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Crapaud

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Well, its over and things are back to normal.

Many people to thank for this event.

Pinklady ("Er indoors"). She had only had an operation two weeks before and due to other circumstances wanted to cancel the entire event.:( However, she was persuaded otherwise and worked extremely hard all weekend. Thank you to those who did express their appreciation direct to Ann (but no thanks to those that ignored her:( )

MickDB1. Turned up on Wednesday and worked very hard on plumbing issues for a couple of days. Plumbed in sink in workshop AND new toilet in stable block. Really improved the facilities for all. Even built new partition and door as well.:)

Bill-H. Turned up with tons of fruit and vegetables all supplied completely free of charge.

Nick-ct. Used his telecoms skills to wire up tv aerial and get my telly in workshop working.

Barbs. For making superb curries and working hard in kitchen.

Proff. For organising beer, cider, T-shirts, mugs and breakfast meats etc.

Sumprat. Excellent chef only occassionally allowed out of kitchen late at night to join in the party.

Syco. For having painted Pinklady's bike in Porn Star Pink. Special mention also to little Rossi for being such a pleasant and polite chap. His excellent manners were an example to all.:) We heard a "thank you" from him everytime he had any item of food or drink.

Rob Farmer. For re-wiring Pinklady's bike (twice, after second wiring loom was not much cop).

James Sherlock. Bringing several urgent deliveries on Saturday to enable many jobs to be completed.

My neighbour Nigel. Transport from his B&B in Bentley Continental and loan of a few much needed tools and spares.

Friends Chris and Vickie who did all BBQ cooking on Saturday night.

Everyone else who attended and helped out in all sorts of ways.


Now for the moan... :(

If you refer back to the "I'm in" thread, you will see that at the last update, we had 50 people still down to attend even after we had noted that people such as Flipfly and Kenny etc could not make it. I was very disappointed that so many people either cancelled in last 10 days or simply did not show up.:(
I appreciate that there will always be special circumstances at last minute and we assume that out of 50 people, maybe 5 will have to cancel at last minute.
However, I cross checked the final "I'm In" thread and we had TWENTY cancelled/ no shows.
Personally, I think this is totally unacceptable.
OK, so some of these were very valid reasons such as illness of a close family etc but not all.
We catered for 50 people and therefore ordered food etc for 50 people. We were never intending to run the event at a profit so costs were kept to an absolute minimum with prices just above break-even for breakfast and dinners. We made no charge for the camping, no charge for use of showers/toilets, no charge for workshop/tool use and provided free tea and coffee all weekend. We relied on the generosity of the attendees to contribute whatever they thought fit to cover these additional expenses. We ended up with costs for 50 people and income from 30.:( The funds that we hoped to raise for the local charity from all the hard work has been offset by the losses made due to all the non-attendees.
To be fair, a couple of the late cancellations have contacted me and offered to pay their fair share of the costs but I don't want to have to contact everyone asking for money.

With hindsight the event should have been organised differently. Perhaps we should have charged a flat fee of £20 per person to cover the two nights camping and use of facilities. Presumably we should have insisted on advance payment of this amount as a deposit refundable only if cancelled with sufficient notice before food was ordered?

Whilst in moaning mode, a few other things that were a bit annoying. PinkLady was a bit disappointed that her bike was not worked on a bit more. I appreciate that the first wiring loom but was not perfect, but I don't agree that that stopped all other work on the bike being done. I'm grateful to Rob Farmer for his work on the wiring but slightly saddened that nothing else was advanced despite this being the third year that the bike has sat there at a Wee-kend whilst other bikes have been worked on to completion all weekend.

I spent many weeks all by myself tidying the workshop and garage and getting everything perfectly ready for the weekend. I carefully removed all non-airhead bikes from the workshop and put them into the garage leaving only my airhead R100RS in the main work shop. I was livid when I returned from another trip out to collect last minute supplies to see that someone had removed my bike from my workshop and stuffed it in the corner of the garage where it was then blocked in by other bikes. I had hoped to get various minor jobs done on my bike over the weekend with the help of the more experienced members.

I've waited over two days before posting about the event as I was so disappointed and wanted to make sure that I was calmed down enough to give a fair report.

As some of you may be aware, we have placed our property on the market and may move to Wales in the coming year. Irrespective of moving or not, I will not be hosting another Gentlemen's Weekend for the reasons noted above.
 
