Hello everyone.

Up to date details of the IRW 2007 launch event (Monday 20th to Monday
27th August) are now available at  http://irw.rocketry.org.uk

There are some errors (my fault) due to my very late delivery of the
details to Colin MacLaren late this morning quite literally as he and
his family were due to leave for a holiday this afternoon.  (I've had
a lot of migraine recently that has held up production somewhat -
meant to have the IRW 2007 info. out a bit sooner, and I hope that it
is still timely).

On the High Power page THURSDAY 23RD to MONDAY 27TH AUGUST, 11AM to
6PM, should be THURSDAY 23RD to SUNDAY 26TH AUGUST,
12 NOON to 7PM.

In the Competition Rules the "Science Fiction" subject for the IRW
2006 Scale Contest is still up.  This year's subject is actually given
towards the end of my Welcome/Introductory remarks on the Home page.
Also some IRW 2006 news items are still present.  Corrections,
additions and further up-dates will be made after Colin returns from
holiday in mid-July.

I would ask all and anyone who is interested in coming to this year's
IRW to please read the details now posted on the above web pages
carefully and thoroughly.  I ask this is because there are two
significant changes in the arrangements this year.  One of these
changes will I believe be helpful in several ways, as I hope you will
all see once you have read things through and considered the
arrangement (this is about the perennial horses vs rockets situation),
particularly those of you who have long experience of the IRW and how
it has had to operate at Kelburn Country Centre.
The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
mitigate this.

These changes, as changes always do, will have knock-on effects, some
of which can of course be anticipated and planned for, even taken
advantage of.

As I say in the Welcome notes, I would value comments, of the kind
that might be helpful.

While I am on here, SARA rocketeers had an interesting, enjoyable and
successful Launch Meeting at the Fairlie Moor Site last Saturday (i.e.
the IRW 2007 HPR site), and Mitchell Hamilton (Hammy) has now posted
his photos from  the afternoon's activities at  http://sara.rocketry.org.uk/gallery/main.php

I hope that you are all well, and that none have been caught in the
recent floods.

Your ever,
John B.

AstroScot  writes:

> The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> mitigate this.

If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
showers?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

Chris Eilbeck wrote:

> AstroScot  writes:
>
> > The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> > year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> > mitigate this.
>
> If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
> showers?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Eilbeck
> MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
> UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
> Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

A very good point Chris, and not made for the first time.  Others have
raised it, and I have suggested this to the Kelburn management several
times over the years.  It would be good not just for the IRW, it would
upgrade Kelburn as a camping/caravaning venue in general and bring in
more business.  I'm no Allan Sugar, or Richard Branson, but this has
always seemed a credible proposition to me.  Actually Lord Glasgow
asked me about this very idea  a couple of years back, and I gave him
a positive response along the lines above, but in a bit more detail.
Nothing came of it.  I don't think there is much chance of showers
appearing at Kelburn in time for IRW 2007, but, there is a new
business manager there, who was once the Head Ranger (1989 to 1994)
when the IRW was  a much smaller affair.  In meeting with him this
year I've tried to explain to him how the event has developed since
his previous time working at Kelburn.  He is a bit more (no, in fact a
lot more) business like than Lord Glasgow, and I think that once he
sees the size of the camping population at the IRW and for the number
of days it involves for some poeple (that is if potential particpants/
campers are not put off this year)  he could become convinced of the
need to put showers in, particularly as you say if they are going to
charge punters more to camp there.  I certainly intend to work on him
along that line.  In general LG is always reluctant to invest money,
even when it would make emminent sense to do so.  The constant in the
business life of the Kelburn Country Centre, as far as I have been
able to undertand it in 25 years of association with the place, is
that good business talent and ideas have been brought to bear at
Kelburn only to be frustrated by LG's approach and ways of doing
things.  However, in my meetings there this year I detect a new mood
in several of the departments that have new people running them.  This
might get us showers and other things that it would be sensible and
useful to have at Kelburn, but I think we may have to be patient a bit
yet.
That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

AstroScot  writes:

> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
operate the marina?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
 wrote:

>AstroScot  writes:
>
>> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
>> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
>Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
>the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
>there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
>operate the marina?

Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)


Cheers Mike 8-{>

--
UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
TRA  #3207 L1
-=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
-=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Mike Roberts wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>  wrote:
> 
> >AstroScot  writes:
> > 
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
> > 
> > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > people who operate the marina?
> 
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)

Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...

Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)

On Jun 28, 7:39 pm, Mike Roberts 
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>
>  wrote:
> >AstroScot  writes:
>
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> >Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
> >the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
> >there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
> >operate the marina?
>
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Cheers Mike 8-{>
>
> --
> UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
> TRA  #3207 L1
> -=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
> -=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
> Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Thanks for that information Mike.  When you say "leisure centre" do
you mean the swimming pool, etc. at Barrfields, near the Vikingar
Centre in Largs?

