Skunks news page 1
Skunks news page 1
The new look kite den
As you can see the kite den is going through some major changes,from the new colour template to some 
brand new pages.Yes it looks a bit bare at the moment but with in a few weeks I will soon have it filled back up with videos,news,sales and many other items for your enjoyment.If you have any ideas that you think the kite den needs then use the forum to let me know and where possible I will get it up.The reason for this major clean was that when I first got my 'Mr site'web site I did a lot of uploads wrong and quickly use up my aloud web space but I have now got the grip of the uploading in the right sizes and formats I will be able to put up loads more stuff.The kite den will be more family friendly so that all ages can look at what my hobby is all about and to see some of the wonderful kites that I own and have seen over the years.
If your local (essex) and want to come and see us flying and try some kite out for yourselves then look in the forum at where we will be next and pop along...everyones welcome.The guest book now does not show your e-mail address which did put some people off using it,so now you can leave your comments there,if you would like to be contacted when new items have been added to the kite den the use the mailing list on the welcome page and I will send out the lastest news to you.And if you would like to buy any thing from the sales page use the kite den contact link (on the welcome page) Other than these slight changes things are going to be as fun as before and I hope you enjoy the kite den and all that has to offer you....
Bee-having at the Haven
Sunday 28th september and we had arranged to have a fly up at Holland haven,when I arrived Colin and 
Bruce was there waiting for the wind to return,the revs were laying on the ground and a cup of tea in the hand did not look good.I had with me my bee theme and revs so I set up the light wind rev 1,this has 3 wrap leading edge and 2 wrap down spars in it making it very light and flexible which turned out that I used it all day even when the wind got up a little.I knew that the inflatable bee would be the star of the day as it likes very light winds to fly in but this time I was going to use it to lift the buzzing bee's as well,I used my line that come with the Nick James flock of birds and after a while it was up,and soon later nine buzzy bees under it.I made up some lines for more bees and tied the inflatable honey pot to the post near by,a little later a bear was added to the group and the bouncing bear heads attached to the line,it looked real nice and stayed up all day even when the revs wouldn't fly.
On the ground
was all the little bees and spinning flowers that was also in the case and at one point the spinning flower were fixed to my rev for a fun flying moment much to Colins and Bruces amusement.We spent time flying the revs together (note we don't say team fly) we fly for fun and just do stuff together and don't take the hobby as serious as other we see do.As the day went by many people came and looked at the bee theme and I gave away a couple of the little ground bees to some kids with there dad who was most thankful,later on Pete came along and joined in the flying and I must say he is getting pretty good with the rev for the time he has had it and even joined in the group flying which was great to see.I can see Pete having loads of kites soon as the hobby grabs him making hiom another kite addict on the field.
All in all even with the light wind in the morning it was a great sunday fly with friends I love to fly with,lets just hope this weather clears away for next weekend and we all get another day just like this one,the week after is 'one sky one world' at Rougham Suffolk (12th october) so book that on your calenders to pop up and see its a great day out for you and the kids.....
Something for you and the kids
There is one thing about St Osyth village that I love and that is how many
people take part in events though out the year whether its the village flower show,fetes,dog show,music festival or many of the other events that people in the village organise,and this one coming up soon has become very popular.Halloween night at a house that goes all out to give you a great evening of spine tingling horror.
I drove past it last year but didn't go in and afterwards wished that I had,ok I ain't a kid but I do like to support the local events that do things for charity,this one is for 'Dream 100 kids trust'.I read the feedback from last years and it was all good everyone loved it and said that they will be going along this year,and that means me and the wife too.So if you want a treat for your little en's why not pop along and see what horrors await you at this fun evening event.
