Surrey Madhatters

March 2000

The Ticket

 

   Number 99 - March 2000

Editorial

Another busy month and here comes the Madhatters month - Mad March. I think it’s my turn with an ‘exclusive’. Lynne, Heather and I were privileged to be present when Jeff Colmer (not to forget Nicki and Ada) surprised Gill with the return of her beloved James - suitably restored. It was about 8:45 pm when Ada phoned to say that they were approaching the M25 already ! So we rushed out and into the (sorry - censored - it wasn’t a 2CV) and were outside the GillnBill residence by about 9:05. Gill was amazed by the return of James and that Bill had kept it secret and that we also knew what was happening. Thanks Nicki for tipping us off - we wouldn’t have missed it !

After a glass or so of fizzy wine we started for home. Lynne rescued a frog from under the wheels of ‘The Multi-Coloured Car’ so I picked it up and moved it out of the road. Jeff asked if I could ‘lead’ him back to the M25 - I agreed and promptly took the wrong exit from one of the roundabouts !

You will have read from Gill’s pages that our AGM is due. I’ve looked back through the records (well... at last year’s magazines) and found that it is due in April. So... BE PREPARED for next month and come and volunteer for the ‘official’ posts.

We’ve (well Gill, Bill, Lynne & Ham) had a committee meeting to decide on some more events for the coming months. As you can see from the events page we’ve a few extras to tempt you. To celebrate May Day (or the last day of April) we’ve a wine and crepes event. As yet we have to decide the exact place ! The Southern Clubs Birthday Picnic will be in Ashdown Forest where the children amongst us can play Pooh sticks. We also are thinking of going to the Hollycombe Steam Museum for Father’s Day.

Finally you’ll see inside the back cover an advert that Bill found in 2CV Magazine. It means we now have an entry for the 2001 diary ! The Austrian World Meeting will be at a lakeside location near the Slovenian border.

Ham

Chinese Meal With the Off Piste Ducks

Sunday 27th February saw the Macdonald’s joining the Off Piste Ducks for their Chinese meal. We met Dick & Yvette at the Hog’s Back lay-by at 11 am and made a 2 car ‘convoy’ to The Newport. There we met Dave Shove to complete a creditable 3 car Madhatters contingent. After a drink or so we followed Jeff & Nicki for a detour round the village as we headed to the restaurant in North Baddesley.

The car park behind The Water Margin was nearly full when we arrived so with a bit of help most the front forecourt was filled (stuffed ?) with 2CVs.

Once inside we were made very welcome and the food was excellent. Over 2 hours of leisurely eating, talking and drinking followed before we ventured back into the big outdoors. Some of us then convoyed to Carlo’s for ice cream although I not everybody could find room for more than coffee and helping the kids to eat their ice creams. They were delicious but finding the place again could be something of a problem !

Again - a very pleasurable day out with the Off Piste Ducks - this to celebrate (albeit a bit late) the Chinese year of the Dragon

       Lynne & Ham

  

French National Meeting – Provence

We are now trying to plan a route to Provence – probably via Riems, Dijon, Lyon, Orange Carpentras. This route runs parallel to the motorway, so if we get behind schedule then 100 miles or so on the Autoroute du Sud should see us catch up.

We think we will exchange mobile phone numbers so we can keep in touch if we lose each other and arrange to meet in the evening. We plan to stay in Formule 1 Premier Classe or Campanile if we fell flush for the 3 nights. I know of some people who will leave after us, so this seems the best plan. This way we hope to arrive at the campsite Wednesday at about 5pm so we don’t put up tents in the dark !

After the meeting different people have different plans – to see friends etc. Bill & I will find another campsite for a week and then come home.

Hopefully James will come with us – remember his last big outing was Le Mans.

       Gill

Chat from the Chair

I’m glad a lot more of you made it to the February meeting. It was really good. We were able to have a good few chats. Some of us began to think of routes to Provence, others talked of other meetings they planned, so we began to sort out the year 2000.

