Moaning Minnies

[colin(bridgend)]

No matter what is done, who does it or when it is done there is always someone to moan and complain. Reading through the postings of the past few days it would appear that toilet blocks should never be cleaned except when it suits the early risers, late risers, new campers, evening day trippers or God knows who. Dog leads should be kept to a minimum and children should be confined to the caravan/awning and not let out to have fun on their holiday. Adults should sit down quietly and listen to soft classical music which is played at a low volume and must not have barbecues, erect wind breaks or drink excessively. Apart from the above we can go away in our vans and attempt to enjoy ourselves. There appear a hell of a lot of killjoys suddenly taking up the caravan noliday hobby. Probably fed up with Costa del Sol and the Spannish holiday resorts.

 

[Ken_5040834]

Hi Colin (Bridgend)

this is a forum. People exchange views, ask questions, seek advice. As I see it, there is a lot of healthy involvement and much-needed banter, but its very rare where someone gets on their high horse.

As with all things, we all have our own preferences and prejudices (eg my towcar is best) but take it all with a pinch of salt and enjoy it!

I'd be happy to be parked next to most members.

Regards

Ken

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Ken if only the forum could be kept as you said in your posting. I have not personally met any member of this forum - not at the weekend bun fight - but would be happy to call them a friend and also park next to them on a site - quite possibly I have without realising it.

 

[Icemaker]

completely agree with you colin, our hobby does indeed seem to be attracting a load of buisy boddies with nothing better to do than watch out of the van window to see what they can complain about and quite a few are quite willing to put theire thoughts out in public. It horrifies me and my wife to think that we must give people so much cause for concern when we arrive on site, you see we are considered to be very friendly and have a very large social group of friends but reading this forum over the last few years i have come to realise that on site i do every thing wrong. listed below are some of the things we do that others have complained about on this forum.

we have dogs (2 x cavalier king charles spamiels)

we have two teenage kids

we have a new caravan

we did have a 4x4

we now tow the new caravan with a new car

we have a new awning

we use windbreaks to shield the dogs and us if its windy but sunny

we allways use the cadac barbecue even to cook breakfast

we always invite others round for a drink

we nearly allways travell with other members of the family and can have up to five vans together so we have large groups of us having a drink round the vans

we take a tv with us to entertain the kids if the weather is bad

we use the vans radio to listen to our type of music

we use commerciall sites again to keep the kids happy

we hate footballs near the van

we organise games for the kids usually swing ball or horse shoes and involve other kids off site but always find one grummpy so and so who objects to the gathering

Like i said we are probably detested by a few who like to make a point but we don't care becouse 95 % think what we do is exactely what caravanning is all about, socialising and having some fun. if we wanted total quiet and no kids dogs or other distractions we would stay at home sit in the van on the drive and look out across the fields and river, but we dont we go away to do something different. as has been said before there are many many sites for all tastes and the moaners can have theire peace by going to adult only sites that have banned all the above. now thats another rant over, i feel better now lol.

 

[CliveV]

I am truly shocked!

You admit, Icemaker, to the heinous crime of caravanning as a group of family/friends.

Well really!

As a fellow dysfunctional caravanner accused of not having any "people skills" as I also regularly go away with friends and family, all I can say is you and I better say sorry to our current caravanning buddies as such friendship is obviously frowned upon.

Their friendship must be sacrificed on the alter of Political Correctness it would seem so that a minority can have its way.

 

[Icemaker]

We appologise from the bottom of our hearts for being so friendly and upsetting just a few by being happy (chuckles)but we will not change we have too many friends who like us this way so if i say that we go away every three weeks and the last time was last week then all you who dislike our way of life can plan to stay at home on our weekends away. now wheres that can of lager?.

 

[PaulA3]

This is what happened to us this Easter

We arrived on the Wednesday the site is empty except for an old caravan in front of ours, later that night over the sound of the howling wind we hear banging and shouting coming from the caravan I go out to nosey and the 10 yr old lad is banging on the windows pleading with his Mum and Dad to stop fighting they were having a domestic. I return to my van and ignore what's going on.

Next morning breaks windy but sunny as the day goes on the site fills. A large Group arrive some in caravans some in tents and set up at the bottom of the hill below us first thing they do is turn up the thump thump music deep base this goes on until 3.00am then starts again at 9.30am.It really does your head in.

Friday the wind drops so we put the awning up, no sooner had we done this, when out of the back of a Transit van the thump thump group gets a quad bike out for their 10yrs old kid. Next thing he's up and down the hill flying around the site at 30mph, your only allowed to do 5mph. Then I hear him come up the slope go behind my van and BANG he has lost control and crashed in to my awning when I go out I find him with his baby sister, she must have been 4 yrs old sat between his legs stuck in my awning.

I lost it at this point and was on my way down to the thumb thumb crowd to sort the lot of them out, when my wife and daughter grabbed me and stopped me pointing out that they were all drunk having been drinking from first thing in the morning.

