Credit where credit is due...
 

Another year, another annual meet, and I'm already looking forward to the next one, as I'm sure many others are.

Having been involved in planning these events in prior years, I know that, apart from being preoccupied with the detailed questions relating to the event - e.g. where's a suitable base location/hotel, where are the good driving routes, etc, etc, there's really always only one big question - how do I make it as good as (or better than..) last year?

Well I think that question was well and truly answered this year - as we can already see from the numbers who came, the photos already being posted, the memories in our mind, and the friendships made and/or renewed.

However, there was one thing that was a bit different this year, and I know that Jim and Neil won't mind me saying this: normally the load in organising the event is shared, fairly evenly, between at least two or three people in the group.

This year however, for a number of reasons, one person did more than normal, and that was Mark (Moltuae), so I wanted to say thanks to him - and Lyn! - for pulling out all the stops to make this such a great event.

It was greatly appreciated, by me and others, and unbeknown to others probably caused Mark and Lyn more than a few late nights and well as sacrificed weekends over the last few months.

Thanks Mark. Would you like to do it again next year please? ;)

I’d like to second that!

My Dad was taken very ill in January and, as he lives in Spain, I spent a hectic 3 months jetting backwards and forwards to Javea to sort out his affairs. Mark and Lyn picked up all the slack and did a brilliant job, particularly in finding alternative places to visit after our initial choices were less than accommodating, plotting the route and managing the many administrative detail required for (I think) our biggest meet to date.

:respekt::mexicanwave:

Thanks Stephen, Jim :o

But it wouldn't have been possible without your help, and of course Neil's.

It certainly made me appreciate the amount of effort that goes into organising these meets.

And in answer to your question Stephen ... Not on your nelly! :ROFL:

I think it's someone else's turn to plan the next annual meet, although I'll gladly assist a little where I can. +++

Well said. There's nothing more I can add to that, other than to say we all had a wonderful time. Thank you. +++

Well said Stephen.

This was the fourth annual meet I've attended and each has been fantastic in their own unique way. I'd also like to pass on my thanks to Mark and Lyn for running with this, but i'd also like to thank the others directly involved with this meet, AND, more importantly, the other members of the forum who take it upon themselves to help during the event. I'm talking about the unsung heroes who 'have been there and done that', and know what's involved with doing the job.

Looking forward to the 2019 meet already.

I'd just like to add my thanks to those who put this great meet together.
In a past life, I was involved in setting up, organising, planning etc. some weekend meets and routes for a Goldwing motorcycle club I was involved in. There's a ton of things you need to do to make these things a success.

It's easy to take for granted the routes planned, the hotel booking, meal planning, the arrangements with the Carding Shed, Treak Tavern, Tissington Hall, Biggin Hall, and the penning, printing and assembly of the itinerary pack we were given (and translated into German!), the T-shirts, the evening presentations and awards procurement, the fun quiz (thank you young lady) and the many other small details that we probably can't even remember but were part of someones remit to get right. :respekt:

So thanks again to those involved, David for putting his hand in his pocket to subsidise this and also to our non-UK friends who made a great effort to come and visit at great expense.

I made loads of new friends this last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself. :D

Edit: Oh, and thank you to those that voted for my car. The voting sheets etc. were just one of the small details that I missed whilst writing this. :rolleyes:

A thousand things to add here, but the message is the same - thank you so very much.
The venue and schedule provided the perfect background to be happy and enjoy the collective love for our 8s and also to enjoy sharing it with so many nice people.
Thank you.

My thanks also to all those involved +++ As you guys know, this was my first meet and I thoroughly enjoyed it :)

Just to echo what's been said above, huge thanks to everyone from us, another great event, lovely catching up with the familiar faces again and of course meeting others for the first time+++

+1,
or really +5,000 from us.
Update on Gwen, she has been passed fit enough to come home. We are hgoping that oxygen will be fitted in ours tomorrow for her to be back here by Wednesday.

