paul.blitz

Just a note to (a) bump the topic :-)... but more importantly ( to remind you that I need (approximate) numbers for lunch... either leave a note here , or post a note on the cache page Paul

I didn't did I???.... oops, yes, I did! Its fixed now! Thanks for the heads-up... Paul

Well, I can 100% confirm that we'll be meeting at the pub on Sunday 29th January. Once approved, the event cache is GCRYVT . Its the same place (Cart & Horses, Kingsworthy, Winchester) as last year. As last year, the obvious choice for lunch is the Carvery: £7.95 / £4.50 for adults / kids (which is CHEAPER than last year!!), you'll get a choice of Beef, Gammon or Turkey, plus roast & boiled spuds, along with 4 veg.... ooh, and don't forget the Yorkshire Pudding too!!!! They seem well organised, and I don't think anyone waited more than about 5 minutes to be served. Paul G0TLG will (as long as he remembers) be doing a quiz of some sort, and I'm hoping we'll be able to place a cache for the day (may or may not be loggable & permanent, rather depends on the level of subterfuge applied!!!) And the best news is left till the end: the pub now opens at 11:00am (an hour sooner than last year!!) with lunch available from 12:00 noon. If you are coming along, and would like lunch, can you let me know how many (adults / kids) there will be, so I can give the pub reasonably accurate numbers a few days before.... you can either reply here, or post a note on the cache page. Paul

To the best of my knowledge it's still on... and I'm organising it!! I'm off to the pub tonight to chat to the manager to get it all confirmed. Next thing to do is to create a cache page for the event. Paul

I guess much of it comes down to WHY you go caching? If it's to "make the numbers" then just go for the traditional caches If it's to "enjoy something of where you are going" then many multis have a LOT to offer, that a traditional would not.... A good multi should take you for a pleasant walk through somewhere worthwhile. Ok, to take that walk, maybe you need to look for a couple of small signs, or count some posts. But (hopefully) the setter took you there to have the walk. Last year, I set a new multi for a caching event... most have said that they enjoyed the walk, as it had a couple of "interesting features" on the way. If you had just gone to the final cache location, well, yess, nice & pretty, and by a stream, but nowhere near as nice / fun as the actual walk. One of the issues of a multi is how long the walk will be (and thus how long it will take)... so guidance in the cache description is always useful and appreciated.... but then again, I can think of some tarditional caches that have taken far longer than a simple multi! (and the one I'm thinking of now took about an hour, but was a great walk... even my 8-year old enjoyed that walk). Paul

So, I get into work today after the holidays.... on my desk is a small cardboard-wrapped packeage, arrived by post. Odd, I wasn't expecting anything. I open it to find a tupperware container... and after opening it I discover it's one of my caches that went AWOL a month or two ago. No note or anything, but posted in Gloucester. More interestingly, it was sent to our new address, so I assume that someone must have called (the work phone number was on a "Caching info" sheet) in the last couple of weeks to get the address. An interesting end to the year.... Paul

Well, with Debbie being away, Callum & I decided to go to the Cart & Horses for lunch! Whilst the pub has changed management again, the lunch was as good as it was back in Jan 2005! Carvery for adults is £7.95, kids is £4.50. Today we had a choice of beef, gammon and pork, along with Roast potatoes, roast parsnips, brocolli, cauliflower & carrots, along with a yorkshire pudding & gravy! I'll be strongly lobbying for some lamb when we visit!!! If you don't fancy the carvery, then they also have a full menu, which includes starters & deserts (and we can recommend the Clotted Ice Cream!)... I'll post a sample nearer the time. The initial response to my "enquiry" was positive (not too surprising when you say "I'd like to bring about 60 people to lunch...."!), so I'm planning to go to the pub tonight, when quiet, to have a word with the manager, Take a look at The Cart & Horses website to find out more. No need to say if you're coming along yet.... I'll be assuming that loads of you WILL want to come along again!!!!! Paul

Yes, I was pleasantly suprised last year how good the lunch was, and it wasn't particulary expensive either! Paul

As you will have read elsewhere, the GAGB site is back up again... the problem was to do with some nice spammers using email scripts for things apart from what they are meant for, and so the site was suspended! paul

A few people have started to ask "is there going to be another Winchester Late Xmas Cache Bash in January". The answer is, assuming I can get it organised, YES! As ever, it will be tha last Sunday in January, and my diary tells me that will be the 29th. Given that last year's location coped well, and provided good food, I see no reason not to go there again. Maybe a couple of other Winchester cachers would like to help out this time (eg set a new cache for the event) Also, could do with a couple of silly games or quizzes to run on the day: any suggestions? Paul

