Alistairr
Well-Known Member
I'd been on and on at Kirsty that we should go too this years SIBS, so after a couple of months of planing, we made it!!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Callum had never flown before, and Kirsty isn't a great flyers at the best of times, so it made matters worse for her when we realised we were flying on the same type of plane that had crashed twice last week in Europe. 38 UK Flybe flights had been cancelled, but fortunately for us, ours wasn't one of them.
Callum wasn't that keen on getting on the plane, but once on the runway he fell asleep within 20secs of take-off and didn't awake until we were getting off the plane in Southampton about 1hr 20mins later.
We had arranged a chauffeur for the 3 days, in the form of Dougie_three_Bottles, and sure enough he was there to greet us once we had collected our bags.
I must say again about the powers of these forums, Dougie offered to pick us up and take us too the hotel and too and from the show, after reading a post i made in the lounge about the difficulties in arrainging Taxi's with child seats in them for a baby!
A fantastic offer and we probably couldn't have managed the show without your help Dougie, so thanks very much again.
We had all booked into the Travelodge in Southamptons Lodge road, we went in and put our bags in before heading across the road for some dinner. RECOMMENDATION Now, Don't book the Travelodge on Lodge road, as it was pretty grotty and not very nice. Do try the Dock '0' the Bay on the Avenue, as it was a very nice little restaurant.
After Dinner i went back with Kirsty and until she got Callum ready for bed, then Dougie and I headed for The Avenue pub just round the corner for a quick pint.
There I met the second forumite of the day, Scarron. Scarron is apparently a local and turned up looking like an Alien, well that's how Dougie described him, seeing him through a window with a big black cycling helmet on!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I stayed a bit longer then left them too it, and returned to the doss house!
Monday, we headed into town and found somewhere for breakfast then straight too the show, where upon i found a big brown envelope with AlistairR written on it, and containing 2 entry tickets to the show!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks to YBW.com for those./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Interestingly when they saw us turn up with a little one in a buggy, we were approached by one of the staff, and asked if we could sign a registry form for Callum and then we were given a wrist band for Callum to wear with my mobile number on it, for emergencies should we become separated, great idea.
We entered the show and thought we'd head straight for the pontoons, Dougie followed us there, think it was more too save his poor back and knees from climbing the 2 bridges, as we had the buggy we were allowed to use the gates to cross, another good piece of organisation.
We got too the pontoon and again well organised, there is a free buggy park for all the prams, we deposited ours there and headed down the ramp onto the pontoons.
We went our separate way too Dougie, we wandered around, took a few pics, and came up against a barrage of people coming towards us, i was a bit disgruntled being shuffled to the side especially as i was carrying Callum at the time, i was about to barge through, but again was stopped by a few big guys, anyway they passed and i commented to Kirsty how ignorant they were, and she replied did i not see who was in the middle of the scrum, i didn't see who it was, i was too busy trying to stop Callum and I from taking an early bath!!!!!!!! Anyway it was Princess Anne and aunterage!!!
We headed round the pontoons slowly looking at different boats, not going on any of them.
Till we found Westline, there we found Solitaire and JezBanks. After chatting for a few minutes we were tapped on the shoulder and it was Majorcatastrophie.
5 Forum members meeting by the Westline./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I picked Jez's brain about the W24 for a while whilst i had a good look around it, a great little boat, wish i had the money for a new one.
But apologies to all there, i wasn't feeling my best and we soon had too leave, think it might have been the excitment knowing what was too come in the afternoon!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Yes it was this stand!
Yip, all my dreams had come true, i have now actually seen an Absolute in the flesh!!!
I know they're maybe not everyones cup of Tea, but too me they were both ABSOLUTELY Stunning. Trevor for extremely welcoming and introduced us to his SWMBO and some of his team, before taking us onto his stand and showing us round his beautiful boats.
I could write a whole load about the 2 boats, but its all been said before on other threads, but needless to say Kirsty and I were very impressed.
Here are a few pics.