Some great post-meet news.

Glad to hear that Ray. Good to see you and catch up, albeit briefly, see you soon.

My wife and I would like to thank those that organised this great weekend, as well as everyone who attended, for making us welcome at last weekend's event. This was our first meet and we weren't quite sure what to expect but we really enjoyed ourselves. My wife was very fond of the Blue John cave and I think she would have spent a small fortune in the shop given half a chance.

It was great to meet so many people and it was quite a sight to see so many A8 and S8 cars together and I saw quite a few members of the public looking as we drove past in convoy! It was a great opportunity for us to experience this for ourselves.

Once again, thank you to everyone and we may see you again soon...

David

That is one of my favourite things about the Annual Meet, the sight of those cars in a convoy is fantastic, and I love to watch the reaction as we drive past+++

^^^^^ Wot he said. :)

I love the convoy too, although it’s quite difficult sometimes to keep it together.

LOL they all say that. . . .but what we do is let you have a little rest. . . then co-erce you into it again another year! :ROFL:

Seriously though, I can only re-iterate what everyone has said, Mark (and Lyn supporting him) did a fantastic job this year and we only drove him slightly mad in the process, which is standard!

So a BIG thanks from myself for all your hard work and for the time you put aside to make the end result as perfect as it was! +++

Having just got home we have to totally agree with and support all the sentiments above, everyone involved did a great job. +++

Ray, I hope Gwen is safely home now and things are more stable from now on.
In fact we also were in the same area as you on Monday, but not quite as far South as Bakewell, though might have been able to join you had we known. :o
We drove to Edale on Monday morning ( pretty close to Treak Cliff cavern) and, difficult to comprehend in this forum I know, but the S8 was parked behind the Ramblers Inn there and didn't move for 48 hours!

Hmm!! Nice thought. Convoy of a tri-axle and an 8. :D
I was out again yesterday with the big bus but only around the Clitheroe area. Also narrow lanes and a pub carvery lunch.



Thanks everyone for the thoughts on Gwen. She is back home, but tethered to an oxygen concentrator. About 15 meteres of plastic pipe means that she can patrol the house, paddle upstairs to bed and can meander around some of the garden. The equipment was ordered Monday afternoon, installed first thing Tuesday and within the hour I was allowed to transport her home. We have O2 cylinders for emergency and travelling.
End result is that she is much happier to be home, today is Isaacs first birthday, she missed his Christening on Sunday, and again very slowly improving.
All we can do is keep hoping.

It was even more than I could have anticipated +++

I too would like to express my gratitude to everyone involved with this!
And I am so pleased I attended this meet, and also to have met you all :D

It was amazing to be "racing" the English countryside as well. That demonstrated a side of these cars I had not previously experienced!

All in all I drove 4570 km or 2839 miles. These cars are superb +++

I had to add oil :ROFL: about 1.5 litres

Wow!

Thanks for coming to the meet Johannes! It was great to meet you and really nice chatting with you.

Hopefully we'll see you again next year? :)


Did you manage to get to A8 Parts and get your roof lining replaced?

I don't know about next year, yet.

A8 parts were great and I got a new roof, along with other parts and bits :love:

Good to know you got home safely my fellow conspiracy theorist!
I'll send you a PM with those links I promised.+++

+1 from me as well Johannes, sorry that we did not have longer together.

I enjoyed every minute :D
And it was really interesting talking with you Dean. Like I said, we could probably talk for weeks :ROFL:
So probably a good thing the whole event had a time limit :D

Sounds intriguing! That what my sister calls me... well, she calls me a few other things as well. ;)

We talked into the wee small hours about what's really happening in this world and who (or what!) is really pulling the strings. But that's for another thread perhaps??? ;)
It was enlightening to find that a Swede and a Brit had very, very similar thoughts about some deep subjects. We stopped just before we got onto religion. Thank God. :D

:D

Well, who knows? As you said as we departed. It depends on how one defines God. You'd be surprised I would wager