News
DONNINGTON
PARK FARM HOTEL
31ST. OCTOBER TO 2ND. NOVEMBER 2008 |
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| The site |
Inside the hall |
Thirteen units attended
the rally at Donnington Park Hotel, not bad for this late in the
year. Electric hook-up
was available for all, and did we need it.
It was the coldest weekend we have had this year.
Just about everyone switched the heating on as they arrived
and didn't switch it off until they left.
It's nice to have a little comfort now and again.
It's not a bad site but quite boggy in places.
Only one got bogged down, I won’t name him but it's a
good job I have a mover fitted to my caravan otherwise I'd have
been there still.
Despite the very cold weather and biting wind the usual idiotic half
dozen had to gather for a drink in the late afternoon.
No one had anything to Bar.B.Q. but they managed to talk John
into lighting his just to have something to stand around.
Margaret took pity on them and supplied half a dozen sausages
to cook and Jan came up with the bread and a bottle of sauce.
A hot sausage sandwich and a few beers went down very well
and it didn't seem such a daft idea after all.
On the Friday evening a dozen or more of us met up in the piano room
at the hotel. We had a pleasant, warm comfortable evening, but the drink
was very expensive which didn't encourage us to stay too long.
Saturday afternoon is, as usual, the shopping day, many visiting
nearby Derby. A good idea this Park and ride saves a lot of messing
about trying to find parking.
Prior to the social evening Debbie, our new leader, called a
committee meeting. She had a full agenda lined up, many things were discussed
and decisions made. She
obviously intends the committee to take a full part in the running
of the area. She also
wants anyone with ideas for rallies in 2010, especially new venues,
with halls if possible, to have a word with her.
Let's giver her all the support we can.
By 7.30pm we had all gathered in the "Oak Room" This is one of
the more comfortable rooms that we use.
Under floor heating, new chairs and with the added bonus of
being able bring our own drink. This is sure to be one that we use
again. Ken
and Colin were hosts for the weekend, assisted in no short measure
by Ann and Jan. Ken called
the first three games of bingo. Then Janice, realising that his voice was about to give way
offered to call the last two. After
the raffle the answers to this weeks quiz were read out. Phyl won getting them all correct but one.
We finished the evening off with a good old fashion natter a
few more drinks and then crawled out about midnight.
We don't have a
coffee morning at Donnington we all have a brisk walk to the nearby
Sunday Market. On this
particular occasion the weather was very cold and damp and the
market was only about half its usual size but we had a good walk
round and bought nothing.
Metal Mickey.
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COPT OAK VILLAGE HALL
17TH.TO 19TH.OCTOBER 2008.
A.G.M. |
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Debbie Lee
New Area 6 Organiser |
Colin Hubbard
Assistant Organiser |
It's A.G.M time
again and this year we decided to move it back to Copt Oak village
hall, hoping to get a better attendance, and we were not
disappointed. We had 19
units and three day visitors. It
shows that there is still a great deal of interest in the area.
Most of it due to Brian's past efforts as Organiser.
Dave and Debbie were hosts for the weekend and as it was Brian's
last rally as Area Organiser they wanted to make it a good one.
They decided to make it a cheese and wine party. They spent
all Saturday morning shopping for all the bits and bobs.
The A.G.M. was set for 3pm. but Margaret was in the hall
bright and early, with the kettle on to make sure that everyone had
a cup of tea before we started.
It's these little thing that make a difference.
By 3pm the hall was full and the meeting was opened dead on time.
The Chairman apologised for the shortfall in the number of
copies of the minutes of the last meeting and the Treasurers report
but the attendance had exceeded our expectations and would they mind
sharing with each other.
After giving his Organisers Report Brian formally announced
that he would not be standing for re-election. He thanked everyone
for the help given during his term of office, especially to his wife
Pauline for all the support she has given over the years. This
brought a resounding applause from the floor, lasting quite some
time indicating the strong feeling everyone has for them both.
John Iliffe had earlier made it known that he would be
standing down as Assistant Organiser but would be willing to serve
on the committee if required. He and Margaret have been Brian's
side-kick for a good many years and it will be nice to see them on
the committee. They must have a few years work left in them yet.
Phyl then gave her Treasurers report indicating that we were still
viable, in the black, and ready to do some serious spending on the
Christmas Party.
The meeting was then open to the floor for general
discussion. One member stated that he had heard comments that there
were to many cliques in the club and some didn't like the system of
saving places. It was pointed out that the word clique means
exclusive group excluding others.
We don't have cliques but we do have groups of family and
friends who like to be together you will always get this in any type
of club or association. Anyone
can join in with any of the groups and be made welcome. Many often
do. Me for one.
On the social evenings we all start off in the so-called
groups but by the end of the evening everyone has mingled together. The majority didn't find this a problem.
In regard to the saving of places if the site is big enough
with plenty of space there doesn't appear to be any problem.
If we are restricted for space, as at the Christmas Party,
then each member is allocated a space as they arrive and everyone is
quite happy with this arrangement.
One of our lady members hit the nail on the head, she said,"
I come with this club because I can come when I want to, I don't
have to book in advance. I can park were I want to, within reason,
do what I want to, providing it doesn't interfere with others.
Then I can leave when I want to."
The meeting than went on to the election
of the club officials. There
were only one nomination for each post, the nominations were: -
Area Organiser. DEBBIE
LEE
Ass.Organiser.
COLIN HUBBARD
Treasurer
PHYL BOWMAR
Committee Members:-
JOHN ILIFFE,
KEN MERRICKS, JANE
HERTZIG, COLIN
RICHARDSON.
All were voted in un-apposed. The meeting was than closed.
A great deal of healthy discussion carried on afterwards and Phyl
dished out the Christmas invitations.
