Manky Monkey Motors

Hi everyone.
Right where do I start.
At the bottom of my garden I have about 40 foot long and 20 foot wide (possibly more) of brambles and trees and weeds and Manky and I want to clear it to make the garden bigger and add access to the garden from the rear, enabling us to get the trikes and Pop in hopefully. We will be putting up a second shed and a large static cover for the vehicles to go in/under. So I was wondering if I did a BBQ etc would any of you lot be willing to help as it's going to be a mamouth task for us to do it by ourselves. Kinda a house warming working party for whan Manky moves in. Not sure when it will be yet as both Manky and I have a full calendar till the end of September. Oh and the pub takes 2mins to walk to.
Who's up for it?

Here are some pics I've just taken to show you what I mean by mamouth task.
First one is my garden from my bedroom window. What we have to clear is behind the shed at the far end.

.

This is the track that runs along the bottom of the garden, which is what we intend on using once the garden is gleared and the weeds etc from that side.

Yes i will lend a hand providing im not booked in for any event.

i should be ok let me know
oh where are you lol

If I can make it I will bring the Land Rover down as well as my petrol strimmer, peanuts ;D ;D ;D ;D

are you going to build a nice big workshop?

I'll come along with my puny little hedgecutter if it's any help - can't do a lot but I could keep the workers supplied with tea/coffee/cold drinks!

Depends when it is, of course.

sssssssh don't tell them thats what i do for a job.when the weather allows me....

Thanks guys.
Bobbi the BBQ would be a great job for you as I won't be able to do both  ;D You did a great job with the one on the Monkey nuts run.

Kustom my shed is 16ft x 10ft I think at the moment so yes going to make it bigger  ;D

Shaun, I love peanuts  ;D

Will try and sort a weekend when there are no shows on and there is plenty of room to pitch a few tents if we make it a weekend thing.

May be able to assist depending on the dates!

cool you are only just up the road. Ok will have a look at our diary later and pick a couple of possibilities

You have my number! Im up for it and might be able to bring some extra help. :)

Great Loony.
 I've just spoken to a friend who has a very big tractor and he has chainsaws and strimmers and bush cutting equipment all for me to use free of charge and he will help too. Date depending. All I have to do is buy the petrol and 2 stroke oil for the stuff.

Willy I have taken note of your job  ;D might need your assistance to rearrange some flowers as Manky wants a longer lawn so he can do pretty stripes up and down it on a ride on mower  ::)

Hmm, a triked mower, now there's an idea! Yup, I'd like a long, uncluttered lawn sweeping down to the shed/workshop so I can spend Sunday mornings wandering up & down it with the mower, then snoozing in my hammock all afternoon.
The cottage comes rent-free with Tazzie's job. It's not ours so we don't want to sink 1000s of pounds into it that we'll never get back, but obviously any work we do will be for our benefit. The house itself is erm...shambolic is probably the word. Got lots of potential but really needs completely gutting & starting again. If you don't fancy hacking down the jungle at the end of the garden, you're more than welcome to grab a paintbrush & start on the house!
The regular Sunday morning Boxhill bike meet's only a few miles up the road & there's lots of great riding roads in the area, so obviously you'll all be very welcome to drop in anytime you're in the area.  ;)

Yup when we are home the back door will always be open  ;D And Newlands corner is 1 mile away and the car park is always packed on nice weekends.

manky...you've most probley seen this but here you are then.....willy

(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3708/trikejohndeerechopperlaed4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

sad git :P :P I spent 8 yrs as a green keeper and I'm sick of those nice neat lawns :-\ :-\ :-\

I knew we should have bought the one off of fleabay. Oh well looks like a new line of builds coming up  ;D

Shaun that explains the lack of grass at your house.

We are thinking of possibly building 2 decks. One outside the back door and one on front of the shed at the end of the garden but that will have to wait for now but it would give me somewhere decent to then put my garden furnature rather than sitting on the grass rotting.

I'm in West Clandon which is near Guildford if you want to see how far away I am from you.

Count me in.

That's handy then Doc -you could bring that tractor seat along with you!  :D
Didn't the Orange County Chopper idiots build a chop using a lawn mower engine?
Hmm, Lots of Monkies, armed with chainsaws, strimmers & bush cutting equipment -maybe we should have St John's Ambulance on standby.

Orange County Idiots Dixie chopper. :D

This has a lawnmower engine - would be great if ir had the mower bit as well, I'd volunteer!

Sounds like a great idea!  I'll bring my secateurs.  ;)

Brill. So not only have I got to figure out a date but I've got to find parking for everyone. The local pub has a huge carpark so might have to put some of you there.  ;D

Maybe we could sneak off to the pub & leave 'em all to it.
On second thoughts, maybe not -we'd probably come back to find them heading off across the estate, hacking down everything in their path.  :o

well its been a nice day here in sunny Telford for a change,i have acctually been able to catch up with some of my work( grass cutting,strimming etc ) i got 4 job done today,thats the most i've done in about 3 weeks......willy

Yes my gardner managed to show up today too. Bless him he's only learning so I get him to do the garden for cheep.

hi guys , just enquiring if anyone from the north west is going to the great jungle assault at Tazet's

wud love to be there , but transport may be an issue. happy to split petrol cost tho!!!

Thanks guys you are all brilliant. Been looking at the calendar and the only possible weekends are:

August 18/19 
Sept    29/30

If It doesn't get done this year then we will have to do it in the spring but as soon as possible would be better. What do you guys think on the dates? I may be able to arrange others but not sure yet.
Also I've got to clear the date chosen with the guy lending us the tools.

September is good for me, at the moment anyway.

Will have to get your Post code to plan the ride.

So is everyone else ok with Sept?
Will also check with Phil, (the guy lending some equipment).

anywhere to sleep ?

There's a spare room but the house is so chaotic at the moment you can't even get in the door of it. There's a hundred foot long garden so you're more than welcome to bring a tent. Free breakfast thrown in.  ;)

cool sounds like fun
shall i bring parafin

Nah, we'll supply the drinks.   :P

Ok so once we are all agreed on a date I will need to know what peps drink and eat so I can stock up. I have a cash and carry card for work so that should come in handy  ;D

Give me a shout if there's anything I can get for you.  Food, BBQ, plasters, bandages,  ;D

Just realised I'm kind of committed elsewhere that weekend, for an annual meet of another forum, though I spose I could do both......

Got you a little house warming present today.  ;D but you'll have to wait until September to see it.

That's a shame Bobbi, but if you can find us, you're always welcome.
Will be open house for passing forum members.

Go on Janie, tell us what it is, tell us, tell us, go on, go on.

Got it sorted, will go to the UKBF forum meet at Pewsey for the Friday night then when they go on the rideout Saturday, will come on to yours.

Thats all supposing I've recovered from the Cornwall trip!

You doing all those miles on Gertie or coming by car Bobbi? Not entirely sure what we'll do for parking yet as officially Tazzie only has a couple of spaces in the lane behind the cottage, but I'm sure we'll work something out!

I won't be going to Pewsey unless I can ride - did it in the car last year and it just wasn't the same.  Might still come to yours in the car - Tazet said something about parking at the pub?

Oh yeah -forgot about that. Yup, the pub across the road's got a big carpark appparently, plus there's a British Legion hall 2 minute's walk away with it's own carpark.

NOPE!

Unfortunately it's not anything you need, like a sit on lawn mower, etc.

The best pressies are always the ones you don't need!  :)

Can we use explosives to clear the garden  8)

See if you can borrow a tank for it flap!

We picked up a 2 foot long machete from a tool stall for a fiver recently. Have you done any jungle training yet?

No but im from Winklebury so I know how to use a machete!! :o

Maybe we should warn Surrey that you're coming! :o

If he hasn't, he's about to.  ;D

hi tazet  im overdue a weekends fun  so i'm game to clear the scrub  in exchange for 3 gallonns of carling lol    ill fetch some tools



   ps bacon / sausage / beans/ mushrooms/ fried bread '''   for breaky thanks


                   cheers     mike     lol  LOL  lol  LOL  lol

Great. So are we all O.K with September the 29th/30th then?

