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The Gay Caravan & Motorhome Club
The UK’s longest running Gay Caravan & Camping Club
Established 1990
September 2016 issue
Content:
Page 2: Editors Blog
Page 3: Rainy Day Fun
Page 4: Future Meets & Membership Boost
Page 5: GCMC News board
Page 6: Camp Kitchen
Page 7: Brighton 2016
Page 9: The Land of my Fathers
Page 10: Naples 2017
Page 11: Events & Contact us
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Editors/Writers Bloggie Bit
I have been interested in Caravans as far back as I can remember, Caravan holidays were not
something we did as kids, but I grew up near the seaside and a popular holiday destination in South
West Wales, so there were plenty of caravanners and tenters around, and I new that I always
wanted one, a caravan that is, but it was some years later when I eventually bought my own, so for
the early years it was a good old fashioned frame tent, which I bought when I was around 18.
At the age of 20 I landed a job as an assistant bars and entertainments manger on a holiday park at
Pendine Sands in South West Wales, whilst not in a position to buy my own van, I convinced my
parents to buy a second hand Avondale Quantock 5 berth tourer, it had been put in for part
exchange for a static caravan on the site, so being friendly with the sales team I managed to get it at
cost price, always knew it was worth giving the sales team a few lock ins now and again in the club
house, the problem was that my parents would never tow it, especially after a disasterous boat
towing incident that mounted my dad’s Ford Sierra, so it was sited from year to year, this was my
first towing experience, stabaliser? Who needed them, oh how we learn.
Some years later I took on my own public house, whilst in the trade I had many offers and
opportunities to be creative and develop my entrepreneur skills, so yeah I bought many items over
the bar, then moved them on at various markets and fairs, recognising the need for a van of some
kind, I decided the easiest option was another caravan, so I ended up buying another Avondale, well
at least I thought it was an Avondale, but it looked simular to a 1970’s carlight, for a bargain price of
£200, it used to belong to a travelling fair, so once I cleaned it up and removed the signs for “Gypsy
Rose Lee”, we were good to go, that van ended up in my sisters garden some years later, and to this
day, my nephew still has the cupboards that were removed fitted in his bedroom, those old vans
were certainly quality and made to last.
After many years, around 10, I decided to buy a caravan and take it up as a hobby, you will see a
trend forming I am sure, but for £1200 I bought a small two berth that had every accessory going, a
bit of alloy rot and a slight bit of damp, but this Avondale Sandmartin was the start of an on going
adventure, and from that purchase I found and joined the Gay Caravan & Camping Club, (Now
named the GCMC).
I am sure you have all been in that position when you fill the cupboards over time, and you know
you have outgrown what you got, so off to the dealers to have a look around with a budget in your
head, well the plan was good at the time, anyway I left the dealers having purchased a Compass
Ralley, not only breaking the Avondale trend, but doubling the budget.
So what came next you ask, well after a couple more years those cupboards become full again, so
onto the next step up, and I purchased an ABI Grandioso tag axle caravan, gorgeous van, but she was
high maintenance, so after 3 years she had to go to a new home.
Today we are on our second motorhome, not something I thought I would take to, but would
struggle returning to a caravan now, as I find motorhomes so much easier, the other half keeps
putting his foot down when I start the RV conversation, But who knows, one day maybe, and to
think it all started with a canvas tent.
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Future Meets & We are on site details
MEMBERSHIP BOOST
The club’s membership numbers are continuing to look healthy, but due to a lack of meets
being arranged, Its time to have a boost on promoting the GCMC’s membership numbers,
which will hopefully allow for the opportunity for more meets over time, I am in the process
of developing some A4 advertising posters for the Club, and working on some other
interesting campaigns too, all focussed on the growth of the GCMC.
If you would like some posters to post in your workplace, gay venues or at site information
rooms when on your travels, then let me know and I can either send you some to print
yourself or print for you and send through the post.
These are not the actual posters
Date Hosts Details & Information
18th – 20th
November 2016
Steve & John
07789112389 or
Whitemead Forest Park – Gloucestershire
www.boundlessbreaks.co.uk
We are on site if anyone would like to Join us,
Bee Gees Tribute act on the Friday if anyone
fancies it, only £20pp and includes a two course
meal. Please book direct and just let us know,
we have a table booked under my name ‘Steve
Watkins’ on the Friday eve, just ask to be added.
We are booked on to pitch 18 also.
2017
Alan Hartford
An amazing opportunity to have a meet in
Naples. Please see Page 10 for full details
2017
Steve & John
E mail the club for more info
Bruges, Gent, France, Always fancied it? But
never wanted to travel with your van on your
own?
Let us know if you would be interested in 4-5
nights away in 2017 and we will aim to organise
it if we have the time and the interest.
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GCMC NEWS BOARD Chairperson As no body has come forward since Ian’s retirement of Chairperson, and being a member for c.15years, I have decided to take over the role as Chairperson for the club, to allow fairness, if anyone wishes to stand for the same role, then please let me know by the 1st October 2016, if no one comes forward I will take it on officially, if anyone does come forward then we will hold an election. Membership Secretary & Treasurer Im sad to announce that John and Carl Dunne have decided that its now time to give up their roles within the club, So myself and John (my other half), will now take on these responsabilities, I ask that during the handover period you please bear with us as we all work full time. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the club, to thank both Carl and John for their contribution into the running of the GCMC, and hopefully we will see you out and about soon Website We have recently changed the log in and password for the website due to some members having difficulty in accessing it, updated details are on page 11. Members The club has a really healthy number of members, but for all members to get the best out of your club, we really could do with a few of you putting on some meets, If your nervous about doing this for the 1st time, then let me know and one of us will gladly give you a call to discuss further. Groundsheet The groundsheet will be sent out during September and November for 2016, I will publish a list of circulation dates and submission deadlines for 2017 soon, but don’t worry if you miss a deadline for any of the publications, I can always send out a flyer if needed. Contact During the period of handover, could you please use the GCMC newsletter e mail address or my personal mobile number only (see page 11) if calling please leave a message and I will get back to you asap.
