A suggestion: Storrington Kilts Weekend

[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

[Arlen]

Tentatively, I'd love to come.
I'll have to wait until, probably, December to know for sure.
But if I'm invited, I'd be honoured.

[Mr. Kilt]

Well, I'll be the first to "pull out" of the list of attendees. We just won't have the funds. We have a possible major life change in the works, details later. (Don't worry, it will be a good change!)

[Hamish]

OK - just to give this subject a bit of a bump!

In spite of my silence, The Storrington Gathering is still planned for the 14/15 June 2008 weekend, and I am still gathering information to help make it the success I want it to be.

However, I may have run into a situation which, if confirmed, could become a major problem. I have just been advised that accommodation of virtually any sort in this vicinity will be impossible to find if the dates clash with those of the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place annually in June. Most of the B&Bs I have been speaking with tell me that they do not accept bookings for June until the Festival of Speed dates are announced, and then they take no bookings for that weekend other than from people who have stayed with them previously for the Festival. I am getting similar messages from small hotels also.

I have contacted the Festival organisers to check the dates of their event, but they will not divulge them until the official launch of the 2008 Festival of Speed - and that will be sometime next month (October).

So, dear friends, please keep your fingers crossed that the 150,000 Festival of Speed attendees do not want accommodation the same weekend as us - 14/15 June, 2008.

I'll be ba-a-ack!

[Canuck]

So, dear friends, please keep your fingers crossed that the 150,000 Festival of Speed attendees do not want accommodation the same weekend as us - 14/15 June, 2008.

I'll be ba-a-ack!

So what you are saying is that there has to be 160,000 kilted persons descending on Storrington to bump off the speed demons.... ;)

[Hamish]

So what you are saying is that there has to be 160,000 kilted persons descending on Storrington to bump off the speed demons.... ;)

Now that would be a sight to behold, Robert!

No, what I am saying, is that the Festival of Speed is such an established and prestigious event that those providing accommodation within 50 miles radius of Chichester/Goodwood (which includes Storrington) reserve it for attendees, particularly those who attend every year. This is why many B&Bs and similar establishments will not take bookings from anyone for June (in any year) until the Festival dates are announced officially - then they give priority to their regular Festival of Speed guests.

Personally, although I am aware of the Festival of Speed every year (one would have to be dead and six feet under NOT to be aware!), I have no interest whatsoever in Formula One motor racing or anything to do with it and so its dates and the fact that it has such a massive impact on the area for miles around, passes me by!

This afternoon, I was informed by a very nice hotel near my home that they are already fully booked for every weekend in June 2008 - and June 2009! This, it seems, is the peak month for weddings and wedding receptions!

I am not giving up yet though!