What...

 ...you may ask, do an egg and a damaged tennis ball have to do with the usual posts you may expect to see on this blog?

Well, it's like this. When the three man Horwich OAPs B team reported to the Sun Inn in Haworth for the Bunny Run Relay yesterday, they knew that the relay batons were to be eggs, and had fondly imagined that they would be the Cadbury's Cream style, much favoured by the shouty organiser, Dave Woodhead.

However, this was not to be, they were actual raw (this was demonstrated) hen's eggs, and panic set in. All the local kiddywinks, who made up most of the other teams, were wise to this and had brought along various carrying aids - bags, socks, gloves etc. A quick search in the grass threw up this tennis ball, presumably pre-chewed by a dog. The egg was quickly and deftly inserted by one of our team, and we were ready for the off; and off they went, at a rapid rate of knots.

Pete went first and very soon found that, kiddywinks or not, they could run like the clappers. There were a few senior teams, many in fancy dress, a few hardy souls who ran all three legs solo, plus our main rivals, the Horwich OAPs A team. Pete ran bravely, but came in uncomfortably close to the back of the field. Alan ran our middle leg and ran our fastest time. I ran our last and slowest leg, and managed to lose two of the very few places remaining to be lost.

By the time we finished, most folk had gone back to the Sun, including the Horwich OAPs A. However there was soup left back at the pub, but all the rolls had been eaten and we had to make do with the soup (tomato or potato and leek) with cheesy breadsticks.

It was a sobering experience, especially as we left without getting any beer (yes, I am feeling my age) despite the venue. There's scope, I suppose, for lots of eggy puns here, well did you eggspect to eggscape without me cracking any yolks? Why did the chicken throw the egg across the road - because it was a chucky egg, and why did the chicken cross the road softly - because she couldn't walk hardly. Also it would have been good if John Coope could have been there.

Just a quick thank you to my two team mates for joining in the spirit of the evening, and keeping me company in one of our rare forrays into t'Y's homeland. Perhaps we'll enter a WFDBWGUA team next year. Please submit your plans for an egg carrier as soon as - don't all scramble at once.