Either date that weekend is fine for me.  I might need to leave about 5ish on the 29th as its Tigers 60th birthday (ex manor cafe/blue hut)

cant do a friday night cant get there till nearly midnight

Open house all weekend, so just turn up when you can. I'll be at work on the Saturday morning, but Tazzet will be about. No real plan, just an excuse for a bit of a get-together. The Sunday morning Boxhill bike meet's only 5 or 10 miles away so we could always have a run there if people get bored with tree chopping!

Why not use a flamethrower, I'msure flap could get one :o :o :o Or we could just improvise something. How hard can it be ;D BEHAVE yourselves all of you, I meant making a flamethrower ;D :o :o :o ;D
As for a tank I've got one on the trike you could borrow ;D
Two fish in a tank, one turns to the other and says " Can you drive this thing"!
An oldie but still a goodie. ;D

Goodie, goodie yum yums....
Lets see how many of you remember that then!!!!! ;D ;D
Regards
K

3 chaps on a 3 seater bicycle?

Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor.

BBC TV, aeons ago when my children used to employ all kinds of methods to get to stay up late to watch it!

Looks like I'd better go and warn the neighbours then for that weekend and will check with the pub about the parking too. I have a huge party sized BBQ so thet should feed the 5000 easily. So how many am I going to be expecting then  ;D Its probably good if people start coming over to me on Sat morning that way it only upsets the neighbours for 48 hrs  ;D

Greased Cycling!

 ;D ;D :D ;D :D ;D

I will try and get down for the day either sat or sun, work and weather permitting ::) ::) maybe get over to Lunatics while I'm down that way as well.

Great. Only takes about 40mins to get to his from mine. Doesn't seem far to me as I do it daily at the moment.

What dates are we doing then? I assume not this weekend as his mankyness is on his sick bed.

29/30 th Sept I think

CANCELLED

Sorry guys.

We can still come and maul your garden if you like? :(

Thats up to you guys. But the reason for doing it has left me but if you still want to come over for a BBQ and forrestry then you are welcome.

Don't suppose I'm invited?
Got my own Swiss army knife.

You might as well do something I suppose. You can get a lift with Loony.

Count me in. 

It will be a good excuse to get together and have a group hug.  ;D

Yes could really do with one of those  :'(. You guys are great. Thank you.  :-*

Right that's sorted then! We will be there too!

Sounds like it'll be a good one this  ;D brings a new meaning to the term garden party!  ;D

thanks again everyone you are all too good to me  :) :'(

I'll try to!

Don't forget the tractor seat Doc.  ;D

don't forget to let me know if there's anything I can pick up for you.  And how many band aids I'm going to need.  ;D

Hope there aren't many reg prescotts among us. HA HA HA  ;D

Just had to google the name to refresh our brains and yes the dodgy DIY guy from Kenny Everett I remember him. Please god no.  ;D

Remind me nearer the time but I'll try not to forget the seat.

Don't have any gardening stuff, gave my axes way years ago will try to get a Machete (always wanted one) at least.

(Now have a second pair of Slab yokes to fit to standard front end that may be useful for Taz's trike when I have completed the other forks going to fit them this weekend, wife away can concentrate on getting everythig done in time for a test ride sunday and work monday)

Will post pic's ASAP and also burn the museum and jesters photo's to send to you Andy.
 

That's great Doc.
At the moment we're planning on using an old XS750 Yam front end that Taz has got in her garden. Tubes look pretty shot though & I haven't found any replacements yet. Yokes would be good if they can be adapted to suit.

XS750 is what I started with.

So we still on for the 29/30 th Sept. Rougly how many are coming just so I can warn neighbours and sus out where everyone is going to park there vehicles and how much food etc I need to get in.

I didn't want to do this but it does make it easier

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11,
12,

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11, Pete & Chrissie (possibly Emily is she aint working)
12,

O.K, great. Any idea how many of you are staying over? Room for a few tents in the garden but we'll put a gazebo up for shelter/barbeque etc if needed. 

im staying will pm you andy
do i have to wear clothes this time

OK will try and find the spare room in time for this one. I will defiantly need to clear the house out totally just to fit everyone in. In the picture, area A, I can get a full sized party gazebo and area B possibly one or two small tents. I will have a word with my neighbour and see if we can put tents up in his garden which will allow for several more tents. My front room should house a few sleeping bags and the spare room a couple (double bed)
Lunatic, will your marquee be available if not I can try and borrow one from a gamekeeper. Also can peps bring chairs. I do have some but not enough. Will try and get the half started pond covered too. Don't want anyone falling in it :)

I am really looking forward to this and if it is a success then maybe we can make it a yearly or twice yearly get together. :)

What a great excuse to  get the gardening done for free!  ;D

Next year we will have to think up something like Decking  ;D

Ill bring along the marquee! I wouldnt mind staying over as it means I can have a few beers, but if theres not enough room I dont mind commuting! ;)

There's also a front garden available for camping which is probably bigger than the back, but faces onto a road. Tazzie & I have said we'd like an open door approach to visitors -everyone's welcome to just drop in whenever they're passing -though you might get a paintbrush or pair of shears shoved in your hand!  :)

i ve never painted with a pair of shears before, ;D does it cut down on time ? ???

You Muppet!  :)

No...I'm muppet

will be in camper,(so could use rough ground/gravel to parkup) its not big...a vw t25. could bring tent for others if needed.

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11, Pete & Chrissie (possibly Emily is she aint working)
12, BG

Woiuldn't mind bagging a bit of floor space for my sleeping bag to save me putting up and taking down the tent again as I will have been camping the night before!

No problem -I think.  :)

I regret to announce that I have An Extremely Good Reason for not being there in my gardening gloves and new wellies.  ;D

You could always be chief cake supplier. I've heard you can make a wicked cake  :D

Hello Wizz!
Welcome back you.  :)
Not so much an afternoon's gardening as jungle warfare. Flame throwers & Napalm will be provided.
No wellies though.

Just had a thought. Although the bathroom is downstairs, the loo is actually 3/4 the way up the stairs and quite small, so we will probably allocate a tree in the woods for you guys  ;D Just thought I'd better warn you lot.

That's what estate agents call a cottage with character Hon!

Oh thats what it is called  ;D

I will think of you all as I sip Margaritas in Vegas.  ;D

Ooh, very subtle Wizz!
C'mon then. Do tell. Where you going & what you doing? This from the woman who once told me she had absolutely no interest in visiting the States ever.
Tazet & I might be following in your footsteps in October. Last minute holiday if my house sale goes through. Never been, so where would you recommend?

huh its true what say about bears shitting in the woods then  :o ;D :D ;D

I trust these aren't the same woods we're hacking down? Bring your wellies.

I'll be bringing waders.......i hear the bears like Guinness and curry :o ;D ;D ;D

 ::) No we have a big section of woods where the cars park that you can wee in  ;D

I don wanna wee in da cars

I ment in the woods next to where the cars park  ::)

Where would I recommend? Anywhere! It really depends what you want - outdoors stuff, history, quirky stuff... I start in Vegas, I finish in Northern California, but what I do in between is still up in the air. Ain't ever seen Colorado, though...

Yeah, big brother Brock always says Vegas is a must, though you've seen all there is to see after a couple of days.
Obviously there's the classic Route 66 trip, but I gotta admit, after reading your recent reports in BSH, it looks kinda ...desolate. Or is that just arty photography?! :)
We've said we'd like to do a road trip of some sort, rather than just staying in one place. Maybe between 2 major cities & back again? I'm constantly told there's so many motels you can just hire a car, take off & stop where you feel like it. True?

I want to go over there and ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.  On a trike of course.

Oh well, when I win the lottery!

