View Full Version : Outdoor Show NEC....Fantastic
Just spent a day at the Bushcraft 'enclave' at the NEC and finally met some of the excellent bods that make BushcraftUK the most welcoming and down to earth place to be for bushcrafters on the web. I met many characters, Tony, Jack,Stuart of Kellam and his better half (her words not his lol) Jamie, Adi007 and his lovely family and many more. We had a good chat, played with all the toys (axes, knives, blast matches, Flint and charcloth, Hennesey hammocks) and perhaps gave a few members of the public an insight into the fascinating world of bushcraft. DG was there giving friction firelighting demo's (which he conned me into doing too after lulling me into a false sense of security by letting me sit in his nice comfy wheelbarrow!). I had that much fun it was only when I was tearing down the M6 on my bike to go home that I realised I hadn't eaten all day but Jules came to the rescue with a steak dinner when I got home :-D
All in all a cracking day out with good laughs, no issues and great people,
GREAT TO MEET Y'ALL BCUK ROCKS!!:super:
It was great to meet up with you too Maddave! :biggthump
Great to meet you, Mad Dave!! (loved your bow drill demo/talk by the way!:wink:)
And what a cool bunch of people in our little community! Great way to spend a weekend - let's do it again soon, everyone!
Rest of the show was very busy & packed, but the BCUK enclave was like a little island of tranquility among the madness...
:-D
Had a great day at the show, shame it took so long to find the BCUK enclave as that had to be the highlight. Got to say there are some great people on this forum, definately looking foward to meeting up again.
Maddave definately lives up to his name :P although I think Jack could be a contender for that title too - MadderJack perhaps??? ;)
Cheers to everyone for helping with my first Bowdrill fire (even if it did take about an hour and a half :shock: ).
All I can say is Roll on the Wilderness Gathering!!!! :-D
I absolutley loved the show, and it was great meeting Jack, Tony, Stuart (again!) Chris Claycombe and anyone else I missed
Apologies to Adi for not getting around to chat to you - sorry mate!
I managed to pick up a Gransfors axe, some mapping software (the whole of southern Britain in OS 1:50,000 on 3d rendering software) and some 2-way radios, but most of all I had fun!
It really was fantastic meeting so many people at the show and thank you all for coming to support us in our little bit of ancient woodland (bluebells and all!) slap bang in the middle of the NEC site!
You're all nutters, but then I guess that makes me one as well - and happy to be so! Lith, you're right .....Jack is a nutter does that make him a nutterjack or a natterjack????
Great to see you all.....and hope to see you all soon!
Jamie
MartiniDave
05-04-2004, 09:48
I got to the show on sunday as threatened. It was great to meet Tony, Jamie, Stuart, Jack, Dave and Roving Rich over at the little enclave. Sorry I missed those of you who were there on the other 2 days. My lad Michael was more than impressed by Stuarts demonstration of a puuko on Roving Rich's air hair, and he just loved the Hennesey hammock. In all the excitement I clean forgot to compare the Wetterling and GB axes Jack had on display!
Cheers guys
Dave
Went on the Friday - had a great time.
Nice tp put a few faces to names.
C_Claycomb
05-04-2004, 12:03
As has been said, it was great to put faces with names and posts. Jack was about the only person that looked remotely like I thought he would!!!
I think that Dave deserves some kind of medal :notworthy for all that effort on the bow-drill! I am sure that many of the people were attracted by the billowing clouds of smoke :lol:
Actually I am full of respect :ekt: for everyone who stuck it out for the whole 3 days! I had had a stressful week, but was only there on the Saturday and was totally knackered on Sunday! :-?
Thanks to everyone for making my "chauffeur" :wink: feel so welcome, she really enjoyed meeting everyone. On the way home she commented that it was really nice to get to meet such a normal group of people!! :rolmao:
Chris
Thanks to everyone for making my "chauffeur" :wink: feel so welcome, she really enjoyed meeting everyone. On the way home she commented that it was really nice to get to meet such a normal group of people!! :rolmao:
ChrisWhat a lovely lady your mum is! Full of great stories! You should get her to sign up to the forum!
