The previous week it was a missing passport, next up for the follower of the sport of kings was forgetting that it was Grand National Day. What are they putting in the adhesives these days? Poor Shagpile was unseated by the members of the mini junior section who organised, not one but two, Grand National raffles. Even when the harassed Shagpile appeared on the East Terrace he was not aware of the events at Aintree and he quickly disappeared to put a bet on, because he was unable to get a signal on his mobile.

As the Alies trooped into the clubhouse after the game two of them were richer than they had been when they went out because the Accountant and the Press Secretary had drawn first and second respectively in the Grand National raffle. "It is all quite humbling," mumbled a moist eyed Accountant into his handkerchief, "but I would have preferred a cheque for income tax purposes."

Some of the Alies were on duty shortly after the sun had risen over the yardarm ahead of a busy sponsored day. Big Norman's PA, the bubbly Claire, was meeting and greeting, the Major was racing to and fro, and in the absence of the chief photographer, Morse was polishing and loading up the Box Brownie ready for some action snaps, plus the end of term team photographs. Can you see the Consort's portfolio? Matron can.

As always the Cobra was quipping away as he sliced the ham, rhapsodising about the shape and texture of apricots as he provocatively arranged these cheeky little fruits on the plates. Glazed ham is one of the Alies favourite, the Cobra always saves the off cuts for the Major. It was another succulent meal and went someway to repaying the President of Birkenhead Park and his committee who had pushed the boat out when the Vale had visited The Upper Park at the end of November.

Out on the East Terrace Gilly promised not to offer advice to the players, it lasted about ten seconds, Muggy was concerned about leaving his umbrella in the boot as the heavens opened and the Major was explaining to the Historian what is like to be under a bombardment, causing Muggy to observe that he had seem more action in the NAFFI queue.

With their winnings safely stashed away the Accountant and Press Secretary joined Muggy, Gilly and Titanium in a slimmed down post drinks session because they and their wives were off to the evening "do" following the wedding of the year between Ann and the Red Baron. Muggy had organised a taxi to pick up the Accountant and Press Secretary, in an operation that worked like clockwork, shades of the Major.

Of course the Major is a master at planning an pulling together the logistics of any operation and ever since an Alies Spring offensive had been mentioned he had been beavering away. During the week draft proposals were circulated for a visit to the Imperial War Museum North, dates, EDT's, ETA's were detailed and the possibility of returning once more to the "Peveril of the Peak," on Great Bridgewater Street, with its superb ales and stunning exterior walls clad in ceramic tiles; truly "a historic pub of national importance." The trip to Manchester has the makings of another of the Major's famed away days!