2010 "Southern Softies"

[missfixit70]

That's why I didn't see a smart white bongo sneaking past mine then on saturday night as it was getting dark

[DE-OGZ]

Oops have we been rumbled ?

Look forward to meeting a lot more of you at the next one

[Alison01326]

Isaac and I had a lovely weekend at Southern Softies but as predicted, he probably met loads of people on his travels and to my regret I probably only spoke to about half a dozen. I said hello to quite a few, and waved goodbye to even more as they passed but I didn't introduce myself and I didn't ask anyone their names. I apologise if I came across as rude (particularly to Paul & Emma (Winswept) who were next to me - I barely spoke to you and that should have been easy as you were only a few feet away. I did do a couple of circuits looking for people to talk to but most of you who were about were already in little groups.

Anyway, it was lovely to renew some old acquaintances and also thanks to Bongobaz for coming to my assistance with the AFT cover when I arrived, and the couple whose help I enlisted as they were asking questions about it when I was trying to put it back on after a trip into Wimborne (to think, I did it all by myself at home with no audience the other day ) and thanks to Jillygumbo for lending me some rock pegs as I had switched tents before I left home and left mine with the big awning. Thanks, Bob for introducing yourself in the shop - reading an earlier post it looks like I missed out on some of your famous singing and thanks also Jayne (Bongomadness) for coming over and saying hello to me, because I wouldn't have known where to find you, and Roy (BioBongo) for showing me his overhead cupboards. And not forgetting the Burnham Bunch - your Bongo was once again Isaac's second home for the weekend

It was great to be able to chat to several new Bongo owners who were looking around for ideas and advice, and particularly to meet that lovely lady who was there with her long-suffering (it appeared) sister specifically to find out more about Bongos as she intended to buy one (Isaac very promptly told her that she couldn't have ours ). I think she spent all day Saturday looking around and asking questions. When I spoke to her she was empty handed, but when I got back from Wimborne mid-afternoon on Saturday she had a clipboard and several full sheets of notes. If you are reading this, good luck in your quest for a good Bongo and see you at another meet

So, lessons for next time - don't accept a pitch that's on the edge of the campsite but try and get in the middle of where all the Bongos are (was on the edge that at Looe as well) and try and get Isaac to bed before I'm worn out so that I can have a bit of time to myself where I don't have to look over my shoulder and instead can pay 100% attention to the person I am talking to.

We had an excellent drive up and back - the A35 is one of my favourite roads, in spite of the speed restrictions and bottlenecks. I'm not the fastest of drivers so 4 hours each way (including one stop in either direction) for 180 miles was pretty good. I kept thinking as I drove what a wonderful vehicle the Bongo is, and how lucky I am, as mine took all the hills and bends and dual carriageways and little traffic jams in his stride despite being (badly) loaded to the gunwhales. Very pleased with my new tyres too as it's the first long journey they have had (Toyo H08).

Looking forward to Woodlands and Stourport (and Looe, but I haven't booked that yet )

[bongomadness]

We are deffinatly going to Looe in september.checked out the site and love the idea of a bus service into town.Lets hope the sun shines then and look forward to meeting the cornish bongonauts plus some new friends we made at Merley again!!!

[Debs and David]

Now then it has come to my attention that there is a definite lack of pics of this weekend, what's going on are they still being censored everyone keeps saying what a good time they had but there is no evidence to substantiate this. Come on peeps we like pics.

[Biobongo]

I can't begign to compete with your writings Alison, but you are welcome to come & see my overhead cupboards any time & even my under also. Also I always like chatting to Isaac. Alice said it was lovely to meet you both.

Thanks to Hayden & John & Carol for the lone of Hard ground pegs. Thing I will take a pneumatic drill next time!

[Freewheeler]

Brilliant meet. Didn't take many photos, but here's one of some Merry Bongoliers enjoying an afternoon drink.

[bongomadness]

Well here are our contributions to the Picture collection at Merley.



I think the victory salute was Kris's way of telling me "goodbye your staying"I did have to chase after him as he drove out the entrance! Charming. lol

[Neil954]

Unfortunately I couldn't make this meet but the rest of the family (Burnham Bunch) made it and have taken great pleasure it letting me know what a good weekend they had with you all.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you Kirsty for helping out Karen with the poorly bongo, although I won’t get home till late on Wednesday we’ve got it booked in to have it checked out and hopefully sorted before the woodlands meet. Cheers.

Neil

[missfixit70]

Unfortunately I couldn't do a lot Neil, checked all the obvious bits for Karen, hope you get it sorted ok.