Yours aye, John B.

On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Mike Roberts wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
> >  wrote:
>
> > >AstroScot  writes:
>
> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > > people who operate the marina?
>
> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>
> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
aquatic living.

Yours ever, John B.

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:52:22 -0700, AstroScot
 wrote:

>On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Mike Roberts wrote:
>> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>> >  wrote:
>>
>> > >AstroScot  writes:
>>
>> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
>> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>>
>> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
>> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
>> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
>> > > people who operate the marina?
>>
>> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
>> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
>> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>>
>> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>>
>> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
>direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
>of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
>aquatic living.

The aquatic ancestry has certainly been useful at a couple of IRWs
down the years.



-- 
Darren J Longhorn    http://www.geocities.com/darrenlonghorn/
NSRG #005            http://www.northstarrocketry.org.uk/
/UKRA #1094 /L2 /RSO http://www.ukra.org.uk/

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

> Hello everyone.
> 
<snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>

> Your ever,
> John B.

Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)

I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog 
flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the 
complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from 
Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically 
just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem 
to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though 
we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.

Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.

Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called 
Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very 
spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!

It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has 
extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a 
few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing 
facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the 
moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry 
in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition, 
which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)

I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so 
you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you 
smile, it made me smile.

Best regards, 

-- 
/home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

On Jul 9, 4:02 am, Kevin Cave <kevin@!removemen0w!scarygliders.net>
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:
> > Hello everyone.
>
> <snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>
>
> > Your ever,
> > John B.
>
> Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)
>
> I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog
> flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the
> complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from
> Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically
> just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem
> to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though
> we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.
>
> Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.
>
> Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called
> Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very
> spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!
>
> It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has
> extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a
> few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing
> facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the
> moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry
> in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition,
> which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)
>
> I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so
> you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you
> smile, it made me smile.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> /home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

Dear Kevin.
Excellent to hear from you.  I do appreciate your point about the very
long distance, and inconvenient airline routing, involved in a journey
back to Scotland for IRW 2007, particularly as you, Toko and Felix
have only been in Japan for a few months.  If you can't make it this
year there is as you say IRW 2008.

Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I am intriqued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have
all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the
sea as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow.
Visions of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and
rocketeers thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at
school are we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace,
excitements and anxieties of the IRW.

Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at
Miyakoji Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I
look forward to seeing your pictures.

In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.

John B.

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:42:28 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

<snip>
> Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
> the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I was glad to hear that Rick is recovering after his treatment.

> 
> I am intrigued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
> describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
> that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have

Seems to be no direct Japanese for "doppleganger", but there is for 
"identical" - "onaji" , or "similar" - "hitoshii" ;)

> all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the sea
> as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
> description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow. Visions
> of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and rocketeers
> thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at school are
> we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

LOL and *groan* at the same time ;)

> 
> It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
> Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
> sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
> always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace, excitements
> and anxieties of the IRW.

We live in Fukushima prefecture, which is an area of Japan which isn't as 
densely populated as, say, the Kanto area. This area is more mountainous 
and agricultural than industrial. The specific area where we live, 
Tamura, is a bit like a scaled up version of around the Loch Lomond area 
- lots of mountains and hills - the difference being that the mountains 
and hills here are covered in dense vegetation - trees, vines, etc. 
Miyakoji
Green Park is basically tamed hillside/mountain, and kind of "Kelburn-
ised" if you'll excuse the language bastardisation I have just commited :P

There are a few acres of more conventional farmland around the area. 
There are even ponies to terrify with sounds of model rocket engines. ;)
There is one sheep there, for some reason. Kept in a small pen surrounded 
by a very tall fence - which I suspect may be to prevent bears from 
eating it (we live near bear territory).

> 
> Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
> would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at Miyakoji
> Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I look forward
> to seeing your pictures.
> 

I'll try to get loads of pictures for my website as soon as I can - I'm 
busy with lots of things here at the moment, and the weather's not been 
so great - quite rainy (it is rainy season here), and as I type there's a 
rather large Typhoon on its way towards the Japanese archipelago, so 
things might get a tad interesting over the weekend ;)

> In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.
> 
> John B.

Thanks, I'll pass the sentiments on.

Regards

-- 
Kevin Cave.
"I can put wings on that."
http://scarygliders.net

AstroScot  writes:

> The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> mitigate this.