October and California, it has to be the CHRR

http://museum.nhra.com/chrr.asp?Year=2007

stay somewhere around Bakersfield and get to the Doubletree for Friday night, you won't see anything like it anywhere else. Fly into LA on Thursday, rent a car , drive to Bakersfield, cracking drive up over the grapevine in the evening, have a day realising that it's not much of a town, evening at the 'tree, two days at the track, deliver my ignition system to a man there, drive North, up through Kings canyon ( giant sequoias) , maybe up to Monterey ( Cannery Row and whale watching) passing through Sturgis if you want to, on up to 'Frisco for a few days, drop the car and fly into Vegas for a few more, fly or drive back to LA and finish with a couple of days up in North Hollywood or down on the beach or both, come home have a week off to recover, easy. Don't forget to take the ignition. 

That sounds like a perfect itinary -except it's a week too late. I'll see if I can swap my holiday dates but it's unlikely as I couldn't swap my September one.
What do you need to rent a car? How much does it cost? Can you pick up from one place & leave the car somewhere else? Is driving on the right compulsory?

"What do you need to rent a car? How much does it cost? Can you pick up from one place & leave the car somewhere else? Is driving on the right compulsory? "

passport and licence, check on-line, even book on line and save a bit, car hire always seems more expensive than it should be but you really don't want to walk it. Budget, Avis, Hertz, Alamo etc. they all have depots at the airport with free shuttle busses, you could have a Mustang or 300C Chrysler or a Charger or a little soft top Pontiac and pretend it's a sports car, don't get the cheap base car offered, unless you are considering one for each foot. Most allow you to pick up and drop off at different places. Driving on the wrong side is considered polite and only occasionally catches you out, I once turned left on a huge cross roads in Florida only to find five lanes of traffic looking at me as I backed up and tried again. Roundabouts are rare and normally preceeded by miles of flashing signs warning of their perils, but most just seem to drive over them.
   You should go, did I mention an ignition ?

Driving on the wrong side is not as bad as you think once you turn your brain upside down. I had to for the first and only time with my lorry and trailer when I went to Portugal last year with work. Not so much fun when you go wrong with something the length and size of an articulated lorry  :(
We were thinking of a vehicle that would be more like a Mustang, or a Charger etc. Or hire a Motorbike and do it on that  ;D

Ok back on the thread.
The present list of people coming are -

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11, Pete & Chrissie (possibly Emily is she aint working)
12, BG

I presume most will be staying (14 of you). I have a 2 man tent I can lend someone. I also have spare sleeping bags and Duvets and pillows.

Amirican road trips I was going for three weeks last summer until my daughter broke her leg 5 days before departure. We rescheduled for 8 weeks later.
Apart from the flight and the first night hotel which we booked (US Immigration requirement) we just moved around from place to place. Motels are generaly clean especialy the bigger chains like Motel 8 etc. $69 for a room with a breakfast (sort of) thrown in for two adults and a 13yr teenager. Car hire was Alamo booked in the UK, pick and return can be anywhere but you are charged extra, £350 2 weeks, unlimited milage, Car was a Buick big mutha, auto A/C leather cruise in fact all the extras you can think off and a pleasure to drive.
Flew into O'hare Chicago, drove down through Illinois,across Missouri, got lost in West St Loius, which is not a good area for any one, other than another brother in the hood. Kansas, Stopped in Kansas for a couple of days, up Into Neraska, all across Iowa and back into Illinois. took two weeks, saw some fabulous scenary, met real nice genuine people, even went to the birth place of John Wayne, which is in Madison county where they have all the covered bridges and they made the film.
Brilliant road trip, cost me all together about £2500
I would recommend it to any one, we chose mid west because i made a mate on a bikeweb forum and decided to visit. I would go again with out hesitation.
The three week holiday we were going to camp, buying a tent when we arrived, as the weather in the mid west is up in the 90's to 100' in the summer and there is a brilliant organisation called KOA Kamping sites of America who sent me so much info on sites and places to see all free, Cost $20 to post to the uk.
 ;D ;D ;D

Family type restuarants offer the best food and some do all you can eat for $10. Biggist headache was working out there petrol pump nozzles, Deffinately not straight forward, they are designed to stop drive off without paying. You pay first.
If you can you should ;D ;D
Sorry posted after getting back to thraead ::)

Go for it (no apology  for going off thread ;D) Done it twice and would go again asap if I could.
California, started LA finished LA via Grand Canyon, Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Fran, San Diego, Tijuana. must drive/ride the Pacific coast highway between LA and San Francisco.
Florida, Started Miami finished Orlando via Key West.

Both trips worked out to be very good value for money, motels cheap and clean and safe (except in Stockton :o :o :o :-\ :-\ :'() Should you go ??? ??? ??? you would be mad not to.

Only time I've ridden abroad was when I took my Bonneville to Cologne & back for a weekend, but that was nearly 30 years ago. Don't remember much about it.

I adjusted really quickly to driving on the 'wrong side' - you're in a left hand drive car after all, and I was amazed at how natural and easy it seemed. Four-lane intersections are the only headache - they're sort of roundabouts without he roundabout and no-one ever seems to know who has the right of way!

Car hire will initially seem cheap but there's always taxes and make sure you have all the insurance waivers. Hiring from the airport-based hire offices is a little more expensive, but it's worth it for the convenience. It's also generally less than half the cost of hiring a bike, and it will be cheaper if you book online from here first.

As Los Lobo says, motels are many and plentiful - Super 8, Motel 6, Travelodge. All are relatively basic (usually no hairdryer or kettle), and you can generally find somewhere for around $30-40 a night, although it depends on the area. Even the budget chains are more expensive somewhere like San Francisco. I'd recommend Best Western. BW inns are slightly more (although usually not much) expensive than the budget motels, but every one I stayed in was brilliant and had a coffee maker, hairdryer, fridge and microwave, which is ideal if you're staying a couple of nights in one place. You can often haggle on the price. In Santa Cruz I got BW to drop the price on a room from $139 to $70 (£35 - less than the price of a Travelinn on the A1!!) and upgrade me to a room with a whirlpool bath. As Los Lobo pointed out, you have to have somewhere booked beforehand for your first night or the Immigration authorities get very vexed.

Tips:

a) Invest in a road map. It sounds obvious, but there aren't the cut through and turn offs there are in this country, and if you find yourself on the wrong road your only options could be to turn round (usually easy, I've done the Blues Brothers cloud of dust thing across the median of an Interstate although I'm not sure it's entirely legal!) or make a lengthy detour. Allow more time than you think it will take you - it is a very big country!

b) Plan before you go. Half the joy of a trip is the planning, even if you don't stick to it, and if you don't, you'll find places afterwards that you missed. I've got loads of guide books if you want to borrow them. A couple of good web sites are www.roadtripamerica.com (the forum is really helpful), and for quirky stuff, www.roadsideamerica.com.

c) Don't be afraid to ask people things. Virtually everyone I came across was really friendly and eager to help.

d) Drive Highway 1 - Panthershaun, it's wonderful. I've done it twice from San Simeon to Santa Cruz and it takes my breath away. North is better than south because you don't have to worry about falling into the Pacific!

e) Take notice of the speed limits. Interstates tend to move at about 80mph without the police being unduly concerned, but anything over 100mph will get you a night in jail.

f) Take a credit card. A lot of hotels want a credit card as collateral, and so will your car hire place. And like Los Lobo said, almost every gas station is pay first and it's a lot easier to do it on a card than guess how much fuel you need and pay by cash first. It took me ages to work out the petrol pump nozzles too. The first year I was out there was a nightmare, I ended up driving away from one place because I just couldn't get it to work. The second year, bizarrely, I didn't seem to have any problem. Shell stations seem the easiest to use.

g) Don't let your fuel tank drop below half. It's a cliche, but it might be a long way to the next filling station (and no guarantee it'll be open).

h) Enjoy.

Too much information!
This is the Monkey you're talking to here- I need someone to say, phone this number, book this motel, point the car in this direction.
2 1/2 grand is an awful lot of money, (to me anyway), so it's definitely gonna be a one-off trip, but then my regular 10 day breaks in Scotland probably cost me a grand by the time I've paid for car hire, B & Bs, petrol etc.
I don't own a credit card -would a debit card be acceptable? Does the driving licence have to be a photo type? (got to change mine when I move to Taz's cottage anyway, but I've still got the old paper type).
I'm definitely gonna be an innocent abroad. Any help anyone can give Taz & I on this one will be very much appreciated.
 