Before we all returned to the hall for the social evening the new
organiser took her band of willing helpers into the kitchen to
prepare the evening snack. Dave
did the job as M.C for the evening calling the bingo and running the
raffle. He doesn't sell
the tickets he can't deal with money. We all then had a plate of
cheese and biscuits washed down with wine. We had a good natter and
did a lot of mingling.
Many of the members stayed on till after midnight so that
they could sing happy birthday to Stephanie on her sixteenth
birthday. They also
sang it to her twin sister Chrissy even though she was unable to
attend the rally. It must have been well after 1am. Before we finally locked
the hall door.
At the 11am coffee morning Chris was
presented with a box of chocolates for winning the quiz.
Debbie gave her first coffee morning speech, Stephanie had
another session of happy birthday and we all went home happy in the
knowledge that
Area 6 is in safe hands for another year. |
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COLLINGHAM CRICKET
CLUB
3RD.TO 5TH. OCTOBER 2008. |
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| Ken with his mates |
Metal Mickey shares his bottle of best
Cognac |
The days are getting shorter and the evenings
are getting colder, so it is time to put away the club tents until
next spring. This is
the time of the year when we start to use village halls and such
like for our venues. We become a little more civilised and get dressed up for our
Saturday evening get together. It’s a change from wellies and
overcoats.
Our first autumn venue was the ever-popular
Collingham Cricket Club. We have the use of the pavilion on both the
Friday and Saturday evenings sixteen units attended, most arriving
before lunchtime on Friday. Ken
re-appeared after a long absence due to his globetrotting and his
veteran motorcycling. (He's the veteran not the motorcycle.)
The first thing he did was set up the Bar.B.Q.
This was 2pm in the afternoon and we don't light it until
5.30pm. All he wanted
to do was gather his mates together and stand around the unlit
Bar.B.Q with a bottle in his hand.
In fact we got through several bottles before it was actually
lit. After his bottle
of wine and a glass of Brandy with his meal he didn't make it into
the hall on the Friday evening.
I wonder why? Twenty
or so of us gathered in the hall for a quiet drink and a natter,
several making it last until about midnight.
Although the weather forecast had been for
heavy rain and strong winds Saturday morning was sunny and quite
warm. Mid-morning I was dragged off to the local wholesale warehouse
in search of raffle prizes and by the time we arrived back at the
site the wind had got up and was quite strong.
But this didn't stop Ken.
Late afternoon he found a sheltered spot and there he was
with his Bar.B.Q. This
time we waited until he'd lit it before we got the bottles out.
In the evening we all congregated in the
pavilion. First off,
half a dozen of the ladies went into the kitchen to start preparing
the hot dogs and mushy peas for later in the evening.
Margaret and Stephanie sold the tickets and Ann and Chloe
took charge of the Bingo board.
9pm. was suppertime then the raffle.
It was so nice to have plenty of room with warm and pleasant
surroundings, most of us carried on until well after midnight.
By this time the forecast of heavy rain and strong winds had
caught up with us and a few were getting concerned about towing the
vans the following day. They
needn't have bothered because by Sunday lunchtime it was a lovely
dry sunny day without a breath of wind.
Perfect towing conditions.
The next rally is at Copt Oak when again we
have the use of a hall. Saturday
afternoon will be the A.G.M. when hopefully we will have a good
turnout and vote in a new organiser and committee.
Metal Mickey.
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THE END OF AN ERA |
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The
weekend Rally at Sweethedges Farm marked the end of a very important
era in the history of Area 6. BRIAN
TILDESLEY announced his intension of resigning as Area 6 Organiser
as from the next A.G.M.
Brian has been a member of the Auto Camping Club for nearly 40 years
and for at least 26 of these years he has been involved in the
organising of the Area. He
has been Organiser, Assistant Organiser and Treasurer.
For the vast majority of that time he has been the organiser.
Whenever there has been a problem or a crisis Brian has taken
over the helm and sorted it out.
Organiser have come and gone but Brian seems to go on forever. During all this time Pauline has been by his side giving him
support.
I have never met anyone who is more dedicated to the ACC than Brian.
Brian and Pauline will continue to rally with the club and I am sure
that if there is ever another crisis Brian will be on the front line
helping out.
Enjoy
your retirement and a good many more years rallying.
Mick Bowmar (Metal
Mickey)
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SWEETHEDGES FARM
19TH.TO 21ST. SEPTEMBER 2008. |
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| The site |
Enjoy your coffee |
It would appear that summer has returned.
The weather for the Sweethedges rally was perfect with lovely
warm balmy days, although it did drop a little cool in the evenings,
but still very pleasant. We
had a fair turnout considering that we still have quite a few away
on holiday. The site is
quite nice and the grass is cut short, but it had only just been cut
before we arrived and the cuttings were being carried into the van.
But you can't have everything.
The site slopes in just about every direction; I was only the
third to arrive and had the pick of the field as to were I placed my
van. I moved it at
least four times and made numerous skid marks before I got settled.
After over forty years of caravanning I was beginning to feel
like a novice. That is
until Colin J. arrived he moved at least six times and created more
skid marks than I did, so I didn't feel quite so bad.
Everyone else settled the first time, including Dave and
Debbie and they arrived in the dark.
We erected only one of the club tents for the Friday evening
giving just enough space for a dozen of us to sit and have a couple
of drinks.
Saturday was another glorious day Howard, Barry
and Jamie had found the fishing lake so that was them settled for
the weekend, their better halves settling for a day basking in the
sun. An’t life great. I
settled for a day shopping in Stamford.
Some of us are born to be martyrs.
Late afternoon and out comes the Bar.B.Q's. and the beer.
We had a feeling that this may be the last chance this year
to have an outdoor celebratory street party.
So out came the tables and the bottles of wine and fifteen of
us sat down to a great party. We sat there until almost dark then retired to the club tents
for the usual Saturday evening get together.
Dave and Debbie did the bingo and Margaret and Auntie Maureen
dealt with the raffle.Sunday was another lovely warm day; Phyl and
Margaret prepared the tea and coffee.