If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
showers?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

Chris Eilbeck wrote:

> AstroScot  writes:
>
> > The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> > year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> > mitigate this.
>
> If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
> showers?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Eilbeck
> MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
> UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
> Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

A very good point Chris, and not made for the first time.  Others have
raised it, and I have suggested this to the Kelburn management several
times over the years.  It would be good not just for the IRW, it would
upgrade Kelburn as a camping/caravaning venue in general and bring in
more business.  I'm no Allan Sugar, or Richard Branson, but this has
always seemed a credible proposition to me.  Actually Lord Glasgow
asked me about this very idea  a couple of years back, and I gave him
a positive response along the lines above, but in a bit more detail.
Nothing came of it.  I don't think there is much chance of showers
appearing at Kelburn in time for IRW 2007, but, there is a new
business manager there, who was once the Head Ranger (1989 to 1994)
when the IRW was  a much smaller affair.  In meeting with him this
year I've tried to explain to him how the event has developed since
his previous time working at Kelburn.  He is a bit more (no, in fact a
lot more) business like than Lord Glasgow, and I think that once he
sees the size of the camping population at the IRW and for the number
of days it involves for some poeple (that is if potential particpants/
campers are not put off this year)  he could become convinced of the
need to put showers in, particularly as you say if they are going to
charge punters more to camp there.  I certainly intend to work on him
along that line.  In general LG is always reluctant to invest money,
even when it would make emminent sense to do so.  The constant in the
business life of the Kelburn Country Centre, as far as I have been
able to undertand it in 25 years of association with the place, is
that good business talent and ideas have been brought to bear at
Kelburn only to be frustrated by LG's approach and ways of doing
things.  However, in my meetings there this year I detect a new mood
in several of the departments that have new people running them.  This
might get us showers and other things that it would be sensible and
useful to have at Kelburn, but I think we may have to be patient a bit
yet.
That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

AstroScot  writes:

> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
operate the marina?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
 wrote:

>AstroScot  writes:
>
>> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
>> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
>Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
>the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
>there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
>operate the marina?

Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)


Cheers Mike 8-{>

--
UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
TRA  #3207 L1
-=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
-=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Mike Roberts wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>  wrote:
> 
> >AstroScot  writes:
> > 
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
> > 
> > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > people who operate the marina?
> 
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)

Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...

Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)

On Jun 28, 7:39 pm, Mike Roberts 
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>
>  wrote:
> >AstroScot  writes:
>
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> >Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
> >the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
> >there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
> >operate the marina?
>
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Cheers Mike 8-{>
>
> --
> UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
> TRA  #3207 L1
> -=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
> -=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
> Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Thanks for that information Mike.  When you say "leisure centre" do
you mean the swimming pool, etc. at Barrfields, near the Vikingar
Centre in Largs?

Yours aye, John B.

On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Mike Roberts wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
> >  wrote:
>
> > >AstroScot  writes:
>
> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > > people who operate the marina?
>
> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>
> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
aquatic living.

Yours ever, John B.

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:52:22 -0700, AstroScot
 wrote:

>On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Mike Roberts wrote:
>> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>> >  wrote:
>>
>> > >AstroScot  writes:
>>
>> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
>> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>>
>> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
>> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
>> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
>> > > people who operate the marina?
>>
>> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
>> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
>> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>>
>> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>>
>> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
>direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
>of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
>aquatic living.

The aquatic ancestry has certainly been useful at a couple of IRWs
down the years.



-- 
Darren J Longhorn    http://www.geocities.com/darrenlonghorn/
NSRG #005            http://www.northstarrocketry.org.uk/
/UKRA #1094 /L2 /RSO http://www.ukra.org.uk/

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

> Hello everyone.
> 
<snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>

> Your ever,
> John B.

Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)

I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog 
flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the 
complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from 
Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically 
just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem 
to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though 
we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.

Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.

Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called 
Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very 
spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!

It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has 
extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a 
few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing 
facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the 
moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry 
in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition, 
which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)

I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so 
you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you 
smile, it made me smile.

Best regards, 

-- 
/home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

On Jul 9, 4:02 am, Kevin Cave <kevin@!removemen0w!scarygliders.net>
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:
> > Hello everyone.
>
> <snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>
>
> > Your ever,
> > John B.
>
> Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)
>
> I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog
> flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the
> complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from
> Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically
> just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem
> to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though
> we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.
>
> Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.
>
> Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called
> Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very
> spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!
>
> It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has
> extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a
> few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing
> facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the
> moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry
> in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition,
> which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)
>
> I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so
> you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you
> smile, it made me smile.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> /home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

Dear Kevin.
Excellent to hear from you.  I do appreciate your point about the very
long distance, and inconvenient airline routing, involved in a journey
back to Scotland for IRW 2007, particularly as you, Toko and Felix
have only been in Japan for a few months.  If you can't make it this
year there is as you say IRW 2008.

Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I am intriqued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have
all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the
sea as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow.
Visions of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and
rocketeers thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at
school are we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace,
excitements and anxieties of the IRW.

Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at
Miyakoji Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I
look forward to seeing your pictures.

In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.

John B.

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:42:28 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

<snip>
> Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
> the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I was glad to hear that Rick is recovering after his treatment.

> 
> I am intrigued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
> describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
> that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have

Seems to be no direct Japanese for "doppleganger", but there is for 
"identical" - "onaji" , or "similar" - "hitoshii" ;)

> all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the sea
> as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
> description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow. Visions
> of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and rocketeers
> thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at school are
> we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

LOL and *groan* at the same time ;)

> 
> It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
> Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
> sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
> always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace, excitements
> and anxieties of the IRW.

We live in Fukushima prefecture, which is an area of Japan which isn't as 
densely populated as, say, the Kanto area. This area is more mountainous 
and agricultural than industrial. The specific area where we live, 
Tamura, is a bit like a scaled up version of around the Loch Lomond area 
- lots of mountains and hills - the difference being that the mountains 
and hills here are covered in dense vegetation - trees, vines, etc. 
Miyakoji
Green Park is basically tamed hillside/mountain, and kind of "Kelburn-
ised" if you'll excuse the language bastardisation I have just commited :P

There are a few acres of more conventional farmland around the area. 
There are even ponies to terrify with sounds of model rocket engines. ;)
There is one sheep there, for some reason. Kept in a small pen surrounded 
by a very tall fence - which I suspect may be to prevent bears from 
eating it (we live near bear territory).

> 
> Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
> would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at Miyakoji
> Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I look forward
> to seeing your pictures.
> 

I'll try to get loads of pictures for my website as soon as I can - I'm 
busy with lots of things here at the moment, and the weather's not been 
so great - quite rainy (it is rainy season here), and as I type there's a 
rather large Typhoon on its way towards the Japanese archipelago, so 
things might get a tad interesting over the weekend ;)

> In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.
> 
> John B.

Thanks, I'll pass the sentiments on.

Regards

-- 
Kevin Cave.
"I can put wings on that."
http://scarygliders.net

AstroScot  writes:

> The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> mitigate this.

If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
showers?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

Chris Eilbeck wrote:

> AstroScot  writes:
>
> > The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> > year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> > mitigate this.
>
> If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
> showers?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Eilbeck
> MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
> UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
> Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

A very good point Chris, and not made for the first time.  Others have
raised it, and I have suggested this to the Kelburn management several
times over the years.  It would be good not just for the IRW, it would
upgrade Kelburn as a camping/caravaning venue in general and bring in
more business.  I'm no Allan Sugar, or Richard Branson, but this has
always seemed a credible proposition to me.  Actually Lord Glasgow
asked me about this very idea  a couple of years back, and I gave him
a positive response along the lines above, but in a bit more detail.
Nothing came of it.  I don't think there is much chance of showers
appearing at Kelburn in time for IRW 2007, but, there is a new
business manager there, who was once the Head Ranger (1989 to 1994)
when the IRW was  a much smaller affair.  In meeting with him this
year I've tried to explain to him how the event has developed since
his previous time working at Kelburn.  He is a bit more (no, in fact a
lot more) business like than Lord Glasgow, and I think that once he
sees the size of the camping population at the IRW and for the number
of days it involves for some poeple (that is if potential particpants/
campers are not put off this year)  he could become convinced of the
need to put showers in, particularly as you say if they are going to
charge punters more to camp there.  I certainly intend to work on him
along that line.  In general LG is always reluctant to invest money,
even when it would make emminent sense to do so.  The constant in the
business life of the Kelburn Country Centre, as far as I have been
able to undertand it in 25 years of association with the place, is
that good business talent and ideas have been brought to bear at
Kelburn only to be frustrated by LG's approach and ways of doing
things.  However, in my meetings there this year I detect a new mood
in several of the departments that have new people running them.  This
might get us showers and other things that it would be sensible and
useful to have at Kelburn, but I think we may have to be patient a bit
yet.
That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

AstroScot  writes:

> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
operate the marina?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
 wrote:

>AstroScot  writes:
>
>> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
>> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
>Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
>the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
>there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
>operate the marina?

Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)


Cheers Mike 8-{>

--
UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
TRA  #3207 L1
-=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
-=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Mike Roberts wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>  wrote:
> 
> >AstroScot  writes:
> > 
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
> > 
> > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > people who operate the marina?
> 
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)

Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...

Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)

On Jun 28, 7:39 pm, Mike Roberts 
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>
>  wrote:
> >AstroScot  writes:
>
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> >Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
> >the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
> >there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
> >operate the marina?
>
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Cheers Mike 8-{>
>
> --
> UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
> TRA  #3207 L1
> -=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
> -=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
> Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Thanks for that information Mike.  When you say "leisure centre" do
you mean the swimming pool, etc. at Barrfields, near the Vikingar
Centre in Largs?

