If you're definitely going to be at Alton Towers on July 21st, here's the place to say it. Amy and I have ou tickets booked and we will be there at 10:40am. Teri, my sister, might not be going - that's up in the air at the moment.

But we are all booked and ready to go.

I'm not.

:p

I'm not.

:p
What a worthwhile, on-topic and useful contribution to this thread.

Hmm. *contemplates*

Actually...there is a possibility I could make it. Albeit a very small possibility...

What a worthwhile, on-topic and useful contribution to this thread.
Thanks, same to you. :p

Not gonna be able to make it. Need to study for a supplemental exam in September. If I don't pass, bye-bye Trinity.

Wish I could have made it. Sorry.

Oh oh oh! I'm glad I discovered this thread. There just might be a possibility that I could be turning up.

S2K how are you getting there? You're in Milton Keynes, right (i seem to remember that nugget from somewhere)? So you'll be passing through the midlands on... some form of transportation?

I think you can see where I might be going with this line of questioning.

S2K how are you getting there? You're in Milton Keynes, right (i seem to remember that nugget from somewhere)? So you'll be passing through the midlands on... some form of transportation?
Virgin Trains offer an [Alton Towers (http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/altontowers)] travel plan. We're in Luton but we can get the coach to Milton Keynes Central Train Station and train it from there to Stoke on Trent, then coach it from there to Alton Towers. [Midland Mainline (http://www.midlandmainline.com/mainpage.aspx?id=332)] offer something similar but it's, from our point of view, a tad more expensive. If you got with Virgin however, there is a possibility we may end up on the same train (or, at least, meet at the station and get the same coach).

As I understand it, I'm getting one of the free tickets due to

Cool. You can use one of our Free Entry tickets then, if you like - sort of an apology for mucking your plans up.

Amy's coming, I've yet to get a reply from Gareth. And my parents will be driving us. When you say "paid", I don't know if by that you're including the tickets as well.

Well, paid (at least for us) includes transport and tickets. If you have the money allocated for the trip, I guess that counts as paid. Ish. Anyway, yes - you can use one of the Free Entry vouchers. One of you will have to pay (rules of the voucher, unfortunately), but the other gets in free. So, whoo.

As it's going to be a warm day, I'd suggest wearing and bringing sunblock. Glod knows Amy and I will.

So people know who to look out for, I will be the ginger-haired one, hopefully wearing my white "Back to the Roots" Nintendo tee-shirt, standing next to the stunningly attractive young lady wearing a stripey blue rugbyshirt-like top.

Incidentally, Amy's not a fan of "holy crap there's no track beneath me!" rollercoasters such as Nemesis. She says she might go on it but she can't say for sure. I guess she won't knwo until she sees it. As Amy's not too keen to be the only one not going on it, is there anyone else coming who's not fond of Nemesis and who probably won't be going on it?

I'm not a massive fan of rollercoasters in general (why do you think I asked about Crazy Golf? ;)), and a rollercoaster with no track sounds even worse, so I'll probably be out of that too.

Incidentally, is that 10.40am when your train arrives? I'm not sure how long it takes to get from Swansea to Alton Towers, but already it sounds like an early start ;).

I'm not a massive fan of rollercoasters in general (why do you think I asked about Crazy Golf? ;)), and a rollercoaster with no track sounds even worse, so I'll probably be out of that too.
Well Amy'll be happy about that, then.

Incidentally, is that 10.40am when your train arrives? I'm not sure how long it takes to get from Swansea to Alton Towers, but already it sounds like an early start ;).
We get to Alton Towers for 10:40am, yeah/

I'm not a massive fan of rollercoasters in general (why do you think I asked about Crazy Golf? ;)), and a rollercoaster with no track sounds even worse, so I'll probably be out of that too.
Just out of curiosity, Paul, how many rollercoasters have you actually ridden?

Just out of curiosity, Paul, how many rollercoasters have you actually ridden?Two: both at Oakwood. I've ridden the Treetops rollercoaster (the small one) a few times, and that one's okay. Megaphobia (the big one) was rather more "aargh the G-Forces I'm gonna a splod!". Remind me to bring my photo of me on Megaphobia with me.

I used to love rollercoasters. Then I actually went on one. Now I fear them.

Ever since I rode 2 "rollercoasters" (if you'd call them that), I never liked them again. My first one was called The Dragon and was mainly just going on circles (helixes, I think) at really fast speed. This made me sick quickly and constantly get squished by people next to me or against the sides of the car (being thin isn't always a good thing), so not my idea of fun.