Brian sat down to give his usual Sunday service, which was unusual,
he normally stands. After
his little talk, it became obvious why he was sitting. He went on to
read out a very emotional letter stating that after over 26 years on
the organising side of the club he was stepping down as Organiser as
from the next A.G.M. He
was hoping that someone younger would take over. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. No one could speak.
You could taste the emotion in the air.
Brian and Pauline are to carry on rallying and will be on
hand to give help and advice if needed. True to form Brian has
finalised all the rallies for 2009.
He never leaves a job half done.
Metal
Mickey.
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WEST STOCKWORTH
SEPT 2008 |
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HEAVY RAIN SLUDGE AND MUD EVERYWHERE.
- CARS AND VANS SKIDDING. - PADDLING MUD INTO THE
VANS. - NO WHERE TO GO AND NOTHING TO
DO. - ANYONE WHO MISSED THIS RALLY KNEW WHAT
THEY WERE DOING. - BIG CLEANING-UP JOB WHEN WE GOT
HOME. -
-NO PHOTO'S TAKEN. - THIS ONE BEST
FORGOTTEN.
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CHAPEL
ST. LEONARDS, LINC’S
AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY 2008. |
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| Coffee morning |
It was a close call |
The Thursday club strikes again,
this time we had seven units arriving on the Thursday. Many of them
stopping until Tuesday, making it a full five nights.
All together we had seventeen
units attend the August Bank Holiday rally at Chapel St. Leonards.
Not a bad turn out, but then where else can you get a seaside
site over the bank holiday period for six pound per night.
We had a large well-cut field all to our self with easy
access to the beach, Skegness, Mablethorpe and Inglemells and plenty
of room for the kids to play without causing any trouble I'm
surprised that more don’t come.
We had quite reasonable weather.
We had a little wind and a little rain but mostly it was dry and
warm. We managed
several Bar.B.Q's and had most of our meals outside.
The club tents were put up but they didn't get used much most
did their own thing except for Saturday evening when we had the
usual social gathering hosted by Colin and Mandy. Mandy called the bingo and Colin did the rest.
They had a competition about films I had a look at it but
couldn't understand it. Then
again I have only been to the cinema three times in the last
thirty-five years and one of them occasions was this week when I was
persuaded to go and see "Mamma Mia" in Skegness.
I wouldn't admit it to everybody but I quite enjoyed it.
On the other hand Phyl knew all the answers and won the
prize. Now I know were
she goes to when she goes into Nottingham every day.
Most left by Tuesday but a couple
of us went onto the small site with electric hook-up facilities and
recharged our battery prior to carrying on to Chatsworth House.
Half a dozen of us spent the following weekend at the
Chatsworth Country Festival. In the early hours of the first morning
we almost got our caravans crushed by low flying hot air balloons.
They had taken off at dawn only a few hundred feet away,
couldn't get any lift and landed within a few feet of our vans. The
noise of the gas burners woke me up; I looked out and saw Margaret
in her shorty nightdress taking photos.
I've got a lovely photo of her, if you want to see it, and
many more look on Area 6 web site. www.acceastmidlands.co
Metal Mickey
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HAYES FARM, NEWSTEAD
8TH TO 10TH. AUGUST 2008
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| The canopy is bigger than the van |
Having a drink with an old friend |
We usually get a fair turnout at Hayes Farm and
despite many still being on holiday, this year was no exception.
The Thursday Club did quite well, six units arrive early, and a
further eight came on the Friday. Fourteen units is not bad
for early August. The site has 6 electric hook-ups.
These were taken very quickly by the early birds but with a the use
of a couple of splitters we managed to get most connected.
To start with the weather was quite good. Both Thursday and Friday
evenings we were able to sit outside to have our meal. In fact
Brian and I sat out with a bottle till well after midnight, then it
started to rain.
Friday lunch time John and Margaret arrived showing off their new
sun canopy. (I didn't know that you could buy one for toy caravans.)
I've never seen one fitted to an Eriba before. It has to be
bolted to the side of the van and they are very expensive.
Margaret said that John was almost in tears as he put his hand in
his wallet. Never mind John it looks very nice and worth
whatever you paid for it.
The weather must have been fine because at Bar.B.Q. time Phyl was
dishing out Pimms, and you only drink them when the weather is fine.
We must be moving up-market. About a dozen of us spent Friday
evening having a drink in the club tent. That's another advantage of
having electric hook-up; we don't need the generator for the lights.
Saturday and what a change in the weather, overcast, wind and heavy
rain. Many took advantage of the nearby tram. It takes
you straight into the center of Nottingham. No congestion and
no parking fees. We spent the afternoon in shopping precincts
dodging the heavy rain.
Late afternoon we had a pleasant surprise visit
from Jack and Audrey. We
managed to talk Audrey into having a drink of Pimms, but Jack was
driving so he had to go without.
It’s nice to see old friends.
We spent the usual Saturday evening in the club tents and despite
the torrential rain we were quite comfy. Dave and Debbie were
the hosts for the weekend. Dave called the bingo and Debbie
did everything else.
Sunday morning and guess what Howard, Barrie and Jamie had found a
fishing pond. It was even more fortunate that Jamie just happened to
have 3 rods in the back of his vehicle. That was them settled for
the day. 11am. we had coffee and by mid-afternoon all had left
except for the fisherman.
In future we will have to advertise this rally as a fishing rally.
Metal Mickey
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BEECHWOOD
PARK,
ELVASTON, DERBY’S 25TH.TO 27TH.
JULY 2008. |
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| The evening get together |
The kids play their games |
At last! Summer has arrived. For our rally at
Beechwood Park the temperature was well into the eighties and no
sign of wind or rain. We
have been waiting all year for this, and did we make the best of it.