This is why you have Taz. ::)

Don't forget that LL's trip included a teenager. £2500 is a lot of money, but you should be able to do it for less, and that is for two of you. Later in the year is cheaper for hotels and flights (and the earlier you book, often the cheaper it is. I booked my flight in March and it was £749 - but that's for business class - if I booked it today it would be over £1300) but you will have less daylight. Shop around, look in the ads in the back pages of the Sunday papers and you should be able to find a flight for around £350 return each.

Car hire for a couple of weeks will be about £350, and if you do a couple of thousand miles, then expect to spend about £120 on fuel. That's less than £1200 so far, and food and lodging is cheap. I went to the US last year with 2000 dollars. I came back with over 500...

That certainly sounds a little less scary!
Once I move to Tazet's cottage I'll have no outgoings at all except my share of the utility bills & my petrol, so, in theory, an annual Stateside trip would be possible. We'll see.
Still waiting to sign the contracts on my flat so it really will be a last minute trip. How do you go about booking the first night's hotel accomodation? Taz is horribly organised at this kind of thing, but both of us are complete novices at foreign travel.

On the web. Virtually every hotel has a web site now. Pick one of the big chains, select where you're going, book room, print out confirmation.

www.motel6.com

www.bestwestern.com

www.super8.com

www.daysinn.com

www.ramada.com

Alternatively, you can book through sites like www.hotel.com or http://hotel-guides.us (they often will have special deals) and you can see what other people thought of places at www.tripadvisor.com.

A few more tips:

Don't forget to take a US adaptor plug for the two-pin sockets.

Make sure one of you has a mobile phone that's tri-band so it will work in the USA. Most phones do now, my old Nokia works fine in the US and automatically changes phone provider.

Before you go, photocopy all your documents - passport, driving licence, insurance details - and take one copy with you, and leave one copy with someone at home. It'll make life a lot easier if you lose something.

Get travel insurance. Medical care in the US is very expensive. I get my insurance free with my bank account, but the Post Office has a good, cheap scheme.

Some places will take debit cards, but don't rely on it. If Taz has a credit card, then she should make sure she tell her credit card provider she's going abroad beforehand. With increased security, some providers won't allow the card to be used abroad unless they've been informed by the card holder.

 :o :o :o info overload. Will have to print this all off I think.

I do have a credit card and I used it in Portugal so I had to let them know what countries i was going accross as we did France and Spain too. Once I have cleared it then it should give us enough to live on while we are there. The same goes for my phone but will check if it does America too.

Very good idea about photo copying everything. I never thought of that and will check with my bank about travel insurance, I'm sure with my account I should be able to get something.

Always have a credit card as back up (and for ease at places like gas stations), but try and pay cash where you can because it'll be cheaper than pay the credit card's charges for changing the currency.

But, above all, don't be scared of doing it. I'm someone who won't walk into a pub on their own, and I would have ducked out of my first trips if friends hadn't insisted I went. Since then, I've ended up travelling thousands of miles - across California, Utah, Nevada and Arizona - on my own and loved every minute of it.

I'm sooooo looking forward to it.  ;D
Yes Steve I know don't forget the ignition  ;D

If I can possibly change my holiday dates at work, we'll try & do Brock's suggested itinary as both Taz & I would love to take in a drag race/hotrod meet while we're there.
I really want to see the lights of L.A from Grapevine Hill while listening to Chuck Berry in a big ol' Cadillac!

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

You'll be lucky to see LA from the Grapevine! It's now part of Interstate 5. And it's too close to Bakersfield for my liking!

Bugger. Another dream shattered!  :D

Open up and save your money in Nationwide. You get a cash card(hole in the wall) and you do not get charged for cash removal  in America, you also get the correct exchange rate it uses Cirrus not Visa or mastercard which do charge. There are cash machines every where, literaly
I also visited the National motorcycle museum which just happened to be the same town as J&P accessories Head office which is so slick and professional, bought a King sportster tank over the counter $99 (£45) came back as hand lugage ;D
Buddies custom in Kansas had a complete 6" over springer with 21" wheel $60, which i stupidly thought was too much and left. The oppertunities are endless

Passports - doesn't the USA insist on the new ones with chips?  If so you'll have to renew.  And you need a visa too I think?  So don't book anything till you know how long all that will take!

You're still okay at the moment if you have a machine-readable passport (one with couple of lines of computer stuff on the back page) and the USA still runs the VWP (Visa Waiver Programme) for British nationals. You have to sign a form to say you're not going to blow anyone up or import vegetables, and you need a return ticket. The current regs for passport requirements to the USA are:

    * if issued before 26 October 2005 the passport must be machine-readable
    * if issued 26 October 2005 - 25 October 2006 the passport must be machine-readable and have a digital photograph
    * if issued on or after 26 October 2006 the passport must be biometric (or e-passport)

Got my passport here in front of me. Little red one, issued 27th February 02.
Can't see any computer readable stuff on it, other than a couple of lines of
<<<<<<<<<<<<<FIELDANDREW<<<<<<<<<<<<    etc.
How long do driving licences take to come back when you change your address these days? I can see this all getting a bit fraught at the last minute!

Mine is the same except mine was issued Oct 00.

Mum said that she doesn't think you need a visa, but the last time she went was before 9/11 but you do have to sign stuff like what Wizz said.

So just how much are you allowed to bring back into the country, either as hand luggage or in a suitcase? We were thinking of going with literally just a rucksack each -travelling light. Could we buy a suitcase & fill it full of hotrod & trike parts? O.K, slight exaggeration, but just how much would you get away with before you got stung with import taxes?

You should be okay. I think my passport was issued 2000 or 2001. A machine readable passport has a couple of lines that look something like this:

(http://i17.tinypic.com/3ymj3oi.jpg)

With one of those, you don't need a visa. Withou a machine readable passport you need a B1 or B2 (I think) tourist visa.

Going with just a rucksack for a couple of weeks might be a bit optimistic. I've tried to do it and failed, although I'll be travelling as light as possible this year. Whether you get nabbed for duty is often down to luck, what you bring back, if it's new or secondhand, although remember your cases are x-rayed, and having seen one of the new ones in action, the image is pretty good and they might query why you have large bits of metal in your case! Also remember the weight allowances for luggage.

Yup my pasport looks like that phiew  ;D

And make sure you can answer these questions truthfully.  :)

(http://i3.tinypic.com/642jhbc.jpg)

NO to all  ;D

So no dropped beam axles or flathead motors then? Bugger.
Yup, that's the same as my passport.

I love Question C -have you ever been involved in genocide?!
Nope.
Oh hang on, possibly.

Moral turpitude?

Ok I'm thick. What does that mean  :(

It's like White Spirit. ;)

 :-[

Perhaps its some thing to do with (terpsichorean) pertaining to dancing,or is it to do with that big pond in London. ??? ;D ;D ;D

"Oh, heaven forbid: I am one who delights in all manifestations of the Terpsichorean muse. ..."

Ah, the Cheese Shop sketch. Truly a classic.
Serpentine is for cleaning brushes in isn't it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_turpitude

George Michael got done for it..........

and ?

And lots of other peeps no doubt!

But when he was in the news it was the first - and only - time I'd heard the expression!  Till now of course.

OK boss has been informed of the dates and some of the neighbours. Will do the others today.
Willy if you are coming then there is a good chance we will need some of your stuff as I'm having problems getting hold of the guy who said he would originally help us out.
I've managed to get hold of a chainsaw and Manky and I have a couple of machetes and hedge cutters but thats it. Will keep trying this guy Phil though cos we need his tractor for the really big stuff.

um i might ave missed this bit... where r u on the map plz im unable to work "day to day job" but willing to help out if u need it?

