ADD UP - TAKE AWAY

 COUNTING !

One of Preston North Ends stands is called.......

 "The Invincibles". 

It harks back to the dim and distant past when Preston fielded a team that couldn't be beaten by the other teams in the league at that time.

Today, however, our team, "THE MEANDERTHALS" themselves face a foe that cannot be beaten,

 TIME !🕑🕒🕓🕔🕕🕖😢😔

About twenty years ago one  of our "Team" retired and decided that to avoid becoming a "Couch Potato" he would have a weekly outing walking in the country side.

In the years that followed others joined him and the numbers gradually rose.

1...2...3...4...5........................14...15...16 of the sixteen as many as 12  retirees would join us on our weekly walks.

Other numbers also gradually mounted as the years came and went.

2003....2004....2005..........................................2020....2021...2022...2023....2024?

our ages,also, kept increasing.

 👨.............60's.....65......70's.....75.....80's.....?👴

But inevitably other numbers began to diminish. a Couple of years ago the tally of attendees each week began to fall

12....10....8...7..6.5.4.3   as old age, infirmity and other outside pressures take their toll.

Also inevitable that dodgy hips, knees and other parts (?) have caused our walked mileage to gradually lessen.

10/9..8..7..6..5..................4/5 

Now, each Thursday, as few as 3 and as many as 6 "oldies" turn up each week.  Not always the same ones.

One number has not changed though. 10 out of 10 for the desire to meet up each week and 10 out of 10 for the enjoyment we get from it.

Harking back to the "Invincibles" I mentioned to begin with. 

In Footballing terms the 90 minutes are up. 

The final whistle has been blown. 

Time has won.

But No ! Wait ! 

The referee says we still have extra time to play. Yipee ! Let's make the most of it. 

JW