So we went to the pub and had a Nice meal for my Birthday one day late when we get back we are relaxing in the van when we hear the couple in the caravan in front of us start another domestic with out the wind we could hear everything even the young lads screams so me and Dean go out side the young lad comes out of the caravan and we ask if he is Ok is says yes its just his Mum and Dad falling out. It turns out that his Dad is furious with his Mum because she has given him and I quote " a thingy that is half hanging off and full of Puss" seems she has been playing away from home.

Once the Thump Thump crowd and the fighting couple have gone home the site returned to its normal peaceful and relaxing norm and we had a great time.

Now does that make me a whinger or should I just accept this happens and not to complain.

 

[Tina3]

completely agree with you colin, our hobby does indeed seem to be attracting a load of buisy boddies with nothing better to do than watch out of the van window to see what they can complain about and quite a few are quite willing to put theire thoughts out in public. It horrifies me and my wife to think that we must give people so much cause for concern when we arrive on site, you see we are considered to be very friendly and have a very large social group of friends but reading this forum over the last few years i have come to realise that on site i do every thing wrong. listed below are some of the things we do that others have complained about on this forum.

we have dogs (2 x cavalier king charles spamiels)

we have two teenage kids

we have a new caravan

we did have a 4x4

we now tow the new caravan with a new car

we have a new awning

we use windbreaks to shield the dogs and us if its windy but sunny

we allways use the cadac barbecue even to cook breakfast

we always invite others round for a drink

we nearly allways travell with other members of the family and can have up to five vans together so we have large groups of us having a drink round the vans

we take a tv with us to entertain the kids if the weather is bad

we use the vans radio to listen to our type of music

we use commerciall sites again to keep the kids happy

we hate footballs near the van

we organise games for the kids usually swing ball or horse shoes and involve other kids off site but always find one grummpy so and so who objects to the gathering

Like i said we are probably detested by a few who like to make a point but we don't care becouse 95 % think what we do is exactely what caravanning is all about, socialising and having some fun. if we wanted total quiet and no kids dogs or other distractions we would stay at home sit in the van on the drive and look out across the fields and river, but we dont we go away to do something different. as has been said before there are many many sites for all tastes and the moaners can have theire peace by going to adult only sites that have banned all the above. now thats another rant over, i feel better now lol.

Hi Icemaker,good on you,your list would be like mine.

Why Clive is sticking up for you though I dont know because he is the one who is complaining about "a certain episode" and like one of his dogs with a bone,WONT LET IT GO.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

PaulA - you certainly had a wild time on site at Easter between the weather and the other campers. However you appeared to do what all good caravaners would do. You kept your chin up and grinned and beared it for a few days and after the weekend things corrected themselves. It is for this reasons that my wife and I tend to go to the smaller commercial sites and not the large "hi-de-hi" sites where all the riff raff go for the booze/club house/entertainment. Try and find smaller more relaxing sites in future. It is unusual mind for a Transit van to be allowed on to the site as these tend to be associated with the "travelling" fraternity. Better luck for your next break.

 

[PaulA3]

Colin "It is for this reasons that my wife and I tend to go to the smaller commercial sites and not the large "hi-de-hi" sites where all the riff raff go for the booze/club house/entertainment"

It is a small comercial site I dont want to name it as we go a lot, but I have noticed that over time this is becoming the norm there at weekends.

Also that was just one episode from a horrendous Easter of disasters Full Story here have the tissues ready LOL

http://caravanchannel.proboards56.com/index.cgi?board=open&action=display&thread=1146077403

 

[Moderator2_5083849]

Please do not turn this thread into another "Lickhill War Zone"

Enough has been said already about that.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

PaulA with your run of luck, and don't take this personaly, but please don't go to Widend site in Paignton when we are there. We think we are now begining to enjoy ourselves after years of misfortune. Things can only get better. Incidently did your daughter have her furniture delivered? - if it was flat pack, as you assemble it think of the John Prescott joke regarding screws and cabinets.

 

[Moderator2_5083849]

The reply from Clive has been deleted,as it focussed more on Lickhill than the point of the thread.

Once again, Please do not bring Lickhill into this thread

 

[PaulA3]

Colin unfortunatly for you I'm going to Brixham THS site from 9th June for 6 weeks and hope to visit the Zoo at Paignton.

You should take precautions against wild animals they are sure to escape with my Luck LOL.

 

[Guest]

Possibly part of the 'problem' if that is what it can be called, is the fact that the hobby of caravanning has become almost too popular for its own good. With more and more vans on the roads, and the sites it is inevitable that the increased congestion will lead to increased friction, and no doubt, increased rules as a consequence. There is also no doubt that despite what either of the main Clubs have to say, they are squeezing more pitches on to sites, especially the grass pitches. Looking at the distance between some of the pegs and imagining a van, awning and the next car all in that space and it is definitely getting cosy. The other factor is that as the number of elderly increases then the type of person who participates in the hobby is changing. I am not saying that families do not go caravanning at all, merely that over the last 40 years it has changed from an all inclusive cheap form of family type holiday to something definitely a lot more expensive, even if you only consider fuel costs. Caravans have changed from being 'tents with solid walls' to something resembling home from home, and can now be the 2nd or 3rd most expensive thing you buy.

