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Post by C2LLN on Jun 7, 2007 23:19:21 GMT 1
Don't forget this weekend 9th. 10th. June...looking forward to meeting Team ELF and rekindling their enthusiasm for kiting as they have forgotten how much they actually enjoyed it!!!!
Collin & Sabrina
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Post by MankyBadger on Jun 11, 2007 17:37:16 GMT 1
Don't forget this weekend 9th. 10th. June...looking forward to meeting Team ELF and rekindling their enthusiasm for kiting as they have forgotten how much they actually enjoyed it!!!! Collin & Sabrina ;D - most of us still fly kite occassionally but there's so much to do - see www.mankybadger.com for daily updates. these You - Tube videos don't compile themselves you know ;D
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Post by C2LLN on Jun 29, 2007 17:40:02 GMT 1
What a great weekend, great weather, some wind all be it on day two, and great company, catching up with all the 'lunatic fringe' was interesting to say the least!!! Looking forward to Teston Two...I have more fireworks to bring again, BUT even though Ron Dell had warned everyone they were going to be set off at ten o'clock there were COMPLAINTS!! Well I have bigger and better ones for Teston Two....interested in your views, YES bring 'em, or, NO I'm too scared....
Collin
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Post by kevr on Jul 2, 2007 17:36:24 GMT 1
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Post by MankyBadger on Jul 10, 2007 16:55:39 GMT 1
Here I am - two weeks too late. Must visit here more often. As I said at brighton, not so much a complaint as an observation - if we'd known there would be fireworks we wouldn't have shoved off down to the lock & have missed them
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Post by corinneh on Jul 10, 2007 20:20:40 GMT 1
It was too late & upset the children!
P.S.The campers under the tree got V upset as they very nearly got hit!
Don't want to be a killjoy!
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Post by Martha on Jul 10, 2007 21:27:41 GMT 1
YES bring 'em, or, NO I'm too scared....
Collin I grew up with the Lewes Bonfire celebrations (and so did my children) and was a society member for around 35 years so I guess you know my answer. ;D However, will you be performing a risk assesment? What if the fireworks malfunction? Are you insured? I am involved with national festivals and have to abide by health and safety laws myself now.
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Post by Administrator on Jul 11, 2007 9:45:57 GMT 1
Bring them is my 1st and final thought, but keep everyone happer I know that you need to ensure that everyone knows when and where these will be let off. This will avoid problems of children in bed and possibly adults will keep the children up for the show.
Also check that when the bit that are left land these are away from the campers. Last time a stick landed feet away from one of the campervans and embedded in the ground by 4-6 inches imagine if this hit a person or camper van tent etc.
These should be fun and safe as long as care is taken one isident causes years of problems
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Post by corinneh on Jul 11, 2007 15:28:28 GMT 1
I agree
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Post by C2LLN on Jul 13, 2007 0:58:08 GMT 1
It may have seemed more but 12 rockets were fired and ONE (cake) box of 50 shots were let off at around 10.10pm.
A lot of people knew it was coming as it was prearranged with Ron Dell and both he and I informed a lot people throughout the day, sorry Manky we obviously didn't tell everyone !
The intention of setting them off was to entertain and not to aggravate! 95% of people seem to have been pleasurably entertained 4% were aggravated and therefore winging, 1% seem to have missed it all together, sorry Manky.
Of the 12 rockets that went up, 2 of the descending lightweight 'sticks' came close to people causing them great concern, one embedding itself "4-6 inches" in the ground I was told....Come on people, it wasn't Sky-Lab falling out the sky...Chill out for goodness sakes!!
I am 50 and for at least 40years have been letting off fireworks, never insured myself to do so, just used my God given common sense. My back garden is not the size of the Teston field so we are usually closer to the action at home, I fully appreciate 'accidents' will happen, but assessing the risks and being cautious of the relevant dangers has prevented me blowing anyone up to date! Appreciate where you are coming from Martha, obvious concerns, but 12 rockets and 1 cake??
