Been waiting to get back down at martello tower for ages and this Sunday the weather was perfect for a day out kiting on the beach at Martello tower.I met up with young Pete,Stuart,Dee and Danny and started to open up the sealife theme cases,Pete already had up his multi coloured octopus which looked great from the main road as I drove in,and soon I had a few things up to go with it.It was such a good day that I put up everything in the two cases that i took with me all but a crab and a fish.It was a superb display that filled the blue sky with colour and movement,the public was soon all sitting on the wall watching us and asking all sorts of question,where,how much etc...some even asked if we was collecting for a charity which I think we will do on the next times we fly there..'children in need' or my wifes idea to give to 'save the bears' but which ever it goes to will be good.
It was not long befor Danny,Stuart and Dee turned up and it was not long before Stuart said 'Hey Rob look what I made' I'm sure he is an elf working in santas workshop knocking out all sorts of kiting items...anyway he pulled open a round fish windsock and after I had a look thought 'hes getting too good at this' then he pulled out a bigger bag and out of that came an all black sled around the size of a Premier 36...Wow Stuart thats superb,I lent him a line and up it went,after a few seconds it settled into postition and stayed stable in the sky,he was real proud of his first single line item and looked so chuffed,well done mate its great to see you branching out into mine and pete's area of kiting.
All day Dee was saying to me 'hey Rob stop putting up so much cos all Stu keeps saying is I'm gonna make one of them' through the day Dee and Stuart also set up thier quads the pink and the rev 1 which I had to have a go on in the afternoon when the crowds were at there most and gave me the chance to interact with them and the rev1..
Danny got up his delta and I gave him a few bits to add on the line so he was happy,we even got the lobster out and it went up with the help of the large Premier fish without a tangle...until the clip slipped up the line to the fish above and both come down,lucky it was not too bad of a tangle and after a few minutes up they went again right until we packed up for the day.Flying back at the tower made me remember just how nice it is there for us single line flyers and until it gets busy again on the beach thats where I will be unless I am having a quad day then I will go up the Haven with the other quad flyers.The tower has loads more public there to enjoy our hobby and the kids I give out kites too just love flying them and always say a big thanks at the end when giving them back.
I can't wait till next weekend down at the tower and had some public request that the food theme be flown,so that will be there next week weather permitting as will loads of other items.Thanks to Stuart, Dee and Danny for helping me pack away it always helps and gave me that extra time to have a last end of the day chat with you all before heading home,we left as the sun was going down and I left with a boost to my hobby of kiting cos when you get days like this it makes you know why you fly kites with your friends..
E.K.G christmas meet 2009
I had been looking forward to getting together with the Essex kite group again and the christmas fly and dinner day was just the sort of thing I love.Colin gave myself and Nippa a lift to the Wicks country park where the venue for the fly was held,and even though it was raining real hard all the way down I didn't care cos I knew that the E.K.G had arranged for the pavillion to be opened for us on the day so we had somewhere warm and dry to retreat to if we needed.
We arrived just past ten and could see a number of cars parked at the gate and was informed that the key holder was running late but would be there very soon as he was.After all the greetings we got into the pavillion and Kelly and her helpers got busy setting up a grand table of christmas grub ready for later and made cup after cup of hot chocolate,tea and coffee for all,kiters were busy in the extra space in the pavillion setting up their rev's then getting then set up on lines outside,the rain had stopped now and a clear patch of sky stayed over the field for most of the day,allowing us to go in and out for a fly throughout the day when we liked.Like always I made a effort to get into something to make em laugh and my snowman outfit did just that as I came out the loo's after changing and entered through the doors,I was not the only fool to go the whole hog and Stuart had made a Elf outfit with big ears and all,Dee looked lovely in her red christmas outfit and many others were wearing hats,lights,reindeer antlers and then there was old Humbug Gareth all in black with his humbug hat ...lol it was a great feeling knowing we all were there to have fun.
I didn't take a lot with me just my rev 1 vented and my indoor air-yo which was well used in the hall by Nippa and myself,but that was enough as the time flew by and soon we were all round the table munching down on all the nice grub Kelly and friends had laid out,not only was there all this food but in the centre of the table was a big old cake for Ernie and Sandra as it was their 40th wedding anniverary so after a toast to them and the cutting of the cake,flashing camera and cheers it was back out on the revs for the afternoon,I went out in the snowman suit and flew the rev 1 most of the time blind as the head of the snowman got blown forward in the wind and the eyeholes was down near my nose,Colin got a great bit of video that I know the I -quad team will like seeing later as well as all my kiting friends hopefully I will get it done after this write up and add it here later.