I can get a chain saw and a big petrol brush cutter/strimmer if that helps? Cant we drag the heavy stuff about with a rope and your old suzuki 4x4?  :)

Yes please to the chainsaw & strimmy thing mate. Unfortunately Taz has sold both the jeeps, but does have use of the estate's tractor.
VB, of course you're welcome! I notice you're avatar is a customised disabled badge, (pretty cool by the way). If you're one of Yoda's fellow wheeled wonders I can't guarantee the terrain will be chair friendly, but every little helps! We could rope the heavy stuff to the chair & use you to winch it out.  :D
Taz & I were looking at the jungle garden today. Should be enough there to keep us busy, but if not we can make a start on the neighbour's bit too!
We'll organise a help yourself BBQ & hit the local cash & carry for drink -what do you lot drink? Might have a quick run out to the local Sunday morning bike meet at Newlands Corner, a local beauty spot less than 2 miles away, if anyone fancies it.
Taz's place is in West Clandon, just outside Guildford, Surrey.

Maybe!

Ok will put date on the title of the thread.

The more people the merrier everyone is welcome even if they only drop by for a few hours.  ;D

All I need to know like Manky said is what do people drink so as I don't buy the wrong stuff from the cash and carry.

west clandon hmm ok.. im not in a wheel chair ...yet.. docs reckon im heading that way sooner than later but it aint happened yet and my frame of mind ont  allow it just yet, although if me back goes theres fck all i can do :) i quote" mr hughes it would be best to look at your quality of life not the quantity" so onwards and upwards and then side ways even :) ales or lager would be good ill bring my own wood saw and i got anestate so we could cut some up chuck it in there?

Thats great thank you. I'm hoping that most of the brambles and rubbish that get moved can go into the field behind my cottage and have a very large bonfire. Any wood from trees would be nice to keep as I have a proper open fire that I do use in the winter  ;D

Ok if peps can name brands of alcohol then I can see what I can get. Also what soft drinks. Ie Coke, Orange juice etc

Pepsi and copious amounts of Tea.

I'll bring my booze cos I know what I like!

Ok so long as you are sure Bobbie and not a problem Doc  ;D

hhhmmmm dangerous offer young taz  ;) im partial to a drop of "hobgoblin" ale from wychwood brewery ;D

Ok. No problem.

Note I do have a 10% discount membership at the Hogs Back Brewery.

Well since tou say that i have quite a liking for T.E.A from the hogsback, yet to sample their A over T! ;D But other than that I am partial to large cups of tea, cold coke and Coronas! 8)

ahha forgot about hogs back brewery :) not been there for many years. a over t was good as far as i remember. think ive drunk most of their beers in the past, hic! ;D maybe we can borrow their motorbike and sidecar for the garden party ;)

Hey that would be really cool. Just fill each Keg with a different beer and don't put labels on them.  ;D
I've been on a couple of tours. Really good but do not drive as they give you so much to drink while going round.

Marcus would you be able to come over on the Friday, then you can help me set up and we will have your Marquee to try and put up on the Sat morning as Andy will be at work. A over T (Aromas over Tongham) It's strong good stuff  ;D

OK so far the drink/liquid list consists of :-

Hogs Back - A over T, T.E.A,
Orange Juice,
Tea, (as in hot stuff),
Coffee,
Milk for above Tea and Coffee,
Hobnobblin,
Pepsi,
Coke,
Diet Coke,
Bottled Water,

I will try to get there early Saturday morning. (well before lunchtime anyway)

Oky doky not a problem. I will try and sort a map and PM it to all those coming along with my address and phone number.

http://www.wychwood.co.uk/      mmmmmm wondeful ale 8)

or this -

http://www.hogsback.co.uk/

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11, Pete & Chrissie (possibly Emily is she aint working)
12, BG
13. Valleysboy(i'll sleep in my car if space is limited)

Bring a tent if you like. Just praying the weather's going to be nice to us.
There'll probably be some floor space in the house, but be warned, it's a bit of a shambles at the moment, (sorry Taz :-*).

I'm doing my best at trying to clear it. Would be quicker with help.

I'm praying for good weather too but Loony's marquee is waterproof as it was tried and tested at the BFT.

Good glad you decided to come VB good chance to put faces to forum names.  ;D

ok floors good aint got a tent atm,or the car if yer house is full :)

Ishould feel very much at home then!

Yup fine by me. I will bring the tent from work home with me just in case it is needed.

Right just sent 2 emails with links to Multimap of how to get to our house. Only email addresses I didn't have were -VALLEYSBOY, Dave Satan and Twisted Patience. Those that I did have or could get, I hope they came through OK.

Thanks Dave. Email sent.  :)

Chainsaw is sorted. Dug didnt think the strimmer was working, but I reckon we can get it running again with all this mechanical know how about!

pmed you :)

Thanks loonie and all emails sent to everyone now. Well those that have said they are coming.  ;D

i just bought a machete of ebay to go with my wood saw,ive booked my ambulance as well :)

Janie is bringing splints and bandages too  ;D

lol kewl :) i already have my own arm splint umm here i am
(http://www.ratrods.co.uk/PICS/vb04sml.jpg)

You can keep everyone in drinks  ;D

I just hope there's enough brambles to go round! I keep getting visions of a manic team of Monkeys, wielding machetes & chainsaws, cutting a swathe across his Lordship's estate. :o

? like hell :) ill be wobbling about in the bushes or using them to keep me upright, hmm maybe i didnt say how wobbly i am on me feet jsut another complication to keep me occupied through the day :)

At the moment I'm just praying Foot and mouth doesn't get to us. God knows what will happen than  :(

More suspected cases in Solihull, West Midlands today.
I don't understand. Why the panic? It might be incurable but it's not fatal is it? The animals get sore mouths & go lame. They don't die. Their meat's still perfectly edible. -?

Er they do die. Thats how it was found with this last outbreak. A farmers cow died so they tested it and it was positive. Now its springing up all over the place.

Ahh, O.K. Guess I've got a lot to learn yet about life in the country!

You will learn. I'm still learning every day. I love sitting by one of the lakes on a warm summer evening just watching the wildlife doing there own thing  :)

Yeah, I'm looking forward to feeding the elephants.

-there are elephants in the country aren't there?

er yeah keep taking the tablets you will be fine  ;D  :-*

Giraffes?

Most don't die but they never thrive again.

Unfortunately circumstances prevent my participation in this jamboree but I will say that I am enjoying reading about it. I hope there will be pics after the event it sounds like it will be total chaos. Wish I could be there.

Have fun peeps.

muppet xx

How about Wildebeest. You must have Wildebeest in the country surely?

Mongooses?  ..Mongeese?  ..Mongi?


Yup, the thought of a dozen machete wielding Monkeys thrashing about in the Surrey countryside is somewhat alarming.  :o

p, the thought of a dozen machete wielding Monkeys thrashing about in the Surrey countryside is somewhat alarming.  :o

[/quote]

Jolly good I have been sharpening my machete this evening and making a scabard so I can bring it with me (got the elastoplast too)

Jolly good I have been sharpening my machete this evening and making a scabard so I can bring it with me (got the elastoplast too)
[/quote]better bring some spare hands and arms also doc just to be on the safe side :o :o :o ;D

 ;D ;D

hhhmmmmm just had a thought, if there are too many mad axe men in the garden......i could always bugger off up the lake and do a bit of fishing  ;) ;) ;D ;D ;D 8)

Tazet's just left for the Midlands, driving a big horse box full of ponies & towing a trailer with the carriage in. They're doing their last carriage driving event of the season & won't be bacl till Sunday night. Not sure I can survive that long on my own. I'll have run out of clean crockery & clothes long before then.
Anyway, with luck -if the foot & mouth restrictions haven't tightened, you might be able to do that Pete. There's a hut down by the lake where Tazzie caters for shooting parties. Stone flagged floor & long wooden table big enough to seat us all. Maybe we could ajourn there for supper.
I think we'd better all attack this undergrowth from the same direction or it could get very messy!

shooting parties at the lake.....have they not got fishing rods ;D ;D

Yeah, but it's a bugger trying to catch pheasants with 'em.  :)

i went fly fishing once but couldnt catch one ::) ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D

when ever ive gone fishing i see mto attract kamkazee swans that seem intend on getting in the way when yer casting out :)

yeah we have giraffes out here in the country  ;D

big spiders too  :o ;D

isnt the car show on that saturday in alton to

Saturday 22nd September 07.
11am - 3pm.