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CAMP KITCHEN
Boozy Nanas - A real camping treat!
Ingredients
1 banana per person
Rum
Brown sugar
Cream
Cooking Instructions
1) Bung the bananas on a BBQ whilst still in their skins, 2) When they have turned black remove them from the BBQ, 3) Carefully remove from the skins, 4) Cut in chunks and pour on rum (as much as you like!), 5) Top with brown sugar then add cream.
Calorie content horrific but who cares you’re Camping & Caravanning!
Sausages in Sticky onion marmalade
Ingredients
2-3 Sausages per person
4 Tablespoons of onion marmalade
A slurp of Red Wine
Cooking Instructions
1) Place the sausages into an oven proof dish and cook in a hot over for around 30 minutes, or until they are nearly done.
2) Drain off any excess fat 3) Add the marmalade evenly over the sausages and return to the oven for about 5 minutes 4) Remove the sausages from the dish and stir in the wine to make a rich onion gravy 5) Serve with buttery mashed potato.
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BRIGHTON PRIDE 2016
Due to Pride weekend being such a busy weekend for all, there was no official
GCMC meet this year, although there were many members on site, so as
always, it was really nice to catch up and say hello to so many from the club.
We will be arranging an official meet and competitions for 2017 at Brighton
Pride, but more about that closer to the time.
We were fortunate to have some previous members re-join and also a few new
members are in the process of joining the club which was great news.
We were also lucky with the weather on Pride Saturday, I don’t think anyone
could have wished for anything better.
Here are a few pictures for you…
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MEET REPORTS 2016
Held a meet? Or been on site with other members, encourage others to hold a meet and tell
us about all the fun you have had.
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The land of my fathers…………………WALES
Not mentioning the Rugby or Football and how Wales performed so well!
In the attempt to attract some meets in this beautiful land, I will help you
prepare for a visit to the GREAT land of WALES.
Welsh Language What it means How you say it…..
Wnco Mwnco Him over there! Oon-core moon-core
Onco Fonco Her over there! On-core von-core
Man a man a mwnci Might as well Man ah man ah moon-key
Sboncen Squash Sbon Ken
Popty Ping Microwave Popty Ping
Chwyrligwgan Merry go round Loch-url-ee-goo-gan
Igam ogam Not going in a straight
line
Ee-gam O-gam
Pendwmpian Nodding off Pen-doomp-yan
Sielffo Having Sex Shelf-o
Clatsio Fighting Clat-cho
Sglodion Chips Sglod-yon
Araf Slow A-rafff
Swmpus Awesome Soom-Piss
Twmffat Idiot Toom-fat
Bwci bo Ghost Bookee Bore
Jiw Jiw Good Good Jew Jew
Mwg Drwg Cannabis Moog Droog
Llond Fy Mol Full Llond vuh moll
Bonclust Clip around the ear Bon-clist
Ychafi Horrible Uch-ah-Vee
Shwmae Hello Sha My
Bora Da Good Morning Bora Dar
Nos Da Good night Noss Dar
Carafan Caravan Car a fan
Hoyw Gay Hoy
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2017 Hi Everybody, I am a new member along with my partner Khaled. As I am retired and Khaled is not I tend to go for trips - especially if its anything longer than about a week - on my own; last year I went to Northern Italy to revisit Trieste where I lived for a short while as a youngster in 1952. I joined a Caravan Club rally in Northern France for the first week, then visited friends in Germany, after which I travelled on to the Stuttgart area to visit a railway establishment - yes I'm a train buff, I'm afraid - before continuing to a resort near Trieste - alone - where I stayed for another two weeks. On the way back to the UK I spent about a week in Delft - Holland. Slightly less adventurous, but this year I went to the Outer Hebrides and Northern Scotland for two months. Once again I was alone - made some new friends (none of them gay!) but was lucky enough to enjoy some fantastic weather while Khaled - at home in Cambridgeshire - spent a miserable time with rain day after day! Where is this leading I hear you ask? Well next year I am planning to go to Naples and I wonder if anyone out there fancies turning the trip into a mini-rally I would be delighted to hear from you if you do. I lived and worked in Naples in the 70s - I love the place, I have been back since and I do intend to make what will probably be a farewell visit (I'm 74 but reasonably fit and active). I know a superb campsite, I know and understand the transport system, all the places to go - and there's a lot more than just Vesuvius and Capri. Of course it's a long way to go and my plan is to spend at least three weeks there, perhaps calling at one or two places en route. Lots of planning to do and lots of fun planning! If you are interested let me know and we can go from there. I know we will be on way to leaving the EU by then but the Italians are a lovely friendly nation and the food is out of this world. I look forward to hearing from you......Alan Hartford
Email: [email protected]
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UPCOMING EVENTS DIARY 2016
Date Event
23rd – 25th September Elvis Festival – Porthcawl, South Wales
11th – 16th October Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016 – NEC
Birmingham.
14th – 16th October Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival
http://www.rainbowfilmfestival.org.uk
30th Sep – 2nd Oct The Malvern Caravan Show
Three Counties Showground, Malvern,
Worcester.
25th December Crimbo Day
Contact Us:
Acting chairperson & groundsheet Steve Watkins Tel: 07789 11 23 89 Email: [email protected] Acting treasurer & Membership Secretary John Rees (contact details as above) Facebook: www.facebook.com/gcmc
Please contact us to be added to this group. Club Website: www.thegcmc.co.uk
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