As I missed out going to Rougham's one sky one world I was determined to get a fly today,I phoned Colin as I knew he is off work for a few days and asked if he was up for a fly at the tower,he said yes and would be there around 1 pm.I went down earlier and had the chance for a fly with my rev 1 and to set up the balloon game that I have been wanting to video for ages.
go at the worst quad kite I have to fly,'flys like a pig' is the best term for it,I didn't think that Colin would get it in the air but he made it look easy and the smile on his face just proved to me that he thought it was a fun kite to mess around with.Later I told him that I had something else he would enjoy and set about putting together the Hukkuna made by Didakites,this small quad is so much fun in the higher wind and as it has picked up on the beach it was a good time to let Colin have the handles.It is a very good flying kite for its size and Colin agreed it was well worth the £60 that it cost,OK its very small but very well packaged with its own tiny quad handles and line all in the very nice designed bag,well worth having in your quad collection.At the end of the day Alistair came along and said would we be flying at the tower more now the beach is empty,yep for sure I do like it at the tower when the winds right even though that sand gets everwhere,anyway the days flying had come to an end and hunger was driving me to get off home,it was a blast today with Colin and made up for me missing the Rougham day,but hey when its on your doorstepp why go elsewhere,till next time have fun out there......
Light up the sky (L.U.T.S)
For those of you that don't know in the kite world we have a november event that we call L.U.T.S this involves putting all sorts of lights on our kites,meeting up with friends and having some hot chocolate and fun.
This year we are going to be at FRINTON on NOVEMBER 5th between 6pm till late (wind permitting)the locals at Frinton love seeing our kites in the day time but this will be even more spectacular with lights on single line static kites and on our revolutions,if you and the kids are looking for that alternative firework night then pop down to the green with your sparklers and join in on the fun,this is a free display to show the public what L.U.T.S is all about.
I use all types of lights the bright leds are the best but we also use chemical snap lights,bike lights and 
anything else that the kites can lift into the air,the revoultion kites are a quad kite that can be flown in all directions and even hover and here is my one from last year that I was flying,these amazing red,white and blue lights fly 120 feet up in the air spinning and floating around looking like strange u.f.o's in the sky.
Mark your calenders for this great night out and come and talk to the kiters about their hobby of kite flying and what else we all get up to with our kites,as usual the kite den will follow this item up with a report and video for you to see after the event but its much more fun to be there in person to enjoy the full spectacular light show.........all welcome.
Please note...there are kite lines everywhere so if you can please keep on the slip roads or to the outside of the green this will help us keeping your kids safe from our kite lines and also stop any damage being done to our kites ...thank you
Sunday 19th at Frinton
The weather was pretty overcast and a chill in the air but the turn out of flyers was 
superb,Colin,Bruce,Pete,Stuart,Terry,Rob and old pete with his family.The wind was blowning quite hard when I left the house so I took the lady bugs to peg out and my bag of single liners,and once I reached the 'Greens way' at Frinton I could see that Colin was already out on the field flying his revolution,and before long every one else was there.
Pete put up lots of stuff on two sled lines and flew his two liner,while I had up the ribbon box and the dragons while the lady bugs bounced on the grass hill,then I joined the others flying the revs.At one point in the afternoon it 
looked like it would rain and every one helped Pete to get in his 'laundry' while I got my few bits away,but like most times the clouds past through without a drip of rain,so we had some more time on the revs.
It wasn't a greast days flying for me but great to talk to everyone about the L.U.T.S plans for November 5th and it seems every one is keen to take part in some way or another,so it should be a awesome evening weather permitting.
I did get some good photos from today but the video was not good enough to edit up,so not much to say and see about today,just a nice day meeting all the local flyers,must thank Bruce for stopping me to say I had a flat tyre,it was a punture and has been sorted out now.
Till next time see ya.
Lynn & Pete
Novermber 5th L.U.T.S @ Frinton
Whether to go and do the Frinton Light up the sky evening!! I decided it was going ahead as the weather reports look even wetter nearer the weekend but the wind was only in the 10mph for tonight(Ha they got that wrong),but as we say 'he who dares' ...I had told everyone what I was intending to do and I would like to thank everyone for turning up to help make the evening go as well as it did.Five years ago it would have been just me but now with our local group of hard core flyers any excuse and we are out on the field flying,there is always someone to fly with now days which is great to have that company for the tea breaks(fag breaks).