Yours aye, John B.

On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Mike Roberts wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
> >  wrote:
>
> > >AstroScot  writes:
>
> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > > people who operate the marina?
>
> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>
> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
aquatic living.

Yours ever, John B.

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:52:22 -0700, AstroScot
 wrote:

>On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Mike Roberts wrote:
>> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>> >  wrote:
>>
>> > >AstroScot  writes:
>>
>> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
>> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>>
>> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
>> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
>> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
>> > > people who operate the marina?
>>
>> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
>> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
>> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>>
>> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>>
>> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
>direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
>of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
>aquatic living.

The aquatic ancestry has certainly been useful at a couple of IRWs
down the years.



-- 
Darren J Longhorn    http://www.geocities.com/darrenlonghorn/
NSRG #005            http://www.northstarrocketry.org.uk/
/UKRA #1094 /L2 /RSO http://www.ukra.org.uk/

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

> Hello everyone.
> 
<snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>

> Your ever,
> John B.

Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)

I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog 
flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the 
complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from 
Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically 
just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem 
to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though 
we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.

Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.

Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called 
Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very 
spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!

It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has 
extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a 
few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing 
facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the 
moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry 
in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition, 
which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)

I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so 
you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you 
smile, it made me smile.

Best regards, 

-- 
/home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

On Jul 9, 4:02 am, Kevin Cave <kevin@!removemen0w!scarygliders.net>
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:
> > Hello everyone.
>
> <snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>
>
> > Your ever,
> > John B.
>
> Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)
>
> I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog
> flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the
> complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from
> Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically
> just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem
> to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though
> we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.
>
> Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.
>
> Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called
> Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very
> spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!
>
> It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has
> extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a
> few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing
> facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the
> moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry
> in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition,
> which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)
>
> I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so
> you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you
> smile, it made me smile.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> /home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

Dear Kevin.
Excellent to hear from you.  I do appreciate your point about the very
long distance, and inconvenient airline routing, involved in a journey
back to Scotland for IRW 2007, particularly as you, Toko and Felix
have only been in Japan for a few months.  If you can't make it this
year there is as you say IRW 2008.

Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I am intriqued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have
all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the
sea as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow.
Visions of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and
rocketeers thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at
school are we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace,
excitements and anxieties of the IRW.

Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at
Miyakoji Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I
look forward to seeing your pictures.

In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.

John B.

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:42:28 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

<snip>
> Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
> the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I was glad to hear that Rick is recovering after his treatment.

> 
> I am intrigued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
> describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
> that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have

Seems to be no direct Japanese for "doppleganger", but there is for 
"identical" - "onaji" , or "similar" - "hitoshii" ;)

> all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the sea
> as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
> description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow. Visions
> of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and rocketeers
> thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at school are
> we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

LOL and *groan* at the same time ;)

> 
> It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
> Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
> sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
> always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace, excitements
> and anxieties of the IRW.

We live in Fukushima prefecture, which is an area of Japan which isn't as 
densely populated as, say, the Kanto area. This area is more mountainous 
and agricultural than industrial. The specific area where we live, 
Tamura, is a bit like a scaled up version of around the Loch Lomond area 
- lots of mountains and hills - the difference being that the mountains 
and hills here are covered in dense vegetation - trees, vines, etc. 
Miyakoji
Green Park is basically tamed hillside/mountain, and kind of "Kelburn-
ised" if you'll excuse the language bastardisation I have just commited :P

There are a few acres of more conventional farmland around the area. 
There are even ponies to terrify with sounds of model rocket engines. ;)
There is one sheep there, for some reason. Kept in a small pen surrounded 
by a very tall fence - which I suspect may be to prevent bears from 
eating it (we live near bear territory).

> 
> Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
> would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at Miyakoji
> Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I look forward
> to seeing your pictures.
> 

I'll try to get loads of pictures for my website as soon as I can - I'm 
busy with lots of things here at the moment, and the weather's not been 
so great - quite rainy (it is rainy season here), and as I type there's a 
rather large Typhoon on its way towards the Japanese archipelago, so 
things might get a tad interesting over the weekend ;)

> In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.
> 
> John B.

Thanks, I'll pass the sentiments on.

Regards

-- 
Kevin Cave.
"I can put wings on that."
http://scarygliders.net

AstroScot  writes:

> The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> mitigate this.