We are having a committee meeting before the next Madhatters meeting, so hopefully we will have a few outings for the summer months which will encourage members out at the weekend. In the near future I think we will need an AGM, (April I think - ed.) so if any of you feel you want to be more active in planning future programmes VOLUNTEER NOW. It takes very little time and we really would like new faces and new ideas. I have been chairperson for more years than I can remember. Would anyone else like this wonderful position..... I will do my best in my present state of health but I may need help. I am more than happy to have a rest, so you know what to do next meeting. N.B. even if you don’t come to the AGM you could be ‘volunteered’ in your absence - you have been warned.

                Gill

Gill’s News

1 - I am coping with ‘chemo’ and this goes on until the middle of June. Then I have radio-therapy - so I should be ‘free’ by the end of August. I know I should not wish my life away... but I can’t wait for September to be back to ‘normal’.

2 - James’ restoration is whizzing along. By the time you get this he could be back on the road. We will have a proper celebration to which you are all invited when I can let you know more. After all - any excuse for a party.

Valentine’s Day Convoy - Pompey Puddleducks

Is this a record ? It was a lovely sunny day .... Bill only had time to have breakfast and a shower before we set off. He had got off the P+O Ferry at Portsmouth at 6.00 am that morning and had got home at 8.00 am. He had been with “The Lads” of the Traction Owners Club or Citroën Car Club to Retromobile in Paris - very good but no 2CV “stuff”. Nobody had got to Guildford Station (well Dave had but as we were late, left anyway). So we went to Portsdown Hill.

There were masses of cars - Matt (Soft-tops) was there with 2 new roofs (rooves ?) for us - James and the Charleston and he fitted Bill’s on the spot (that sounds like three ! - ed.) All the ladies were presented with a red rose and we set out. It was hard to keep together but at Emsworth we all stopped, turned round in a car park, regrouped, and went on. However it was soon that half the convoy was left leaderless. Thank heavens a local clubperson knew the final destination and led us there. This was Ilchester on the edge of Chichester Harbour. The pub was near so those without a picnic had lunch outside in the sun, then we went to see the harbour. After many more chats with Puddleducks and Off-Piste Ducks Bill & I made our way home. It really had been a lovely sunny day out.

     Gill

Who Does What ?

CHAIRWOMAN & SOCIAL EVENTS MAN      Tel 01784 453919

Gill & Bill, 18 St. Olaves Close, Staines TW18 1PL

TREASURER                                            Tel 0181 650 8213

David Farmar, 55 Cedars Road, Beckenham, BR3 4JG

EDITOR                                                   Tel 01483 235927

Ham, 15 Rosemary Crescent, Guildford GU2 6XL

Dates for Your Diary

Mar 14                8.00 pm Club Meeting, The Talbot, Ripley.

Mar 26                Off Piste Ducks - Hobby Horse Grand National

Apr 9                Air-cool day, Brooklands Museum.

Apr 11                8.00 pm Club Meeting, The Talbot, Ripley.

Apr 14,15                Steam train festival, Noyelles-sur-Mer.

Apr 22,23                Camping in Calais with Les 62^ches du Calais - much enjoyed last year.

Apr 30                Wine & Crepes evening. 4 pm ‘til late. Venue to be confirmed - Guildford. Savoury home made crepes with a choice of fillings. ‘2CV’ wine !

May 19-21                Puddleducks - Camp at Headley Park - £5/unit/night.

May 28                London to Brighton.

Jun 1-4                8th French National - Provence !

Jun 18                Father’s Day at Hollycombe Steam Fair.

Jun 18                Puddleducks - Duck Race

Jul 21-23                Southern Clubs - Walton-on-Thames camp.

Jul 25-30                DENTWORM (DEfinitely Not The WORld Meeting) Normandy.

Aug 25-28                2CVGB International, Stirling Rugby Club, Scotland.

Sep 9                Southern Clubs Picnic - Ashdown Forest - Pooh Bridge !

    

 
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