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View Full Version : Sussex Group Meet for December: Christmas Dinner cooked on the Fire! Dec 17th/18th



Neumo
20-11-2011, 21:50
Having spent a another great weekend with the Sussex Buchcraft group, we thought we would do a Christmas themed meet for December. The idea is to have a full Christmas dinner of turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes... and Christmas pudding cooked on the Fire on the Saturday night, which should be doable with some ingenuity & enough Dutch Ovens... Red bobble hats, Xmass the lights etc.. will be the theme. Date is the weekend before Christmas, Dec 17th & 18th, which I will double check with the site tomorrow. The standard details & regs are here:

Location of the Campsite & details of the Venue
Broadstone Warren is a Scout site situated in the Ashdown Forest in the North of Sussex, midway between the South Coast and London. The site which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) comprises 386 acres of the Ashdown Forest with campsites situated throughout the woodland in many of the glades.

How to get there
http://www.broadstonewarren.org.uk/find_us/

By Road
From the M25 - Leave the M25 at junction 8 following the M23 southbound towards Brighton. Leave the M23 at junction 10, and take the first exit on the roundabout along the A264 towards East Grinstead. When you get into East Grinstead, follow the A22 southbound towards Eastbourne. Remain on the A22, straight through Forest Row. Broadstone Warren is on the left-hand side approximately 2 miles south of Forest Row.

From the South - Follow the A22 northbound crossing the crossroads at Wych Cross (just after the Roebuck Hotel). The main entrance is approximately 500 metres after the junction on the right-hand side.

SAT-NAV - If using Sat-Nav, the postcode for the site is RH18 5JS. As you get close to the site, you need to look out for the signs as the same postcode is used for a number of local properties.

By Rail: The nearest train station is at East Grinstead, which is approximately a fifty minute train journey from London Victoria. When arriving at East Grinstead Broadstone Warren is a bus journey or ten minute taxi ride away.

By Bus: Bus services pass Broadstone Warren from East Grinstead, Uckfield and Haywards Heath.


Times & Booking In
You can stay the Friday night if you want, although the main meet starts on Saturday Morning & normally goes to mid afternoon on the Sunday.

Fees
We have managed to get the discounted day rate of £4.74 (which is £3.95 + VAT). Please note that this is charged on a 24 hour baises , so if you arrive on the Saturday & leave on the Sunday after being there for more than 24 hours then you need to pay for 2 days. Sorry but that is their rules.

Pitch To Be confirmed
This may well be the one we had for our November meet but will update the details nearer the time.

What we do at the meets
This is an opportunity to meet some local(ish) Bushcrafters, camp out with like minded people & practice/learn some skills. We have had a handful of these meets before, some at other venues, but they mostly follow the same pattern. We tend to do as much or as little as you want but try to have a few sessions where anyone can take part if they want; these are usally things like different ways to make fires, carving, tree id etc.. We cook on the shared fire, often having a communal meal & have tea on the go all the time. We have a few beers round the campfire in the evening but tend not to stay up too much past midninght as others are ofetn asleep by then & we tend to get up early when you wake up in the woods, usually round 7 (although some sleep on for a bit).

The other important stuff
WATER: Standpipes are located at various points around the site.
FIREWOOD: There is ample wood for burning lying around the forest. Under NO circumstances is live wood to be cut or damaged. Chain saws are NOT permitted on the site. (NOTE: I have not yet verified the availability of wood, so if you have access to any, it may be worth bringing some wood or charcoal with you)
PITS: Due to the nature of the ground on site NO pits of any type may be dug.
VEHICLES: NO vehicles are to be driven onto the campsites or parked on the rides other than with the Duty Manager’s permission. On arrival you may be allowed to unload your equipment at your site after which you must park your vehicle in the car park allocated. At the end of your stay, after receiving the Duty Manager’s permission, you will be allowed to take your vehicle to your site to load up your equipment.
CYCLES: To comply with the Forestry Commissions Laws and Natural England, cycles are NOT permitted on the site.
DOGS: NO pets of any description are allowed on site.
NOISE / NUISANCE: As the consideration for other users is paramount, music players, radios and the like must not be audible off your own site. Noise must be kept to a bare minimum between 11pm and 7.30am. Unacceptable behaviour by any users on site will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behaviour includes: Bad language; Trespassing; Vandalism; Consumption of alcohol by minors/excessive consumption by adults; Illegal substance use; Setting fires (with the intent to cause damage); Acting in a way that may cause danger to self or others; Verbal, Emotional, Physical or Sexual Abuse
SECURITY: In the interest of security we would recommend that you do not leave any valuables in tents or buildings.
RUBBISH: Recycling facilities for glass, cans and tins are located at Camp Centre. Please clean all glassware, cans and tins before disposal. All combustible rubbish, where practicable should be burned. All other rubbish should be brought to camp centre and placed in the bins provided, or taken home for disposal.
FIRE: Fire is to stay within the main fireplace, unless people are being taught how to make fire under appopriate adult supervision. This is mainly aimed at kids, as we need to be careful where embers land away from the main fire for obvious reasons. This excludes personal hobos, gas cookers which are the owners responsability when operating.