A nice surprise visit from Jeanie and Keith and their dog Fury made the day as I hadn't seen them for most of the year and reminded me what great friends I have made in the kiteworld,more flying and more drinks and food all through the afternoon until around 3ish when the sky darkened over again,soon it was black as soot and the heavens were about to open just as the last rev was rushed off the field and into the pavillion it came down in buckets..we all got wet getting to the cars and heading off to our second bit of fun for the day,the christmas lunch.
Stuart and myself said we were going in the pub in the festive get ups and what a laugh we gave all inside,well nearly all except the miserable young barman who couldn't even crack a grin when I ordered a fosters and a snowball in my snowman outfit,he would have been well suited in Gareths bah humbug hat.Kids were waving calling out to the snowman,tugging on him and getting photos while the poor old elf was getting no attention at all... ho ho ho. One little girl didn't leave the snowman alone and asked mum if she could take him home :) it was so great and wish i had thought of taking some little treats with me for all the kids.Drinking my drink was no problem as I made a small hole in one of the snowmans coal mouth bits and drank me fosters through a straw,,,and when I went to the loo's I walked in and stood next to an irishman who looked round and shouted 'be jesus I talt I was drunk' lol the snowman was a hit all round in the pub and soon we was called for our meal so I had to take it off for a while.Thats was even scarier seeing me with a 'bad snowman hair day' the meal was exellent hot,cooked nice and very filling couldn't fault it one little bit it was the best carvery I have had anywhere,which made the day perfect to the end.
After the meal it was back on with the snowman and elf and more waving and dancing with the kids and rather drunk adults,must admit got a few comments outside when I went for a fag not often you see a snowman smoking...or drinking infact.But I did my best not to let the kids see the naughtier side of the snowman,well the day came to an end and we all said our goodbye and thanks to Kelly and the E.K.G for a fantastic,wonderful and memorable day out in their part of the world so.....THANKS TO
Kelly and Gareth and all the E.K.G members for the day and to Colin for the lift it was superb.
Seal of approval
When I got my last new item in my kite bag which was the superb plane from David Holt I also asked him to make me some seals and this week I got the package through the post and on the first sunny day(which we havn't had many)I went over to the green to get a quick test fly done and to make a video.The seals are fab and I got three,one in white,one in grey and the last one in blue,gotta say I like the grey and white best but all three do nice either on a line or from a pole near the ground.
David is a superb designer and well worth having on your shopping list of places to get things,although you can get some of his designs from shops,like the dogs that are made by Premier,I like to get David to make mine himself and all my David Holt items are done by him.I dont know if I can say what he has plans for next but its something I have been waiting for for a long time and is on my list of 'my next item' so get one done Dave asap for me.....
The seals are to be going into a NEW THEME called 'Iceage' along with the seals will be killer whale,snowman,penguins and anything else that lives in the snowlands....So thanks Dave and I look forward to getting the new item soon from you and any other ideas I get that you can build for me...
Sunday Jan 17th was the day we were due to help out the hindu festival but it was cancelled due to the winter weather last week,so instead I decided to still go down to the Martello tower with Peter,Stuart and Dee all flying single line kites and the odd rev,and we had the great company of Danielle,Harry and their dad our ground crew for the day,(as well as my tea urn,thanks).
So my day started off at 9.20 after loading the car with my kite bags and headed towards the tower,sky was blue and bright sunshine so things were looking good.I was first to arrive so had the choice of parking spot,and the first thing I wanted to get up was my banner which I had written on ''kiting 4 the people of Haiti'' and the collection bucket was popped into the sand,by the time I had these sorted walkers were asking what I was doing and what the sign was about.Most said they would come back later with friends and nieghbours which by the crowds later I think that they did.
It was just after getting my banner up and the car emptied that young Pete came rolling up in his car,''looking like a good day Rob'' in his happy voice,we both have been waiting for a sunny day for our kiting and today couldn't have been better,I thought.We both decided where and what lifters would go where and I borrowed Pete's sled 81 as the wind was quite light,both lifters went up and we went about our own bags putting items on the lines,while behind us the crowd was building up to mega portions and the sound of coins hitting the empty bucket.
