Monthly Meeting - Sunday 5 November

Mike Pink · Oct 28, 2006

Don't forget that our next Monthly Meeting is on Sunday 5th November - a week earlier than normal. Whilst the first meeting at The Plum Park Hotel was a great success[

], our firework evening is at a special location for safety [8|](see below). (The December meeting will return to Plum Park.)

Thanks to Peter Norgaard once again we have been able to secure a safe venue for our annual firework meeting "" Manor Farm, Hanslope; which is on the road between Hanslope and Haversham just opposite Hanslope Park. See streetmap link:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=481500&y=245500&z=3&sv=481500,245500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=480500&ay=246500

The regional fireworks display have in recent years been pretty impressive, as everyone who comes is asked to bring only one or two fireworks at most "" just as long as they are huge [8D][8D]!! A few years a go it lasted for about half an hour without a break. As with most group events "the-more-the-merrier", so bring a few of your friends too.
The farmer has kindly allowed us to use part of one of the storage barns for shelter and a BBQ. I'll provide the bbq cookers, fuel and implements "" just bring your food, plates if you need them and some drinks (and suitable clothing and footwear - it is a farm [

]!).

We plan to meet up at the farm about 6.00pm for the BBQ, with fireworks around 7pm. Call me on the night if you need directions.

Mike Pink · Nov 7, 2006

Thank you to everyone who turned up on Sunday evening to make this an enjoyable evening [

]. Everyone chipped in by bringing fireworks and we had a traditionally noisy and colourful display! As a backdrop a nearby village pub coincidently launched their display at the same time, adding to the atmosphere.

Apologies for the poor performance of the bbq's [8|]- I made the strategic error of using a batch of disposable packs to avoid having to deal with transporting, setting up and cleaning the more substantial re-usable version; and it didn't work out too well! Still, with a bit of patience and Peter's novel coconut-based instant fuel, it appeared that the food got cooked (if a little slowly). If we are likely to get this many people next year, I'll arrange an industrial scale gas bbq!

My thoughts go to the gentleman who turned up half way through the evening - he rents the farm unit that we were allowed to use as a base for the evening and he saw the lights on from his nearly home. Unfortunately, the farmer had failed to tell him we were going to be there, so he arrived a bit concerned that the gypsies may have decided to move in!! He seemed to have a good sense of humour when he found out the truth (though he may have preferred gypsies over PCGB given the mess he would have seen on arrival [8|] - (we did clear it up at the end)).

Thanks to Pete Smallwood for helping with the display, Peter Norgaard for organising the facilities at the farm, and everyone who brought themselves, food, fireworks, etc.