It was really great to meet you both!
Thanks to everyone for making my "chauffeur" :wink: feel so welcome, she really enjoyed meeting everyone. On the way home she commented that it was really nice to get to meet such a normal group of people!! :rolmao:
Obviously we hid out true selves very well then! :wink: :rolmao:
Wonderful to meet you both! Your hand made knives and bows were a real crowd-pleaser!
:biggthump
C_Claycomb
05-04-2004, 12:46
Dang! I was so busy talking bows and showing knives that I totally forgot to go talk to Adi about his flint and steel! grrrr :-x heh heh
Yeah, my mum does have her uses :wink: I can send her out, get her to chat with everyone, then I can have her tell me all about the people she meets! I would try to get her signed up, maybe this year, she is still only slowly getting to grips with the computer. Email is okay, but she hasn't worked out the internet yet :-D
Kath, Adi, you have a smashing family! Hope you all got back home without incident.
Same goes for everyone else that was there.
Dang! I was so busy talking bows and showing knives that I totally forgot to go talk to Adi about his flint and steel! grrrr :-x heh heh
No kidding - I was seeing that flint and steel and embers on char cloth in my sleep Saturday night ... over the Fri-Sat I must have used it well over a hundred times! :-D
I thought that the Pot Permang/antifreeze fire and the wire wool and battery demos went down well too.
claireabelle
05-04-2004, 13:24
Hi I'm Claire and I came to the show on Friday with Tony. It was good to eventually meet up with people I have heard Tony talking about:
Jack and Jamie, it was a real pleasure. Hope you get lots of interest in the hammocks followng my "hard sell" of them to people. Don't forget my % cut will you?
Adi and Kath, you have lovely children. Say hi to Amy and Tina for me. They both loved the hammocks and both separately said to me that Ray Mears had one of them and did I know that their Dad had a DVD of Ray Mears?
Stuart and Cindy, it was good to meet you. My husband is really interested in a Wolverine so I might have to contact you about buying one? also I'm interested in a reindeer skin so I'll be in touch.
DG your fire by friction demos were amazing. It was good to sit and chill with you while stuffing leaflets into your brouchures. Hope you got rid of loads of them and that your courses go well. Also all the best for the future.
All in all I had a great time on Friday, thanks for making me feel so welcome - even though I am a complete bushcraft novice. If you are at the show next year I am sure I will see you as Tony has already got me lined up for postcard distribution.
All the best,
Claire
I was very glad to finaly meet up with many of you on Saturday. Stuart, love the Wolverine and where did you get your smock ?,
Addi lovley to meet you and your other half, Chris great bows and knives, Tony thanks for the info. and to everybody else who I spoke to thanks for making it a great day. :-D
Stephen
Hello everyone
I've just gotten in and i'm exhusted!
Great to meet you all I had a wonderfull dinner with adi and his fantastic family, Jamie, Jack and Dave during which we discovered that we collectivley had 11 knives at the table :shock:
I got to meet Chris again and marvle at his incredable knives and bows
and cindy loves your mum :-D
Stuart, love the Wolverine and where did you get your smock ?
The smock was a custom made by snowsled
Thanks everyone for making it such a great show!!!
Stuart.
Just like to say that you are a star! The show wouldn’t of happened if it wasn’t for your hard work and dedication. Thank you my friend.
Tone.
I hope the weekend leaves you with feeling of pride because it should do, you have built a community that has truly transformed people’s lives and not many people have the pleasure of doing that.
Adi007.
Wonderful to of meet you and even better to meet your wife!! ( better looking than you mate, sorry).
Your children are a credit to you both. I wish you could of stayed longer but hopefully we will meet up again soon. If you need any giffs, just drop us a line! And thank you for keeping everyone laughing.......and I didn’t know that you have written so many books and I am amazed at how many gadgets one man can carry!
Kath.
Pleasure. Didn’t know a lady could carry so many gadgets!
Kate 688.
Please be understanding with your Mum with your placement to Iraq, it isn’t easy being a parent and I wish you well.
Bow Drill Dave.
