UK spring meeting dates poll

which dates can you make for Northumberland in spring 08

  • 4th - 6th MAril 08

    Votes: 18 72.0%

  • 2nd - 4th May 08

    Votes: 6 24.0%

  • cant make either option but am available to come on other weekends in spring

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .

Rob Archer

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All paced and ready-ish! Tempted to take survival rations but perhaps a photocopy of the relevant Good Beer Guide pages may suffice.

Seriously, if the BBC forcast is right, sunshine and showers might be quite nice - better than plain boring old blue sky.

See you all there - probably about 5ish. I'm travelling by train and bus so I've got a few contingency plans!

Rob
 

FrankB

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Oh, it was!

Looks like I'm the first one back and posting. Great weekend!

Many thanks to Les for being our guide and mentor for this Gathering, for leading us to some great locations and especially for showing us Roughting Linn (a very special place). (Cheers mate. Great to see you again!)

Many thanks to Simon Galley for his generous contributions! (That's another pint I owe you, Simon! How about coming to the next one and collecting!)

Many thanks to Malcolm (our host) for working so hard to get the place ready for us (lovely rooms), giving us a damn decent rate and feeding us to the gills!

...and many thanks to everyone who came for bringing your superb prints and generally making it such a great weekend.

The weather during the weekend was unexpectedly good and many a shutter was dropped. The trip back was, erm... less than wonderful. (I did make it back up that hill. (I hope you all did too...!)) The A697 was featured prominently on the Radio Newcastle traffic reports while I was on it and the M62 on Saddleworth Moor was memorable too (20mph).

Bermuda for the next one, anybody?! Perhaps Tahiti...?!
 
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Simon R Galley

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Dear Frank et al,

Glad you had a good time in my neck of the woods....and that you got the goodies ( many thanks Les !) and that you got home safe... I can assure you I had planned to come to attend, hopefully next year.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :
 

Dave Miller

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Thanks Simon, we did indeed get the goodies, very much appreciated, but we were very sad that you couldn't make it, maybe next time.
I too can echo Franks comments, each of these events has been more enjoyable than the last, and long may that continue. The weather was a trifle variable, but should have produced some memorable pictures. However our guide and mentors abandonment of his flock is a snow filled valley in deepest, darkest Northumberland cannot go unrecorded. Neither can the herculean efforts of those abandoned in carrying Marks camper van several 100 meters up a snow choked hill. This latter event, was ably supervised by yours truly from the bottom of the hill. It really did bring me out in a sweat. They enjoyed it so much that they repeated the exercise on my C5, thanks chaps.
I can only offer the simple advice to my fellow APUGer’s that should you require Mr. McLean to lead you anywhere; make sure he’s at the back.
 

Les McLean

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Some of these wimpish Southerners when faced with a little snow just cannot cope. I took them to a valley I'd lived in for 10 or so years and even laid on an April Snowstorm for them to photograph, what do they do, they get their cars stuck on a tiny little hill and miss the best of the snowstorm.

Seriously folks, I had a great time seeing many new faces, making new friends and enjoying a lot of fun and laughter. Whilst the weather was a bit nippy at times, not to mention the unexpected snow storm, we enjoyed some excellent light and photo opportunities. Many thanks from me to all who came and made it such a memorable weekend. Many thanks to Simon and IlfordPhoto for their generousity and encouragement to all we film photographers.

I'm looking forward to next years meet as I'm away to Canada this coming October and will be unable to attend the autumn session where ever it may be.
 

FrankB

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Blimey!

I've got to admit, I did wonder how you'd got on! The Focus got up the 1 in 5, but it really was touch and go in places. Glad I bugged-out when I did.


McLean! You scoundrel!


Barry - Chuck a tow rope in for next time, mate!
 
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Dave Miller

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Barry, belated congratulate are due to you for arranging the wonderful mix of English weather that you did, everything provided bar a touch of summer; and all in the first ten minutes. Do not, however berate yourself on the absence of the tow rope, after all how were any of us expected to know that our leader planned to take us tobogganing in our cars.
 

FrankB

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Dave Miller said:
Barry, belated congratulate are due to you for arranging the wonderful mix of English weather that you did, everything provided bar a touch of summer; and all in the first ten minutes.
Click to expand...

Not true - there was no fog!

(I think that was the only one he missed, though...!)
 

Bob F.

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Yes indeed: a most interesting Sunday morning... Much to my surprise I got up the hill just fine. My "technique" of taking a run-up, floor the throttle and hope the grass verges bounce the car back on to the road worked well I thought (possibly, closing my eyes half way up was sub-optimal).