Held in the Market Square, Alton, Hants.
Sponsored by the Alton Herald.
Jazz band, refreshments etc.

Yup, that's this weekend -& I can't go cos Taz is away competing in a horse event, (I've got no transport at the moment). I'll be putting in some much needed garage time instead & hoping someone else can do the honours with their camera.  ;)
Those photos are just weird Pete. Quite disturbingly odd.

Just checked the 7 day forcast for the weekend and so far (touch wood) its not going to rain but will be overcast. Got everything crossed this week.

guess you ont be going far then :)

LOL  ;D

It's getting close now. So far the peps that have said are coming are:

1, Tazet
2, Manky
3, Lunatic,
4, Twisted
5, Janie
6, Dave
7, Byzmax
8, Dave Satan
9, Chevy Rick
10, Panthershaun
11, Pete & Chrissie (possibly Emily is she aint working)
12, BG
13. Valleysboy(i'll sleep in my car if space is limited)
 
 And the drinks required are :

Hogs Back - A over T, T.E.A,
Orange Juice,
Tea, (as in hot stuff),
Coffee,
Milk for above Tea and Coffee,
Hobnobblin,
Pepsi,
Coke,
Diet Coke,
Bottled Water,

Will be doing shopping at various points over the week. If I can get Fri afternoon off then will go to brewery then. Hopefully I will get food I can freeze today or tomorrow.

1,    Tazet.
2,    Manky.
3,    Lunatic.
4,    Twisted.
5,    Janie.
6,    Dave.
7,    Byzmax.
8,    Dave Satan.
9,    Chevy Rick.
10,  Pete & Chrissie & possibly Emily.
11,  BG.
12,  Valleysboy.

Unfortunately PantherShaun can't make it. With the impending Post Office strikes we've all got to grab whatever overtime we can get. Shame, would've been good to see you mate. ;)

We're at Tazzie's place at the moment, having a bit of a clear up. Just killed my hoover trying to tackle her lounge carpet. Are carpets supposed to be crunchy?
Life here's gonna be fun! ;D

you mean she s got choccy bars in her carpet, sod the trees im chopping the carpet down. ;D

We've got a big chunk of the front garden to clear as well now.

can't make it guy's  :'( :'( :'( with the impending strikes I need to be earning some more cash to try and survive the next few weeks. And before anyone tells me to go in I would but the plans the "management " have for royal Mail and us posties will just about kill it off, which I think is their ultimate plan anyway.
So have a good one for me :-* :-* :-*

We won't plant a tree in your honour but we might chop a few down!  :D
Know what you mean about the rapid demise of the Post Office. Joe Public's told it's just greedy Posties demanding more money, but when you see it from the inside it's quite scary. Really does seem like a planned, systematic shutdown of the entire network. Flap's already left & found himself a lorry driving job, but I'm completely unskilled & there ain't that many manual jobs round here that aren't already being snapped up by Polish immigrant workers. I've become bloody-minded about it now -with 20 year's service I'm gonna hang in there till they pay me voluntary redundancy to get rid of me.

don't hold your breath mate, if they get the changes in all you can expect is a book of stamps for all your effort ::) ::) ::) :-\

I think you might be right. Looks like a new career for me then
-"D'ya want fries with that?"

Most places there are plenty of jobs doing multi-drop deliveries - you can drive and you know about delivering stuff......  it's what Mike did before he retired and he really enjoyed it (Except he refused to let the agency send him back to Parcelforce!)

Ska Man gave up a very stressful managerial job a few months ago to do just that. Seems to have been the right choice for him. A much happier bunny.

Right,
Manky and I have been to the Cash and Carry and spent a fortune, (nearly £200). Totally skint now.  :(
We bought tons of bacon, sausages, a huge slab of belly pork with some ribs on it, chicken drum sticks, various sauces, plates, napkins, coffee, tea bags, coke, diet coke, orange juice, 24 bottles of Hobgoblin, loo roll, cheese, burgers, potato salad, coleslaw, huge tub of butter, an enormus strawberry cheese cake and a few odds and sods. I have lamb in a friends freezer and a Turkey.
As all our money is now spent can someone please bring salad stuff and onions, (for frying for the burgers). If there is something not on my list that you want then please bring that along. Sorry but I won't be able to go to the Brewery this time.

I'm sure we'll all chip in with some cash when we get there - you should have asked for some up front!



Should have added that the beauty of working through an agency is that you get to work for different people and once they get to know that you're good and reliable you can ask for a change if you don't like where you're working, if you're good they like to keep you happy!

Thank you. We don't want your money, just the few odds and ends we couldn't get. You're all being very kind, helping us clear our garden and it's an excuse for a get together too. Also Manky and I had thought he would be living here by now and money would not have been a problem. Oh well life goes on. 

i'll run a sheep over then friday night and bring it up,i'll raid Johns alottment"my mothers boyfriend" sure he has all sorts of veggy things like,um runner beans spuds cabbage worms ....im not being helpful here am i :) will bring some iceburg and keq/springs onions and some valium for everyone else :)

um one other thing :) if i may..what time saturday are you wanting to start the project, i know you could say "as soon as everyones there" :) um but say like me...if traffic is good i may be earlier than expected etc :)

Thanks VB. I will be getting to the house at about 5.30am Sat morning, (I take manky to work), so any time after that would be great. Lunatic will be getting there late lunch time as he will be picking Manky up. Not sure on everyone else. I'm sure Triker Pete will be there Sat morning.

NB -All merchandise stock will be at the house this weekend just incase you find yourself needing a mug or patch or even a T-shirt.  ;D

ive ordered my collection so dont let them go will you..on a side note do u have some sort of plumb line we can use? washing line maybe? summut like the pigs use to mark off an area tape like thing?

Don't worry all your stuff is in one bag ready for you to collect. Same as Twisted's pack.

What do you want that for  ???. I have an old washing line you can dismantle.

well so we dont go off line to your back garden like you want to run parallel with yer own boundaries? or we just taking the whole back lane out woohhahahaha :)

Dave and I are working Saturday, but we'll be over asap, I believe Pete & Chris were coming up Friday night. 

Look forward to seeing y'all  ;D

If they are coming up Friday thats fine just so long as I know. It was only a possible but nothing confirmed.

The boundries are pretty easy to work out and it doesn't matter if we go a little over on one of the sides.

Cut it down! Cut it all down!  :P

sorry due to work being a pain in the bum i cant make it
hope we hook up another time

Sorry about that Dave. These things happen. Hopefully someone this weekend can remove the last back plate off my axle, then the brakes are yours. We can meet up sometime so you can have them. Or you now have my address just give us a buzz and pop in anytime we are about.

More food for us then ;D

1,    Tazet.
2,    Manky.
3,    Lunatic.
4,    Twisted.
5,    Janie.
6,    Dave.
7,    Byzmax.
8,    Chevy Rick.
9,    Pete & Chrissie & possibly Emily.
10,  BG.
11,  Valleysboy.

Dont forget pete is coming along with me!

 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Oh Shaun. We will save you a small bit so when you have time you can come and do something  ;D

Oh yes. Sorry Pete stupid me. I forgot.  ::) :-[

1,    Tazet.
2,    Manky.
3,    Lunatic.
4,    Twisted.
5,    Janie.
6,    Dave.
7,    Byzmax.
8,    Chevy Rick.
9,    Pete & Chrissie & possibly Emily.
10,  BG.
11,  Valleysboy
12,  Pete

I've made an amazing discovery  ;D
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
My Spare bed and the floor. Well OK a path way to the bed.  ;D

LOL :)

any parts for yer build ? :)

What have I found any? No. I did find some leather bike gloves though.  ;D

Talking of trike build parts, if you can carry it, don't forget that tractor seat Twisted. We'll give it a go, see what it looks like. Can't guarantee we'll use it but I'd like to.

Put to one side ready (where I can't forget it)

Thanks Doc  ;D

It's raining here  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Tssh! Who cares, it's only rain.  ;D

Guildford forecast - Weather (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/guildford_forecast_weather.html)

Could be worse!