Peter was first on the scene by which time I had quite a lots of stuff all ready up waiting for it to get 
dark,Peter put up a beach shelter ready for his wife and friends to make themselves comfortable for the evening,it seemed ages before anyone else got there but that was cos I went so early.Soon I had up the wind turbine,lots of banner poles,a spinning balloon,premier sled 81 with a huge ammount of lights on,and by now it was just getting dark and more kiting friends were turning up,within a hour everyone was there setting up their light area's,Peter Smith even came along with a bad back but got Lynn his wife to help put out all his display which was superb,two banner poles lit up in blue with two tail with lights in crossing each other off the pole so it looked like a 'X' simple but most effective.
After all the hard work of getting everything ready that god damn wind went and died out just getting up now and agian to 5mph when a small gust blew in,Six revolutions were pegged out waiting for the mega light fly but alsa it was not to happen this night,O.K mega might be a bit strong for just six kites but when was the last time you see six revs lit up all together.I got mine up a couple of times once to a big applause and cheer (thanks but I didn't think it was worth it).
In one way the evning was crap cos no wind but in another we still had a great time with everyone there messing around drinking,eating and having a laugh,loads of public came over to enquire what was happening and when me and Colin wore our light outfits(glow people) it was never ending camera poses for friends and public,from little kids to young sassy girls all saying how awesome we looked,infact it was quite hard for me to get Colin to take his off at the end of the evening...
The items all round the area made it look like Blackpool but it lacked the aerial display to finish it off,we have all decided to try again on Saturday if the weather allows us to and hope to have as much up in the sky as we did on the ground.In all the effert put into it by us all was tremendous and a round of applause to you all,it might have been my brainwave to do the L.U.T.S night but without your support it wouldn't be a snip on what we achieved tonight.
I did manage to get some nice video to show you all what we got up to and some of the pictures are not bad either but keeping fingers crossed we WILL have our night of a spectacular light show in the near future,I think the thing I liked the best out of my things was the 'glow people and my windtrubine and this picture that Bruce shot makes it look even better,thanks for sending the photos Bruce.
For future light up the sky nights I am looking for locals that enjoy Juggling,or anything that can be lit up at night to make even more of a good display,maybe you can light up yourself or have a friend to use night fisbee's with anything thats bright and fun you are welcome to come and join in on the fun and show us your skills with light objects....contact thekiteden@tiscali.co.uk and see when we are next planning a l.u.t.s evening.
As for the people of Frinton thank you for all your nice comments about us and our kites ..we will be back soon.
David Davis...Skydancer
Tuesday 11th November and the kite world has lost another very important person to me.David was one of the kindest gent's in my kite world that I have flown with chatted to and enjoyed his company when ever I met him.His skill with making kites was up there in my top 5 best kites designers,the skydancers in my collection will be even more important and I will fly every year in memory of this fine gent.God bless David's family,my thoughts go to you all.
"Gone but never forgot"
Congratulations Well done to John and Takako on your engagement may you have many years of happiness together.
More sad news Its with great sadness that I am writting this but news reached me today that another lovely man has passed I would like to thank Gareth Williams for letting me know this sad news....
New tiger kite
These kites from china are not only great to fly and look
away,Andrew Murphy a kiter from the Kent kite flyers and a good friend of mine died on wednesday 26th November 2008 from cancer.Andrew and me and the wife had some great times together and we both thought Andrew was one of them types of bloke that everyone just likes,I feel so bad that I did not contact him enough through his last months but death and sickness is something that I can't seem to deal with and I seem to bury my head in the sand when ever it happens to someone close to me,I will so miss Andrew around the kite festivals and my deepest sympathy go out to his family and friends.
As tony the tiger would say IT'S GRRRRRRRRREAT and its BIG 18 feet long by 4.5 wide,some sparring is needed to be inserted ,1 down spar and 3 cross spars and also 1 flexi spar at the tigers ears,watch out for the ferruls as the fall off so have your super glue ready for when you get this tiger kite and glue on all the ferruls before taking it out or you might just lose one or two bits,these are all silly little things that all can be fixed in a jiffy.