The Thursday Club had dwindled to only two
units, Brian and Pauline and Phyl and myself we arrived about
lunchtime on the Thursday. We
spent all day sitting outside eating, drinking and sunbathing.
It was well after midnight before Brian and myself called it
a night.
The site has eighteen electric hook-up's
plenty to go around but unfortunately they were all situated in one
corner of the field, making it very difficult to get everyone
connected, but after a lot of pushing and moving about we managed to
get everybody on electric.
We again had a very low turnout, eleven units,
but many are still on holiday.
It was nice to see John and Joyce back. Both looking very
well after their operations. The order of the day was outside
Bar.B.Q's. Drinking and eating, which went on well into the early
hours.
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| The fisherman |
Howard's caught one |
On the Saturday many stayed on site making the
most of the perfect weather. Howard
and Barry found the nearby fishing lakes and spent most of the day
relaxing with rod in hand. I
did notice their wives make a least one trip to the lake with a
couple of cold beers, I presumed for their husbands.
Aren't some men lucky?
For the Saturday evening social we decided to
dispense with the usual club tents and spend the evening under the
stars. It was a
striking success; I wish we could do it this way more often.
The hosts for the weekend appeared to be missing so Brian
called the bingo and I sold the tickets.
It was well after midnight before the last one's went to
bed.
Sunday was another perfect day; we had coffee
and a natter at eleven and spent the rest of the day idling about
the site. Howard even
found time to have another couple of hours at the fishing lake.
It was well into the evening before the last unit made for
home. It would be
wonderful if we could have weather like this for the rest of the
summer.
Metal Mickey
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REMPSTONE STEAM FAIR
AND COUNTRY SHOW
JULY 2008. |
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| Around the Bonfire |
Cooking in the rain |
More and more people are joining the
Thursday Club. This is
were members arrive on the Thursday instead of Friday and take
advantage of the longer weekend.
At the Rempstone Steam Fair and Country Show six members
turned-up on Thursday taking advantage of the all in fee of thirty
pound covering the site fee for up to five days and admission into
the show for all the occupants of any unit.
That's what I call a bargain weekend. A further three arrived
on Friday including guests Mark and his two girls from Kent.
They arrived in style with the largest American type mobile
home we have ever seen in our area.
A great looking vehicle but I would have hated to pay the
petrol bill for filling up the tank.
"Mark, you and your family were very welcome and we hope
that you enjoyed the weekend, we will be only too pleased to see you
again". The
turnout of nine units is very poor especially for such a great
weekend but many are still on holiday and several are still on the
sick list.
On Thursday evening the early birds had a
Bar.B.Q but they had too cook in the open air as Metal Mickey forgot
to bring the Bar.B.Q. Gazebo. They
won't trust him with that job again.
As look had it, it turned out to be a fairly mild night and
someone had the bright idea of stoking up the hot charcoal with dead
wood from the hedgerows. It made quite a nice little bonfire and we all sat out till
well after midnight having a few drinks and putting the world to
right. It's a long
while since we have been able to do that.
The fine weather didn't last very long on the
Friday afternoon we had a very heavy rainfall, which lasted a couple
of hours. It was the
time when most of the caravans were arriving and the roadways turned
into a quagmire. At one
time they had to close the main entrance and do running repairs,
they did managed to get everybody on site.
But I had my doubts as to if we would all get of after the
weekend. In the evening
a few of us had a stroll onto the showground.
Wellies were needed but the ground appeared to be drying out
quite well. We finished
off the evening with a few drinks in the club tent.
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| What the well dressed man is wearing. |
Pam and Roy made easy work of getting around |
Saturday morning and the site had dried out
fairly well, we all made our way to the show ground this time
without wellies, with the exception of Dave he had wellies, umbrella
and shorts. Best to be prepared for all eventualities.
The show catered for most tastes with Arena displays, plenty
of steam engines small, large and many in-between.
There were numerous stalls and side shows, fair ground for
the kids, many eating places and of course the Beer Tent with
various entertainment which went on till around midnight.
The evening was spent in the club tent with the usual bingo
and raffle hosted by Colin and Debbie.
Sunday turned out to be the best day of the
weekend, dry and sunny. We spent most of the day at the show and
left for home late afternoon. Brian,
Pauline, Colin and Debbie stayed on until Monday making the most of
a very long weekend. Brian
has booked it again for next year so if you want a bargain weekend
this is the one to attend.
Metal Mickey.
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NEWSTEAD
ABBEY
HOME OF THE POET LORD BYRON.
9TH. TO 22ND. JUNE 2008. |
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THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDENS |
A GENTLE STROLL |
It was nice to be back at Newstead Abbey again.
It has been a good many years since we held a rally here. The last
time we had a rally booked at the Abbey was when Maurice was
organiser and he cancelled it because he thought it was too
expensive. seven pound. a night, which included the site fee and
entrance to the gardens for all the family for the entire weekend
seems good value to me. The
Abbey ghost was thrown in for nothing.
Although the rally was only Friday to Sunday
John and Margaret, Phyl and myself decided to make a long weekend of
it and arrived Thursday Lunchtime. (One of the perks of being
retired.) The extra day
makes a big difference. In
the evening, instead of lighting the Bar.B.Q, we decided the visit
the local hostelry and take advantage of the three pound fifty
carvery. Another
bargain, the weekend is full of bargains.
We spent the rest of the evening in my van having a few
drinks and teaching Margaret how to play seven-card brag.
The more she drank the more she understood it, but by the
morning she had forgotten it all.
By Friday lunchtime others started to arrive.
Janice and Colin arrived with sister Anne; (Ken had gone away
for the weekend to play with his old motorcycles.) One man and two
ladies in a two-birth van. Colin
said he was upset because he had got to sleep on the floor, but when
half the men offered to swap with him he wouldn’t hear of it.
He said he was prepared to suffer.
It was quite a low turnout, possibly due to illness and holidays.