Next to greet us was Stuart and Dee which I am geting to wonder what he has been making at home while the bad weather has been around,it was not long before I see the spikey pig(you can read how this was made by Stuart in the kite lab) then Dee showed me her bamboo and silk butterfly she has had since xmas but not flown,and Stuart opened another bag containing some fighter kites he made while in his sick bed,we talked about kite making and other kiting topics throughout the day and then he said ''hang on Rob I got something else to show you''out came a 26 foot china octopus for under £40,I keep seeing these on E-bay and mean to get some soon so it was great to see him with his new purple one and see it fly superbly in the air.Will order mine asap but in the meantime I called over to Stuart and shouted ''have you seen my ''Willy'' then pointing up at the line where my new Colors in motion boy was flying,another inflatable I can highly recommend,with only the one bridle line this is tangle free and flys well on a line.Terry turned up on the beach and flew his rev,he had a long chat with everyone as it was most of our first time to see him since christmas.
Pete had been busy putting up stuff out of his bags like his lovely parrots,the big red devil and lots of other items,this was not easy for any of us as the wind was dropping from a nice 10 to 0 then it would be a long walk in the sand to relaunch the lifters,but worse kites was my penguin,elephant,guitar which in the end i took down and replaced with something that would stay up a bit longer,so I got out a 36 sled and hung on the seals I got from Dave Holt and the smaller penguin and Petes most wanteed inflatable from my bag the gecko.The wind was annoying us all so we had an hour break chatting to each other and the public until around 1'ish when the wind decided to stay a nice steady 10mph until around 3pm when we packed up.
Many others turned up like Mark from the skf and Harry,Danielle and their dad who helped with all the packing and carrying the bag to the car and then had a long walk to theirs as when they arrived it was packed and car parking was nowhere to be had,all seemed to have a great time as we chatted by the loaded cars ready to call it a day..I did manage to get a fly on Stuart's rev 1 and did my usual tricks with the public and kids on the beach,screams of laughter as the rev walked in the sand and the kids laid down allowing the kite to walk over them,I do so like interacting with kites and people it shows them just how controllable the quads are.
So that was the days flying over and I said my thanks and goodbyes to everyone and headed off home with quite a heavy collection bucket,we had a look in it and shook it around and all had a guess of how much we thought was in there,£40 to £75 was the guessed range but when the wife counted it when I got home it turned into a superb £220.26p I was amazed at the collection from the people of Clacton on sea and send my thanks to each and every one of you that put money in the bucket,even the 'early learning centre' plastic money made me chuckle when counting it....
I and the Martello flyers will try and be at the tower every Sunday until the beach gets too busy so please pop down and have a chat,fly a kite and see what new things we have in our kite bags,but always remember that children and kite lines can be dangerous so please try and keep your children away from the lines and ask one of us to help you get that great photo of our kites with your kids to remember your day with us.
Again BIG thanks to my friends for the support on this memorable days flying.
Next to greet us was Stuart and Dee which I am geting to wonder what he has been making at home while the bad weather has been around,it was not long before I see the spikey pig(you can read how this was made by Stuart in the kite lab) then Dee showed me her bamboo and silk butterfly she has had since xmas but not flown,and Stuart opened another bag containing some fighter kites he made while in his sick bed,we talked about kite making and other kiting topics throughout the day and then he said ''hang on Rob I got something else to show you''out came a 26 foot china octopus for under £40,I keep seeing these on E-bay and mean to get some soon so it was great to see him with his new purple one and see it fly superbly in the air.Will order mine asap but in the meantime I called over to Stuart and shouted ''have you seen my ''Willy'' then pointing up at the line where my new Colors in motion boy was flying,another inflatable I can highly recommend,with only the one bridle line this is tangle free and flys well on a line.Terry turned up on the beach and flew his rev,he had a long chat with everyone as it was most of our first time to see him since christmas.
So that was the days flying over and I said my thanks and goodbyes to everyone and headed off home with quite a heavy collection bucket,we had a look in it and shook it around and all had a guess of how much we thought was in there,£40 to £75 was the guessed range but when the wife counted it when I got home it turned into a superb £220.26p I was amazed at the collection from the people of Clacton on sea and send my thanks to each and every one of you that put money in the bucket,even the 'early learning centre' plastic money made me chuckle when counting it....