A suggestion: Storrington Kilts Weekend

[Barb T]

And we're thinking of returning via Iceland. If anyone wants to spend a couple days seeing some of the geological highlight of SW Iceland with someone who's been there many times, I'd be happy to show you around.

Cheers!

Barb

[Mr. Kilt]

Hmmmmmmm...

I haven't checked this thread since Hamish originally posted it back in February.

June 14 & 15, you say? I turn 45 on June 16th next year. That would make quite an event to attend! Nothing like a trip halfway across the world for a midlife crisis party!

I can't say for sure that Karen and I could attend, but we'll certainly think about it. Flights to the UK can be bought quite cheaply these days, so it does look very tempting. And who knows, if we did come over for the event we could always hire a mini-van and you'd have a "professional" bus driver for the weekend! I'd just have to remember which side of the road to drive on.

[Hamish]

Well, dear friends, it seems that things are warming up (which is more than can be said for our weather this year - more rain in June than we've had for years and somewhat cooler than average temperatures. We DO NOT want anything similar next year at this time!. Such illustrious names being added to the list too. I am now begining to wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew with this planned social get-together!

This is a semi-rural location with little or no public transport and available accommodation scattered up to five miles away. Yes, I am still gathering info on B&Bs, Hotels and Camping/caravan sites, but I am finding that many still listed are no longer operating! My hope is to get a reliable list ready by the middle of next month so that you all can get booking. Just where all the cars will park here I do not know but, hopefully, we will be out and about visiting ancient castles and other places of interest in the two or three days, more than we will be here at my home.

Whatever, I am sure we will have a great time getting to know each other even better than we already do - just, everybody, please keep your fingers crossed for fine, sunny weather this time next year.

[McMurdo]

My fingers are crossed Hamish, I am very much hoping to attend, and am trying to plan things on my end already. As for the accommodations I really do not mind driving and will most likely rent a car, I like Al will have to remember which side of the road I am on. Looking forward to a grand adventure, and meeting lots of other members of the best forum online.

[The Wizard of BC]

Hamish, Please don't worry. After hosting Kilt Kamp I can assure you that a rabble of X Marks Kilties descending on your home is no imposition at all.

I have found your home on Google Earth and your street will easily hold 100 parked cars. Your yard will accommodate at least 30 tents. (I've got dibs on the arch way trellis for my cot.) And I can promise you we won't eat that much.
(As an added bonus you should have enough leather left over from the 3 cows needed for the campfire barbeque for Robert to make about 6 more R-Kilts.)

I'm also positive that the residents of your lovely town could not possibly object to 100 or more kilts strolling their streets around midnight after the nightly pub crawls. Just remind them when they bang on your door how much increased revenue you have brought to the local economy via the liquor sales.

I do suggest however that you post large signs on your closet doors stating that visitors must wash all chocolate and bar-b-que sauce from their hands prior to fondling your Kilt Kollection.

I for one would never dream of banging my spoon on the rim and chipping your tea cups. And I have assurances from all attending that we will strictly enforce a "no piping after 1am" rule.

So, dear Hamish, sit back, relax, and bask in the waves of admiration and allow the adoration to waft over you like ripples on a pond after someone has tossed a cement block into it.
I will leave a large bottle of extra-strength aspirin on your table as I leave.

[Hamish]

Hamish, Please don't worry. After hosting Kilt Kamp I can assure you that a rabble of X Marks Kilties descending on your home is no imposition at all.

Many thanks Steve for your consoling words. They bring me much comfort!!

I have found your home on Google Earth and your street will easily hold 100 parked cars. Your yard will accommodate at least 30 tents. (I've got dibs on the arch way trellis for my cot.) And I can promise you we won't eat that much.

Wow! That's a new view provided by Google Earth. Previously my 'croft' was hidden from sight by trees, and the definition was very poor. Thank you for drawing my attention to it. My wee property is on the southern corner of Hillside Road at its junction with Water Lane (which is still under the trees!). It is a bungalow and much of what you see is the double garage - not the living quarters! I can see I am going to have to speak VERY nicely indeed to my neighbours as we have an unwritten rule that we do not park cars in front of other properties - I have been known to stick rude notes on windscreens when strangers have parked in front of my windows (and I am not the only one!).

There will be no camping in my garden! Oh, and I suspect you're looking at the wrong house - I have no arch way trellis!!!

(As an added bonus you should have enough leather left over from the 3 cows needed for the campfire barbeque for Robert to make about 6 more R-Kilts.)

