JDC Area 33 – Report

Sunday Feb 25 – Cricketers Arms,

Rickling Green

Despite the risk of showers, the Jaguar Drivers Club Essex Area 33 managed a good turnout to start the Sunday Lunch series for 2007.

A total of 18 hungry members found their way to Rickling Green and following last Octobers visit, another warm welcome at the Cricketers Arms.

The interior of the Cricketers Arms is a very pleasant union of old world beams and flagstone floors with a now typical up market restaurant furnished with modern light oak tables laid with fine wine glasses and white napkins.

Easy on the appetisers meant one could also sample the nice selection of house wines by the glass to complement a typical Sunday lunch fare including the usual roasts plus Duck, Venison, Sea Bass & Gnocchi with two cheese sauce.

If one had not overindulged on the Starters of Lobster Risotto, Foie Gras, Asparagus or Crab cakes there was still Pear and Apricot Crumble, Bread & Butter pudding with Ginger Ice cream or Crème Brulee to fill those remaining corners!

The usual after dinner conversations ensured “never a dull moment” especially as Anthea and Bernie had gotten into a delicate disagreement over the start and finish dates of the Normandy tour. After Reg, Ronnie and Tina had further clouded the confusion as to whether it was a six or seven night stay; it transpired that between the November planning meeting and January publication, the timetable had changed by one day! Let’s just hope that those doing the tour all arrive on the same day!

Coffees followed later, much later unfortunately as compared to last year the service had slowed considerably, to complete an excellent quality lunch but marred this time by the quite slow service.

The manager explained that two staff were absent which unfortunately resulted in the remaining waiter having to cover not only the Jaguar group but other tables and the wines as well.

However, not to dwell on the negatives, everyone was well pleased with the lunch and the weather had managed to stay bright and dry enabling a nice fast cruise home (He He!) though the blossoming spring lanes around Hatfield and the Roding's to Chelmsford and beyond.

Thanks to all who attended and commiserations to Les & Jean who unfortunately had to cancel on the morning due to the dreaded flu thing around at the moment.

We all look forward to even more pleasant Lunches to come through the year.

PS. Must remember to take camera next time, the opening picture is getting a bit samey!

Eric Hoile