If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
showers?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

Chris Eilbeck wrote:

> AstroScot  writes:
>
> > The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> > year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> > mitigate this.
>
> If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
> showers?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Eilbeck
> MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
> UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
> Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

A very good point Chris, and not made for the first time.  Others have
raised it, and I have suggested this to the Kelburn management several
times over the years.  It would be good not just for the IRW, it would
upgrade Kelburn as a camping/caravaning venue in general and bring in
more business.  I'm no Allan Sugar, or Richard Branson, but this has
always seemed a credible proposition to me.  Actually Lord Glasgow
asked me about this very idea  a couple of years back, and I gave him
a positive response along the lines above, but in a bit more detail.
Nothing came of it.  I don't think there is much chance of showers
appearing at Kelburn in time for IRW 2007, but, there is a new
business manager there, who was once the Head Ranger (1989 to 1994)
when the IRW was  a much smaller affair.  In meeting with him this
year I've tried to explain to him how the event has developed since
his previous time working at Kelburn.  He is a bit more (no, in fact a
lot more) business like than Lord Glasgow, and I think that once he
sees the size of the camping population at the IRW and for the number
of days it involves for some poeple (that is if potential particpants/
campers are not put off this year)  he could become convinced of the
need to put showers in, particularly as you say if they are going to
charge punters more to camp there.  I certainly intend to work on him
along that line.  In general LG is always reluctant to invest money,
even when it would make emminent sense to do so.  The constant in the
business life of the Kelburn Country Centre, as far as I have been
able to undertand it in 25 years of association with the place, is
that good business talent and ideas have been brought to bear at
Kelburn only to be frustrated by LG's approach and ways of doing
things.  However, in my meetings there this year I detect a new mood
in several of the departments that have new people running them.  This
might get us showers and other things that it would be sensible and
useful to have at Kelburn, but I think we may have to be patient a bit
yet.
That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

AstroScot  writes:

> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
operate the marina?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
 wrote:

>AstroScot  writes:
>
>> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
>> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
>Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
>the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
>there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
>operate the marina?

Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)


Cheers Mike 8-{>

--
UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
TRA  #3207 L1
-=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
-=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Mike Roberts wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>  wrote:
> 
> >AstroScot  writes:
> > 
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
> > 
> > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > people who operate the marina?
> 
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)

Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...

Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)

On Jun 28, 7:39 pm, Mike Roberts 
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>
>  wrote:
> >AstroScot  writes:
>
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> >Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
> >the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
> >there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
> >operate the marina?
>
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Cheers Mike 8-{>
>
> --
> UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
> TRA  #3207 L1
> -=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
> -=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
> Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Thanks for that information Mike.  When you say "leisure centre" do
you mean the swimming pool, etc. at Barrfields, near the Vikingar
Centre in Largs?

Yours aye, John B.

On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Mike Roberts wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
> >  wrote:
>
> > >AstroScot  writes:
>
> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > > people who operate the marina?
>
> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>
> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
aquatic living.

Yours ever, John B.

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:52:22 -0700, AstroScot
 wrote:

>On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Mike Roberts wrote:
>> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>> >  wrote:
>>
>> > >AstroScot  writes:
>>
>> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
>> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>>
>> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
>> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
>> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
>> > > people who operate the marina?
>>
>> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
>> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
>> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>>
>> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>>
>> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
>direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
>of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
>aquatic living.

The aquatic ancestry has certainly been useful at a couple of IRWs
down the years.



-- 
Darren J Longhorn    http://www.geocities.com/darrenlonghorn/
NSRG #005            http://www.northstarrocketry.org.uk/
/UKRA #1094 /L2 /RSO http://www.ukra.org.uk/

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

> Hello everyone.
> 
<snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>

> Your ever,
> John B.

Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)

I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog 
flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the 
complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from 
Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically 
just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem 
to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though 
we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.

Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.

Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called 
Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very 
spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!

It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has 
extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a 
few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing 
facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the 
moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry 
in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition, 
which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)

I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so 
you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you 
smile, it made me smile.