Well after the above article this one is at the other end of the spectrum,but thats ok cos this time of year is quiet in the kite world and it will give me a chance to talk about alot of things that bug me....well some I won't have time for them all
The winter is my worst time of year cold,wet and hardly any good flying days so a parcel through the post with your latest kite item in it is a boost on to them summer days when kite flying is a joy,and I was already buzzing from the tiger kite.So when I got a call from Pete saying the sharks from Gombergs had arrived I couldn't wait to get to see one in the air.It wasn't long before I was round Pete and Lynn's house having a nice cup of tea and talking kites with Pete.Like two boys geting their christmas presnt's (which mine is from the wife,ta love) we started to look at the sharks,as always if Pete and myself get the same kites we at least get a different colour as we fly together a lot and in the sharks case it was a beautiful blue for Pete and mine is in the grey version.In the house things looked ok and we both liked the colours it was about now that Pete brought up the subject of .....arggg I can't even write it ...arggg DUTY ...that word just makes me cringe and brings me to my first moan subject.....
Imports.....This is not aimed at anyone in particular as I have delt with many kite traders in America and always had customs and duty on all of the items,its not their faults I know but it does effect them,as we the customers slowly drift away from that added expence sometimes up to 50% of the items value when the kites from China,uk,germany,spain seem to get away with it???and thats how it should be in my view,ok add on that p/p and vat but when it comes to my door,which when there is duty on a item you have to get back from postal services after paying so it don't even reach your door.I hate it hate it hate it.....
Calm down...(first rant over) lets get back to them sharks while my bloods boiling (LOL) As the subject of the extra cost past we was just putting the sharks back in the bags when Pete got to the tail on his and remarked on the deflation zip,"yeah mate handy for those heavier wind days"but then reaching the end of my sharks tail with not a zipper in sight.."I ain't got one Pete",we had a look at the tails and could see that the zip was left out of mine,"strange" said Pete O well thats ok I thought and pack it away in its bag,reading the gomberg detail tag again me and Pete laugh at the discription "A delation zipper in the tail assures easy take down" a picture of me straddling the shark after flight getting him deflated was in my brain when laughing I don't know what Pete was laughing at though...Maybe the miss spelling on the tag.
(Notice the stoved in nose never could get it right out)
I had arrange to meet Bruce up the Haven at 11.30 and Pete said he would get up there for 1pm to test his shark and as my line would be up he only had to hang his shark on that,by the time Pete had got there Bruce and me was finding fault after fualt with my shark and couldn,t wait to get Petes on the line to compare them together,it was like 'spot the difference'.In the meanwhile while puting up the other shark Pete was saying how he felt that his shark was a used one as it had many tell tell signs on the shark to get to this opinion....knots and loops in the bridle.....scuff mark on the bridle...carabina clips left on....marks on kite and so on....not a problem the shark needs so much bridle adjustment that it would have to be done anyway and his was inflating better then mine with the already done adjustments.Anyway the more we looked the more we found here is the list
Item blue shark grey shark
Deflating zipper yes no
Red sail in mouth o yes
Carabina clip 2 none
Eyes large small
New/used used new
That was the things we found that were difference between the two sharks but my other hate is shoddy work and this to me was in that catagory,it could have been such a nice shark but with its tacky finish it looks more like a kite I would get from China for £40.But lets go down that list of differences
the zip..advetised as having one so mine is the wrong kite here as its missing.
