LAST UPDATED 19 September 2000
So here it is, the first full issue of the diary for many months containing all those lovely activities you can't wait to hear about.
The first good news is that I finally have a home phone number so you can contact me out of office hours. I'm afraid it's a mobile but at least you can contact me at a sensible time of the day and not in-between the filing, bad work coffee and an argument with the boss. It's 0966-372883 and if I'm unavailable you can leave a message. My normal daytime number of 01923-423978 is also still valid.
As always I depend on your ideas and willingness to help organise events so please call me if you have any ideas.
If you want to go on a specific trip which requires a permit or key give me a call telling me the cave and the date you want to go and I'll see if I can arrange it for you.
( ) denotes a bank holiday
MAY
17-18 Sun. SECRO rescue practice - Pitch Hauling at Brockham. Contact Graham Christian for details.
24-25(26) (24-1) Fun and activity week at the cottage, see Chris Fry for details.
JUNE
7-8 I'll try to persuade Chris C. to take a Tunnel trip this weekend.
Sun. SECRO rescue practice. Contact Graham Christian for details.
14-15 Sat. Bar-B-Que. at Alan Ockenden's farm. Contact Alan for details.
25(wed) Bat Talk at Wealdon's indoor meet and will be at Nutley Hall.
28-29 Sat. Draenen rescue practice.
Sun. Box Mines trip (near Bath). For those who have never been it's one of the mines definitely worth going on with miles of passage, huge chambers and plenty of artefacts (including working cranes) you can easily loose many hours wondering round.
JULY
1(wed) INDOOR MEET: Clive Gardner will present some of his latest videos. To be confirmed by Vince nearer the date.
5-6 I don't know why I keep trying but I'll book a hopefully USED Slaughter Stream permit for this date. If you are interested please call me BEFORE June 28th.
12-13 Sat. Library Open Day. Here is your chance to view the extensive Croydon library with the added enjoyment/bribe of a bar-b-que and beer.
26-27 (26-10) Spain expedition. See Paul Stacey for details.
AUGUST
2-3 (2-10) Family and KOF's week (I just write it, I don't make it up). Contact Alan Ockenden for details.
9-10 Sun. A trip into Milwr cave/mines/quarry/.... This trip basically involves the lot with a 400ft entrance shaft on ladders (in short sections!). The trip revolves around a 10 mile drainage tunnel intersecting metaliferous (sp?) mines, natural caverns and limestone quarries. Places are LIMITED for this trip so please call Vince soon to book a place. Only serious enquiries please.
16-17 Sun. Vince has organised a trip to the chalk mines in South Mimms as featured in the last issue of Pelobates. Although the system is short it boasts some of the largest chalk caverns in the UK including 50 and 70ft pitches. If you are interested in going please call him to reserve a place.
SEPTEMBER
2(wed) INDOOR MEET: TBC
6-7 Sat. Otter Hole trip over-tides. This trip will possibly be a photographic one but I'll still need you to call me and book a place. First come first served I'm afraid. (The trip starts at 06.30 so be warned!)
13-14 BCRA Conference in Bristol.
20-21 Trip to Yorkshire. This will hopefully get us there before the hordes of University freshers descend upon the place. The last trip had such delights as Black Shiver, Meregill and Yordas (eh?) and hopefully this one will be as good.
OCTOBER
4-5 This is a possible date for a trip to Portland in Dorset near Osmington Mills. This will be confirmed later in the year by Paul Stacey.
25-26 Return to The Bull Terrier pub in Croscombe probably with a similar deal to last year of cooked breakfast and a bar that doesn't shut until you are ready. (Callipers at the ready Steve?)
NOVEMBER
4(wed) INDOOR MEET: TBC
8-9 Fire works weekend? Dates yet to be confirmed with Village Cricket Club.
DECEMBER
6-7 Come Saturday night for the annual dinner. If any of you have been busy with your camera this is also the date for the PHOTO COMPETITION (hint hint!). Details will be elsewhere in Pelobates.
(25-26) CHRISTMAS and BOXING DAY ... food, booze and socks!
27-28 (27-3) A destination is needed for this years New Years bash. At present George is looking into a trip to Belgium for approx. 15 people. I will publish more details as they are known.
JANUARY
Other ideas yet to be added to the calendar...
· Trip to Derbyshire but a decent location is required. Ideas and organisers please.
· Craig-yr.-Ffynnon
· Wessex Challenge, once a date is known.
REMEMBER: For those of you that live near the Swan & Sugarloaf but don't usually attend except for indoor meets this is when a lot of other trips are organised that are not on the diary. If you attend there are occasionally rare last minute trips or even holidays on offer. No attendance means no opportunity!
MERSTHAM MINES MEETS
For those interested in these trips please call Chippy Wood or me for further information. All of these are novice trips, perhaps good for anyone thinking of joining who hasn't been caving before..... (These trips are all on Sundays.)
1997
MERSTHAM MINES June 8, September 7, October 5, November 16, December 7
1998
MERSTHAM MINES February 5, March 15
Customise your WINDOWS 95!
During bit of a boring evening I have designed a set of screens to replace the standard Win95 start-up and shutdown screens. If you want a copy give me a call and I'll send them to you on 3.5" diskette in exchange for a replacement one. The disk comes complete with a self install and uninstall program so don't worry about all the technical stuff. At last get rid of those 'Shutting Down' messages and have something a little better instead!