Running MM 3.2 here. I simply export the waypoints in MXF format from GSAK, and import them as MXF into MM paul

Just to avoid any further misunderstandings, I think that's a slip of the typing finger. Nominations closed last Saturday, the 12th. Bugger... ... you're right of course. Personally, I'd blame the guy who set those dates in the first place :-) In my defence, I was still rather tired last night after a busy week! Paul

GAGB is an important part of this hobby, but in it's present form does little to paint it's glories to the wealth of the GeoCaching community. I see this as nothing major to overcome but it requires overcoming sooner rather than later. If I was a committee member I would make it one of my priorities to improve communication links between the Committee and the caching community as a whole. I have ideas already on how this situation can be achieved without little or no cost in money terms and little in terms of time spent. My reasons for wishing to be a committee member is not to be thought of as a higher god within the caching world, but more to be thought of as your personal butler serving you come rain or shine, and providing you with a truly visible facility. I do believe in the aims of GAGB, I just think they need to publicly bring about a better face, so that we all know what is happening in the GAGB lodge. Milton (aka Moote) One of the problems the GAGB committe has had this last year is that many members (and I'll put myself at the top of the list) have simply not had enough free time to do a lot. Bill and Dave are the 2 members who stand out head and shoulders above the rest of us, for all the active work they have done this year.... and for that, they deserve a major "thank you" from all of us. I'm involved with hospital Radio, and whilst I've been Chief Engineer for many years, this year I took on the role of Programme Controller as well.... and having been making some MAJOR changes to the way that the station works, I've been VERY busy for the last 9 months. Indeed, I've hardly done any caching in the last 6 months. Martyn (MCL) always made it clear that he was wanting to take a "back seat" on the committee, and I know Sarah has had various personal / family commitments this last year. I don't think we ever intended to be doing huge amounts in terms of the publicity side of things... we felt our role was more of a "facilitating organisation"... thus all the "behind the scenes" work that Dave and Bill have done talking to landowners (often as a result of a request from a cacher). The GAGB is a staunchly non-commercial organisation... we've had a couple of contacts from commercial organisations in the last few months, and have had to make some careful decisions (and in one case consulting quite a few others for their thoughts) about what to do .... in principle, we decided that GAGB needed to be at a long arm's length from anything commercial. The down side to that is that we lose a great opportunity to promote the GAGB. So, maybe it is indeed time to make more cachers aware of the GAGB, and why we exist... in the last 18 months, the number of UK cachers has increased dramatically, and most of those are quite possibily oblivious to the existance of the GAGB. Some time ago we kinda took the decision that, having our own forums, we would not constantly post in the GC.COM forums... maybe we should have actually DONE a bit of posting if only to raise awareness. If only the committee between them had more time :-( So, if you DO have the time to do something to raise the profile of the GAGB, then that is great! To t.a.folk: my only comment of the "chairman" vs "chairperson" debate is that, according to the GAGB constitution, we have a chairman, and under the Sexual Equality Act, that is 100% allowed, but is deemed to refer equally to men and women. End of debate :-) Paul

As a result of work commitments dumped on me at short notice, I was "out of circulation" from last Sunday until tonight.... So thanks go to Moote for posting the information about the election.... as he says, the nominations close tomorrow (heck, any time up till midnight will me!), with the election from 19th. Whilst there are 7 people nominated for the 5 posts, it may be that not everyone *is* willing to stand... so we still don't know if there will be an actual election! I'll let you all know who says yes / no when I know myself! Paul

