Reflections on 2014.

Over the past year we have visited quite a few shows and events and shown the flag round the country, so that we are well known now and I think that there is no doubt where Etherow Model Boat Club is situated.

We have had a lot of publicity through the Model Boats magazine with Bob Abell's boat's that he has been building to  Paul Thomason's plan's and had thousands of views and comments there.

 Bob and Paul at Haydock Show.

The current project of Paul's plans and Bob's build.

A Gentleman's Vintage Cruiser, which Bob has called "Lady Joyce" 

to see the complete build click here.

Another view of Haydock Show, club stand

John, Alan and Lawrence

But there again I'm getting in front of myself firstly there was the Ellesmere Model Boat Show, where we had a small stand as it was a late cancellation  and I'm glad to see we will be having a stand there next year!.

We had a stand at Colwyn Bay Show and a very good day was had by all that attended with their boats, and met up with people which we had only perhaps contacted over the internet in the past

Gordon in the background there, but only in the picture, done an excellent job over the past year and already getting set for next year.

We had a re-visit to Lyme Park this year, not many club's have the chance to sail on the lake of a stately home, here is John Senior and George Barratt on the top lake, with his semi scratchbuilt Narra Boat, for which he received First prize in this years awards!.

  

Me, at the lower lake with some of the Abell boats, and very able they were too on the day.

We had a second visit to Poynton Show this year and Exhibition Secretary Gordon say's the organiser's were so please they want us back next year and with 20 tables instead of this years 10, can't be bad !.

Le Comm Alan with one of our newer members John Jones, who this year received First prize Scratchbuild trophy in his first year with us.

On the home front, we had two Quiz and Hot Pot suppers, a nice Venetian night with BBQ and the bar open as usual!.
Thanks to John Davis for his job there every club night.

Dave Lee's Lifeboat, nicely lit up, that would look very good to you in real life coming towards you in your capsized boat wouldn't it.

There were quite a few good talks given by members during the year and here is Geoff giving a talk on his magical boxes to add to your boats innards to make it perform in ways you would never imagine, nice one Geoff.

On the landing stage there was plenty going on this year with a new edging going on the front of the landing.

 Tricky bit here!

The completed job with the Hodgson Patent duck and goose deterrent, which you will have noticed is working very well and though some of the ducks are limboing under the strings the geese are staying off, result an almost duck and goose poo free deck!.

We had a new port for docking the boats added to the equipment this year thanks to Garth, complete with detailed plan for fitting on the day used 

Another addition to the equipment was a motor for the rescue boat.

Here is Dave Lee giving it it's sea trials

Towards the back end of the year we had a shipping container delivered to use as storage instead of the downstairs storage which was just an accident waiting to happen really wasn't it.

Though it's green at the moment it has to be painted Conker Brown to match the yacht one at the side of it, council rules I think, still we have had a donation of the paint and electrical equipment to install lighting from various members to which there has been thanks given in a previous post.

And No there will not be heating installed in case anyone thinks they can squat in it if their wife/partner get's fed up with the dust and muck from boat building! and throws them out.

The container has since been fitted out with shelving thanks to Alan the Comm and Mike the man, then it was like any other storage , filled and full before the end of the day.

At this point I would like to thank; Son John for his support in the upkeep of this site and Bob The Abell for his proofreading of each post, so I don't stand out as an illiterate.
Example;
Bob was un-abell to get to the Awards night so I stood in for him and said photograph me and we will change heads tomorrow, don't know if members knew what I was talking about, but you can see here.

See what I mean about it!.
Thanks to Bob and John for their support, ( I will wear it always).

We had another good event with the Club Christmas dinner held at the same venue as last year, The Hare and Hounds at Werneth Low. Another good DO and plenty of raffle prizes again.

Only the Frostbite sale on the 27th now, hopefully the lake won't be frozen over, we've been lucky the last couple of years, cold but not freezing!.

To all our members and followers.

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Last event.

Saturday,   1100hrs     27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

Club Christmas Dinner 2014

Last night, 2nd December 2014 was the Club Christmas Dinner at the same venue as last year, The Hare and Hounds at Werneth Low.

Luckily the cold weather that had moved in during the day wasn't too bad, as the road up to Werneth Low is quite steep coming in from the Compstall direction, but what a view from the top at the Pub, being a clear night you could see right across most of Greater Manchester, there again it was too cold to stand long admiring the view!.

Everyone at the Do seemed to enjoy themselves, we certainly did at our table.

The Abell Table.

 You moved, Bob!!

 Sec's table.

Lawrence's table

John's table

The Top Table, Commodore Al's

And there you have it, a good time was had by all and there was the usual raffle, thanks to Mike for getting all the prizes for that, there was the usual cry's of  "shake the bag up" after each draw, but that's what it is isn't it, the luck of the draw, I never seem to win anything so I'm never disappointed!.

Thanks to everyone who turned up and made it such a good night, sorry about the clarity of some of the pictures, but I'd forgot to bring my camera and Bob hadn't brought his IPad!, so it was down to my IPhone on the night, still you can see yourself here can't you.

Anyone else took pictures on the night, if you send me a copy I will add to this post.

In case I don't see some of you before Christmas here is my card from Pepe and I!.

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                                                                 Next events

Poynton Leisure Centre                                                Sat. 6^th & Sun. 7^th December

Exhibition in conjunction with model railway enthusiasts. This year we also have use of the swimming pool for actual sailing.

2000hrs  10^th December    Wednesday  Club night           Clubhouse  AGM

Saturday,   1100hrs     27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

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Donations

Donations

Just a word to say thank you to the people who have made donations to the club recently.

Firstly;

 Terry Miles for the paint for the Container and for the future refurbishments on the landing stage, ie the benches and seat's, better weather needed for these items to be done though!.