The red sail.... this flap of red sail I have in mine is where my biggest problem is,not only does the shark 
look like some tart with big red lipstick smudged all round the face I wonder if it should it be there anyway as Petes don't have it and the tag picture don't have it so mine must be wrong on that too!If only the makers had taken a bit of time keeping the red sail and net sewn onto the black boarder line of the mouth(I have tried to show this in my picture of how much neater it would have looked).Also the shark without seems to inflate better and has a better shape in the body but then the cool red mouth can't be seen,because of the red under white it shows through very well and the untidy cut of the sail and if I had a zip I could have got in there and taken the red sail out to look the same as petes..while doing my paint shop picture I found it would look much better with rounder gills like in the picture(imo).And the tail a small change to the same sail as the body and the shark won't look like the tail is added end,small changes in this shark would do it great justice ..it does need a makeover.
Clips....I would have liked two can never have to many carabina clips,do they come with the kite!
Eyes...here we have Petes big old eyes looking great for a shark,my shark has little eyes more like 'come to bed eyes' who's eyes are right!
and last new/used...... well mine looks new and we discussed Petes earier.
feeling a bit deflated (thats a pun) away went the sharks and home we went both agreeing to ask David the answers for these questions,worst of all the wifes on me back to write her view as she is the one its from,,,,,"back woman this is kiters talk" and my p.c is playing up, speak with you later Dave and Susan and don't worry your still on my christmas list YO HO HO...
O dear I got so carried away with the shark I have forgot the rest of my moans.... happy christmas all.
As always with David Gomberg customer service was superb with my mail being answered with in hours and after reading his reply I had a good hard think on whether to return the shark or not,It will incur me more p/p and maybe duty on the exchanged item which made me make up my mind to keep the shark and give it a kite den make over in the 'laboratory'.David answered my questions on the shark and I am happy with the answers from him,I also know from previous David has made the adjustment later after getting feedback from his customers (for instance the lady bug boucers had a reinforce strip added making it perfect) I know doubt will see other sharks with neater mouths in the future.
I think maybe I should have wrote to David before doing the story on the kite den but it would have still read the way it does as I am (IMO)honest with my opinions on a kite that I buy for my hobby,its not just Gomberg ltd that gets a once in a while bad write up,Premier and Revolution have had the skunks opinion on their items as well.Ok next time David instead of poking you in the back I will politely approach you from the front with a smile....I want it known I have and always will use Gombergs as one of my main kite suppliers to the uk its 100% service from David and Susan who keep the hobby alive....
Getting back to the Shark its going to have a dentistry session and then into the rebridle lab and wind tunnel to get that nose out as for the other thing I don't need it,so it will be whipped out and tossed with all the other body bits in the lab in the bits barrel.So look out in the laboratory for SHARK TALE 3 and see whether 'sharky' is pleased with his new look and makes him look fin-tastic in the sky.
Here is the e-mail sent to and recieved from David for the answers I had about the shark....
Thankyou David for the offer but I will keep 'Sharky'.
Dear Rob,
If you are unhappy with the Shark, please return it.
I can refund the $120 to Peter's account or offer you a credit on another purchase.
You raised a number of points in your article and I will try to address them here. If I miss something, please let me know and I will elaborate further.
1) You mention one kite is new and one used.
When we present a new kite, we offer an introductory discount. We also discount things periodically on the Factory or the Update when we have overstocks.
The kite sent to Peter was our photo sample. We used it ourself -- for about ten minutes - and that why that one was discounted. We announce this on the site. If Peter was unhappy, I hope he will let me know.
2) The used kite included the carabiners that were attached for the fly and photo test. We do this as an extra service when we sell kites that have been flown. The standard (new) kite does not include the biners which is why you didn't get any.
3) After testing the kite, we determined that the deflation zipper was completely unnecessary. So we eliminated it from subsequent Shark production. You may have received a tag from one of the original printings and if that tag mis-led you about the zipper, I apologize.
4) We do not produce kites in mass, but rather, make them up individually as we receive orders. We regard this as a benefit to customers that allows us to lower prices by not needing to maintain inventories, and also allows custom orders to be completed in a relatively short time - -usually about two weeks. It also allows us to make improvements in a product as we test and get feedback from fliers. But it also means that not all kites are identical.
With the Shark, we tried attaching a wind flap at the mouth to help sustain inflation. This was added after the first samples were received. Peter's blue was a first edition, your gray was a second edition. You got the flap and he did not.
