Dec/Jan 2006-7

Hi everyone.
At this moment in time I am in Angola, so please excuse this Chairman’s Chatter if it is a little brief, there is no internet connection out here, no mobile phone connection and the electric is intermittent, all we have is a ‘phone line.

First of all I would like to thank everyone for a great 2006. We have had a very successful year, and lets hope that 2007 is better still. You will notice that there is a nomination form in this edition of the Diary. We still need new Committee members with new ideas, so if you would like to help your DA, organising events, seeking out new sites, doing the books please fill in a form and send it to Anne.

Thank you to everyone who helped at Birchwood, Barn Dance. I think you will all agree it was a really good evening and it’s already booked for next year.

The Halloween Meet was another good evening, thank you to Shaun for doing the disco, and to Sandra, Dianne and their helpers for the splendid supper.

And finally we attended the end of year meet up at Sixpenny Handley, which turned out to be a terrific evening. The hall was warm and welcoming, the American Supper bountiful and the disco kept us on our toes all night. Thank you to all who helped. The disco man couldn’t believe that so many got up to dance, to some very funny music!! He meant the DA Shuffle.

Next year is going to be a particularly busy one for our DA. We have the Country and Western meet followed then by the SWR meet in July, which we are hosting and then in August/September there is the NFOL, which is being held by our Region. If anyone wants to help please contact myself or Anne and we will put you in contact with someone who can put you on the list of helpers. Dianne is organising the catering for the NFOL and Terry is in charge of the electrics.

As you will see on the announcements page I became a Grandad again this month, Corbin, son of Debbie, daughter of Jayne. Another camper in a few years time.

We haven’t moved house yet, still waiting, the chain has broken twice, but everything is back on now and hopefully we should move soon, I will keep you posted. I have put our mobile numbers in this diary in case we do move in the near future.

May I take this opportunity to thank the current Committee members for all their support and help during 2006, you have all pulled together as a team and it has been great.

Jayne and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Mick
Chairman Dorset DA

Oct/Nov 2006

Hi there

It only seems like yesterday I was writing my last Chatter, we’ve been so busy, what with sorting out the house, packing etc etc. Still no definite date yet I’m afraid but it does look like we might move the end of October beginning of November.

Since my last Chatter we’ve been out to The Beehive Inn, where we had a great time, on the narrow boats, dressed up as Pirates (someone started a water fight, wonder who that could have been?) we had bacon sarnies on board and chugged up and down the canal, very leisurely. The next day we went cycling with Anne and John, Poppy came too on the back of my bike.

After The Beehive we went to Kingston Maurward. We have never been to this meet as it clashes with the NFOL but this year the NFOL was up at Tabley and we felt it too far to go for the weekend, so we stayed nearer home and glad we did. We had a great weekend, even though it was raining whilst we were at the Show, but we watched the Scurry Racing and the Horse Guards parade their stuff. We saw baby piglets, goats, sheep, and cows entering competitions. John was in his element with testing the straw, hay and smelling silage! There was even a competition for eggs, everything you could think of was competing, no I didn’t put Jayne in! We watched the Country Gents and Ladies in their long coats and squashed hats. We also bought a basket for the front of Jayne’s bike, to put Poppy in. Saturday evening was Allen 50th Birthday party, we got there on the dot, Brenda had put on a nice spread for us, thank you Brenda, then as the evening went on more people arrived, we had to go back because Jayne had put dinner in the oven (not that we needed much after Brenda’s sandwiches), however, we saw the light show put on by Gordon’s friends and the 11.00pm visit from Superman.

We also went out to the DAFOL at Frogham, but, as I was going up to Aberdeen to work on the Sunday we couldn’t camp. Anyhow we set up the Hall with the disco etc and then everyone arrived. The Fish & Chip supper was great. Kit and Brian won the prize for the “Adverts” lighting up, and Marianne won the Youth prize. Well done everyone. Thank you to Terry for getting the beer and Bob for getting the wine.

On the subject of the Youth, who, thanks to Nikki are getting stronger by the minute, I would like to say Congratulations to Kylie who has now passed her Youth Test.

Dianne and Terry have been busy with PR work at Shepton Mallet together with Myra and Ray who also went there to help. Last weekend Di & Terry attended a SWR Meeting on our behalf and they have gone to Exeter this weekend to discuss next years NFOL.

I am away this weekend, off to France again for work I’m afraid so Jayne’s getting the diary out before I disappear. Next we are going to the SWR Dinner Dance at Exeter then I hope to see you all at Birchwood Touring Park for the Barn Dance, move permitting.

Don’t forget the end of season meet at Church Farm, for a good old knees up.

See you all again soon.

Mick
Chairman Dorset DA

Aug/Sept 2006

Teddy Bears Picnic
This event goes from strength to strength, with 73 units attending this year. The weather was brilliant, having myself only returned from a ten-day holiday in France the Thursday night prior to the meet, to temperatures far greater that those we had experienced on our holiday. Thank you to all that helped.

This was a special weekend for both Jim & Mavis and myself and as we were celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary, and my 60th Birthday at this meet, we were so pleased to see so many of our friends and members of the Dorset DA arrive to celebrate with us.

We would like to thank all those who helped us feed and water the 5000 - sorry only 150. Although it seemed like 5000 at the time for the Bar-B-Q

I would personally like to thank all those who contributed towards the wonderful present of a Wrist Watch that I received and I will always remember the occasion when wearing it.