Sid, I am very saddened to read this, especially the last line. I was deeply disappointed to not be able to attend, it was the one event of the year I was most looking forward to, and with what's going on in my personal life right now would have been just the tonic I needed but unfortunately I could not be away from home at this time and quite frankly don't see any opportunity to attend any other UKGSer events in the near future.
Your hospitality over the last couple of years has been outstanding and I am happy to pay a contribution towards the costs involved as I would not wish to see you out of pocket.
I hope you reconsider your stance on not hosting another excellent Airhead Weekend, (especially if your moving a bit nearer. :thumb )
 
A fair and balanced view Sid.................spoken from the chest

Shame that you feel this way
 
As a veteran of organising many events over the years I got burnt once and learnt from it, we'd all like to think that people would be fair and do the right thing but you cannot rely on it.

So from my 2nd event on there was an upfront early non-refundable deposit and full payment before any cost was incurred by me. It works, it feels rather more business like but I'm in no position to take a hit on what in my case were quite flakey no-shows.

The whole ethos of your event of honesty box etc is to be lauded but it does rather rely on people turning up and invariably if they do they'll be generous in their giving but as you found this time when they don't turn up (whether for genuine reasons or not you can't cover the shortfall.

Taking places and then bailing is tough especially when some would likely have missed out as the event was full some while ago.

In all sincerity Sid I hope people make good on this and your faith is restored and I also hope that in the fullness of time yourself and Anne will feel people can be trusted with your genuine and giving hospitality wherever that may be.

The airhead community is better than this - time to make good on it I reckon.
 
Sid, I know you were very dissapointed, and I can't argue with your post, I guess some people think that these things just organise themselves, and all you have to do is open your gates.
Proff and Barbara, you and Ann had spent a considerable amount of time and money making it all happen for us.
 
Sid I'm sorry to here this

You organise a unique event and it saddens me to here this. I know from gser events we've run here the amount of effort put in and how rewarding it is when all goes well but also how disappointing it is when you've planned for x amount of people and some don't show. We had a similar thing at this years event. It's one of the pitfalls and you either get people to pay upfront or you charge the one's who don't show.
I for one would miss the lack of an airhead weekend as it's something different from the usual gs event and I know everyone who's been to it has enjoyed it greatly including Rossi. Please reconsider sid, I for one would happily dig into my pocket to ensure you were not left out of pocket.
 
Sid I am very sorry to read this.

I agree it is very poor form to reserve a very sought after place and then not show. OK if people let you know in advance, that is fair enough as their space can be offered up for grabs or catering numbers adjusted, but no show and no word is not good, which I am sure in a lot of cases was down to the weather.

I could have quite easily bailed out as had a million and one things to sort in the office and at home, coupled with shite the weather, however I appreciate the hard work that goes into an event and did not think it was appropriate just not to show up. As result I spent six hours riding down in the pissing rain and glad I did as the weather certainly didn't dampen the weekend spirits in any way.

Maybe you could have been made it clear that you would have liked certain jobs carried out on your bikes and am sure people woul have assisted.

Having been out of pocket organising an event before I would be more than happy to contribute more to ensure cocds are more than covered with some left over for your chosen charity.

As per PM yesterday, many thanks to you, your family and friends for all the hard work that went into the weekend.
 
Sid, It's a shame you feel this way, this event will be very much missed by those who have had the privilege to have attended at least one. I know the run up to the event was dificult for you guys and the effort Yourself, Ann, Barbs and the old git put in is much appriciated.

Maybe now the number of interested Airheaders is quite high, a deposit should be charged, or even the cost of the food prepaid in full before the event. It's not like we don't allready do something like this for other events, so shouldn't be a problem for this one.

I think I'm safe in saying that most of us understand and appriciate just how much effort and work goes in to laying on an event. It's hard work but hopfully you'll change your mind and with a little fettling the event can be held again with a more satisfactory outcome. As has been said already. This is a truly enjoyable event, unlike any other.


Val.
 
Airhead riders.......they don't do themselves any favours, do they ?

Can't wait to see the fumbling , lame excuses trotted out.

:popcorn














:hide
 
Sorry to here this

Sorry to hear this, your wife deserves a medal for putting up with us all, especially after her very recent back injury, I know after breakfast she told me she was looking forward to putting her feet up.

I've never been to any other GS event but I feel I've been to the best.

I would be more than happy to chip in to support the loss of monies for charity.

Again thanks to you, Ann, Proff and Babs for all your hard work.

Kind Regards
 
Sid,
I don't know what to say, I felt terrible when I had to pul out in the last week.. Not just because I would be missing out on the best get together of the year but also due to the fact I knew I was letting down so many people of put in so much effort... The wee-kend 2010 was one of the highlights of that year for me and I was looking forward to this years.
I wont go back over my reason(s)/Issues.. But I will re-itterate my previous post/pm in that I really want to send a donation towards the charity side of the event and to cover what I would have eaten/drunk if I had made it... just drop me a pm and let me know how.