My other one was one of those river rides that just goes up and down and way up and way down. Of course, everytime it went down, I got squished against the seats in front of me, so again, not my idea of fun.

So yeah, I'm a wuss. :p

I've never been on what you'd call a "big" rollercoaster. I went on a small one and frankly barely noticed it.

Megaphobia is apparantly the biggest wooden rollercoaster in the world. Make of that what you will.

Also, Gareth can't come so it will just be me and Amy.

Also, Gareth can't come so it will just be me and Amy....I really hate multiple people with the same name. It's elementary school all over again.

Pff. You don't know you're born... Our school had two Sarah Louise Browns who were good friends and sat next to each other. They objected to all distinguishing nicknames.

Blimey, I'd forgotten about all this.

Well, I didn't think I'd be able to make it, but now I reconsider... Friday 21 July, Alton Towers, 10:30 am.

You see, I'd be able to make that on the condition that I'd be back in London by that night. Which might be easier said than done... I'll look at my options and get back to this one.

If you want the cheapest all-inclusive package from Virgin or Midland then now's your time to book it - the cheapest has to be booked 7 days in advance and tomorrow is that... er.. 7th day. Sort of thing.

Except for Andrew, who's had no joy at all. Is anyone else going to sort out their own transport and pay at the gate? If so then hoorah, you and Andrew can use another Two for One voucher. If not then... bugger.

Ohhh thanks for the email i had forgotten about this thread... sadly it turns out that I won't be able to make it this time since - as luck would have it - one of my aunts is having a 60th birthday barbeque.

Sod's law, really.

So far, the "People definitely going" list comprises of:

Me
Amy
Paul
Amy
Andrew

The "I might be going" list is thus far made up of:

Pooka
Blinx, if he's still alive

Anyone else?

Ticket booked (assuming I have one of the free thingies). If I'd done it yesterday, it would've been posted to me, but now I'm going to have to collect it.

Maybe I'll learn from this, but I doubt it.

Should I bring my DS?

Remember to take pictures for those of us who can't go :D

Remember to take pictures for those of us who can't go :D
And video clips.

Amy and I will probably be bringing our DS's for the train anyway (Pooka might be journeying with us from Luton - we're still sorting that bit out).

Photos and VIdeos are a definite Yes. Amy's cameraphone is actually higher quality than our digital camera...

I've booked my train tickets. I'll pay admission at the gate. The station to Alton Towers? I'll work something out. I'm sure there'll be a coach or a bus or something -- it must be a fairly popular journey, one would assume.

Amy's cameraphone is actually higher quality than our digital camera...Wow, talk about insulting...

http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=t&ct=uk/4-0&fp=44bffe1192a97e6d&ei=Ocm_RMfIMc2KwQGulp3bAg&url=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0%2C%2C-5964221%2C00.html&cid=1108106945

http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=t&ct=uk/4-0&fp=44bffe1192a97e6d&ei=Ocm_RMfIMc2KwQGulp3bAg&url=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0%2C%2C-5964221%2C00.html&cid=1108106945

the rest of the park remained open as usual.

No problem then.

Although it gives me a greater urge to find the Crazy Golf and stay there :p.

Double post, sorry.

Do you think it'd be a good idea for us to have each others' phone numbers in case things went wrong?

I know Ben has my number. If anyone else wants it just email me.

Ooh 'eck. Guess we're not going on that ride, then.

Well, we all survived. Hoorah!

Indeedy, a fantastic time was had by all.

Well, we all survived. Hoorah!Curses, my plans have been foiled yet again.

If you put them in the fridge you can save them for later.

I hope no one has forgotten about the appointment on August 1st.
http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=499804&postcount=24

Tell you what, going on a rollercoaster with (Paul's) Amy is a surreal experience.

Halfway round the spinning, tilting, moving contrivance I'm thinking about what it would be like to be flung from it and die and she turns to me and says "pretty good so far". I think she's done this a bit more than me.

I feel bad now, talking about her in forums she can't read.

Well, I'd invite her in, but she isn't a Forum member anyway (and given most of her Internet time is spent running a roleplaying forum, she doesn't want to be). But yeah, she's a fairly adventurous type. If you want to get to know her any better, here's her dA account (although that rules Andrew out, seen as he hates the place): http://red-wraith.deviantart.com/

Photos, such as they are, will arrive shortly - I have to "process" them :p.

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Ubiquitous duckling photography



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Rita - The Queen of Speed (red) and Corkscrew (cream), the two "serious" rides that I did dare to go on (I managed to avoid Nemesis and Pinball Whizzer, and thanked a non-specific entity when Oblivion got a technical fault just before we were due to go on (and just before we were due to leave).



