The rally took place on a field and we had glorious sunshine. We celebrated Sarah Pharis’ 18th Birthday with a field party which included cake, jelly and Pimms galore. We played pass the parcel which everyone joined in with and I believe that the adults and kids seemed to enjoy that one because it caused a lot of excitement!

We had a barbecue on Saturday night and everyone got dressed up as a Vicar or a Tart. They were all very good, though there were a lot of hairy legs in tights, Yuk! Jim James won the prize for the Tarts, dressed as a French maid with lots of changes of hairstyles and colours. Vic Baker was a very realistic Vicar (Bookings for Weddings are now been taken). He won the prize for the best dressed Vicar, loved the glasses Vic. Oliver McArdle won the Children’s Prize for the best dressed Vicar’s outfit.

We had wall to wall sunshine all weekend. Thanking Andrea and Steve for a great rally.

This was a very small rally of four vans, including the Rally Marshal. Nevertheless we were very warmly greeted by Trevor and Sue who had just arrived on site themselves. There is so much to see in the Edinburgh area that a free and easy rally was planned, so that we could all do our own thing.

Historic Scottish castles were high on the 'must see' list. The weather was rather mixed for a few days but we were very lucky on the Saturday evening as we were able to have the social on the field. Sue provided the most wonderful dinner of roast beef and all the trimmings. Trevor had been teasing us all afternoon about the entertainment he had booked, so we were all delighted when three pipers from the Penicuik pipe band arrived. They played a lovely selection of popular Scottish music and were rewarded with generous measurers of Trevor's best Glenfiddich whisky. Not to be outdone the male ralliers had whisky too.

Thunder storms arrived during the night, but undaunted, we went into Edinburgh on the bus and had a very enjoyable day there. Monday was the day we had typical Scottish mist and so most of us spent the day getting ready for our move to Thornhill before having flag in the evening or should I say gloaming.

Trevor & Sue were thanked for all the care they had taken of us.

An Australian Xmas was promised and by gum we got it. We were back in Ashwell at a new site, the welcome from Ken and Joy Wootton was as warm as the weather.

The 10 outfits were easily sited, flat field short grass and no clippings to walk into the outfits. The outfits were decorated – tinsel, lights, Xmas trees, and ralliers sat round comparing notes.

At tea and coffee we were told that it was Jim & Holly Barnicott’s 200th rally and they had provided cakes all round. I asked if this meant they would be providing cakes at every rally from now on – sadly no. Ken told us he had been able to book Santa for after BBQ tomorrow. But even with that promise no one seemed to want to be early to bed so a long evening of yarns followed.

Saturday saw an early start to shopping as we had to be back for the England match. It was too warm to indulge in any exercise so lunch was leisurely and then set up the TVs for the match. The only things moving were Laurence and Alison Borg, who were using both hitech and lotech water projecting devices both worked - they ensured each other was soaked.

BBQs were to be lit at 6.00 for eating at 6.30. Extra time then penalties meant some overdone offerings were served. Joy had been slaving away during the week and there was mince pies and cream provided for all ralliers. As we sat back fully sated Santa appeared in his trademark red coat and long white beard (not sure about the shorts and sandals), and he had pressies for everyone.

It was just after Santa left that things started to go wrong, Ken rejoined us with some carol song sheets. Dubious spellings, missing words – verses, and choristers who were strangers to right notes and tunes, they even changed carols on verse three! But everyone was laughing and having a good time, so much so we were still together when the stars came out.

Sunday flag saw more cakes provided by Doreen Gott as she celebrated her birthday. Edmund Horn won the Kids Charity Competition and Jim James thanked Ken and Joy for a most enjoyable rally.

After a short drive from Rippon, we arrived in glorious sunshine for another chance to apply factor 50. We were ‘quickly’ entertained by the children who were taking part in the school sports day. The whole village seemed to be there to cheer them on.

The rally site is close to a bus stop so there is no need to use the car to get into York. We chose the more leisurely second route to the city using the river bus up the Ouse from Naburn Lock and spotted a kingfisher. Some passengers said “where?” and a few said “there!” You’ve heard this before – Our visit to York was a Shambles. It included a mad dash to avoid the only downpour of the week and a struggle to eat the biggest pork filled bun served at a market stall.

A third way to the City was used by one energetic couple who quickly wear out their trainers doing cross country rambles and walks on roads and city walls. By the weekend there were 23 caravanner’s wondering whether the Dutch Night meant ‘Come and pay for yourself’.

During the afternoon the ladies spotted several wise men staring at a pile of pipes and a bundle of white cloth. Slowly a white marquee appeared. It was rather cosy but we all managed to fit inside. Why Stuart brought a canoe as well as a marquee, I don’t know. The flooding took place long ago and there were no signs of deep water this year other than lots of perspiration (ladies) and sweat (men).

Dutch Night arrived. The bouncer on the door, David, was wearing clogs and fancy uniform. The waitress, (Pat), was daintily placing pancakes in the centre of each plate using tongs and lots of concentration. The cook, Gwyneth, kept looking into the tent hoping no more pancakes were needed before sighing and going back out again. We ate savoury and sweet pancakes (the Dutch HP sauce tasted like syrup to me) plus other nibbles and strawberries and cream as Max Bygraves kept singing about tulips somewhere in Europe. After that there was much noise and amusement as David did his best to control the Team Bingo and separate his eights and aces before handing out appropriate prizes.

I should mention the two birthday’s of Dorothy and Stuart who are both unmentionably old this year. This may not have been the biggest rally of 2006 but numbers don’t relate to success unless it is the 9 of clubs that I couldn’t get rid of when I had one card left for most of a game of card bingo. I didn’t win.

The site is ideally placed for touring the area and visiting places of interest. The neighbours were well behaved and we couldn’t find fault with the weather – well, it was a bit hot.

This was another good rally so thanks from all of us go to Gwyneth and David.