[aitch]

What a fantastic way to start our bongoing adventures.

We have only had our ‘Snoop’ for a few weeks and as we live only a few miles from the SS meet we thought we might drive over to have a quick walk around and a nose at a few vans, just to get a few ideas for conversions/layouts.

However all did not go quite to plan.

I finished work at 4ish so we popped over at about 5. We have only really spoken to people on this gr8 forum to get some buying advice so we really didn’t know anyone at all. We did think that it might be a bit quiet at the time we were arriving as it’s a bit of an in between kind of time of day. I was like a kid in a sweet shop looking at all the different colours of van and how they were used; awnings, bike racks, back boxes etc. but I was right I think a lot of people were relaxing ready for their evening so we didn’t want to disturb anyone and just had a quiet walk around…..

And then….

We were just about to wander back to our bongo parked in the late arrivals car park when we saw a couple more bongos hidden behind a hedge next to a loo block and backing onto a pig farm. It looked a quiet little corner but I was mistaken, I think these residents had been allocated this location for a reason!! ????? came over and introduced her other half and before we knew it we had met our first group of bongoers. What a great bunch of people. After a drink (I don’t know how you managed to fit so much booze into your bongos) and some nibbles the gang suggested we stay over night…. Of course we couldn’t possibly have done that as we hadn’t booked, didn’t have a pitch or any gear with us.

I suppose we could have gone to pick up our bits and bobs, and gone back a bit later. I suppose someone could have lent us his barrier pass and we could have hidden ourselves round the back of someone else’s van. I suppose we would have could have been sitting round somones BBQ and had a lovely evening chatting and drinking and meeting more great characters. I even suppose that as it got cold out we could have all gone in somones awning (it would have to be a big one tho) and carried on the party. All it would have needed was someone to sing a couple of hearty songs (maybe one about a panda and entailing procreation of their species) a drop of port and some cheese bought as a gift by us to say thanks for a gr8 evening and lots of hangovers in the morning…..

I am sure it would have been something like that ….

Of course as we hadn’t booked it was all hypothetical as I would never do something as naughty as gatecrash an official meet!

Thanks to all the residents and visitors in the noisy corner….you know who you are….

All the best

PORT AND CHEESE

sounds like you had a "great" time for a newbie bunch

the Big Bash in June is worth a visit

hope to meet you threre!!!!

if not before

[Jillygumbo]

Thank you everyone for a fantastic weekend. Sorry it's taken me so long to get on there but our t'internet went down on Thursday night and has only just been fixed tonight! Now I'm tied to my computer! Not enough being tied to a computer all day, you see!!!

I arrived on the Friday at about lunchtime. Many bongos arriving at the same time, so it took hours to actually set up camp because everyone was talking all the time!

You're welcome Allison for the loan of the rock pegs. When I arrived i was told to go on the hardstanding gravel pitch but I persuaded them to change it to a grass pitch, over the hedge.

It was good to meet some of the names from here. I know many people by sight but now I know quite a few more names! Partying in pig corner was great fun! Thanks for inviting me Graham, Kerry, Paul & Sue. Great to meet you Ian & Cecile (and Liah). I could listen to you sing all night Bob! Glad to see you're healthy again Brett and now I realise Chris' bongo is the one that I drool over at the Bash, I'll be sad when I can't drool over it anymore! Great to meet Bob (Freewheeler) and to chat to Jamie (Jaylee) about his electrics. If you want a bongo to practise on, mine's available anytime, honest!

It was great to meet Alice finally, Roy, but a pity you couldn't join us on the walk. Frank is now the proud owner of 2 awning tents and thank you for your company over the weekend.

The walk on Saturday was absolutely fantastic. It was such good fun, my kind of walk: off road, sunshine, pub (repeat x 3)! I'll forego the bullocks - Ian, someone said you talked a load of bullocks!

After finally packing up on Sunday when the tent was dry, I stopped off at Pewsey/Ridgeway for a walk around a hill and ended up wet! Thought that rain was gonna bypass me! It didn't!

I have got some photos and I'll upload them soon - promise!

[Pete & Sue]

As usual we enjoyed the whole meet. Saw old friends, met new ones. Everyfink was perfick, what more can I say.




Over the Hedge.




Pat relaxing


Tina and co!


How posh is that!


'Would I lie to you?'


Just the day for a bike ride.




'Oh, Matron!'


'The Bongo Sailing Trust'

[aitch]

I could listen to you sing all night Bob!

a fan at last Bob (was the Panda there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


only joking sorry I missed it!!!

[Alison01326]

I'm sorry I missed it ........ and I was there !