Alice Band

Considering there are more free members than Premium or Charter members of Geocaching I'm not surprised gc.com goes down from time to time. I cant see this continuing forever - GSAK have recently started to charge for updates for the same reason, because, quite simply, the site was swamped. As full members are beginning to hesitate renewing their memberships gc.com might have to force their hand and start prioritising the paid over the non-paid members. I see geocaching as a hobby/club. And like most clubs you expect to pay membership which pays for the overheads etc. I will continue to pay my membership even though I cant currenty go out and cache as much as I would like due to lack of money. I am forever amazed that people expect to be freeby members for years, dont pay anything to Groundspeak and expect a lot in return. Sooner or later the sheer number of members will cause the entire system to creak to a halt. Servers can be improved to a certain point but you need money to throw at it - it cannot be achieved for nothing. By the way, you'd be suprised who from the 'other side' reads the UK forum, and this thread...

If I connect via mIRC I was routed either via Gluttony, Lust, Greed or one of the other seemingly seven deadly sins someone decided to name the system after. Sometimes I'd be routed via Holland. I have not been able to enter recently either - all the above systems have been sluggish lately

An image entered in a Groundspeak contest years ago and one that might make a nice alternative centrepiece for the Cryptic Souls flags: Sadly I dont have the software toys to turn it into a beaded image.

Ooh ooh! Aunty Alibags and Uncle JollyJax, can we have a cache bash to launch them all? Be nice to have a team photo

I have two here ready and waiting to go for myself and Ravenclaws from that Christmas bash I think a suitably Scandinavian theme for them might go down a treat

hmmm both of my socks are in use at the moment, so its not me

Alibags has some caches nearby, so she might be able to adopt it I'll drop her a line to let her know.

Filthy cache sites are now sadly part and parcel of a few cache sites, with some regions worse than others Having cached with other people I've noticed that some cachers find a site more revolting than others. Even woodland in the middle of nowhere can have rubbish strewn everywhere by bone idle passers by. Mind you I have cached in Europe and some sites there (human excrement everywhere) can make the odd crisp packet, plastic bag and coke can seem mild in comparison. Saying that I did one in Bedfordshire in November and the locals seem to be very keen to use the site as a toilet - it was so bad that the filthy ****** even used the local children's play area and I was forced to drag off my son and the daughter of another cacher off it to clean and disinfect them Believe me, the thought of the kids catching hepatitis was more worrying then them finding needles. I placed one last year in a wooded area which was relatively OK, but in a year its accumulated rubbish and now I am considering moving it. Would love to CITO the whole area but it would take a large team. I tend to use sticks when poking into holes, even in remote spots. I once found a pile of hypodermics discarded in a wood in the middle of nowhere and emailed the owner privately to let him know. I have also found some stuffed down a rabbit hole on a grassy plain. In Urban areas I use a handy pen or nearby stick if possible.

I appear to be visiting Fredrikstad (Norway) in May and staying for a week and wondered if anyone can point me to a central cache or recommend me one which I can use to place a Pocket Query around? I am attending a large historical event there with some other (non-caching) folk from the UK, so if anyone would like to meet up with me to cache or just show me around the area, or swap some TB's to return with me to the UK please feel free to drop me an email through my profile

Its all very peculiar! I have a cache which in the last two months had four TB's turn up in it which were never logged in. The only way I knew they were there is because cachers posted notes about finding them. To date I don't know if its one cacher dumping them in there or various non-logging cachers

ooooh I say! I can get to Walthamstow. My sister lives in tornado alley there - her spare room is still a bit draughty atm

I'll be there if I can bag a lift as it will cost me nearly £100 by train otherwise from the East Midlands. Will share fuel costs. Taking camping equipment and overnight stuff is a swine on the bus too. Last year was superb I'll bring the Mead (want to try some Stuey?) if someone brings the giant Jenga again

Certain UK regions seem to have larger amounts of cachers than others. Manchester and the surrounding area is a good place to be if you're a newbie or just wish to meet up with others. So are parts of South Hertfordshire, London and the West Country, so it would seem logical to have clubs based within regions with more cachers. However, I'm back here in the deserts of the East Midlands with few caches and fewer cachers (there's more per mile in Scotland than here!) I have been looking for a venue to organise a bash but they seem to be all fully booked for other events and weddings Oh well, one day.... Same here with same results. I know others who also have had the same result. I suppose cachers must be a shy bunch And now I am in the position to adopt a newbie myself

Although I like this one more

Yes.

Edit: I have exchanged a coin already. Thank you for your offer

Isnt this what Americans call 'Dodge-Ball'?

Nah, nothing like that Tigger Two I was just curious as it would be nice to know how many parents would be interested in attending an event designed with kids in mind as it might encourage more like minded events in other parts of the country. I think events like this is a great way to introduce kids to the sport

Do you actually have kids Johnmelad and have you ever attended a caching event?

Tyneside has Viking connections so how about this one? A stylised dragon intertwined with a sacred tree? This gif image has a 'make background invisible' so it should go on most webpages too. Or this, Thor's Hammer. Well, you get the idea

What are your other interests away from caching? People seem to use a combination of interests for their final ideas

It seems that the mIRC client has nailed shut my skylight entrance into the room and various attempts with both Java and mIRC have failed

Am planning to hold a caching event in Leicestershire which also has events for children. A long way from Oldham though

I only have a packet of Nobby's nuts in my caching bag (suitably seasonal) Note to non-Brits - this is a genuine brand here in the UK (and Australia)

From their website: Tommy and Helen purchased more travel bug tags than anyone in the world, Placing more than 2600 items and 100 coins into circulation for all to enjoy.