And another thing: I am afraid there will not be a barbeque. That is not on the agenda at all. Personally, I cannot abide barbequed food, and the smell emanating from those contraptions is unadulterated pollution, to my mind!! Barbeques are not done in this vicinity. Besides, this is sheep country, not cattle ranching.

I'm also positive that the residents of your lovely town could not possibly object to 100 or more kilts strolling their streets around midnight after the nightly pub crawls. Just remind them when they bang on your door how much increased revenue you have brought to the local economy via the liquor sales.

That is why I would not dream of taking anyone into the pubs in Storrington! I believe we have two, both of which are pretty grim; I never patronise them. My leanings are always to the pubs a few miles away, in the country - much better atmosphere and probably better ale! Oh, and less likely to be frequented by yobs!

I do suggest however that you post large signs on your closet doors stating that visitors must wash all chocolate and bar-b-que sauce from their hands prior to fondling your Kilt Kollection.

The rooms kontaining the kilt kollection will be locked (there are already bars at the windows), and admission will be by invitation only!

I for one would never dream of banging my spoon on the rim and chipping your tea cups. And I have assurances from all attending that we will strictly enforce a "no piping after 1am" rule.

Tea cups? You think, Steve, that I will be permitting my tea cups to be used at such a time. Plastic pic-nic mugs and paper beakers will be issued to attendees on the first day, and it will be their responsibility to hang on to them for the weekend. I am pleased to hear of the assurances regarding piping - some of my neighbours retire for the night between 9.30 and 10.00 pm and I'd hate for them to be disturbed. (You think I am joking?)

So, dear Hamish, sit back, relax, and bask in the waves of admiration and allow the adoration to waft over you like ripples on a pond after someone has tossed a cement block into it.
I will leave a large bottle of extra-strength aspirin on your table as I leave.

Hmmmn! I am seriously thinking of calling the whole thing off or, at least, restricting numbers to half-a-dozen or so. The most I have ever had here was about eight, and even then we spilled out into the garden, into the rain, hail and snow!

I am off to Scotland until next Tuesday, after which I will be away for the Harpenden Highland Gathering. In the meantime, I must make some difficult decisions, I think.

[Panache]

... In the meantime, I must make some difficult decisions, I think.

Oh Dear! And here the F-H.C.A.G. and I were begininng to think about the logistics of going as well...

Cheers

Jamie

[gilmore]

....Hmmmn! I am seriously thinking of calling the whole thing off or, at least, restricting numbers to half-a-dozen or so. The most I have ever had here was about eight, and even then we spilled out into the garden, into the rain, hail and snow!

I am off to Scotland until next Tuesday, after which I will be away for the Harpenden Highland Gathering. In the meantime, I must make some difficult decisions, I think.

If you are indeed beginning to feel overwhelmed---and I can understand how large numbers of people could be an imposition on you and your town--- rather than calling it off or restricting the numbers, perhaps we (I include myself because I am considering going that way, though it doesn't seem overly likely at this point) should start thinking about alternatives, such as conference centers, resort areas or some country facility that could be turned over to us for a few days, and that are set up to handle the numbers expected. Perhaps something in Scotland. With almost a year's lead time, it is possible.

Are there travel agents among us? Anyone else with experience organizing conferences?

[McMurdo]

Hmmmn! I am seriously thinking of calling the whole thing off or, at least, restricting numbers to half-a-dozen or so. The most I have ever had here was about eight, and even then we spilled out into the garden, into the rain, hail and snow!

I certainly hope that the weekend is not called off, as far as spilling over into the garden in the rain, hail and snow, well, I am Canadian, and thus I have become used to wearing a kilt in such conditions.

I am off to Scotland until next Tuesday, after which I will be away for the Harpenden Highland Gathering. In the meantime, I must make some difficult decisions, I think.

Have a wonderful trip to Scotland, let us know what the decision is when you can.

[Barb T]

Hi Hamish

None of us wants to impose on either you or your village, and I hope you know that Steve's post was tongue-in-cheek. There's no reason that we couldn't congregate in the nearest big town and have our kilt night there. That might also solve the problem of people who don't want to rent cars.

I also think that, when push comes to shove and people really need to commit to buying airline tickets, etc., the numbers are going to come way down. The first flush of enthusiasm usually leads to a list that cuts itself down by 50% or more when reality sets in. When I advertise our field course in Iceland, for example, I typically have 40 students who say, yes, I'm really interested, etc. etc. More than half of them melt away when they start thinking about costs, other obligations, etc.

So, don't give up yet. We don't want to overwhelm you, but we sure would like to visit!

Barb