Eleven units attended including new members, Richard, Lindsey
and the two children. They
came just for one night to try out their new tent.
It was the first time they had been camping.
The gods were good to them it was a lovely warm night, and
they appeared to enjoy the experience, especially the children.
I’m sure they will come again
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| FIRST TIME THIS YEAR |
POT WASHERS |
We had the mandatory Bar.B.Q but with the weather being so nice we
managed to have the meal outside together with a few bottles of
wine.
Dave and Debbie turned up with another stray dog, so that's two they
have now, any stray dog and they will give it a home.
This one is a Springer Spaniel so they call it Jerry
(Springer) the other is a Cocker Spaniel and they wanted to call
that one Joe (Cocker) There is no end to their imagination.
They have a Sintra car and they call it Frank. I’ll let you
work that one out.
On the Saturday evening we had the usual social get-together in the
club tents and for the first time this year we didn't need the gas
fires. Phyl and I
hosted the weekend, but Debbie and the girls gave me a hand and sold
the tickets and I called the bingo.
The first time in 35 years, I don't know how I have got away
with it for so long. It was a bit of a two-sided race out of the
five games Anne won three and Phyl won two. Jack and Audrey paid us
a very welcome visit and spent the evening with us.
It was very nice to see them again.
The Abbey is very famous for its ghosts; the main one's being
the white lady who walks the gardens and the monks who have their
own little walk among the trees.
I offered to take Margaret along the monks walk at midnight
but she refused, much to my relief.
I had a walk around the vans a few times but didn't see
anything.
After Sunday morning coffee we had a final walk
around the many various gardens, it can take a good couple of hours
to walk round them. I
am sure that this is a rally that we can re-book.
There are many more photos on the Area 6 web site.
www.acceastmidlands.co
Metal Mickey.
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PARK FARM RISLEY
13TH. TO 15TH.
JUNE 2008. |
PARK FARM RISLEY
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| THE THURSDAY ARRIVALS |
THE PHANTOM HORSE |
This must be one of the highest points that we use for
caravanning. From the site you can see between 30 and 35 miles in
any direction, with some of the best views. But one of the coldest if the wind blows.
This weekend we were lucky it did not rain and the wind was
moderate, although a little chilly at times.
Mostly it was cloudy with sunny periods.
Four of us decided to make it a long weekend
by arriving on the Thursday, plus there were eight electric
hook-ups. First come first served.
Although we had 11 units only seven hook-ups were used.
On the Thursday afternoon Margaret, John and myself decided
to take advantage of the numerous country walks.
We walked to the first style in the corner of the field.
As we climbed over we saw 7 or 8 horses in the next field.
They were all grazing quite peacefully so we decided to
venture in. We walked
about 20 yards into the field when we saw about 2 ton of Shire horse
galloping towards us at top speed.
It was dressed from top to toe in brown clothing with a mask
over its head and tassels hanging over its eyes.
It looked like something from the Phantom of the Opera.
In fact quite terrifying.
I thought, discretion being the better part of valour, I
should get out of the way and pretty quick, so bent down under a
length of white tape into the next field, thinking if he continues
to charge like that a little bit of white tape would not stop him.
But it did, he veered off towards John and Margaret who by
this time had decided to abandon me to my fate and were running up
the hedgerow like two March hares. Margaret reached the style first and cleared it at one go
leaving John to stumble over behind her.
The horse then stopped at the style waiting for them to show
their face. Little did
we know but the rest of the campsite were watching us and were
laughing their heads off. At
that moment one of the farmhands came to our aid.
He explained that the horse had had an operation and had not
been out of the stable for months and this was its first time out,
all he wanted was a little bit of fuss.
He escorted us to the next style and we continued our walk.
Over an hour later we arrived back at the site and they were
still laughing at us.
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| THE NEW BAR.B.Q. HOW IT STARTS |
TAKES 5 SECONDS TO GET TO THIS |
Colin Jarvis had
brought the new communal Bar.B.Q gazebo. So with due ceremony it was
erected. And I got out my new wonder Bar.B.Q.
When folded up it is no more than 18 inches square and less
than 1 inch wide, it takes up no storage room and can be erected in
5 seconds and has a cooking area large enough for four people.
I got a lot of derisory remarks from my fellow cooks but I
think they were just jealous. Although
we had the use of the barn we decided to take up Jan and Colin’s
kind offer and spent the evening in their van.
Friday morning we
all piled into two cars and made our way to the nearby IKEA store. We didn’t buy a lot but spent a good few hours walking
round and by the time we arrived back at the site most of the others
had arrived. We had
another Bar.B.Q in the evening but they wouldn’t let me light my
new one. I cannot stand
jealousy in grown men. That
evening about a dozen of us spent a couple of hours in the barn
looking over some old AGM minutes I had found in my loft, some
dating back to mid 1970. One
of the Christmas Parties listed presents for over 40 children.
Now we are lucky if we get half a dozen. I think some of the younger members have forgotten how to
breed.
Saturday and we all
went our different ways to do some shopping, I finished up in Derby.
I just managed to get back for Bar.B.Q. Time, but again they had
pushed me out, they had all lit theirs and my little one was out in
the cold, although they did give me a bottle of beer. But this time
I was determined that my little one would be lit and show its worth.
I pushed into the middle an cooked the little nibbles that we
eat with the beer whilst waiting for the steaks to be cooked.
Later in the evening we all congregated in the barn for the
usual social activities. Colin
Richardson had his first go at calling the bingo and made quite a
good job of it, Janice and Chloe sold the tickets and Debbie
sorted the raffle.
Sunday morning and
the Farm owner, Mr. Fogg always joins us for coffee and donates ten
pound to the club funds. Hannah
thanked everyone for their sponsorship of herself and Stephanie in
the Tesco Race for life. Brian
also informed us that Joyce had had her operation and everything
appeared to be going well. He
also told us that an old friend and former member, Brian (Mitch)
Mandy's dad, was waiting to go in hospital for an operation.