The sight of a helmetless young guy zooming at speed up and down the snow & ice covered hill roads on a trail bike wearing (I seem to recall) a wooly jumper for protection was one of the more unexpected sights. Obviously, another transplanted Geordie... I was only standing around and was wearing so many layers of clothing I couldn't bend my arms, looking like a particularly ill-formed snowman...

Looking forward to autumn already, and I haven't even left Northumberland yet...

Cheers, Bob.

P.S. I just realised that the first link in my current signature could have been our theme tune...
 

delphine

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I would like to echo what has been said already and thank you heartily Les for taking us into the wild part of the country which I enjoyed tremendously. As his wife is not well, his time spent with us is all the more appreciated.

It was a pleasure to meet again old faces, as well as new ones. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. I am back home with some goodies (thanks Simon), advice and tips gleaned here and there, motivated and inspired.

I will look forward to our next gathering.
 

Mark Burley

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Left and abandoned then embarrassed and finally sorry to all...

Echo everyone's comments. Had a great time. My van (Madge) has not recovered from the embarrassing interlude in the snow. I on the other hand will ensure that I will not be taking the high road with Les again - unless I am behind - so he can't get out first!

Barry the weather god did fine. Even got me a lovely sunrise this morning - thank you.

Malcolm turned out some good nosh and the venues by Les turned out to be top notch. Thanks also to Simon for the film and paper.

The prints were stunning and the company was even better than before. We both thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and look forward to the next one as ever.

Apologies to all for having to push me for miles... Next time I will bring the snow chains!

Mark
 

rjkkap

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Hi all
Glad to hear everyone got safely home. I had a fab w/e. The early mornings were, as usual, worth the pain... just hope some of the fantastic light we had was actually captured on film! Thanks to Les for the great locations, and to all for the stimulating company and inspiration. See you in the autumn.
Richard Kent
 

Stoo Batchelor

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Hello all

Great, great weekend. It was good to catch up with all that I met in Kent, along with meeting new faces. Wonderful location. I can see why Les calls it 'Gods Country'

Big thankyou's go out to Les, for all the time and effort he put in to the weekend. Simon Galley for the goodies. Malcolm for the relentless supply of toast and coffee. For everyone else for not commenting as they slowly watched me change from a clean shaven young man in to someone looking remarkably like Catweazle! And finally to Delphine, my travel companion, for putting up with me for the four days. I would also like to let it be on record that Delphine was actually quiet for part of the five hour drive home!

As allways, the best part of the weekend was viewing other peoples work. I have to say how impressive it all was. My two favourites would have to be Richard's(rjkkap)first ever prints, well bloody done mate, and also Delphines Pub scene, along with the portrait of her Father. I am so jealous of your talent, along with Marks fine body of work.

I am so looking forward to the Autumn meeting, I just so hope it falls on a weekend that I can make.

Oh!, and Les, in the future when your wife phones up and tells you there is an inch of snow on the ground and its still falling, best we don't head for the hills mate!!! Bloody lunatic

Cheers everyone, and get well soon Tony.

Best

Stoo
 

Les McLean

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Dave Miller

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Mark Burley

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Busting balls and carrying vans

I realise that I am still having to apologise for Madge...

But a transit man! She is most definitely a VDUBYA. She has now lost her crimson blush of shame. But Les were you really taking shots while all were struggling up the hill?

Blimey Guv I would've kept quiet on that one...

Mark
 

Rob Archer

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Sounds like I missed all the fun on Sunday! It really was another great weekend. I learned so much - mostly by earwigging other people's conversations! Special thanks to Les for the local knowledge, Simon for the goodies, malcolm for the food (including the odd bit of toast that Stoo didn't get! and everyone for the good company!

I've just devved the first couple of films and I may have a couple of reasonable shots (but don't hold your breath!)

Rob
 

Brook Hill

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I would add my thanks to Les and Simon for all their efforts and contributions to make it a memorable weekend, rather unique really! It was great company and Malcolm came up with the goods with the hotel. From what I have heard what we experienced on Sunday was nothing to what Malcolm suffered during the winter of rebuilding. I'm still on a starvation diet trying to get my stomach back to normal.

Tony
 

Stoo Batchelor

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I havn't managed to get to the developer yet. Just a thought here, when we all lined up along the road to photograph the Cheviots, it would be nice if we all posted the final image in the same place, or on the same date, as I feel that it would be interesting to see the view through so many different sets of eyes.

Stoo
 
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