Callum was asleep at this point so i didn't get any pics with him aboard.
He awoke just before we left so i grabbed the chance for another forumites pics.
Shortly after that pics, Trevor thanked me for all my Absolute promoting on the forum and told me he'd ordered us an Absolute 39 as payment and it should be delivered to Largs in about 6 months!!!!
(I wish!!)
We left Trevor so as he could get on with some real business, and we'd heard Richard Shead had been asking for us, so we headed round to the YBW.com stand, there we were interviewed by Stewart Campbell, (not looking forward to seeing what quote he's going to print from me, if any!!!) A few pics were taken by them of Callum, callums buggy flying the forum Burgee and of ourselves, don't know if any of them will ever come too light!
Richard spotted us and came over and said hello, and true to his word immediately offered us a drink, where i had a beer and Kirsty had come champagne, no sooner was the champagne out, then Solitaire turns up, I think he has a nose for these things, and before long also had a glass in his hand. Cheers YBW. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Then a funny thing happened, and one of the highlights of the trip, we were rushing back out about 5.30pm we had a table for 10 booked for 6pm. Whilst passing the RYA stand a lovely lady rushes out and taps me on the shoulder and says, “you must be Alistairr, and this makes you Callum” pointing at Callum! This was another Forumite, this time it was Vanilla, Vanilla if i am right is a raggie awaiting delivery of a new yacht, but she admitted herself that's she does like to look into Mobochat quite a lot, as she said we have more fun in here/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, and she had followed Callum's story from the early days, and donated to the raffle. It was lovely to meet you Vanilla, you were very charming and my wife can't stop talking about how you just stopped us, and about your comments about Callum, thankyou.
Back to the hotel sorry doss house, and a quick change and out too dinner, where we again had a lovely meal with lovely company at the Dock 'O' the bay.
If you ever wondered how Dougie_three_Bottles got his name its cause he likes his red wine and usually ends up having three bottles!!!! I can now exclusively reveal that Dougie_three_Bottles will soon be changing his name too Dougie_five_bottles!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Part2, too follow soon.
Cheers
Al.
Callum had never flown before, and Kirsty isn't a great flyers at the best of times, so it made matters worse for her when we realised we were flying on the same type of plane that had crashed twice last week in Europe. 38 UK Flybe flights had been cancelled, but fortunately for us, ours wasn't one of them.
Callum wasn't that keen on getting on the plane, but once on the runway he fell asleep within 20secs of take-off and didn't awake until we were getting off the plane in Southampton about 1hr 20mins later.
We had arranged a chauffeur for the 3 days, in the form of Dougie_three_Bottles, and sure enough he was there to greet us once we had collected our bags.
I must say again about the powers of these forums, Dougie offered to pick us up and take us too the hotel and too and from the show, after reading a post i made in the lounge about the difficulties in arrainging Taxi's with child seats in them for a baby!
A fantastic offer and we probably couldn't have managed the show without your help Dougie, so thanks very much again.
We had all booked into the Travelodge in Southamptons Lodge road, we went in and put our bags in before heading across the road for some dinner. RECOMMENDATION Now, Don't book the Travelodge on Lodge road, as it was pretty grotty and not very nice. Do try the Dock '0' the Bay on the Avenue, as it was a very nice little restaurant.
After Dinner i went back with Kirsty and until she got Callum ready for bed, then Dougie and I headed for The Avenue pub just round the corner for a quick pint.
There I met the second forumite of the day, Scarron. Scarron is apparently a local and turned up looking like an Alien, well that's how Dougie described him, seeing him through a window with a big black cycling helmet on!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I stayed a bit longer then left them too it, and returned to the doss house!
Monday, we headed into town and found somewhere for breakfast then straight too the show, where upon i found a big brown envelope with AlistairR written on it, and containing 2 entry tickets to the show!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks to YBW.com for those./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Interestingly when they saw us turn up with a little one in a buggy, we were approached by one of the staff, and asked if we could sign a registry form for Callum and then we were given a wrist band for Callum to wear with my mobile number on it, for emergencies should we become separated, great idea.