If your a member of Gagb, then you should have , or willreceive an email informing you of the coming election. ear GAGB Member! It has come to the time of year where we need to elect a chairman and a committee. You'll find the details at: http://www.gagb.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=606 ... and as you will see, this year, we will be having an election for chairman!!!! Whilst I am standing down, I'm very happy to say that both Bill D and Dave Edwards have been nominated, and have both accepted their nominations, for the post of chairman. The election will take place from Sat 5th November to Saturday 12th November: please look at the GAGB forum for voting details. The election of the GAGB committee will take place between 19th and 26th November: again, more details will appear on the GAGB forum. Regards Paul Blitz GAGB Chairman Excuse me we get an email telling us about the election of the chairman, after the chairman is elected. I hav no issue with the chairman just how he was elected. This was emailed on the 2nd of November after nominations for the Chairman had closed. So please explain to me how I am bang out of order? Ok, let me, as the person who organised things, set the record straight: 1) I posted in the GAGB forums about the election at the end of September... specifically within the timescales laid down on the GAGB constitution & standing orders. In fact, if you read my post on the GAGB forums, you'll realise that I screwed up last year, so made sure I didn't THIS time! 2) at the same time I posted a message in the UK forums HERE on GC.COM, telling everyone that it was GAGB election time. I generally keep such messages short and sweet, as I feel GAGB affairs should be discussed in the GAGB forums, not here. 3) As per the GAGB constitution & standing orders, the nominations for chairman stopped last weekend. I MISREAD proposal messages in the GAGB forum, that lead me to believe we needed an election. I therefore sent out an email to all GAGB members announcing the election What I SHOULD have read was one nomination for chairman, and one for the committee. This meant no election was needed: so I sent out a second email, admitting my error, and announcing that, as a result, we had a new chairman 4) The GAGB constitution & standing orders do not say we have to email members when the election is called, although, if we can, we do. 5) If people are interested enough in an organisation, they do not need prompting to "keep in touch" 6) We have a CHAIRMAN, as defined in our constitution. The sexual equalities act applies, and (automatically) this permits ANYONE to stand. (Many local councils keep a chairman, often as "madam chairman" 7) All of the above is NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH GC:COM: why didn't you (a) write in the GAGB forums; ( email the GAGB committee? 8) I am glad to see that you have decided to stand for the committee election. Anyone ELSE want to stand? 9) Re your problems replying on the forums... not sure what the problem is... but a pleasant email to a gagb committee member would probably have sorted things out. Bear in mind that things can take time... unlike GC.COM, we are 100% volunteers, and all lead busy lives outside caching. Now that we're aware of the issue, I'm sure we can fix the problem. 10) if you feel that the GAGB constitution etc need changing, then why not read them, and please do something to change them. Mind you, if you do, you'll be the first to break the "apathy barrier" :-) 11) in the next few days, all GAGB "non-voting members" will get changed to full, voting members... we don't usually bother doing this until an election is due, if only to save time. So everyone will be able to vote, if there's an election! Moderators: from my perspective (and probably most others here!) there is no reason for this thread to continue here... it should happen over in the GAGB forums! Paul

??? A commonly-used phrase over here, meaning "who knows?!" I take it it's not in common usage your side of the pond?! ....and, of course, the correct answer to the original question is: "twice as long as half as long" !! paul

And a tracking number shown in the TB photo! That's not very sensible is it? No, especially as somebody could easily pretend to take the TB...... what..... would I do such a thing? Ok, yes.... Paul

Just a quick note to let you know that I have just posted a message on the GAGB forums, to formally announce the 2005 elections, which will happen during November. If you'd like to help the GAGB then why not join the committee... what you do, and how much time you devote is 100% up to you, so the job is NOT an onerous one (I'll confess that I have done very little this last year). I will *not* be standing as GAGB chairman this year, so we're definitely looking for a chairman this time around! Any takers? I think the most onerous & painful task I had as chairman this last year was having to buy a pint (each!) for the two "approvers" at the Winchester meet in January!!! Paul

Well, just had a listen, and what can I say but "spot on!"... and that apples to both HH and the BBC team... nicely explained, not sensationalised, but made interesting. Paul

just tried it again.... still just get: "Unable to connect : java.net.ConnectException : Connection timed out: connect " Its the same in Firefox and in IE6.

I'm just getting an error: Unable to connect : java.net.ConnectException : Connection timed out: connect :-( Paul

Hey, me pic came out ok! It's easy when there's 2 of you, but when you're alone, you can never be sure that the self-portrait worked! Paul

More likely that a fire would get started by a cacher (or a normal walker) who smoked.... and then threw away a ciggy that wasn't quite out.

As others have said, the skill is in the placement of the cache. Not only does it need to be "cleverly" hidden, but needs to be hidden in a way that others who follow will also be able to hide it as securely. I have passed up hiding caches in quite a few locations for this very reason... Paul

One of my caches, which seem popular, is a multi. It's helped by the chain of caches being in a lovely location, but what I've done is have various different sizes of cache for different parts... so theres a couple of small tupperware boxes, one "sandwich sized" tupperware box, a micro, plus the final ammo box. I kinda hope that the variety makes it a bit more fun. One of the problems of making a cache "more challenging" is that fewer people will visit your cache, and thus miss out on the lovely location where you placed it. Also bear in mind that its nice if the cache locations, even if themselves a bit "exposed" have a place nearby where cachers can hide away from the muggles for a few minutes. Paul