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Post by rokbottom on Aug 3, 2017 16:30:08 GMT
Malcolm Are you aware that the event is promoted as being from 10.00 - 4.00 on their website? Do we need to be there before 10? Mike Betteshanger have altered the start time to 11am. Len.
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Post by Gareth Williams on Aug 3, 2017 19:09:37 GMT
Malc. One last question. Do you know if food is available on site or do we need to fend for ourselves?
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Post by malcolmf on Aug 3, 2017 19:21:30 GMT
Malc. One last question. Do you know if food is available on site or do we need to fend for ourselves? I understand that there will be food stalls, as well as the cafe in the visitors centre. Portaloos are supposed to be on site, as well as those in the visitors centre.
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Post by gerty on Aug 6, 2017 6:50:29 GMT
Am not going to make it today unfortunately. Had some treatment yesterday which has left me feeling a bit rough. Hope you have a great day!
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Post by ekim on Aug 6, 2017 21:54:21 GMT
What a great day. Quite a nice site, lovely weather with strange winds. However despite the variable wind personally I thought it a wonderful and very successful event. Loads of interested, enthusiastic public intermingled with KKF flyers. Lots of assistance asked for and given and many appreciative words from the visitors. I know that there were a few voices raised about the facilities but I think we should reserve judgement until the new visitor centre is up and running. A little feedback from one lady I talked to. She had left it late arriving and was pleased to see that we were still there at 3.30 (they could see Peters Manta Ray from the main road. She had an Italian girl with her who had never flown a kite so thought the event would be interesting for her, the chance to make and fly her own kite. They approached the kite making workshop only to be turned away. She didnt't think they had sold out just stopped for the day. Still she bought an easyfly and spent the rest of the afternoon in fits of laughter with her young charge who was having a wonderful time. "Best money I've ever spent" she said when they left after 5.00, off to deal for an ice cream with huge smiles on their faces. Surely this is what kite flying is all about! Mike
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Post by gerty on Aug 7, 2017 1:55:10 GMT
Sounds great Mike.
So pleased it went well.
Just wish I could have been there.
Thanks for the update.
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Post by poocluh on Aug 7, 2017 10:07:34 GMT
It was a great days flying and entertaining an appreciative public. Len did a sterling job handing out our information sheet/application form so let's hope a few get returned filled in! A nice array of kites in the sky with a plethora of workshop made kites made a great sight. The hardest part for me was getting the Mantaray out of the sky (It was only on a 350' line but definitely wanted to stay airborne!). Well done to all who were there and so proud to fly with you.
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Post by peter on Aug 7, 2017 10:14:41 GMT
It was a great days flying and entertaining an appreciative public. Len did a sterling job handing out our information sheet/application form so let's hope a few get returned filled in! A nice array of kites in the sky with a plethora of workshop made kites made a great sight. The hardest part for me was getting the Mantaray out of the sky (It was only on a 350' line but definitely wanted to stay airborne!). Well done to all who were there and so proud to fly with you. For some reason keyboards has managed to create a new account for me!
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Post by rokbottom on Aug 7, 2017 10:50:30 GMT
It was a great days flying and entertaining an appreciative public. Len did a sterling job handing out our information sheet/application form so let's hope a few get returned filled in! A nice array of kites in the sky with a plethora of workshop made kites made a great sight. The hardest part for me was getting the Mantaray out of the sky (It was only on a 350' line but definitely wanted to stay airborne!). Well done to all who were there and so proud to fly with you. For some reason keyboards has managed to create a new account for me! I rather like Poocluh it has a rather nice ring to it. Len.
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Post by Gareth Williams on Aug 7, 2017 12:15:48 GMT
The winds were tricky! Witness the number of kites that found their way into trees and shrubs. I think we have to bear in mind that the trees bordering the flying patch are all still fairly young by the looks of them. Give it a couple more years, and they will grow into the kite eating variety. Only time will tell. Only one nervous moment, as my lifter made a break for freedom. Many thinks to the family who found it and brought it back, I can never thank them enough! I haven't checked for damage yet, but any damage can be repaired, having the kite back was the important bit.
Yes the day was very enjoyable, and yes the public interaction was enjoyable (for the most part). If we can have the same weather, but maybe a slightly more consistent wind, then it could be a great venue. I do hope the people responsible for the site thought that it was a worthwhile event.
My satnav seemed to have a nervous breakdown on the way home, and took me to parts of Kent that I didn't know existed. Eventually I found the A2, and made it back to the M2 so I could sit in the traffic jam!
For those who were involved in the brief discussion at the end of the day, I am happy to arrange a Dieppe outing next year, whether or not the festival goes ahead.
And Peter, you will for evermore be known as Poohcluh. We just need to agree on the pronunciation.
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Post by bazjan on Aug 7, 2017 12:24:53 GMT
We can certainly agree with Mike's comments - for an organised event it felt more like a Fly-in, relaxed and enjoyable. The Theme was Wind which started off at nearly minus but by the time we packed up was very strong, with line laundry poles at 45 degrees. The sun shone all day and the crowds appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves and were very helpful in catching and returning escaping ladybirds. The Wind theme of wind instruments (and Len's didgeridoos ) attracted a lot of interest. One family told me they could see the big kites from Whitfield and curiosity made them drive to see what was going on, bought kites and ended staying all day. The kite making team excelled themselves - 133 - so packing up early was understandable, well done whoever was in the Tepee, and well done to Malcolm, Debbie and Gillian for selling all our stock. Hope Tracy invites us back again sometime.
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Post by timtank on Aug 7, 2017 15:34:07 GMT
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Post by malcolmf on Aug 7, 2017 20:17:16 GMT
Thank for all the comments from members. These events are only a success due to the efforts of the members who attend, not only with the kites but the interaction with the public. The kite making workshop was run by Betteshanger Country Park, with our materials for which we received a contribution from their income. I do not think they expected to be so busy, as they only arranged for one staff member to be running it. I had only just instructed the young lady,Ebony, when she got her first customer, and it just exploded from there. At one time between Ebony and I we were supervising two families of 4 children each, fortunately adults were only too keen to become involved with their children. Within minutes Ebony was having to start a waiting list of children for the workshop. Eventually the country park manager came into the tepee and became involved in the workshop. Within an hour the waiting list was 40 minute waiting time. After about 90 minutes I was called away from the workshop, and I think the queue never really got below 30 minutes waiting time, so obviously they called a halt in time to get through those waiting.
The initial feedback is that the day was better than the Park Manager expected. There are some things that did not go as arranged, such as the cyclists ignoring signs stating the track was closed, which made it difficult for Tim to demonstration of Kite buggying. No portaloos on the flying area. The pre arranged flying area agreed for children and the public, niot being marked out and was not suitable on the day. It was all a learning curve for the site.
Just hope that some of the public will be encouraged to become members in the future
Thanks again for all those involved for Kent Kite Flyers, it certainly makes my day, after time spent co-ordinating events.
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Post by peter on Aug 8, 2017 17:16:16 GMT
Did you get any other kap photos Tim?
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Post by Gareth Williams on Sept 9, 2017 13:21:04 GMT
Grrr. Just received a £50 parking charge notice from the carp park company for Betteshanger. I plan to appeal.
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