View Full Version : Rompers Green O's Mess Summer Ball 2006 - promising to be disappointing???
demobcurious
29th Jun 2006, 21:25
I've got tickets (again) to the Summer Ball at the secret Wiltshire airbase. Having been away for a while, I'm now back and am a wee bit concerned at being told of a lack of attractions.
As far as I can tell there will be the usual dodgems, 1 other fairground ride, 2 tribute acts - and that's about it. I'm told there'll be a big tent with a great light show and nice decorations - but that's a venue not an attraction.
I'd hoped the budget would be spent on stuff to do rather than decorations. Previous years ideas of laser clay pigeon shoot, casino, networked sega rally games, fairground side stalls, (even hot air balloon rides one year!) etc sound like attractions - having a chocolate fountain doesn't and the adrenaline rush of watching 'lucy the fire-eater'? is unlikely to keep me going 'til breakfast is served.
Anybody know if there's anything else booked - or should I just plan to drink my own bodyweight in booze and go to bed early?
Pontius Navigator
29th Jun 2006, 21:34
Saw the hot air balloon but it ran out of puff before we ran out of food.
Do we really want a funfair at huge expense or a 'fabulous' ball. If we want a fun fair, why not hold the ball at Alton Towers.
Economy of scale: several stations could go the same day to make the numbers up. Large stations could have their own day. Book successive Friday's and save the cost of putting up and taking down the marquee.
Maybe I am getting too old but the best ball I ever went to was in 1966 at Cottesmore when Jeff Grubb, frustrated artistic theatre designer and part-time Vulcan plotter, requested the whole of the mess to decorate. The theme, naturally, was a 900th anniversary, and all the livers in turned to at a will making the props.
Brilliant organisation (FOFLs only) and I can remember exactly 3 things :}
demobcurious
29th Jun 2006, 21:51
I don't want a full funfair either. The thing that bothers me after previous years is the thought of it being either the dodgems or the band - and that's the lot.
Always_broken_in_wilts
29th Jun 2006, 22:06
You ungrateful children:rolleyes: No such whingeing from the enlisted filth, as it looks like the Pegasus Club summer ball will be well attended, well recieved and a damn good night out:ok: Man up you girls, get on the ents ctte if you want some thing differant:p
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
demobcurious
29th Jun 2006, 22:11
Ahhhhh, the lucid tones of abiw after another night on the strongbow.
I have done the ents thing, but not this year. Too much time spent doing other (non-secondary) duty things.
Know if the Pegaus club committee is available to lend some advice to the O's Mess lot?
Always_broken_in_wilts
29th Jun 2006, 22:14
It just did:p :p :p
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
demobcurious
29th Jun 2006, 22:28
Thank you. Your advice is welcomed in the manner which you'd expect.
Does anyone know of the plans for the O's mess ball though?
Cragrat
29th Jun 2006, 22:53
Well said 'always broken', demob mate have it from a reliable source that the fairground firm had massively upped their prices this year, hence not as many outside attractions as previous years. Sorry mate but may be next year you should be on the committee.
LunchMonitor
29th Jun 2006, 23:12
Anybody know if there's anything else booked - or should I just plan to drink my own bodyweight in booze and go to bed early?
You could always try spending time talking to your friends and entertaining them with your wit and banter........
Flt Lt Spry
29th Jun 2006, 23:19
Anybody know if there's anything else booked - or should I just plan to drink my own bodyweight in booze and go to bed early?
If your bodyweight is similar to most of the guys hanging around on that secret Wiltshire base, that's going to be a hell of a lot of booze...
Good luck and farewell.
DummyRun
29th Jun 2006, 23:47
DeMob,
Come to the Ball and judge it AFTERWARDS!, yes it might be slightly different to the previous 20 or so but some things move on, not everyone wants Alton Towers, also the boys and girls are quite busy at the moment and the Sqns can't provide the co-pilot section for a week in advance to plaster the Mess in tri-wall boxes and poster paint in a Blue Peter stylee! The feeling was that we have done around the world in 80 days/james bond/wild west etc and it was time to try a fresh approach. If it is a complete flop then we can go back to the old formula in '07 assuming you're free to come and help organize and decorate.
Load Moving..........
exvicar
30th Jun 2006, 08:47
Demob
If your idea of a good night out is the networked Sega Rally game, why not ditch the ball & use the money you save to buy a PS2? That way you'll never need to suffer the hardship of going to a ball again or, at least if you do, you'll be able to impress all the teenage girls with you new found rallying skills!
We managed to have the SEGA, amongst other toys in the 'Big Boys Toys Marquee, alongwith 2 Bands, a female singer and various other entertainment and some stunning food. Staish certainly seemed to enjoy himself. I'm sure your ball will be excellent, give the committee a chance.
South Bound
30th Jun 2006, 10:02
BBQ Advice Please
Hey, can anyone help? I am going to a BBQ on Saturday and I want to know if I will have a good time. Will it rain? Will my kids misbehave? Will Becks and the boys pull it off? Will the food be OK? What if I don't know anyone? Will I have a row with my Missus?
Then again maybe I could just chill, go along with an open mind and try to enjoy myself....
Now a 'J' Bloke!!
30th Jun 2006, 12:56
BBQ Advice Please
Hey, can anyone help? I am going to a BBQ on Saturday and I want to know if I will have a good time. Will it rain? Will my kids misbehave? Will Becks and the boys pull it off? Will the food be OK? What if I don't know anyone? Will I have a row with my Missus?
Then again maybe I could just chill, go along with an open mind and try to enjoy myself....
Dear SouthBound....
In order..
Yes
Probably
Definately
Hope not!!
Turned into Carbon/Undercooked* (Delete as applicable).
Your missus will be there!
Only when you give her driving tips on the way home!!!
Enjoy...that's what BBQs are about.
Oh...and another thing!
Don't go to th O's ball ...DEMob bloke predicts it will be sh*te!!!
More LAter;
'J' Bloke
demobcurious
3rd Jul 2006, 19:30
OK - been away for a long weekend with the family after that last stint away so sorry I haven't responded earlier.
'come to the ball and judge it afterwards' - I'm going (first sentence of this thread) that's why I want to know what's been organised.
'get on the committee and do it yourself' - been there, done that, more than once. I don't want to spend every ball being one of the bl@@dy organisers. Some one else can take a turn. At least we always spent the budget...
'the fairground operators have massively upped their prices' - thank you for letting me know my concerns aren't groundless and there are going to be fewer attractions this year. I refer you to my above comment regarding the budget however.
'if its a complete flop we can go back to the old formula in 07' - if a ball is bad one year it doesn't mean you can have a successful one the next year. A flop will result in several years of poor ticket sales, with all the problems of trying to build the event up again with a low budget.
I am going to the ball and I will have a good time as always. I just don't want to spend the night telling my guests that it could have been better. If any of the committee have seen this thread (and I'll bet my free booze they have :E ) and then thought about how they could do MORE, that can only be a good thing for the mess ents.
dmc