This is very true. Looks like the Marquee will definatley be needed though.

Be positive! We've got enough food to feed half of Guildford, lots to do to keep us busy & work up an appetite, some good friends & a few new faces coming to join us -don't worry -it'll be fine.  ;D

So what time are peps roughly arriving. Just so I know when to listen out for my phone.  ;D

I can say definitely I won't be there before 1230 - but very likely much later!

Dave and I won't be there much before 1pm, as we too are working tomorrow morning.  In actual fact, we'll be there just in time for the BBQ  ;D ;)

when are you thinking of actually starting on the clearance? me for instance.. is gonna try to avoid traffic so will be heading out early tommorrow hopefully arriving early :) so after a brew im up for attacking :) but if you'd rather wait for everyone thats fine too :)

I'm working in the morning- being a Postie I've got all the Saturday morning junk mail to deliver. I'll be hitching a lift with Lunatic & Pete around 11, depending on just how much mail there is.
Tazzie's staying with me in Basingstoke tonight, which is why she needs some idea of when poeople are arriving, so she can nip back to Guildford in time to meet them.
I'll put up a couple of directional markers either end of West Clandon village on the way in, but you'll probably already be there by then.

Just to wish you a successful event...hope the weather is kind to you. Looking forward to seeing some interesting pics posted soon.

muppet xx

Hope to be there around 10 depends on the traffic but like VB hope to miss most of it.

VB which way are you going ?  

And what time

Don't worry, my camera is on charge as we speak.  ;D

we hope to be there about 10 ish. looking forward to meeting everbody again and some for the first time.
have safe journey everyone

Okey doke. Tanya will be there to greet you & I'll be over with Lunatic & Pete as soon as I finish work.
If anyone else feels like dropping in at some point over the weekend, PM us for directions.

Im hoping to be there somewhere between 9-10 be my 1st time to Meet any of you!! im scared lol

Grrrr!
We're scary Monkies!  >:(

;D Plonker! You couldn't meet a fluffier, friendlier bunch than us mate.
Lots of odd jobs to do. Taz will probably have you on tea making duties or firing up the BBQ. I've never, ever been in charge of a barbeque you know. Got no idea what needs to be done. I have however, eaten many a burger in my time.

Taz PM'd her address & mobile number to all who said they were coming. If you didn't get it, PM her again. If you get lost in the morning just shout.
Look forward to seeing everyone.  ;D

Anyone heard from ByzMax as to whether he's still coming?

um wot make u think Im any good on da barby? lol oh and yes Safe Journeys to one and all

i hope he can pop in id feel better explaining to him rather than phone :("the build thats is no more"

Don'y worry VB - I've taken over your slot!

hmm blue badge's at dawn heh

Dunno but I do know his mobile's gone phut!

Should have the chain saw and strimmer tomorrow if Lil Dug doesnt let me down! ::)Otherwise Ill bring a bow saw or too and I think I might bring my sawsall, but its electric. 
Dont worry about the weather!! We are all British bikers and trikers, We are used to getting wet! ;) Wellies and a changed of clothes are already packed! ;D
Look forward to seeing you all. Safe journeys. :)

Seriously would have loved to be there....but the distance and cost prohibits my attendance.

Bobbi is the only one I have met, at various rallys. Shes a star so look after her and give her a hug from me.

It would be a shame not to keep up this tradition of garden parties, so in March I will be having a "Come and place 20 cubic metres of concrete to stabilise my riverbank" Party.

Enjoy yourselves and be carefull with them chainsaws.

At approx 9.00pm I will be expecting to hear a rendition of "Hey hey we re the Monkees!" drifting acrooss the Channel>

Salut!

Nomad u anywhere near Soujon by chance ?

Awwww!         

Safe Journeys everyone and see you all soon. Signs are in place. Hope you can spot them ok.  ;D

Valleysboy.....as the crow flies yes!
Its about 30 miles north I guess, but you have to get a ferry across the Gironde Estuary or drive 200 miles it via Bordeaux.

Why do you ask?

Well I think I'm as ready as I will ever be. I keep thinking up things I've forgotten but thats normal. Still overcast and very very slightly drizzly here with a slight breeze. Hope everyone gets here safely.

Have fun and hope that the weather stays dry  ;D

We are indeed having fun  :)
14 of us here today. Weather's fine. We're busy doing country stuff. :D
Machete wielding maniacs everywhere. A neighbour wandered past earlier, stopped for a chat then came back 5 minutes later with a chainsaw. Brilliant. Sitting in the garden, eating cheesecake & watching the stars now. Gotta go, before all the choccie cake gets eaten!  ;D

.

So far so good by the look of things.

Thought you didn't eat cake Andy   ::)

So your eating cake whilst most of the females are working :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

Have you noticed that he pics so far seem to be of women working.

Where are all the blokes...in the pub?

No they be supervising the females whilst eating cake!! ;D

We're working hard! Honest.  ;D

.

yeah right...working hard watching...tsk tsk blokes !!!

Actually everyone has been fantastic. The blokes and women have worked so very hard and I can't thank thom enough. Everyone found jobs that they were best at and just got on with it. The cakes were at night after dark and Manky and I never saw any chocolate cake, but did have a slice of cheese cake. The weather has been very good and that has helped make things so much easier.

Had a great time, thanks for all the food!

A31 is a great road, had an easy run home, only spoiled by stopping at Rownhams services cos I fancied a coffee and one of those pecan Danish pastrioes.

HOW MUCH????????

Settled for a prepacked bit of malt bread and a cuppa tea out of a machine.....

I'm Back! Bugger I'm knackered A303 was hard work today.

TTFN

Doc (senior)

lovely to meet you all
my arms are cut to ribbons lol

Good to see ya all, what comes next bonfire or workshop erection party ??? ;)

Oooh, OH, OUCH,  - I ache all over. 

I have bramble scratches on my legs,  stinging nettle stings on my arms, and bruises on my shoulders - would I do it all over again?

Of course I would! What a great weekend, and what a laugh.  Many thanks to Manky & Tazet for the bbq, drink & puds. 

When you take a look back to the beginning of this topic when Tazet took the pictures of what needed cutting back, then seeing it for the first time in reality - the pictures give you a false impression of just how much needed clearing.  Behind the brambles, was a slope leading down to a track.   Which you can now see! We all worked so hard in the various tasks that we took upon.  Some were thrasing away with scythes like they were possessed, some were merrily snipping away at the brambles with secateurs, then there was Chrissie & I leaning back and forth at 20 degree angles whilst trying to remove a wooden post from the ground.  HYSTERICAL!

Same time next weekend - HA HA HA (not)

Andy said a number of people asked if they could be there when we light it, (the bonfire, not the workshop). I will ask the boss again if that's possible but will also have to ask the neighbours too. I can't thank you enough for all you have done. I'm just totally amazed at how much was cleared. Does anyone know if Gareth got home safely?
After the last of you went home, Manky and I carried on raking things up. Here's what it looks like now. Also we found some more things in the Manky Time Team dig.  ;D

.

And some were really good at eating!!!!!!

don't reckon you'll get a trike from the bits you found lol

Thank you BG.  :-*  (laughing loudly)

Why not invite them along too?

He didn't - HA HA HA

The big question of the day.................


WHO ATE ALL THE CAKE????????????????


 ;D   ;D   ;D

i would change those bars

I'll second that......you old fart, heheheheheeeee
glad you got back ok, good to see you again.

 ;D 8)

Eloo i just got in at 22:40pm!!! trip home was going fine :) pulled over at membray services had a cuppa got back on the super slab straight into a pill up on m4 cars stopped moving at 4pm and we starting moving again at 20:45pm :(  im bolloxed lol 8 and bloody hrs!! having a brew a another J :) had a great time bye the way lol great to meet all u loverly people :)

Sheesh! Glad you're safely home Gareth. We were starting to get a little worried that we hadn't heard from you. You're a top chap -another asset in the MMMotors team. Good to meet you mate. ;)

i tried to ring you but was not enough signal :) thought id give u a roaming report of the ferking traffic lol

 ;D Just glad you got home in one piece. Everyone else had reported in within a couple of hours of leaving except you, so we were getting worried.