I'm truely sad to hear that this may now be the last Wee-kend.. But having been involved in event planning and subsquent attendance in the past I totally understand.

All the very best,
James
 
Sid
I too am sorry everything did not evolve as you and everyone thought it would
I agree, as most would, that a contribution to the event should be compulsory so if you duck out for no apparrant reason you at least have coughed up a bit to the fund/ charity

I have a confesion also - Twas me that moved your bike :augie

If you remember I asked you if it was OK to move some of the bikes that were not being worked on to your other garage so to leave some space to get others in - I moved mine, yours, Duncans,and another - I didnt realise you had work to do on yer bike or I wouldnt have moved it

I am sorry if this upset you in any way :blast

If its any consilation I spent yesterday afternoon doing a few jobs on my "Hornet" - I forgot about me own jobs at the dooooo cos I was so happy learning from others
The doo was first class and I hope it hasnt put you off considering another sometime

Mick :thumb2
 
Sid,

As all of the attendees have stated the Weeeekend is unique and enjoyed and looked forward to by all who attend.

I've attended all 3 of the events, met loads of people, learned loads about airheads and ended up with a headache or two, I will sourly miss this next year.

Perhaps we don't really appreciate how much hard work goes into such an event especially as it's at your family home.

Ann, Barb and Simon worked tirelessly in preparing the food we ate and for this I and I'm sure all the others are very greatfull.

There aren't many people around who would invite 50 or so hairy arse bikers to their home to eat, drink and generally enjoy themselves.

Thank you and all of your team of helpers for what has been 3 great events.


Many thanks and hope you'll change your mind.

Paul
 
Slightly off topic but it sounds like you've got a set up down there that lots here could only dream of. Why on earth do you want to leave it all and move to Wales, of all places? :confused:

If it's just to get away from Proff then it seems a bit extreme.
 
Sid

I have a confesion also - Twas me that moved your bike :augie

If you remember I asked you if it was OK to move some of the bikes that were not being worked on to your other garage so to leave some space to get others in - I moved mine, yours, Duncans,and another - I didnt realise you had work to do on yer bike or I wouldnt have moved it

I am sorry if this upset you in any way :blast



Mick :thumb2

Mick

I completely understand and totally withdraw my comment. I apologise for criticising your actions and understand you were only trying to help. I know I was a bit of a miserable grumpy bastard all weekend and I was still looking for things to moan about!
Wife worries I'm slowly turning into a typical old airhead owner:rob so there may be some truth in Whatton's comment above!:D

Part of the problem is having me as the organiser. A bi-polar, paranoid, borderline schizophrenic, mildly psychotic, manic depressive with numerous other health issues doesn't make for the most level headed of decision makers at times.:)
 
Workshop - Less talking more work. Bikes left on the benches for hours unattended while bikes sat waiting to be worked on. I thought there was an orderly queue of bikes but it seemed just a free for all, get your bike on the bench then piss off for a chat. . There was only one workbench with rolling work going through on it.

Pink lady bike - Who was told what needs to be done with it ?? I half heartedly assembled one carb, but all the needle O rings were fecked and gaskets shagged so it would all have to come apart again :confused:

I can fully understand Sid and Anns angst.

My full apologies for missing Ann and thanking her.

The hospitality and friendliness of Sids family was beyond the call of duty.
 
Part of the problem is having me as the organiser. A bi-polar, paranoid, borderline schizophrenic, mildly psychotic, manic depressive with numerous other health issues doesn't make for the most level headed of decision makers at times.:)

Sounds like the making for a fantastic Weekend to me:eek
:beerjug:
 
Part of the problem is having me as the organiser. A bi-polar, paranoid, borderline schizophrenic, mildly psychotic, manic depressive with numerous other health issues doesn't make for the most level headed of decision makers at times.:)

But all the same without those qualities you wouldn't be able to work with Proff :D

Seriously you have simply given yourself too much to do, for these things to work it does require more organisation, more resource to assist you and the old git before, during and after.

People think that good organisation and administration kill events such as these, not so, you have to herd cats and they are old dribbly and leaky cats at that!

Should you reconsider (and I sincerely hope you do) then dates/work allowing I would happily put myself at your disposal to assist in whatever way I can to reduce your burden, being that I ride only completely reliable oilers and in St.Eptoe as its carer it wants for nothing I have no need of any bench time and will only be a strain on the porcelain and nothing else (oh and maybe a bed in a wobbler).
 
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