Dave, I hope you are having an easy day mate, you deserve it.
Dave work tirelessly through the whole of the 3 days demonstrating fire by friction ( apart from when Mad Dave took over, and we will get on to him in the minute! And when the Rove turned up and sat in the wheel barrow all day.) Again, for me, it is always a pleasure to watch and admire a skilled man at work and this was what I watched over the 3 days. I always have respect for someone who is willing to share their own hard earned skills with other people, for nothing. You inspired, maybe over a thousand people this weekend and I hope that you are inundated for course’s. You hit the nail on the head.
MadDave.
Well. What can be said about MD. He was everything I wasn’t expecting. He has an electric personality and when you meet him you will know why. He must be the star of the show, he was only with us for a day but he left his mark. He wowed the public with his fire by friction demos and holding the fort while Dave had a break ( not in his land rover by the way). I believe Stuart shaved his head with a Wolverine!
Dave told his wife that he was just nipping out to see someone and ended up at the NEC! How did that happen then? He lives in Manchester. He does however ride a 1100cc bike so perhaps that is just nipping out, as it does take long to get anywhere on one of them.
This may help sum up MD:
Dave had said his goodbyes and was walking away from us when Jamie shouted ‘ take care on that bike Dave’............Dave shouted back ‘ why’.........says it all really.
Claire.
Thanks for your sales techniques on the Hennessy, they went down a storm and Jamie and I seem to spend half the weekend in them, demonstrating them of course! Yep, you are on a % and we will be doing your good man a good deal!......but book early to avoid disappointment! Was wonderful to meet you as well.
Something that I must tell everyone thou. Tone reckons that you both gave out about a thousand cards on Friday. But after you left, Tone only manage to give out about 2 over the rest of the weekend........why was that then Tone? Was it the shorts you had on or was it something else? :shock:
Sargey.
Good to meet you and as always, full of wisdom and thank you for the beer and I will get a hook up to you!
Chris C.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the only man I have ever meet that has left ‘Kellam’ Stuart speechless. Chris your skill and craftsmanship is of the highest calibre and it was a privilege to meet you and your ‘chauffeur’. Your are a credit and an inspiration the bushcraft world. As I have already said, you have gain a special place in this community not only with you skill and your etiquette but also by being the first man to render Stuart speechless..........I dare say Cindy would pay a lot of money for that!
Rove.
As always mate. Like your style and your binos!
And to a big thank you to everyone one else who took the time to come and see us and spend some time with us including, Womble, Lithril, Eds, Dave, Martin, and Jamie and I are sorry if we looked a bit blank on Sunday but we hadn’t stopped since 6.30am Friday morning!
Jack.
Dare say I will write some more on the subject!
Now: about these girly artificial flints...!
Yes, Jack is right about Dave who worked on the fire by friction tirelessly for the whole three days. He must have done the demo literally dozens of times over the two days I was there and folks were mightly impressed with his show. He worked hard and his efforts will be well rewarded by many new customers coming his way. A very knowledgable guy, a great educator and an absolute gent. Very kind of him to give both his time and knowledge.
It was a pleasure to meet him!
Jack,
Liked the tool kit roll.
As I said it a better version of one I've been using. Certainly keeps kit together and makes it look more "respectable"/ workman like.
Helps stop people way the back of works pick up if full of axe, saw, knife etc. well you got to do something on your lunch break when your in the middle of a field.
Keep me informed on the design progress as I'd be up for one.
Now: about these girly artificial flints...!
Just to give you an idea of just how powerful that Blast Match is, Jack cleared that area were were in with it - and it only took a couple of strikes! :shock: :bu:
However, as with everything you have to have a balance and so that's why I was there with the traditional flint and steel striker.
Kath.
