黑洞社区

锘緿espite a surprise attack by an over-affectionate dog and the fact it鈥檚 a Monday, everyone is in good spirits. In fact, Raymond is in an especially good mood as he鈥檚 off to Switzerland tomorrow. He鈥檚 not travelling light, though, with 鈥渁 wife, a mother-in-law, three suitcases and two kids in tow鈥�.

锘緾hris spent his youth outdoors, practising something called 鈥橩erbsie鈥� - a game of sharp reflexes, accuracy and the roadside

There are a few parents in the group and talk turns to what keeps nippers occupied these days - Tony鈥檚 five-year-old is a master of the Nintendo DS.

Reminiscing about games of the past, Sally suggests 鈥渇uzzy-felt鈥�, but football coach Chris spent his youth outdoors, practising something called 鈥淜erbsie鈥� - a game of sharp reflexes, accuracy and the roadside: basically, throwing a ball against the kerb and catching it.

Raymond boasts that he went to school with 1,500m silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey and once beat her over a leg of 100m. This, apparently, made him 鈥渁 hero for weeks鈥�.

This leads Dominic to point out that there鈥檚 actually a celebrity in our midst - the pub landlord put in a stint on TV show Grange Hill as a character bewilderingly named Cracker. With the help of RLF staff鈥檚 funding over the years, Cracker has refurbished the pub from a 鈥渟awdust-and-beer鈥� joint to a cocktail-shaking venue with a Wii in the corner (just make sure you wear the wrist strap of the controller when playing, warns health and safety consultant Chris).

In fact it鈥檚 not just the White Bear that is an RLF regular haunt. Many of the staff frequent the hairdresser next door, where you can enjoy an expensive haircut for the privilege of having a beer at the same time. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we all have the same haircut and jaunty quiff,鈥� explains Steve. 鈥淎lways swept to the right, never the left,鈥� chips in Raymond. Apparently a lot of RLF gossip is exchanged in this infamous salon, something the follicly-challenged Tony and Chris feel quite bitter about: 鈥淚t鈥檚 hair-ism,鈥� claims Tony.

Steve isn鈥檛 sure he鈥檇 be allowed in in what he wears to bed

From hair to clothes, and Raymond has a bold statement to make: 鈥淲e may be QSs, but we鈥檙e more stylish than architects.鈥� However, some members of the group think they could up the fashion stakes. Chris remarks that Northern kids go out in their pyjamas and he thinks this is a good idea. 鈥淲hy should we wear suits just because we live in London?鈥� They do enjoy the freedom of dress-down Fridays at RLF but Dominic鈥檚 idea of this means 鈥渏ust undoing one button鈥�. Sally suggests pyjamas could be worn on a Friday but Steve isn鈥檛 sure he鈥檇 be allowed to come in in what he wears to bed. Best leave that there 鈥