We all wish him well.
After coffee half a
dozen of us decided to do the same walk as we did on Thursday, but
in the reverse direction. Everything
went fine until we arrived at the field with the phantom horse. He was still there and running about like something demented.
No one was brave enough to go through the field.
We walked the long way round, via the road.
Our next rally is at
Lord Byrons old haunt, Newstead Abbey.
PLEASE
NOTE THAT THE PHOTO'S FOR THIS RALLY ARE ON PAGE 2 IN THE GALLERY
Metal Mickey.
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TESCO'S CANCER
RESEARCH
"RACE FOR LIFE" |
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On Sunday 1st. June 2008 Hannah
and Stephanie Bowmar took part in Nottingham's " RACE FOR
LIFE " In aid of Cancer Research sponsored by Tesco.
Together they raised nearly 250.Pound
Much of it being donated by Area 6 members, together with Mandy's
workmates and friends. The
girls would like to thank everyone for their kind sponsorship.
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SPRING BANK HOLIDAY
EYE KETTLEBY LAKES. MELTON MOWBRAY.
INCLUDINGTHE EARLY CROMER BREAK). |
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THE LAKES |
GOOD TURNOUT |
Eighteen Area 6
members decided to make an early start to the Spring Bank Holiday
rally. From the 12th
May we started to assemble at a campsite just outside Cromer and
spent the next eleven days together.
Most of the time we did our own thing but on several
occasions had little get-together's.
We celebrated Margaret's birthday with a cake, (bearing one
candle for each decade) and a bottle of wine.
The weather for the
whole of our stay at Cromer was lovely and warm, but not so when we
all reassembled, together with ten other units, at Eye Kettleby
Lakes. The weather was terrible gale force winds and heavy rain.
The venue was great. A fisherman's paradise, with eight lakes
to choose from, stocked with just about every type of fresh water
fish you could think of. There
were numerous attractions in the area, Melton Mowbray Show, Sunday
car boot sale in the cattle market and a morning market on a nearby
airfield but unfortunately all were washed out by the bad weather.
It was nice to see
Brian and Pauline back after their enforced absence due to Pauline's
stay in hospital; everything would now appear to be OK.
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| STEPHANIE AND COLIN |
CHRISTINA AND COLIN |
Sometime ago Colin Hubbard promised the twins Stephanie and
Christina, that he would give them a ride on his motor cycle when we
had a rally near his home. Well this weekend he was as good as his word on the Friday
afternoon he took Stephanie to his home and returned with her on the
pillion seat of his big red bike dressed in full leathers, crash
helmet and a smile from ear to ear. She thought it was great.
On the Saturday he did the reverse journey with Christina on
the pillion. Both girls
enjoyed the experience, and I know for a fact that their Granddad
would not have trusted them with anyone but Colin.
Before the bike was put away Margaret had to get in on the
act and have a little ride around the field.
She said, "It's the best thrill I've had for years, come
to think of it. It's the only thrill I've had for years."
Next month Stephanie
and her sister Hannah are doing the "Run for Life",
Tesco's run for Cancer research.
Mandy pulled out all the stops to help them get sponsors both
among her friends at work and Area 6 members. I'll let you know how
much after the run. It's quite a substantial amount, you don't say
no to Mandy.
John and Margaret
hosted the weekend. John
had the sitting down job of calling the Bingo and Margaret sold the
tickets and collected the site fee.
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| THE LAST COOKING SESSION |
THE FINAL TOAST |
For years a group of the men have gathered together under an old
battered gazebo on the pretext of cooking on the Bar.B.Q, when it is
only an excuse to congregate for a few beers.
No matter what the weather the old gazebo has given a certain
amount of protection. But
this weekend we decided that the poor thing had just about had
enough. We had a
collection to buy another one and retired the old one before it
collapsed on us. We
wanted to give it a Viking funeral but the site owners wouldn't let
us push it out onto the lake and shoot burning arrows onto it. We
hadn't got a bow and arrow anyway, so we just cooked the last
sausage, toasted it in ale and put it away in its little battered
bag. There wasn't a dry
eye on the field.
Several intended stopping until Tuesday but
the weather was so bad that all but two left on the Monday. Brian has booked it again for next year so all you would be
fishermen look out for the date.
Metal
Mickey.
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STRATFOR-UPON-AVON
2nd.TO 6th.MAY 2008.
MAYDAY |
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| By the side of the river |
Bar.B.Q time |
At last the fine weather has
arrived. We have just
spent five days, over the Mayday bank holiday, at the Riverside
Caravan Park, near Stratford-upon-Avon.
We had the odd shower but by and large it was dry and very
warm, which was a good job because the field is prone to flooding
from the nearby river Avon. Due
to illness Brian and Pauline were again unable to attend, so John
and Margaret took on the organiser's job.
Four units arrived on the
Thursday, doubling the number attending the Camping and Caravan Club
rally situated on the opposite side of the road.
That was the only time that we exceeded their number.
We had 14 units and they had over 60, but being the elite
club we had the better field. We
spent the first evening entertaining the early arrivals in our
awning.
Friday morning John was up with
the lark, meeting the members as they arrived, and lining them up in
straight rows with the correct gap between each.
The Caravan Club would have been proud of him. Katie Merricks attended her first rally at the ripe old age
of 2 weeks. Colin and
Debbie arrived with a new caravan and Alan and Mavis made it three
rallies on the trot we are getting back to normal.
Saturday morning most made their
way into Stratford either by walking or by river taxi.
I have to cater for the sick, the lame and the lazy so I took
the car. We had a good
day out the weather was fine and it wasn't too busy. You could get
about quite easy. There
are a lot of alterations and landscaping being done in and around
the RSC theatre. By
next year it should look quite something.
We
managed to get back in time for the ritual Bar.B.Q.
