So the Gathering happened.

So the Summer Gathering is done and dusted, & I hope everyone that came had lots of fun. The weather wasn't ideal, but we did our best to get around it. The highlights for me where many & varied, but I think the one thing I remember most is almost being floored as my Wellington was pulled off in the treasure hunt. That will teach me not to hide any of the answers on my person when doing a treasure hunt.

I have a long thank you list to make, as this event could never have happened without so many people and all the work they did.

First and foremost I have to give a massive thank you to Ed for allowing us to do this in the fields and for all the work he put into setting up the site and throughout the weekend. I don't think I ever saw him sitting still for more than 5 minutes. Big hugs and love to you Ed!

There are others on the site prep list as well as Ed that all deserve many thanks. We have James, Val, Stu, Callum, and a few more people that I never knew the names of (sorry for not naming each of you), that helped dig holes and erect poled into them. They also built the compost toilet for us, and I have to say I don't think I've ever used a toilet in a more beautiful setting and cleared thistles and brambles. Thank you so much for everything you people did to make it possible for us to be there.

Now we have to go on to the event it self.

Thank you to everyone that dug and shovelled the wood chippings to make the car park and clear the drive. Thank you to everyone that held ropes, lifted telegraph poles, back filled holes, carried and fetched to help get the aerial rig built. I can't name you all as I was inside cooking or inside writing treasure hunt clues and didn't really see everyone that was involved and I wouldn't like to hurt any ones feelings by leaving a name out. I know there were many of you.

Thank you very much to Ro and Mari for all their help on Friday night. Without their help dinner would probably have been an hour later. Thanks also to Daniel M for bringing along the 2 pans of Chilli. I was told by the people that ate it that it was yummy. I hope everyone had enough to eat and enjoyed the food that was offered.

Now to all the pizza makers and carriers and all the fire stokers and oven tenders. Thank you so much for your hours of hard work either making the dough, topping the pizzas, ferrying them up and down the field or cooking them. All of you made it possible in that terrible weather for us still to have Pizza night. I know it took a little longer than had been hoped by some, but I am very thankful to you all for all your efforts. A special mention goes to Stephen H and Dan D. Stephen for organising the manufacture of the pizzas and Dan for spending lots of time making dough and for sharing it out with people that didn't have their own bases. To James, and Ed for keeping the oven going (and anyone else that stoked it too) putting in the pizzas to cook and keeping on smiling even though you were up there in the cold and rain.

Thank you to Peter D for being ready to host a renegade show, even though the weather made it a bit to hard to do . The wind was just too crazy for us to do anything outside.

To anyone that took the time to teach some one else something or took the time to pick up a stray can/bottle and bin it, to anyone that washed up or made others a cup of tea... to all of you that came really. Thank you for your input and for being there. I hope you all had lots of fun.