The answer? I don't have one, and I suspect neither does anyone else. Maybe this forum can come up with some.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Perhaps the first set of rules to be considered would be as set out in the Ten Commandments.

 

[Guest]

Wouldn't be a bad idea, but a good lawyer will probably get you an opt out clause on all of them, if you pay enough.

 

[PaulA3]

The 10 Commandments1. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven thing.2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. 3. Remember that thou keep holy the Lord's day. 4. Honor thy father and thy mother. 5. Thou shalt not kill. 6. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 7. Thou shalt not steal. 8. Thou shalt not bear false witness. 9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife. 10.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

No Tescos on Sunday Then

 

[Guest]

Well done. I certainly could not have listed them all, but then agian I don't practise religion, which is not the same as saying I don't try to follow some of the ideals listed as a human being.

Again, I suspect a good lawyer (try a Ms Booth perhaps) could get you exemption on the grounds that your human rights are being abused. So maybe Tesco can be part of Sundays.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

I thought the head of Tesco was a Jew. If so their sabbeth is on a Saturday therefore they should be closed on a Saturday. Incidently Scotch Lad I am also not religious but I have probably the same respect as you for one, two or maybe all of them.

As far as a good lawyer is concerned in this instance what is the definition of "good". What maybe is good to you could be terrable to another person. I have expressed my views before regarding the PC brigade, Human Rights, Animal Liberation, etc. so I wont repeat myself here and bore you all again.

 

[Guest]

The definition of 'good' was in terms of success in winning their case. Whether the decision is morally correct is another matter that the lawyers usually ignore.

Your mention of Jews reminded me of my great aunt, who was of that faith. When she visited her sister in the 1950's, and by then they were both in their 80's, they had bacon on a Sunday. She mentioned to the sister that really they were not supposed to have that product. The sister replied, 'I won't tell if you don't. Sit down and enjoy'. You are also correct in that the Jewish sabbath is a Saturday, but this gives them legal right to open on a Sunday. They did it for many years in Glasgow with a lot of prosperity being developed, long before the arrival of other nationalities.

Anyway, you are right, let us skip the religious topics or it would develope into an 'issue' again.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Scotch Lad if we cannot debate/discuss religion the only other topic worth discussing is the benefits of that brown falling down water so common to Scotland and Ireland (and recently Wales). Now which is the best? I have not tasted the Welsh version but I personally prefer the Irish flavour as it does not have such a fierce kick. Any views on this topic or is it again going to incite a riot?

 

[Guest]

That is the downside of computers, no taste or smell. I would love to discuss religion, but I suspect it would not be a good idea. If you have ever read Robert Burn's poem 'The Cottar's Saturday Night' then in that poem the cottars, who are farming peasants spend the Saturday nights sitting in the inglenooks at the pub discussing world politcs and economics etc, even although they don't have 2 pennies to rub together themselves. So I agree that discussion can be very rewarding, but probably best done in small private groups for best effect.

As far as the water of life is concerned, there could be a discussion for days. Scotch Whisky is probably different from the others in the fact that there are a large number fo disctinct regional variations, and one may be enjoyable while others are less so. The island malts such as Laphroaig, Bruichladdich etc tend to be quite peaty, you can smell the peat when you open the bottle. This can give a taste that not everyone likes. The Spey malts from the northeast tend to be much less peaty and usually milder if you wish, in terms of harshness. The strength of the whiusky is also a pointer towards taste preference. Most blends are 40% alcohol but malts can go up to 60% and so the taste can be quite euphoric, if you know what I means. Bruichladdich have even started this year a whisky that will be 98% alcohol, so totally poisonous to humans. It was last made in the 1700's and was well known as 'the destroyer of brains'. Some tastings have already taken place usually in drop form. The first drop is interesting, the second is very very exciting and the third takes your brain into the far reaches of the universe. The following morning when you awaken, the world seems a totally different place. however, you will not be able to buy this particular brew for another 12 years.

As for myself a 10 or even 15 year old Macallan, Springburn or Glenlivet does take some beating. I have started buying, in very small doses, bottles of some of the rarer malts. These are distilleries that are now closed so the whisky can never be made again. Brands such as Milburn and Dhallas Dhu for instance. I am looking at investment, but more so a legacy for my grandchildren. My wife keeps telling me I should open them and drink them myself, but so far have witheld the temptation.

We should meet on a site somewhere and discuss the merits over a bottle, or 2, but we are heading to France next month until September.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Scotch Lad if I were to partake in a bottle or two of that falling down brown water those men in black would be screwing the lid down on the box within a couple of days. Mind you the crematorium would burn well.

 

[Guest]

Where did this 'falling down' bit come in? Drink the water of life and you fight armies and conquer the world, at least in your own mind. When I was a kid and you had a cold, a hot toddie with a SMALL amount of the good stuff in it put you to sleep and wake up cold free. Either that it was the Vick on the chest????