We have just about taken over Ken and Colin's gazebo, but Ken
insists on keeping overall control. He has his priorities right. As
Chief Stoker he only allows the chosen ones to step inside.
Women and children must stay on the outside.
Once started the cooking goes on for at least 3 hours or
until we have run out of beer.
In the evening we all congregated
in the club tent for the usual raffle and Bingo being ably called by
Debbie Lee. It was her first time and she did a good job, very clear
and concise. She used
her best call centre telephone voice.
The weather was so nice on the
Sunday most spent the time on site sunbathing.
In the afternoon a dozen or so of us decided to walk to the
distant monument situated on the top of a very steep hill. I was conned into doing it last year and again this year.
Will I ever learn to say no.
I could hardly move for the next two days
Monday morning we had a little
rain but by the time we had been to the local market and back it had
stopped and everything was dry.
Four stayed for an extra night but most had to leave by the
afternoon. I think
everyone enjoyed the weekend and we have booked it again for Mayday
2009. Metal
Mickey.
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TRENTFIELD FARM
APRIL 2008 |
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FIRST
I HAVE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT:-
Area 6 has a new member, KATIE MELISSA MERRICKS.
She joined the club on Monday 14th.April
2008. when she was born to proud parents Dawn and Richard Merricks.
Congratulations to you both.
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| Bar.B.Q time |
In the shed |
When are we going to get some decent weather? We have had four
rallies so far this year and each time the weather had been
atrocious. The rally at
Tren tfield was no different, gale force biting winds.
Still we had a good turnout, 14 units attended but it should
have been 15, the organiser was unable to attend, and that's got to
be a first for a long time. Pauline
had to go in hospital for tests, but as I write I am informed that
everything appears to be OK. I
have told her to be careful. Dawn has just been in hospital and look
what she came out with. We
are all hoping that they will be back with us for the Mayday rally
at Stratford.
With Brian and
Pauline being away John and Margaret took charge, first he had to
sort out the accommodation for the Saturday evening social.
We had booked the sites marquee for the evening but it hadn't
been erected and we couldn't find the site owner anywhere, but John
persevered and managed to corner him.
He said we could have one of the outbuildings.
This turned out to be a small shed the size of a domestic
garage and we had to accommodate 30 plus people with chairs and
tables. A lesser man
would have panicked, but not John, Margaret wouldn't let him.
Somehow we managed, every one had to sit intimately close to
each other, it's a good job we are all good friends.
There was electric laid on so we had lighting and heating
from two electric fan heaters. I think that it turned out better in the long run, I am sure
that it was far cozier than it would have been in the marquee.
John called the first few games of bingo and Mandy gave him a
break and finished the last few. The twins, Steph. and Chrissy
ran the raffle. It
may have been a tight fit but nobody left very early and many stuck
it out until after midnight.
It rained again
Sunday morning so we had coffee in the shed.
By this time we were becoming quite attached to it.
If we had had any more attending we would never have got them
in the Shed. Mandy rang Pauline in hospital and put it on
speakerphone so that we could all speak to her. John gave the usual
morning service and reminded everyone that the next rally was Mayday
at Stratford-upon-Avon and we all prayed for better weather.
Metal Mickey
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LADY MARGARET HALL
4th to 6th. APRIL 2008 |
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| The Site |
Coffee morning |
The weather gets no better, we again had rain,
hail and snow but we still seem to get a reasonable turnout.
Thirteen units attended our rally at Lady Margaret Hall near
Worksop. It was mainly
the reliable regulars, but on this occasion it included Alan and
Mavis, their first outing since Mav's illness at Thorsby Hall last
year. Mavis had
acquired a new motorised all terrain tank to get about on.
She certainly made good use of it.
She was also sporting a new hair-do.
I thought that the short-cropped style suited her.
It made her look 10yrs younger. (Well maybe 5yrs then.)
It was heart-warming to see them back again.
We also had two new members, Julie and Roy Hartshorn from
Leicester. I hope they
enjoyed the weekend and will come again
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Late afternoon and the old diehards rolled out with their
Bar.B.Q's and crates of ale. Although this time they managed to put
up the old gazebo to give a little shelter.
Who knows maybe one day, when I get old enough they may
invite me to join them, but that will be a good few years from now.
Even though it is now lighter nights they still sit there
until the sun goes down puffing on their pipes and sucking through
their straws, (bless their little cotton socks.)
Saturday and we had
the usual exodus to the local shopping areas, some to Worksop and
some to Mansfield. In the afternoon Mandy and Jane ran a sweepstake
for the Grand National with a prize for the first four places.
Hannah had the winner 20 pound, Her sister Stephanie had
second 10 pound Margaret
had third with 6 pound and Colin Hubbard got
4 pound for the forth place.
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In the evening we all gathered in the hall for the usual social get together. Mandy
and Colin were hosts for the weekend,.
Mandy was doing a lot of coughing and spluttering, she said
that she had a chest infection; I'm not surprised with a chest like
that. She did a little
wheezing whilst calling the Bingo, but managed to get through it
with the help of a little lubrication.
Colin did his bit by demonstrating his latest toy, a model
helicopter. He fly's like he drives. Twice round the room and it was
broke. Sunday and we
woke to lovely blue skies but very cold.
We had snow and heavy frost during the night.
Our new members Julie and Roy had decided to leave early,
everything had frozen and they couldn't get anything to work. They
were using Butane. It
was their fist time out and didn't realise that it would freeze so easy.
Roy said he would change to Propane for the next rally.
After a couple of hours wandering around the nearby garden
centre we made our way home amidst a combination of bright sunshine
and snow flurries. I enjoyed the weekend but I am praying for a
little better weather
Metal Mickey. |
EASTER 2008. AVIATION
HERITAGE
EAST KIRKBY
LINC'S
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The weather must be the worst we have ever had for the Easter
rally. It started off with gale force winds, hail, rain and sleet and the
forecast was for worse to come. Despite
this we decided to go on the Thursday and make it an extra long weekend.