THS Weymouth
Many thanks to Baz Hick for stewarding this event again for us this year, ably assisted by Arthur & Brenda, Keith, and Ken & Mo. Also thanks to my wife Jayne for taking the bookings. The site was full for the Carnival week with the maximum number permitted of 100 units on site. Jayne and I spent three weekends at Weymouth with Baz, and the reports I received from the visitors speaks volumes for the way that Baz and his crew have looked after them again.

Moving House
Having finally finished the kitchen and bathroom, Jayne and I have decided to move house again and return to Bournemouth. We expect to move some time around the end Sept beginning of October, solicitors permitting. So watch out for the change of address and telephone number for the Diary Editor and myself. Our email address’s will stay the same.

Mick
Chairman Dorset DA

Jun/Jul 2006

Easter The meet was held this year for the first time at Pooh Cottage Touring Park Devon approximately 75 miles from home (Poole). The trip down was uneventful and took about one and three quarters hours. Nikki our Youth Leader held her first Youth Lines during this meet. The site was on an incline with the tow hitch being almost on the ground when the caravan was finally levelled. This being the first time we have been able to get the Wastemaster under the caravan.
During the daytime we toured the local area, and at night we had the use of the village hall just down the road from the site for all to socialise in.
The weather remained overcast but dry, most of the weekend.

Hoburne Bashley (Trophy Weekend) Last year we came third overall out of the ten teams taking part. This year we could only manage sixth. Dianne successfully defended her Ladies Table Tennis title that she won last year well done. Some of the events were changed from last year with more of an emphasis on events for the children. The weather was mostly wet with some of the outside games actually taking part in the rain. Well done to all those that took part. We will be back next year.

Country & Western The Working Party weekend followed the same pattern as last year with us trading in the good weather against the weekend for the big event (rain). We had the use of the barn in which to hold our evening get-together well out of the rain. Anne (Wet Tee-Shirt) along with Jayne (wearing bra on the outside) and Dave (Sporting a rather large bread roll chest) did a late night lap of the barn to raise money for Breast Awareness- Race for Life Charity.

The numbers were slightly down this year. All had a good time. Friday night in my opinion was the best with the band Jacksonville playing, with the Sunday dinner-time duo Sauls & Stone providing great entertainment. But I saved the best till last, D.J. Pepper, who supported the groups over the weekend as well as doing his own sessions. He had the members dancing every time he was at the turntable, he will definitely be returning next year.

I would personally like to thank all those who worked over the weekend in making this, if the comments that’s I received are anything to go by an undoubted success again for the DA.

Teddy Bears Picnic Look forward to seeing you all at the Teddy Bears Picnic. At which Jim & Mavis will be celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary, along with my 60th Birthday.

Congratulations Congratulations to Terry Sharpe who has been voted on to the South West Region Committee and his subsequent appointment as PRO for the Region. Dianne Sharpe will now take on the job of our South West Region Representative, well done Dianne.

Mick
Chairman Dorset DA

Apr/May 2006

Annual General Meeting
It was good to see so many members, both old and new attending this year, especially those of you that travelled out to Sixpenny Handley on the Sunday morning to attend.

This is the first year that the AGM was held in February, this was to fall in line with the Caravan Club’s re-organisation of the fiscal year, with a sixteen-month period having passed since the last AGM. The first part of the meeting itself went very quickly with reports from all the officers being handed out and discussed as the members required. This was followed by the Election of the Committee members, as opposed to the election of individual officers by the members present as in past years, this also having been changed this year to fall in line with the Caravan Club’s new rules. The newly elected Committee then retired to another room to elect their Officers, and report back to the AGM, whilst the members had a cup of tea.

After the AGM was the Member’s meeting, with a lively debate being held on several subjects.

I would like to thank and congratulate the three newly elected members of the Committee, Nikki McGrath, Mike Carroll, and Stewart Guest. All committee’s need new blood to keep it alive.

Valentines meet.
Once again this proved to be a very popular event with some 84 people being served a three-course meal. Many thanks to Dianne, and all those who helped to make this, such a good evening. The only low point of the evening was the group. We have had them before on several occasions, but were not told until they arrived on the night that they had changed their line-up, and that this was to be their first live performance in their new format.

Thanks to, Mike and Dawn Carroll for Stewarding. (This being their first time)

Merley Court.
The number of units this year was down from those attending on previous years. The probable cause was the weather, being much colder than normal. We had several good nights in the Club House, along with visits to Wimborne market during the day. Thanks to Sandra for Stewarding.

Stewards Required.
This year has been the first time in my three year’s as Chairman that we have had to cancel a rally, but not one, two rallies so far, due to lack of stewards. Unfortunately, we are unable to prevent members from having a wasted journey, as our only means of informing them of a cancelled meet is by posting a message on our Web Site.

We still have several rallies later in the year that require stewards. Please contact Anne Forster or Myra Lacey for the dates, or look on the back of this diary, to see if you are able to steward any of these rallies.

Whilst on Site
I have had several complaints again from members regarding the playing of games on site. The CCC rule is:-

“Ball games are permitted only with the permission of the Stewards on an open space away from the units. It is forbidden to fly kites and model aircraft and to use catapults, airguns, firearms, bows and arrows, etc, on site”.

This information in extended form will be printed in future on the back of the Stewards attendance sheet for guidance.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Country and Western Weekend

Mick
Chairman Dorset DA