Right, Taz has already been on & said her Thank Yous, so I'd better do the same. It was fantastic to see everybody. 14 of us in all. Really meant a lot to Taz & I that you all made the effort to come along -especially those that travelled so far to be there. It wouldn't have mattered if we'd only made a small dent in the wilderness at the bottom of the garden, it was just great to see you all. Can't believe just how much we managed to achieve. The bramble jungle wasn't the 30 feet deep I thought it was. Once we'd cleared it & I paced it out, it's actually nearer 80! To have done all that with basic hand tools, plus 5 minute's use of a chainsaw is quite incredible. In 2 days we went from this...

To better than this...

Taz & I have had a great time. Hope you all did too.
Absolutely shattered now though & got to get up for work in 4 hour's time so I'll make it brief.
Thank you one & all for sweating your socks off all weekend for us. We couldn't have done a fraction of it without you. We're privileged to have such a fantastic bunch of friends. ;)
Funniest moments? VB falling off the camp bed in the middle of the night. Coming downstairs this morning to find a trail of turkey crumbs from the kitchen to the lounge where the boys were sleeping. Counting the comatose bodies & realising one was missing, then finding Doc asleep in the shed.

How many guys does it take to remove a drive shaft from a Reliant axle? And fail.

Even barbecuing it didn't do the trick.

.

Hope you all know you're welcome to call in any time you're passing.
Thanks once more from Manky HQ.  ;D

thanks for the invite mate
not to many buns for nellie

One last personal thank you.
To Tazzie -Mrs Manky, who's worked so hard for the last couple of weeks, organising everything from signs to direct people to the house, to preparing, cooking & distributing enough food to feed most of Guildford. She's hardly stopped all weekend. I could type for England here but in person I'm pretty quiet. Taz has been the life & soul of the weekend. The perfect hostess.
So from me, thank you Hon.  :-*

Ah yes, your pet elephant. You left it behind. We're too scared to go near it. :o

Thank you babe  :-* blushing now  :-*
Oh the back ache and sore hands today  ;D I have a nice blister on my thumb from raking up where the gloves rubbed as they were too big but I'm not complaining as the result now at the end or the garden is so much better than I ever could have imagined.  :-* I wish I had a camera on me though when TrikerPete first saw what was to be done  ;D Things had grown much more since I first took the pictures at the start of the thread.


Yes that was very funny looking into the front room and trying to figure out how to get through them to get to the kitchen so I could have a cofee and get things ready for breakfast. In the end Manky and I bare footed it out the front door, ran round the house into the back door. God knows what the neighbours must have thought.   ;D ;D ;D

Oh and the Turkey crumbs. We know who dunit  ;D

Dave like Manky said Nellie is just fine but we are too scared to go near it  ;D We don't know and don't wish to know where it has been.  :P

VB i'm so glad you eventually got back home in one piece as Manky said we were very worried but didn't have your number to text to check you were ok. You said ages ago when you asked if you could come that didn't think you would be much use. You did just as brilliantly as everyone else and managed to wave that machetti around with the best of em. Thank you  ;D

So many great moments from the weekend I could sit here for hours typing. Perhaps if all those that came why don't you jot down a small write up including  your best moments and we can put a write up from you all with the pictures in the gallery. Over 300 pictures to sort through so will take a day or so anyway.

Chrissie a big thank you for keeping us all in order with clean mugs and cutlery. It did make it much easier for me.  :-*

A huge thank you again to everyone and please if you are in the area and we are home just stop by for a cuppa and food. Our door will always be open.   :-* :-* :-*

Nellie and a very tired puppy  ;D

ValleysBoy.......glad to hear you got back ok, we were also wondering how you were doing travelling all that way.... did you get the longest travelled trophy? I think the trophy this event may be the "unearthed bike frame" donated by the "manky monkey time team" ;) ;D.

It really was good to meet you, enjoyed your company, as we did everyones. Thanks everyone for making it the weekend it was....when are we gonna do it again ;)
Special thanks to Taz and Mankey for feeding and putting up with us ;D ;D ;D

Was going to do some gardening here today, but its raining so I'll just have to go into the workshop and do some more work on our friends Nippi now the parts have arrived.
Take care all :-*

What a shame you got stuck in traffic VB, hope it didn't put a dampner on the fun you had at the weekend with us.

So, what do you think of the manky crew so far?  I think everyone was impressed with your contribution.  Well done!

I thought you were all a cracking bunch :) my only thought when the pileup happened was"i could ave still been at Tazet and Mankies enjoying a bloody barby!!" did i mention how unlucky i am :)
i think Tazet done a really fine job of keeping us all fed and organising us :) there was one part of the day i think after our 1st assult on the forest:)..we were in the garden manky,loony and PD turned up with a marque for us all to then stumble over it trying to get a plan to errect it, I was waiting for some camera crew to jump through the hedge to announce that we'd been selected for the adventure weekend :) all in all everyone helped do an awful lot except sunday where i done nout :) thanks all for the weekend as a relative stranger to your group you made feel totally welcome :)

Y'all come back real soon y'hear!  ;)

I had a truly brilliant weekend guys! It was nice to meet most of the people from the forum. I have to say, I havent laughed as much in ages. And made some firm friends I think! ;D Glad you all got home alright. Pd an I did a few laps of the local towns and ended up coming home via Farnham! We will have to drop in sometime if we can find your place again!!

We'll leave a trail of jaffa cake crumbs for you.
Come back soon.  ;)

i returned via aldershot lol

Having trouble uploading the garden photos. Struggling to keep my eyes open here & got work in a couple of hours time, so will re-do them tomorrow. Promise.  ;D
G'night all.

Hi guys.
Garden piccies now uploaded here:

http://mankymonkeymotors.co.uk/Photos/gardenclearance29-30.9.07/

Sorry they took so long! Had a phonecall earlier to say the mortgage surveyor's coming to check my flat tomorrow morning while I'm at work, so having a manic clean-up session now! I'll keep popping back here during the evening but will be typing one handed with a duster in the other hand & hoovering with my foot!  :-\

hmm that sounds promising then :) gonna browse the pics now :)

wow it will take me days to look at all of these...so glad you guys had a successful weekend.

muppet xx

Check Taz's Garden Update thread for the latest view of the building site that was the jungle at the bottom of her garden.
Still can't believe how much we got done in what was basically 2 half days over the weekend.

So sorry we couldn't get down, looks like every one had a great time and got lots done,well done to all.Glad to see a kindred spirit was there,the robin, all dead brickies come back as robins. Fred

Yes that little Robin was there all weekend pulling up worms that we uncovered. He's followed me about the laset couple of days too. Hopefully one day he will sit still long enough to get a good picy of him.
Maybe next year FF  ;D

hmm maybe we have took his/her nest ..robins nest in the same place every year,maybe u orter put directions to the bonfire pile :)

Make me feel bad why don't you  :(

Don't worry Tazet - he won't be nesting this time of year, just defending his territory from a load of Monkeys!

 ;D phiew. He's enjoying all the worms we are digging up. He will be a very fat Robin soon.

If you go and feed him/her at the same time every day in the same place you may be lucky enough eventually to get him/her to feed from your hand.

Many years ago I worked at an animal sanctuary (monkeys actually) and my first job of the day was to feed the animals in the garden. There was a robin that followed me around every morning perching in the same places at every feed stop. I always saved a few crumbs to put on the gatepost as I left the garden when I'd finished. The bird would wait there for me and after a time it would take the crumbs from my hand.

A delightful experience.

muppet

Yes Mum had one in her garden that showed up every time she was out. She managed to almost feed that by hand too.

Yeah, us brickies are quite friendly really

 ??? what is this with Robins and Brickies  ???  Explain more please!

Easy, all dead brickies come back as robins cos we are used to being freezing cold in the winter while trying to scratch out a living

lol oh right gotchya now

Bit like posties then.

 ;D