Halfway there I had my doubts that anyone else would turn out.
Lets face it no one in their right minds is going to take a caravan
out onto the road in this weather. Yes they do, five vans arrived on the
Thursday and a further eight turned up on Friday.
A low turnout for a Bank Holiday, but far more than we expected.
The wind was far to strong to erect the club tents, so it was decided that
there would be no social get together, everyone would do their own thing.
Dave and Debbie managed to erect their awning so with the use of a
couple of gas fires, half a dozen or so of us got together in the awning
and had a couple of pleasant evenings.
Saturday morning, together with Brian and Pauline we took a trip to
Skegness. As we got out of
the car the heavens opened and we had the lot gale, hail, rain and snow
all at the same time. So it was a quick cuppa in a nearby cafe then back
to the caravan. Just in time
to join Ken and Colin at the Bar.B.Q.
We managed a few spring rolls a couple of onion barges and half a
dozen bottles before the weather drove us back in doors.
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| Not bad for a first attempt |
I can build mine on my own |
We woke up Sunday morning to between five or six inches of snow it had
turned milder and everywhere looked a picture and it turned out to be the
best part of the weekend. My
teenage granddaughters had never seen snow this deep before and had to be
shown how to make a snowman. It
wasn't long before all the young and old were out playing in it.
I think that this must be
the first time we have stood out in snow to have a coffee morning, but
everyone turned out and took part in the raffle and watched the youngsters
each receive an Easter egg. By
3pm in the afternoon most of the snow had gone and much to our surprise
the ground was still quite firm.
Monday and all but a couple had packed up and made their way home. A few
made their way across to the Aviation Heritage to watch the Lancaster
Bomber being run and a look in the museum.
We had intended to stay until Tuesday but the forecast was for more
rain and snow, so discretion being the better part of valour we also
packed up and went home. Despite
the bad weather I enjoyed the weekend, but then it's the great company
that makes it. Metal
Mickey
More Pictures on www.acceastmidlands.co.uk
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ANCHOR
INN,
GUNTHORPE
NOTTS.
7th to 9th MARCH 2008
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I want to start this rally report with some
exceptionally good news. Alan
has been in touch with Brian and informed him that Mavis has
responded very well to the treatment and as soon as we get some nice
weather she hopes to be back rallying.
That's what I call good news.

The weather report
for the weekend was not very good, high winds and rain but we still
managed a turn out of 13 units.
I didn't get there until early Saturday morning, Phyl had
her second knee transplant 3 weeks ago and we thought it prudent to
try one night in the van to see how we coped.
We needn't have bothered she managed perfectly well. She
doesn't need sticks now. That's two pieces of good news in one
weekend, Things are looking up.
Dave and Debbie turned up Saturday with a new dog.
Debbie is very good at picking up waifs and strays, that's
how she found Dave. The kids liked it, and it had more walks than
it's had in his life. I'm sure it will soon wear off.
In the afternoon we had a wander around the
shops in Newark but making sure that we arrived back in time for the
ritual Bar.B.Q. It's
just an excuse to stand about and have a few drinks.
We did miss one of the regular drinkers; John and Margaret
had to go back home early.
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| THE HOSTS |
IN THE HALL |
In the evening we
had a social get-together in the hall ably hosted by that well-known
duo Jan and Ann. Each
had a go at calling the bingo and made quite a good job of it
despite the fact that half the numbers could hardly be read.
We will have to get a new bingo set.
We all had a good look at John, Joyce, Jane and Tim's
photo's from their exotic cruise.
It must be nice to have money.
Sunday morning and
the weather was so nice that I managed to talk Phyl into an early
morning walk, and that’s a first for a good many years.
By the time we got back it was time for coffee and the result
of Jan and Ann's weekend quiz. Phyl won it by one point. Dave and
Debbie both celebrated their birthdays over the weekend and we
managed to embarrass them both by singing happy birthday to them.
We had a good weekend; it was nice to be back with the
caravans.
Metal Mickey.
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| DAY MEET
REMPSTONE |
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EAST
MIDLANDS AREA 6
DAY MEET REMPSTONE
VILLAGE HALL.
10th. FEBRUARY 2008.
I hate to
think how many years we have been holding the "Day Meet"
at Rempstone Village Hall, well over 25 years and I've attended
every one, but I think that it has just about had it's day.
I believe that we must be the only area to still have a
"Day Meet " I have not seen another one advertised for years.
I remember the days when Area 6 had two "Day Meets", one
in the north of the area and one in the south so that everyone had
an equal chance to attend at least one of them. In 2005 we had an attendance of over 50, 2006, 40 attended
2007, 30 attended but this year we had only 20.
That must be telling us something.
Not only has the "Day Meet" had its day but I think the
village hall is also on its last legs. It has about a dozen electric
heaters but only one works and it's been like this for years. I
think that maintenance is a forgotten word.
Anyway it was more or less decided that this should be the
last one and next year we will have an early rally instead, that's if we
can find a good site with a nice warm hall.
Anybody with any ideas contact Brian.
Despite the poor
turnout we had quite a pleasant get-together. The Jarvo's and
Merricks were there showing of their tan from their trip to
Tenerife, George and Jill Billbie made their annual appearance, they
still haven't made it to a rally yet.
Alan Hathaway came with Sue and Owen to give us the latest on
Mavis; apparently she is doing quite well. He left her cooking the
Sunday dinner. We are
all looking forward to seeing her at a rally.
When Brian made his usual speech he informed us that the
lads, Alan and Barry, had been to see Dave and Angie in their new
guesthouse, apparently they are doing quite well with plenty of
bookings. That's about all the news for now, hoping for a good
turnout at the Gunthorpe Bridge Rally.
Metal Mickey.
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