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We didn't actually go on Duel, but still - zombies with lasers, how cool is that?



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I get one opportunity to do some scenic photography, and I get "cardboard cutout" sky. Dammit, I was sure I had the sun behind me!



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Taken at the end by a member of park staff. Left to right: Ben's Amy, Ben, "my" Amy, me, Andrew and Pooka with his slightly suspicious box.

Slightly suspicious? It was just barely allowed on the cable car.

Slightly suspicious? It was just barely allowed on the cable car.Well, you know I'm given to understatement*

*Except when I'm not.

Pooka really stands out in the group.

Wow, real life people! *sensory overload* I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves. Sorry I didn't come this time, but next time it should not be a problem. Though it might be better to go when it's not so hot. So who went on what? The last few times I've been I just had to kick around with parents and teachers and didn't make best use of the ticket price. Damn you for not going on Duel! I would have scanned in my photo of me, my bro and parents looking like failed extras from a House of The Dead game along with my apparently high score.

So who went on what?

Congo River Rapids
Nemesis *+
Skyride
Hex
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Corkscrew
Rita - the Queen of Speed
Skyride (going back)
The Flume
Oblivion
Spinball Whizzer *

* excluding me
+ excluding Pooka

At some point I'm going to scan in the Congo River Rapids photo, because it's a nice one.

Congo River Rapids
Nemesis *+
Skyride
Hex
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Corkscrew
Rita - the Queen of Speed
Skyride (going back)
The Flume
Oblivion
Spinball Whizzer *

* excluding me
+ excluding Pooka

At some point I'm going to scan in the Congo River Rapids photo, because it's a nice one.
You didn't go on Air? Shame on all of you:p

Forget Air. What about Toyland Tours? :(

You didn't go on Air? Shame on all of you:pWell, I didn't feel like sitting out two rides consecutively. So while the others were on Nemesis, Pooka and I made the executive decision that the group would travel to the other side of the park, have lunch, and do a couple of easy rides next.

I'm told it's quite possible to fall asleep on Air.

Is that a joke?

No. That's what I'm told. Very comfortable, Mark said.

Also, allow me to advance a theory at this stage:

Pooka only owns one shirt.

Explain, if you would be so kind.

Well, I just glanced at Ben's blog, which mentioned Pooka's Livejournal and provided a link to the entry where he describes last year's meet, and therein is a description of what he wore that day. Which is to say, what he wore on Friday.

Maybe he wears the same clothes when he meets Wormers. Like an army guy always wears camoflague(sp?) wherever he goes, no matter how appropriate, when he's on duty(in service? What's the phrase?), and wears other stuff at home.

I could have said all of that in a shorter, more concise manner:
"Pooka wears a Wormer's uniform that we don't know about."

To be fair, he did wear his blue Team17 shirt on Thursday and again on Saturday morning.

(Pooka travelled up to Luton on Thursday and spent the night, and then travelled with us to Alton Towers on the Friday. He left at approximately Stupid o' clock on Saturday morning - 6:30am - to go to work).

Bwahahahaha

Do you have larger versions of these photos somewhere?

Amy's not too keen on having her photo on the internet, which is why I'm restricting those particular photos to OD only.

Heheheh, that's a great picture. The look on Ben's face, Pooka's hat, the fake water, the fact you're in boat number 13! Since when did Ben have two heads?

The most thrilling part of the Congo River Rapids for me is that little jet of water that turns on and off every ten seconds near the bridge. The rest of it's too mild.

Heheheh, that's a great picture. The look on Ben's face, Pooka's hat, the fake water, the fact you're in boat number 13! Since when did Ben have two heads?

The most thrilling part of the Congo River Rapids for me is that little jet of water that turns on and off every ten seconds near the bridge. The rest of it's too mild.Yeah, the others were making sarcastic comments most of the way down. I enjoyed it; it was on my level.

I might have two heads. You've never met me, Matty. So who's to say I don't?

I might have two heads. You've never met me, Matty. So who's to say I don't?
Odd, though. I would have thought one of us would have mentioned it sooner, really. Something like that would usually be the first thing I'd mention.

Yeah, the others were making sarcastic comments most of the way down. I enjoyed it; it was on my level.
Yeah, you are definitely having way too much fun. :p

Are having too much fun? Paul I recommend you stop right now before you cause yourself an injury.

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30036 - new thread for grammar talk.


Any other pics from the day, just out of interest?

http://forum.team17.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30036 - new thread for grammar talk.


Any other pics from the day, just out of interest?Well, I've given you all of my ones that aren't rubbish or redundant...