First day (Stewarding)
Wednesday, 5 August 2015 11:03
We are sat here waiting for the first arrival.
Arrived and set up last night, field already pegged out.
Waiting with some anticipation of response from visitors.
Weather is warm but overcast, forecast is somewhat dubious due to low cloud but little rain expected.
People from all over the Country have booked, in fact one person is coming from Scotland.
The grass has been cut and left, it is dry and long, leaving a carpety of straw, I suppose there is never a perfect farmers field..
We were not expecting to steward any “Meet”again this year, but situations change, the arranged stewards were not able to fit it in and there are so few active members left in the club in order to not let all visitors to the “Balloon Fiesta” down Sandra and I stepped in.
Chairman Keith and his wife are also involved and will take over completely from Friday midday.
5 disabled have booked, one tent, one caravan and 3 mobile homes, so I have allotted pitches together near the water tap.
1300 hrs and 10 units parked ok.
One caravan nearly hit the post in a large gateway. I shouted, he was an inch away. Did not know how and which way to reverse, but after some coaxing reversed back on to road holding up traffic up and managed to sign in. He was not a very good driver
I indicated where he should park his van, alongside of the yellow stick marker. Made sure he was happy using his motor mover to make final adjustments then I left to his own decisions. Then attended to another Large motor van towing a caravan, somewhat difficult discussions trying to convey the parking requirements.He was a bit of an anoraks with sharp responses. How ever I left them both reversing into their pitches.
Returning to the van Sandra agreed we had the same sharp relationship with the Anorake.
A while later I viewed the not very confident driver had unhitched his van and parked his car on his neighbours pitch, the Anorake was beginning to raise his hackles , I intervened at the right time. They both seemed a little more relaxed after the stress of their journeys.
We tried to accomdate campers wishes,with their friend and to date all has been well.
The chap who’s mother died on site a few years ago in their caravan
arrived and with his normal chatty self had to be urged on to his pitch, chatting about the nearest source of blackberriesand other wild fruit.
Anyway he continued his conversation about two self addressed envelopes he sent to Annette our booking officer and e mailed her requesting the return.
He mentioned this at the Harbour Festival we Stewarded a couple of weeks ago
I apologised and offered him £1.50, he refused and said £1.00 will be fine.
Quite interesting Stewarding, all different characters, a small motor home arrived.
A Small Motorhome arrived, drivers window remained shut, the woman alighted and performed all the negotiations and I marched off to park them, she negotiated a prefered spot that was ok by me, I gained another pitch. They were very happy facing into the trees,in the corner of the field, I acknowledge him behind the glass he replied with a restricted nod.
A steady flow continued to arrive including our Chairman Keith, he had decided to bring his caravan and stay leaving his wife Rita at home due to previous commitments.
I had done all the pitching today and it was agreed that he would pitch the visitors today with Sandra continuing to check them all in.
The last Caravan of the day arrived, he had a couple of children on boards .His wife proudly proclaimed that this was the first time he had towed a Caravan, he negotiated the gate perfectly and reversed in his allotted pitch with littel difficulty, fat betterbthan some of th proffesional campers previously arrived. He was a natural, but there again he was young and confident.
Two sets of visitors set off from site to view the Suspension Bridge, they arrived back on site nursing bags of fish and chips they bought from a local fish shop, they were also waving leaflets from the shop stating “Free Delivery”.
We had our grandaughter and her boyfriend arriving later for tea so this seemed an easy option to provide them with a meal. Instead of ordering via telephone I opted to visit the local supermarket to buy some beer also. I find the normal offering of fish and chips far too large but this fish shop offered a Senior Citizens portion for 4.00. This seemed to be acceptable so I chose that option. What a surprise, it was just what we wanted a good portion and cooked while I waited, real value for a change.
We waited until past dark, it was late, 3 units had not turned up so we closed the gate and retired nackered from our day of organisational activity and social communication.
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