Bitterly Disappointing.

[flossie]

Im sorry but you only have yourselves to blame - if you want to socialise then socialise!! You are a couple? family? The common starting point is discussing Bongos with your near neighbours and let them know its your first meet you will surely be made very welcome or directed to others who might be more in the know at the very least!! How were people to know that you were part of the Bongo Bash? It may just have been coincidence that you were at a public site when a Bash was being held ... Equally turning the tables people who are attending might not want to be intrusive. At the end of the day its a social event so get out and be sociable!!

I write this as a single female Bongo owner who made some superb friends and met some great people at my first Bash - the Southern Softies back in April ...

[Poohbear]

I must say I have to agree with some of what is being said in that meets do appear to be a bit cliquey because some of the people that go have obviously known each other for some time. Personally it doesn't bother me because I am quite happy in the company of my other half and our current foster child (Cameron) as long as people are friendly when you're out and about on the site (some are and some aren't) We got to know our neighbours Steve & Sue, who were very good with Cameron. We also spoke to a number of other people whose names we either don't know or have forgotten (sorry!) The way I see it, if we get to know one or two families at each event we will gradually get to know everyone. In any group of people you will get some miserable ****s who ignore you or seem reluctant to engage but the good usually outweigh the bad. I will say though that I never saw Ian walk past our Bongo 'walking the dog' and, despite the fact that we were there from Wednesday to Monday, I only saw Ian on one occasion although I did manage to get a hello out of him.

[Jillygumbo]

Start with any small meets you see on the forum, arranged by members. Less intimidating. Then try a slightly larger meet and build up to the big organised bashes when you have made some friends. We all go through that first stage but we have met such lovely friendly people, please don't give up.

That's funny - I started with the National Bash for the first couple of years (with my son) - and felt a little lonely but didn't let it stop me enjoying myself. Then I volunteered for stewarding duty and that makes you meet people (ideal for a shy person).

Then I ventured on to Looe (where I met Crazy, Kerry, heaven help me, Brett, Lyndsay, Chris, Paul & Susie).

So it's true, I did find the smaller meet easier to make more friends, although I was camped on their doorstep, or in Crazy's awning, can't remember which! Where's that ciderrrrrrr!

[maxheadroom]

Just to clarify - I wouldn't expect a manned reception point for these events but having a clearly indicated hub where people could get info. and having someone making a point of checking that each group of Bongoliers were visited and greeted some time within a few hours or so of their arrival would help break the ice.

That's a good idea; I've got a spare Navigator awning (with a split pole) and we can take this to meets to use as an info point.

Why not try a post-it note board where people can leave a message to say they have arrived and where they are on the site

[Jillygumbo]

Just to clarify - I wouldn't expect a manned reception point for these events but having a clearly indicated hub where people could get info. and having someone making a point of checking that each group of Bongoliers were visited and greeted some time within a few hours or so of their arrival would help break the ice.

That's a good idea; I've got a spare Navigator awning (with a split pole) and we can take this to meets to use as an info point.

Why not try a post-it note board where people can leave a message to say they have arrived and where they are on the site

and where the open house party is at dudes!

[dave_aber]

[PixieAndTheMoon]

[/quote]

and where the open house party is at dudes! [/quote]


Will be at Karena's Harema

Jo x

[karena]

but right from the first northwest meet we were made welcome -dont recall any official meet and greet at the first meet

Now now Karen I was the meet and greet at that one and if I remember rightly I gave you a peck on the cheek...........and it still didnt put you off

Dabs

charity farm was the first north west one -and yes you are right you did meet and greet -( i meant official book in type location like they have at stourport) -you bounded over as we pulled up -we just thought it was someone escaped from the asylum

Jo behave or i will have to get bouncers

[Debs and David]

We are relative newcomers, and also didn't know anyone at this particular bash, we usually attend the North West ones only. But we met loads of new people a few of which were newcomers. You have to put yourselves out there and not expect others to come to you because other people don't know who the newbies are. I always said hello whenever I walked past anyone but as Ian said there were a lot of people who weren't part of the bongo bash, but that said I even chatted to them . I did walk past some vans on the way to the toilets and when I looked at the people they didn't make eye contact, so I would assume that they wanted to keep to themselves, but if so why bother coming to a bash!!

