Big Andys Scootering Site

an independant scooterist's web site....e-mail address:- big-andy@ntlworld.com

Run To The Shires. Ukrainian Youth Camp, Weston On Trent, Derbyshire. 8th-10th September 2006

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

.....This years Run To The Shires had been put back from June untill September as the Ukrainian Centre was not available over the usual late June weekend. The first worry for me, over a September date, was the weather, and secondly the date chosen clashed with any notion i had for putting on a surprise 40th birthday for my wife Dawn. Having made it quite clear she didn't want a party of any type and would much prefer to celebrate with friends at the Shires rally, any notion of mental conflict was laid to rest. I had booked 3 days of work for this week, mainly so i could spend time with Dawn for her birthday, but also so i could be in Weston on Trent nice and early to help out where needed. As Dawn was at work most of the day, i spend the vast majority of friday on the entrance gate where i could also greet friends, old and new. Dawn arrived just after 9pm and went off to say hello to folk and take some photos including some of the first band up, Mint'ive. I have no idea how good (or bad) they were as i was still up on the gate, but i did see the second band Straw Dogs as i got a call to come down to the main room to help out. Straw Dogs had come down from Scotland to do their act which was a tribute to Stiff Little Fingers and impressed, well me anyway. I thought they were really good but then i quite liked the 'Stiffs' anyway. Dawn went home just after midnight and i followed a couple of hours later. The best thing about this rally for us is the fact its only about 7-8 miles from home so we can sleep in our own bed.

.....Before i returned to Weston, i spent a bit of time at home putting Fridays photos on this website. I then had to call at just about every post office on the way back to try and get some change for the entrance gate. Upon my return i had a wander around to see who was out playing. I watched a few people put their beloved machines through the dyno tester then ambled around the scooters being lined up for the custom show. The one scooter most people were admiring and talking about was Ferdys latest contraption, a chopper with extremely long front forks. The frame of the scooter was actually an upside down lammy frame. How this guy comes up with these ideas and then puts them together is awesome. Mind it looked a bugger to ride. I then wandered down to the canalside pub to meet the Lincoln SC lads, stopping several times on route to say hello to folk. Tom Hingley, former frontman of the Inspiral Carpets was down there doing an acoustic set, followed by Berni from Stockport Crusaders SC who also did an acoustic set. after a couple of beers we wandered back up to the main area for the Custom Show judging and trophy presentation. Performance were playing outside the main hall and Pitchie entertained everyone by playing the cds from the soul room. Myself and all the other VFM* mob then sat down to a scrumptious meal of chicken and potatos which had been rustled up by Marie and Tracy from the Mansfield Monsters SC, ably assisted by their other halves Neil & Tez.

.....Dawn arrived back around 7pm driving our van. The plan had been to sleep in the back of it that night but there was a room free in one of the huts so we accepted Johnny Bollands kind offer of the room. Tonight we were celebrating Dawns 40th Birthday, security had been doubled and alerted to the dangers. Dawn, Marie and Tracey started to repeat their frolics from the I-O-W by somehow got hold of some toilet roll and tying it round everyones head, japanese stylee. This was no mean feat as the toilets had been without toilet roll nearly all weekend so god knows where they got it from. The first band up tonight were a band from Stoke called 'This is Seb Clarke', although i don't know which one was Seb Clarke but there was plenty to chose from. There must have been 10-12 of them on stage. They also kindly dedicated one song to Dawn for her birthday. Next up were Rankin Steady, another localish band, this time hailing from Nottinghamshire. They blasted out a set of Reggea/ska tunes which filled the dance floor. The usual excellent VFM* Dj's then played the night out with our favourite rally tunes. By 3am i was knackered so we retired to bed, only thing was Dawn wanted to carry on partying, so whilst she went off to the soul room i settled into bed and waited for her return.

.....Usually when you awake on a Sunday morning your filled with the dreaded thought of the ride home, but as we only live 7-8 miles away my first thought was..wheres me bacon butty and cuppa tea. Slightly nourished we said a few goodbyes and set off on our arduous journey home taking all of 15-20 minutes untill i was slouched on our sofa with a decent cuppa tea in my mitts. Honestly, i thought of you all making your long journeys home....well untill i fell asleep in front of the telly. Next years 'Shires' is back to its normal date of June.

.....Next up for us its Woolacombe and the 'Worzels'. See ya there...O, and its your round.

Safe Scootering

Big Andy

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