Best regards, 

-- 
/home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

On Jul 9, 4:02 am, Kevin Cave <kevin@!removemen0w!scarygliders.net>
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:17:14 -0700, AstroScot wrote:
> > Hello everyone.
>
> <snip lots of exciting IRW2k7 stuff>
>
> > Your ever,
> > John B.
>
> Greetings John! Nice to see you posting to UTR :)
>
> I'm still debating whether to go this year or not. It's a bit of a slog
> flying from Japan to Scotland (literally a 24hr journey mostly due to the
> complete and criminal unavailability of flights directly to and from
> Glasgow "International" Airport and Japan), and me and mine practically
> just got here in the Land Of The Rising Mutated Sea Lizards. I can't seem
> to bring up any enthusiasm for the journey again this year - even though
> we have a return journey which would take us back to Heathrow from Narita.
>
> Oh well - I'll be there for IRW2k8, that's for sure.
>
> Speaking of the IRW, quite near the town where I live is a place called
> Miyakoji Green Park, and - apart from the lack of the seaside - very
> spookily could be an almost exact doppelganger of Kelburn Country Center!
>
> It too has plenty of field space suitable for model rockets, has
> extensive catering facilities (including a licensed bar!) It even has a
> few horses to frighten the life out of, and has camping space AND washing
> facilities too! I may try to begin a Rocket Weekend there, but, at the
> moment I'm trying to find out what the regulations are for model rocketry
> in Japan, so any new event would start out as an Aquajet competition,
> which I'm sure folks would enjoy ;)
>
> I'll post pictures of the place up on my website in the near future so
> you can have a look. I'm sure the similarities with Kelburn will make you
> smile, it made me smile.
>
> Best regards,
>
> --
> /home/kcave/.pan2/UTR.txt

Dear Kevin.
Excellent to hear from you.  I do appreciate your point about the very
long distance, and inconvenient airline routing, involved in a journey
back to Scotland for IRW 2007, particularly as you, Toko and Felix
have only been in Japan for a few months.  If you can't make it this
year there is as you say IRW 2008.

Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I am intriqued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have
all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the
sea as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow.
Visions of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and
rocketeers thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at
school are we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace,
excitements and anxieties of the IRW.

Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at
Miyakoji Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I
look forward to seeing your pictures.

In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.

John B.

On Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:42:28 -0700, AstroScot wrote:

<snip>
> Rick is now up in Scotland to recuperate, and I expect to see him for
> the next SARA Launch Meeting on 21st July, and at the IRW.

I was glad to hear that Rick is recovering after his treatment.

> 
> I am intrigued by this Miyakoji Green Park that you mention, and
> describe as an Oriental doppleganger (what is the Japanse word for
> that?) to Kelburn Castle & Country Centre.  It certainly seems to have

Seems to be no direct Japanese for "doppleganger", but there is for 
"identical" - "onaji" , or "similar" - "hitoshii" ;)

> all the attributes of our own dear green place, except of course the sea
> as you mention.  What would make it otherwise complete, from your
> description of the palce, is a Japanese version of Lord Glasgow. Visions
> of an Alban-Oriental version of The Mikado, with rockets and rocketeers
> thrown in come to mind......Three little rockets made at school are
> we..... (with apologies to the shades of Messrs. G & S)

LOL and *groan* at the same time ;)

> 
> It is interesting that there should be a park in Japan resembling
> Kelburn.  Japanese gardens and parks are after all renowned for their
> sense of serenity, and that is very much part of the feeling I have
> always had at Kelburn when there on my own, after the pace, excitements
> and anxieties of the IRW.

We live in Fukushima prefecture, which is an area of Japan which isn't as 
densely populated as, say, the Kanto area. This area is more mountainous 
and agricultural than industrial. The specific area where we live, 
Tamura, is a bit like a scaled up version of around the Loch Lomond area 
- lots of mountains and hills - the difference being that the mountains 
and hills here are covered in dense vegetation - trees, vines, etc. 
Miyakoji
Green Park is basically tamed hillside/mountain, and kind of "Kelburn-
ised" if you'll excuse the language bastardisation I have just commited :P

There are a few acres of more conventional farmland around the area. 
There are even ponies to terrify with sounds of model rocket engines. ;)
There is one sheep there, for some reason. Kept in a small pen surrounded 
by a very tall fence - which I suspect may be to prevent bears from 
eating it (we live near bear territory).

> 
> Good luck in your enquiries about model rocketry regs. in Japan.  It
> would be good if you were able to run a Rocket Weekend there at Miyakoji
> Green Park - maybe we could twin the event with the IRW.  I look forward
> to seeing your pictures.
> 

I'll try to get loads of pictures for my website as soon as I can - I'm 
busy with lots of things here at the moment, and the weather's not been 
so great - quite rainy (it is rainy season here), and as I type there's a 
rather large Typhoon on its way towards the Japanese archipelago, so 
things might get a tad interesting over the weekend ;)

> In the meantime, warmest regards to you, Toko and Felix.
> 
> John B.

Thanks, I'll pass the sentiments on.

Regards

-- 
Kevin Cave.
"I can put wings on that."
http://scarygliders.net

AstroScot  writes:

> The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> mitigate this.