Pleasure. Didn’t know a lady could carry so many gadgets!It was lovely to meet you too, Jack! :-D And thanks for buying the drinks on Friday night! :wink:
For those who weren't there ... we did a count up round the table in the pub and between the ten of us we had, if I recall correctly, 14 knives and 11 torches on or about our persons. I think I was carrying the most of each. :oops: Jack didn't have either but assured us that he was carrying a billook! :-D
We also had a count of the more bizarre kit that we kept at home, for example how many NBC suits we had in all between us. I can't recall how many it was (anyone??) but it was quite a few and Kate688 won hands-down by having hers with her in her car! :shock: (Stuart of course won outright on everything else and for having most rooms dedicated to his kit too I would imagine! What great stories he tells! ) A great time!! :uu:
Kath.
Pleasure. Didn’t know a lady could carry so many gadgets!It was lovely to meet you too, Jack! :-D And thanks for buying the drinks on Friday night! :wink:
For those who weren't there ... we did a count up round the table in the pub and between the ten of us we had, if I recall correctly, 14 knives and 11 torches on or about our persons. I think I was carrying the most of each. :oops: Jack didn't have either but assured us that he was carrying a billook! :-D
We also had a count of the more bizarre kit that we kept at home, for example how many NBC suits we had in all between us. I can't recall how many it was (anyone??) but it was quite a few and Kate688 won hands-down by having hers with her in her car! :shock: (Stuart of course won outright on everything else and for having most rooms dedicated to his kit too I would imagine! What great stories he tells! ) A great time!! :uu:
The funny thing is, Kath isn't joking. As we walked into the pub I had this line come to me from the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves - ' no blades no bows, leave your weapons here'
Kath's girls had more knives on them the Stuart :shock:
And Kath, I think Stuart had 5 NBC suits and I can remember Cindy saying that she can't understand why Stuart has 5 Hennessy Hammocks!
I did feel left out as I had no kit at all :oops:
I did feel left out as I had no kit at all :oops:
Yeah Jack, talking of blades, where were the billhooks? Are we just not ready for them yet? :-D
I did feel left out as I had no kit at all :oops:
Yeah Jack, talking of blades, where were the billhooks? Are we just not ready for them yet? :-D
Sorry about that Adi but the community just isn't ready for them yet, you know that once you are Gransfors and Wetterlings will go out of business over night............I just don't want that responsibility!
I did feel left out as I had no kit at all :oops:
Yeah Jack, talking of blades, where were the billhooks? Are we just not ready for them yet? :-D
Sorry about that Adi but the community just isn't ready for them yet, you know that once you are Gransfors and Wetterlings will go out of business over night............I just don't want that responsibility!
All you need to do to obliterate GB and Wetterlings is to take a picture of Ray Mears with a billhook in his hands and they're gone! :-D
All in all a brilliant time......That Jack bloke is barkin' though :shock:
Kiddin' fella :-D I was well peeved when I had to go home...No chance of that on the next one......
Oh by the way, I did mention to some that I'd be going to the gathering...I was wrong. I mentioned it to Jules when I got home, she raised an eyebrow and had an odd little smirk on her face as she said "aren't you forgetting something?"..... She was right, I was forgetting something...........IT'S ME BLOOMIN' WEDDING DAY !! :yikes:
She laughed her ass off when I realised (who's a numpty??...That'll be me then.) So i'm afraid I'll have to bow out on this years gathering as I'll be at the altar in a funny suit. <*thinks:- I wonder if anyone has ever got married in a Swanny?*> 8-)
ou could always come down afterwards Maddave ... Nah, I'm only kidding! :-D
Hope that you and Jules have a wonderful day! :biggthump
I turned up on sunday and had a great time. Had a good chat with Tony, would have stayed and chatted for longer but SWMBO wanted to see the rest of the show as well. Even managed to treat myself a Kuksa, although it was a trade off as the wife wanted a few things from some of the other stands. I would like to thank Tony as with his help we managed to convince SWMBO that I really do need a GB SFA, cheers mate.
Hope to see you around some time,
Brian
I was just wondering what Stuart needs with the assault ladders???? :-?
Dave....what about starting the honeymoon down in East Knoyle....am sure SWMBO wont mind!!!!