I think the entertainment of the majority wins here, Teston Two's fireworks will therefore be Bigger and louder.......Be warned Saturday 11th. August 10pm. prompt....BANG
Guy Fawkes XXX
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Post by Fair weather flyer on Jul 16, 2007 12:51:42 GMT 1
Wasn’t warned about the fireworks but one yell of Fireworks! From our 7 year old soon had us outside to enjoy the show and what a show it was well done Collin & Keith.
I must admit I hadn’t considered the sticks until now, Perhaps it would be possible to set them off from the lock side of the field or near the bridge rather than the car park behind the campers.
The only thing that did concern me about the evening activities was seeing one of the flaming baskets from the hot air balloons coming down still very much alight in the same car park behind the campers and narrowly missing a dog walker, now if that had hit a tent or as Ron pointed out dry grass in the hedges then it could have been very series, however despite voicing our concerns the gentlemen concerned were more interested in retrieving the wire cradle for another go than heeding our warnings. As far as I was concerned seeing as it was about 15 meters from our tent I consider that a close call, and I’m sure if the wife had seen it she would have evacuated the children and we wouldn’t be planning to camp again in August.
Please Please put the common sense hats on, I’m all for enjoying ourselves but as Simon said “one incident causes years of problems” and the way it’s going it’s not if but when.
Sorry about the rant from the new boy but I wanted to get it off my chest.
Regards Chris
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Post by C2LLN on Jul 16, 2007 21:04:23 GMT 1
Well said Chris, that's the whole point of a 'Forum', voice your views mate!!
In-fact you were the one person I meant to forewarn (but forgot) and the one person I meant to apologise to for forgetting (but forgot again) as I know your little,little one was at Teston for the first time and if woken up would not have been able punch me on the nose, yet!!
I set off loads of these firework 'cakes' at home, they are similar in shape to a biscuit tin, only a little bit larger, and sit flat on the ground, what you saw coming from the car park was ONE firework cake, multi-shot!! The 'sensible' people said 'what if it miss-fires, falls over or blows up' so I kept them happy by going in the other field reluctantly! You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time!
I love those hot air balloons, ALL of us were/are concerned about the safety issues after that first one and precautionary measures were taken in shortening the wick which lessens the burn time meaning that the balloon would be completely 'spent' and cold by the time it came down. The one you mentioned was tipped over by the wind as it got above the trees and ignited its tissue paper body, the flaming wick (that was not trimmed smaller) came down like a comet and indeed was dangerous, and COULD have been disastrous! However it wasn't sent up in the same way again, lessons were learnt and common sense was used, there's some risk in everything WE do, I think...water bombs, spud guns, flaming kites, all have some risk, even flying the Manta, Olly or Teddy in amongst the public has its potentially fatal risks... I do not think we as a Club take risks on the 'red-line' but we all do enjoy some RPM over the recommended!!
Collin (Could be why the fire-services saw through me when I was younger and didn't give me a job when they asked "Why do you want to be a fireman?' and I replied "Cos I like fire!"...my mate got in by saying "I like putting them out")
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Post by MankyBadger on Jul 17, 2007 8:02:41 GMT 1
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Post by MankyBadger on Jul 17, 2007 8:08:33 GMT 1
As for the water stuff....... When Team ELF first started coming to Teston there was four of five times as many of us that camped out. Following some chap charging into "Brown & Smelly"'s predecessor & hosing down everyone & everything with a super-soaker, a lot of our people don't come any more. Can the water stuff be kept away from those that don't want to join in please. I know it sounds as if I'm being a killjoy, but the water pistols keep people away.
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Post by cptpigpen on Jul 17, 2007 10:46:10 GMT 1
As Colin says it is impossible to please everyone,
At the last Teston I overheard from a member of the public,
"Wouldn't it be better if the kites were not in the main field so they could have a bigger picnic area" OK so next Kite festival remember bring no kites (only joking but it goes to show you can't please everyone.
I think we all, and that includes me, often over look others when we are having fun and don't think about the consequences. We have fun with the fireworks, balloons and water then expect other to do so as well. On the whole it works and very few people get upset, but when they do we MUST look at ways of avoiding the complaints in future. Not always possible, if at all possible, but we must at least look even if we carry on as we were, and we can say we have tried.
I think in answer to Mankie about the water it could and I believe is still played with but away from the tents which has kept most people happy and I hope will allow other to return.
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