If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
showers?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

Chris Eilbeck wrote:

> AstroScot  writes:
>
> > The other change is in relation to what Kelburn is charging this
> > year.  This is obviously less helpful, but I am doing my best to
> > mitigate this.
>
> If they're gonna charge more, is there any way they could provide
> showers?
>
> Chris
> --
> Chris Eilbeck
> MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
> UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
> Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

A very good point Chris, and not made for the first time.  Others have
raised it, and I have suggested this to the Kelburn management several
times over the years.  It would be good not just for the IRW, it would
upgrade Kelburn as a camping/caravaning venue in general and bring in
more business.  I'm no Allan Sugar, or Richard Branson, but this has
always seemed a credible proposition to me.  Actually Lord Glasgow
asked me about this very idea  a couple of years back, and I gave him
a positive response along the lines above, but in a bit more detail.
Nothing came of it.  I don't think there is much chance of showers
appearing at Kelburn in time for IRW 2007, but, there is a new
business manager there, who was once the Head Ranger (1989 to 1994)
when the IRW was  a much smaller affair.  In meeting with him this
year I've tried to explain to him how the event has developed since
his previous time working at Kelburn.  He is a bit more (no, in fact a
lot more) business like than Lord Glasgow, and I think that once he
sees the size of the camping population at the IRW and for the number
of days it involves for some poeple (that is if potential particpants/
campers are not put off this year)  he could become convinced of the
need to put showers in, particularly as you say if they are going to
charge punters more to camp there.  I certainly intend to work on him
along that line.  In general LG is always reluctant to invest money,
even when it would make emminent sense to do so.  The constant in the
business life of the Kelburn Country Centre, as far as I have been
able to undertand it in 25 years of association with the place, is
that good business talent and ideas have been brought to bear at
Kelburn only to be frustrated by LG's approach and ways of doing
things.  However, in my meetings there this year I detect a new mood
in several of the departments that have new people running them.  This
might get us showers and other things that it would be sensible and
useful to have at Kelburn, but I think we may have to be patient a bit
yet.
That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

AstroScot  writes:

> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?

Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
operate the marina?

Chris
-- 
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew                              http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2                                                UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527                                          LSMR

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
 wrote:

>AstroScot  writes:
>
>> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
>> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
>Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
>the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
>there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
>operate the marina?

Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)


Cheers Mike 8-{>

--
UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
TRA  #3207 L1
-=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
-=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Mike Roberts wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>  wrote:
> 
> >AstroScot  writes:
> > 
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
> > 
> > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > people who operate the marina?
> 
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)

Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...

Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)

On Jun 28, 7:39 pm, Mike Roberts 
wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>
>  wrote:
> >AstroScot  writes:
>
> >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers at
> >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> >Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones in
> >the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?  Is
> >there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the people who
> >operate the marina?
>
> Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Cheers Mike 8-{>
>
> --
> UKRA #1208 L2 RSO             EARS # 1118
> TRA  #3207 L1
> -=*=- Gravity is a harsh Mistress -=*=-
> -=*=-          The Tick           -=*=-
> Remove .co.uk from Reply To: address.

Thanks for that information Mike.  When you say "leisure centre" do
you mean the swimming pool, etc. at Barrfields, near the Vikingar
Centre in Largs?

Yours aye, John B.

On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
> Mike Roberts wrote:
> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
> >  wrote:
>
> > >AstroScot  writes:
>
> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>
> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
> > > people who operate the marina?
>
> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>
> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>
> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
aquatic living.

Yours ever, John B.

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:52:22 -0700, AstroScot
 wrote:

>On Jun 29, 12:19 am, "Richard Parkin" <a...@b.c> wrote:
>> Mike Roberts wrote:
>> > On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:08 +0100, Chris Eilbeck
>> >  wrote:
>>
>> > >AstroScot  writes:
>>
>> > >> That's a bit of a long reply to your point Chris, but I thought it
>> > >> useful to give you and eveyone else the background to the showers
>> > at >> Kelburn question, i.e. why aren't there any?
>>
>> > > Ach well, thanks for trying.  I know some people have used the ones
>> > > in the marina before now.  How easy is this?  Do you have to pay?
>> > > Is there some sort of arrangement between IRW/Kelburn and the
>> > > people who operate the marina?
>>
>> > Last year I took to going for a swim at the leisure centre. I got a
>> > swim and a shower for a couple of quid. You wouldnt necesarrily have
>> > to swim but you would need a costume as the showers are poolside ;0)
>>
>> Some of us are hairy enough to not require a swimming costume...
>>
>> Oh dear... even I found that to be a distasteful image ;)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>Slightly off topic Richard, but it has been suggested that the
>direction, lay and pattern of human body hair is evidence in support
>of the idea that the human species had in its history a period of
>aquatic living.

The aquatic ancestry has certainly been useful at a couple of IRWs
down the years.



-- 
Darren J Longhorn    http://www.geocities.com/darrenlonghorn/
NSRG #005            http://www.northstarrocketry.org.uk/
/UKRA #1094 /L2 /RSO http://www.ukra.org.uk/