Again, we had such an amazing time and were bowled over by everybody although am a bit worried about a lot of peoples tracking skills :lol:
Roll on September
Jamie
She laughed her ass off when I realised (who's a numpty??...That'll be me then.) So i'm afraid I'll have to bow out on this years gathering as I'll be at the altar in a funny suit. <*thinks:- I wonder if anyone has ever got married in a Swanny?*> 8-)
Hey Dave, you could always invite all of us :rolmao: we would even wash our clothes and I'm sure some would be happy to do the catering, a nice bit of fish, wild plants, snails, roots, nettle soup, squirrel, rabbit, birch sap...........Martin is particularly good at getting large quantities of it and I bet there are a few on here that can turn it into a nice tipple!
Have a great day mate and let your future Mrs Madness know we wish here all the best.
Tone
Well if you peeps can put up with me, I'll try and come for the whole weekend next year, really didn't want to go. Sam did remark that it made a change to meet some mates who were normal (did she actually go to the event????? :lol: )
had a great day saturday, didn't spend as much money as i should have. :lol:
for some reason it didn't click that the bcuk stand was outside, so when i saw a guy with a ventile smock and a snugpak rocket pack carrying a wooden canoe paddle, i thought i'd ask him! turned out it was martin. 8-) i was inspired by his birch tapping ideas, so i went out and tapped some myself sunday afternoon.
it was great meeting everybody, hopefully we'll get together again with sightly less hectic circumstances.
jack, i have a cunning plan for the hook!
cheers, and.
It was great to meet you all on Saturday. I was walking past the "pub" inside the show, this guy taps me on the shoulder and says "Excuse me can you tell where the BCUK stand is please"
So I asked him who he was.
"Sargey" he answered
So I asked him why he asked me.
He said "You're wearing Ventile, you have a Rocket Pack on your back and you're carrying a Canoe paddle you have got to be a bushcrafter"
Who needs a badge????????? :-D :-D :rolmao:
Bought myself a canoe and all the bits n bobs. Came home skint.
http://www.rawtide.com/usrimage/Journey-2003.jpg
One of these but in a nice green :-D
Talk about pipped at the post!!! :-D
I'll have to learn to type faster.
I must agree with all the others - excellent BCUK area, I went on Friday and hovered around the edges on Friday afternoon for a while and chatted with Stuart and from watching him tap Birch sap, I remembered the Ray Mears snippett from years ago. I thought the show was OK, almost too big!!
On Saturday, I was with the Sussex Junior Archery squad, for an outdoor mini tournament (I am a coach and their team manager)- I managed to slip away for a few minutes in the woods that surrounded their field and found a Birch tree - tapped the sap and drunk from the bowl - a wonderful experience, and one I will repeat every spring - so thanks BCUK for nudging the memories.
Graham.
I was walking past the "pub"
i was only holding that pint for someone else :roll: :-D
cheers, and.
Jack,
Liked the tool kit roll.
As I said it a better version of one I've been using. Certainly keeps kit together and makes it look more "respectable"/ workman like.
Helps stop people way the back of works pick up if full of axe, saw, knife etc. well you got to do something on your lunch break when your in the middle of a field.
Keep me informed on the design progress as I'd be up for one.
Hi Eds.
Good to meet you and thanks for your input on the tool roll, it was very much appreciated! I think we have a strong product there and we will take you advice on it and fine tune it!
Hope to see you soon.
Jack.
Col.Parsons
09-04-2004, 14:50
Hi guys :-D
I'm a newbie here, but I must say that the Outdoors Show was FANTASTIC!!!!!!
I haven't been before, and I know how much I've missed out on now!
Were any of you the guys out by the Land Rover Challenge area by any chance? I really didn't have enough time to take a good look around there, as my parents and their friends wanted to head back home :-? Still, those US Survival Kits looked quite dandy, and I'm after some of the bits and bobs from those when I get a bit more copper.
Nice to meet you all,
Si :-D
Many thanks to Dave for the fantastic fire by friction demonstrations!!!!
I have never seen somone light so many fires with a bow drill in one day, we lost count of how many times you did it!
http://img57.photobucket.com/albums/v174/diabolik/P1010039.jpg
http://img57.photobucket.com/albums/v174/diabolik/P1010049.jpg
Looks like you all had a good time ;-)
Ed