, in mid November,

The Rodings Rally was a night to remember,

It started quite easy with a tasty meal,

But got harder and harder - and I paid for my fill.

Setting out tables and putting out tents,

Most sane people at other events,

Choose a sunny day in the middle of summer...

This outdoor group just gets rummer and rummer.

And what about me, 'cos I went along,

I was one of them - have I got it wrong?

Well, it's too late now - I've been well and truly duped,

By the Sirens of the Epping Forest Outdoor Group.

Paul Ferris  January 2006