We entered the show and thought we'd head straight for the pontoons, Dougie followed us there, think it was more too save his poor back and knees from climbing the 2 bridges, as we had the buggy we were allowed to use the gates to cross, another good piece of organisation.
We got too the pontoon and again well organised, there is a free buggy park for all the prams, we deposited ours there and headed down the ramp onto the pontoons.
We went our separate way too Dougie, we wandered around, took a few pics, and came up against a barrage of people coming towards us, i was a bit disgruntled being shuffled to the side especially as i was carrying Callum at the time, i was about to barge through, but again was stopped by a few big guys, anyway they passed and i commented to Kirsty how ignorant they were, and she replied did i not see who was in the middle of the scrum, i didn't see who it was, i was too busy trying to stop Callum and I from taking an early bath!!!!!!!! Anyway it was Princess Anne and aunterage!!!
We headed round the pontoons slowly looking at different boats, not going on any of them.
Till we found Westline, there we found Solitaire and JezBanks. After chatting for a few minutes we were tapped on the shoulder and it was Majorcatastrophie.
5 Forum members meeting by the Westline./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I picked Jez's brain about the W24 for a while whilst i had a good look around it, a great little boat, wish i had the money for a new one.
But apologies to all there, i wasn't feeling my best and we soon had too leave, think it might have been the excitment knowing what was too come in the afternoon!!/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Yes it was this stand!
Yip, all my dreams had come true, i have now actually seen an Absolute in the flesh!!!
I know they're maybe not everyones cup of Tea, but too me they were both ABSOLUTELY Stunning. Trevor for extremely welcoming and introduced us to his SWMBO and some of his team, before taking us onto his stand and showing us round his beautiful boats.
I could write a whole load about the 2 boats, but its all been said before on other threads, but needless to say Kirsty and I were very impressed.
Here are a few pics.
Callum was asleep at this point so i didn't get any pics with him aboard.
He awoke just before we left so i grabbed the chance for another forumites pics.
Shortly after that pics, Trevor thanked me for all my Absolute promoting on the forum and told me he'd ordered us an Absolute 39 as payment and it should be delivered to Largs in about 6 months!!!!
(I wish!!)We left Trevor so as he could get on with some real business, and we'd heard Richard Shead had been asking for us, so we headed round to the YBW.com stand, there we were interviewed by Stewart Campbell, (not looking forward to seeing what quote he's going to print from me, if any!!!) A few pics were taken by them of Callum, callums buggy flying the forum Burgee and of ourselves, don't know if any of them will ever come too light!
Richard spotted us and came over and said hello, and true to his word immediately offered us a drink, where i had a beer and Kirsty had come champagne, no sooner was the champagne out, then Solitaire turns up, I think he has a nose for these things, and before long also had a glass in his hand. Cheers YBW. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Then a funny thing happened, and one of the highlights of the trip, we were rushing back out about 5.30pm we had a table for 10 booked for 6pm. Whilst passing the RYA stand a lovely lady rushes out and taps me on the shoulder and says, “you must be Alistairr, and this makes you Callum” pointing at Callum! This was another Forumite, this time it was Vanilla, Vanilla if i am right is a raggie awaiting delivery of a new yacht, but she admitted herself that's she does like to look into Mobochat quite a lot, as she said we have more fun in here/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, and she had followed Callum's story from the early days, and donated to the raffle. It was lovely to meet you Vanilla, you were very charming and my wife can't stop talking about how you just stopped us, and about your comments about Callum, thankyou.
Back to the hotel sorry doss house, and a quick change and out too dinner, where we again had a lovely meal with lovely company at the Dock 'O' the bay.
If you ever wondered how Dougie_three_Bottles got his name its cause he likes his red wine and usually ends up having three bottles!!!! I can now exclusively reveal that Dougie_three_Bottles will soon be changing his name too Dougie_five_bottles!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Part2, too follow soon.
Cheers
Al.
