Monthly Archive for August, 2002

Leaving the Police Station about 5 (as an employee rather than a customer), I set out to drive from Lincoln to Nottingham only impeded by the heavy traffic on the A52. Rather than a campsite the venue was the Nottingham university rugby pitches, with the pavilion providing the base. Despite a crisis with Legionairres two before the start, it started well.

Friday evening was spent around the campfire (aka fine leg of the cricket field) burning pallets (aka seats). After a long days work, and not drinking I disappeared off to bed just after midnight only to be waken about 4 am by over eager campers going to bed. As I could not get back to sleep I went for a walk in Beeston, would have driven but the gates were locked. After returning and sitting in the car for a hour or so listening to the radio, the breakfast crew were appearing.

Saturday morning was spent chairing the SSAGO reps meeting in the home team dressing room, which was not really designed for a meeting. After about an hour the meeting ended the next hour was spent waiting for the rest to return from the Treasure hunt around the campus. As usual the afternoon was spent going around Nottingham with various activities, I choose rowing on the lake. After perfecting my frizebeeing and knbckering my knee, we worked over to the on campus lake for an row on the lake, followed by a swift ice cream before returning to the site and a quick drink in the Sticky Pitcher.

After negioating the security fence we returned to the site, before going to meet everyone else at the union for the evening meal. The Student Union was used for the meal, and the barn dance with Gold being the theme as it was the 50th anniversary of Snogs (Nottingham). After a long session, including the SSAGO Exec doing a karoke version of “America Pie” – don’t ask the campers returned to the site for the camp fire.

On Sunday morning I had another early start with a drive to buy papers, then realising I did not actually know where the site was relative to the rest of Nottingham. As is the custom with summer rallies, much water was involved with the silly games. After the closing ceremony most people disappeared home.

Written by Martin Whelan