Secondly; 

A big thank you for the trophy donation from Jacqueline Smith, you will have to wait for the AGM and awards night, to see what the committee will be awarding that for, but Commodore Alan tells me its a "Belter!"

There is going to be a better sign board on the landing stage in the new year, but as said before everything is slowing down for the winter, I was at the lake on Saturday and there was only one lone sailor there, Mr Jones and his Grandson, but they were enough to create interest for the passing public with their comments and camera's, so it  keeps the interest and publicity on the club.

Talking of publicity for the club!, check out Bob Abell's thread on Model Boats magazine

Click here to read all about his latest build and the thousands of views on there.

Not much going on at the lake this weather but you will get a good read here!, and it certainly puts the club on the map, everyone know's the club and its whereabouts these days.

Well that's it for now and once again a big thank you for all donations most gratefully received.

See some of you tomorrow night at the club Christmas dinner!.

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                                                                Next events

Poynton Leisure Centre                                                Sat. 6^th & Sun. 7^th December

Exhibition in conjunction with model railway enthusiasts. This year we also have use of the swimming pool for actual sailing.

2000hrs  10^th December    Wednesday  Club night           Clubhouse  AGM

Saturday,   1100hrs     27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

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Muggy, Damp day at the lake

Muggy, Damp day at the lake 

Today at the lake it was drizzly, damp and not very nice though it didn't put off these hardy sailors, sorry if I didn't catch you all there, but didn't want my chest infection back with all the damp and cold.

Here is a video of the sailors that were there when I was there.

                           

Commodore Al said that there were negotiations going on with the yacht club to have electrics put into our container and help with the yacht club's electrics too!.

The painting of the container will be held up at the moment with this weather, or we will be wasting your money with it blistering the first time it get's warm and coming off in big sheets!.

Not long before the Club Christmas dinner again, can't believe its a year since the last one, still time flies when you're having fun doesn't it, mind you at most of our ages it seem too fly as well!.

That's all for now folks, see you at the dinner.

Next events

Poynton Leisure Centre                                                Sat. 6^th & Sun. 7^th December

Exhibition in conjunction with model railway enthusiasts. This year we also have use of the swimming pool for actual sailing.

2000hrs  10^th December    Wednesday  Club night           Clubhouse  AGM

Saturday,   1100hrs     27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.

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Warwick coach trip 2014

Warwick coach trip 2014.

I was told yesterday at the lake that there are still a few seats left on the coach for the Warwick trip, though Mike has had to order the entrance tickets now, so anyone wishing to go will have to pay their own entrance fee on the door!.

  8th November.

 Model Boat show. Warwick , Coach trip!
Pick up 0800hrs at Morrison's, Denton
0815hrs Wickes, Stockport.
Price £20

The club Christmas dinner this year is at the same venue as last year, the Hare & Hounds at Werneth Low and if you went last year you will remember it was a good night with good food and good company!.

Price is same as last year £20 each, that can't be bad in this day and age can it!.

Date is the 2nd of December

If you are thinking of going again this year you will need to contact Mike again and get a printed menu to choose your Starter, main meal and dessert. These are used to order the total meals and then given back to you on the night incase you've forgot what you ordered, takes me all my time to remember what I had for dinner last night!.

Closing date will be 7 days before the dinner itself , Mike has to order and pay by then, so don't miss another great club night.

Only the AGM after these so get booked in and save Mike's hair he can't afford to loose much more!.

Mike was there at the lake yesterday as I've said, measuring up the container for the wood needed to shelve it all up, and then we will see the last of the dreaded cellar stairs and humping our kit up and down them, No doubt Mike will be asking for volunteers to help with this project and I'm sure there will be the usual help forthcoming!.

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Next Events

Sunday  1100hrs     2^rd  November , Judging of boats.

             2000hrs  12^th November    Wednesday  Club Night           Clubhouse

                Includes Judging of boats, only need to show boat one of the dates.

That's it for now Folks, so get those new builds finished off and ready for the judging.

Ps 

Check out the new entry in the "For Sale" section.

Club Christmas Dinner 2013

Well another Club Christmas Dinner been and gone, where does the time go, doesn't time fly when you're getting on a bit.

The Club christmas dinner was a great success and though some of the pictures below look as if some of the members were a bit worse for wear, there was no rowdiness!, you don't get that in the best clubs do you!.

Though my friends and I use the Hare and Hounds at Werneth Low as our regular watering hole and get our nose bags on there at least once a month, more if we can squeeze another one in, in our busy schedule 

( There did we find time to do a full time job as well) I never realised that the place was so big and there was a big room at the back!.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves and perhaps you will join me in thanking Mike for once again organising the Do and the raffle, here are some of the pictures taken on the night by myself and Bob the Snapper with his Ipad!.

 Bob and Lawrence

Those two oldies in the balcony springs to mind

 A Thorn between two roses!.

First course was very nice

Dumb and Dumber, he knows I'm only joking, don't you Bob.

Scrubs up well doesn't he.

 Ladies on my table.

 Another section 

Pam, Colin, George and Pauline.

 The gentlemen's table.

A couple of "J" class gent's.

And their ladies.

Commodores table, Mike selling his raffle tickets, plenty of prizes again!.

Very good night was had by all and I'm sure it will be repeated there again next year, I'm lucky in that I will be going again next month!.

Well there is only the AGM and the frostbite day to come now, so perhaps see you there.

For the newer members the AGM is when the trophies are awarded for the year and the committee is decided for the coming year.

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2000hrs  11^th December    Wednesday  Club night           Clubhouse  AGM

Thursday   1100hrs     27th December, Frostbite Day Sail.