I wanted to see inside one of the pop-up caravans, so I bit the bullet and went to talk to the owners and asked if I could have a look and they were only too pleased to show me the inside, even though I was a stranger to them.

It was advertised as a communal bbq on the Saturday for everyone, it was up to us as a whole to join in, not up to anyone to round people up. We just took our chairs over to the circle and they all welcomed us and made room. Graham brought his guitar and everyone had a sing song.

If anyone wanted to know about the walk or anything else we are all in the same boat just ask someone, that's what we did.

I can honestly say that apart from the weather on Thursday that we had a really good time, met some really nice, sound people and will look forward to seeing them again.

Just as a matter of interest R S where were you pitched?

[Ian]

I think RS was pitched up by the Teepee people.......

[missfixit70]

I've just been chatting to a couple from Weymouth (Brian & Di, they've got a white bongo & folding caravan) who have had a bongo for years (before I got mine, they used to live next door to my parents), I don't think they've done many (if any) bongo meets before & apparantly really enjoyed this meet & want to come to the Looe meet in september & are on the reserve list, so it can't have been all bad. A meet is what you make of it. I've made some amazing friends through it over the years, all over the country & out of the country.
I'll admit, as a single person, I sometimes feel a bit lonely, but that's usually a reflection on my state of mind at the time & doesn't usually last for long.
Every meet is different, some of the best ones have been the smaller ones. One of my best memories will always be the trip a few of us did to Italy, that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't met Bob & Lin at a few meets & become friends.
I NEVER thought I would be going to meets with a bunch of people that just happened to own the same quirky vehicle & actually enjoying it, but it's one of the best decisions I made in life to buy this obscure, stupidly named vehicle & get involved

[RabidSalmon]

Ok, admittedly I may have thrown my toys out of the pram, and maybe should have left it a few days before I posted this thread. Last thing I wanted was to put down all of the hard work that obviously goes into organising these events, for that I apologise.
I was like a kid waiting for Xmas leading up to the bash and was disappointed it didn't meet my expectations. I do still stand by the comments about being excluded as it became clear very early on that people didn't want to interact with us despite our best efforts. A few have said this bash was not the usual bubbly event so maybe another one shouldn't be ruled out.

[maxheadroom]

so maybe another one shouldn't be ruled out.

[Jillygumbo]

I NEVER thought I would be going to meets with a bunch of people that just happened to own the same quirky vehicle & actually enjoying it, but it's one of the best decisions I made in life to buy this obscure, stupidly named vehicle & get involved

I recently stewarded at Endorse It. When booking the camping, I asked if there would be any problem bringing the bongo, and the reply was "That's OK but only for day time use"??

I replied "I only want to sleep in it"!

He thought I meant a bongo drum that I wanted to play - was tempted to take my bongo drum too!

And as for noise at night, didn't stop anyone else having a noisy time! Earplugs are cool, so there!

[Don&Shirley Gungadon]

I must admit that when I read RS's post I did feel very sorry for him as it didn't live up to the high expectations you have of your first meet with your Pride and Joy. Our first meet back in 2006 with our first bongo at Seaton in Devon ended up with us being loaded on to a low loader and towed away after only one night - we were absolutely mortified and so embarrassed! BUT it was the help and sympathy that we received from other bongo owners in our hour of need that made us decide to stick with bongoing and carry on. Ian even sent us the prize we had won on the raffle at the barbeque we couldn't attend! Boy did we have a battle with the well known motorhome dealer that had sold us our bongo but had put the wrong oil in the gearbox! This nightmare dragged on for six weeks with many sleepless nights on our part, but then the brilliant service we got from Imperial who sold us our lovely V6, taking our manual 4wd in part exchange changed everything. But we still talk about that first meet when IT ALL WENT WRONG.
Also the weather plays a huge part in the socialising bit - the Southern Softies at Pevensey Bay wasn't too great but the weather was awful, cold and wet. The summer camp at Hayling Island likewise - pouring rain.
After a break of about a year during which I had to have some surgery and chemo we are booked into the South West bash at Looe and it will be absolutely lovely to meet up with old and new friends - and yes, Kirsty, there is something really special about owning and enjoying these vehicles with the silly name.
So RS - my advice is stick with us - go along to some more meets and hopefully you will not regret it.

Shirley