5) The mesh around the mouth is slightly oversize. As you can imagine, sewing mesh is a bit different than sewing normal fabric. Our designers belive we needed a bit of extra overlap to make sure the stitching held. But I agree that up close with the light behind, this doesn't look ideal. We're working on a solution.
6) We changed the eyes to make the kite look less cartoonish.
7) We can't control import taxes. We can't even warn people what they are going to be since every country is different, they are collected on delivery, and we have no way to determine if they will actually be charged or not.
I get lots of complaints about the taxes in different nations. It seems that rather than be pleasantly surprised when they are not charged, people get upset - with me - when they are. Again -- we have no control over this.
I regularly get requests that we falsify invoices to reduce customs charges. This is a curious request and I wonder what people must think of us when they ask us to break the law. If we are caught falsifying documents, there could be serious consequences. And of course, a box marked as $20 for customs cannot be listed as $200 for insurance.
I'm not at all suggesting you have done any of this, but wanted to give you some additional context.
Finally, I should mention that preparing an overseas shipment takes much longer than a domestic one. We are required to complete eight postal forms when we send a package out of the country. All of these issues are why many firms now simply decline to sell outside the USA.
So -- in conclusion, I'm sorry you are not satisfied. Please return the Shark to us and we'll arrange a credit or a refund.
I hope I've answered your questions. Some of these issues suggest the kite still needs some improvement. And some differences were more simple communication matters. I'm glad you asked. But I also wish you would have informed be before publishing your comments. Please feel free to also publish my response.
Thank you!
David Gomberg
At 05:41 AM 12/12/2008, you wrote:
Hi dave and susan .....just got the shark from peter smith(he ordered two one
for me)and I am sorry to report that there are a lot of things i dont like
about it..all my problems with it are written in the kite den here www.
thekiteden.co.uk click on the latest news to read my views on it,it covers all
thats niggling me about the shark......and maybe you can answer some of the
questions there...anyway dont like it and wish to get some sort of deal with
you on something else...it was going to be on a squid(peter lynn mini)but i
dont think you got any left?but read my article and let me know what we can
do...thanks hoping you and susan are in good health and looking forward to the
hols.....
by the way dave this computer is on the blink so if i come offline for a while
thats why...
2008 End of a year 2009
Thats it its all over,all the christmas madness and new years parties have been and gone and I can start looking forward to the summer days of flying in the warm breeze in shorts and t-shirt.This year has been good for me as I am very happy being with my wife and we are both in good health and for me that makes up for any other problems that come our way.Through the year I have met more kiters and made more friends from the hobby of kiting and of course the kite bags have got a little bit fatter,cant see many kites getting in them this year with the credit crunch and the higher bills for 2009 but then I do say that most years and yet somehow a few new items always seem to be aquired,mostly as christmas or birthday presents.
A big thanks goes to me old mate Bruce for all his help over the last year not only in the kite hobby but in lots of other ways that he has got me out of a fix,also to Pete who has had to see in the new year still in poor health and being self employed finding things a little hard I hope you get it all sorted out soon and we see you back on the kite fields with us soon.Our group of flyers grow each year and now there is always someone to have a good days flying with and enjoy there company and try each others kites out.
So what is 2009 going to bring us?well for you kite den fans I will do my very best to bring you more news,video's and pictures from my world of kiting and keep the site as interesting and fresh as I can.As I have said before I am staying away from the festivals this year and doing more local events this will save me lots of money and help me get at least one or two new items for 2009.
December 2008 did bring the wife and I a new member of our family and that is 'Holly' our new dog,I alway hated tiny dogs but the wifes hobby is her dogs so I gave in and let here get the smallest thing I have ever seen her new Chihuahua.The new pup has found new friends with us and our other two dogs Katie and Abby and has settled in very well and after losing our other dog Tia last year it has filled that gap in the wifes life,so from the Skunk and his family we wish you all the health and happiness for 2009.....
