The coldest day of the winter so far with few riders turning up at Uxbridge and some disbelieving looks at the middle ride leader’s headgear; could this be why only a small but select band of five riders headed west on the well known route through Bucks golf club and Denham. John had warned us of the large ice patch on Old Slad Lane but nothing daunted the leader pressed on, coming a cropper, base over apex – we then walked for a bit but had another faller! Safely arrived at the Epilepsy Cafe where Pipa welcomed us and Terry was waiting in a smart blue mackintosh – he was in full flow of conversation when three elegant ladies caught his eye and he transferred his affections immediately. Hills, hills, hills to Latimer where we paused to drape the French tricolour over the grave of the horse of General Georges Henri Anne Marie Victor Compte de Villebois-Mareuil – Les Flaneurs may visit his statue in Nantes on their Loire River trip this summer. Hills, hills, hills but huge views of the Chilterns in the bright January sunshine – a hot black hot air balloon and a geodesic globe caused much interest. John left us a Ley Hill ( was it to return home as he said or to sneak into one of the two pubs side by side ?) Lovely market stalls at Chesham and the Red Lion as Wetherspoonish as ever. A hard climb post-lunch up Fullers Hill (if only we could visit the Fuller’s pub one trip!) home through Chesham Bois, Amersham, Little Chalfont – the party of 4 hoping to be invited to Woodford’s for tea – no such largesse offered so Jean & John split north while Steve & Stu zoomed downhill to Maple Cross and home. Beautiful Chiltern countryside on a beautiful winter’s day ..................... spoilt only by Cull abandoning his leader to the wolves as he walked up into Harefield !