* Forum members are responsible for themselves, the kit they use and their own actions (and any non member accompanying them)at the Meet.
* Under 18's must be accompanied by at least one parent (or appointed guardian).
* In the highly unlikely event that I need to make use of this ... I reserve the right to stop any individual(s) from attending a Meet. Any individual(s) who I feel endanger our future use of the site will be required to leave the site; outstanding fees will still be owed. This also applies if the site staff have problems with an indevidual. Nothing like this has ever happened but we need to have the standard disclaimer, like those found at other meets.

Hope to see you round the campfire soon

Neumo
20-11-2011, 21:51
Please copy the list & add your name if you can come, in the usual way:

1 Neumo
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3
4
5
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10
...

Mesquite
20-11-2011, 22:04
Sounds like a great weekend is planned :)

Just a suggestion for cooking your turkey... look at the trash can turkey (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQP2OIH7zSc&feature=related)cooking method as an alternative to a DO for cooking it :cool:

Neumo
20-11-2011, 22:38
Thanks for that Mesquite, looks interesting. May have to give that a go, as it looks like it would work well at a meet. Just need to find a suitable metal trash can that is not galv..

spandit
21-11-2011, 06:46
Can't make this one, what a shame...

widu13
21-11-2011, 07:30
Me either, apols.

Spandit- Rabbit and Cranberry sauce?

spandit
21-11-2011, 08:31
@widu_13 - sounds good. Might be heading to woods on Wednesday if you fancy it?

Kepis
21-11-2011, 08:39
I cant make this one either, far too much going on that weekend - soz

lamper
21-11-2011, 09:21
I'm IN!

Love Broadstone Warren. Was the place of my first Scout camp!

Please add me to the list.

1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Neumo
21-11-2011, 17:35
Just had a call from Broadstone confirming the booking for Dec 17th/18th. They will confirm which pitch we will have on Thursday but she reckoned that it would be the same one as last weekends. I will update the thread & OP when that is confirmed.

I have been thinking about that 'trash can turkey' that Mesquite mentioned in a post above. If we can find a suitable steel container (non galv) then that looks like a goer. All we need apart from that is a metal rod, which I can source, a long meat thermometer (which I can buy if nobody has one) & a big bag of bricketts and we would be in business. We can work out how much food to bring & who will bring it when we get some more people signed up.

F7144
21-11-2011, 18:37
Buy a cheap galvy bin and have a few fires in it, this burns off the galvy. Some take longer than others, so you may want to keep looking. Have you thought about a hangi pit?

Luke

spandit
21-11-2011, 18:49
That pitch had no firewood nearby - either get there early & collect loads or go for a different pitch?

jackcbr
21-11-2011, 21:32
Sadly can't make that, already booked with SWMBO elsewhere. But if I get the chance, I will try to pop by on Saturday and say hi.

Neumo
21-11-2011, 21:56
Have you thought about a hangi pit?

The site is perfect for Bushcraft in many ways but has a rule that you are not allowed to dig pits, so a hangi is out, which is fair enough. I have been thinking about this and I reckon a large army surplus cooking pot would do the job. Will have a look on ebay or may have a blat over to XWD who I know sell them. We need a few more people to sign up first before I start planning to roast a 20lb turkey...


That pitch had no firewood nearby
The beauty of the Trash Can Turkey is that you use BBQ Briquettes, which happen to be cheap now that the Summer is over. But yeah, we will need to do more work if we get the same pitch again. I did like it though & it worked well with the parachute.

monkey boy
22-11-2011, 17:08
if the dates can beconfirm i will free uo the time ;)

Simon H
22-11-2011, 19:07
I'm in, not sure about Iona yet though.

1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3 Simon H
4
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Neumo
22-11-2011, 21:50
Excellent, keep them coming. For some reason I am thinking about that trash can turkey in post 3. I am keen to have a go at that.

veryWildbill
22-11-2011, 22:04
I'll be there, will probably have my daughter with me this time

1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3 Simon H
4 Wildbill (probably +1)
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Neumo
23-11-2011, 18:39
Dates have been confirmed & the booking has been made.

Dark Horse Dave
24-11-2011, 08:48
Just too much to do in the run-up to Chistmas I'm afraid, so I'll have to miss this one as well. Shame 'cos I was hoping to bring DHD jnr along. Ah well, next year then!

TJRoots
25-11-2011, 15:21
i'll be there as long as peter can make it (otherwise i'd have a long walk). looking forward to it :D

1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3 Simon H
4 Wildbill (probably +1)
5 tjroots
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jackcbr
26-11-2011, 19:49
Hey guys, I've got a metal dustbin I use for charcoal burning, if you think it would be useful for the turkey. It's got some holes drilled in the bottom, but should still do what you need. I can drop it off on Saturday morning, but can't stick around as I've been booked elsewhere on Sat. If someone can hang on to it or drop it off to Horley at some point you're welcome to borrow it.

Neumo
28-11-2011, 19:26
I've got a metal dustbin I use for charcoal burning, if you think it would be useful for the turkey

That would be great &m I can drop it off one night, as I work in Horsham part of the week, if you do not want to wait until the next meet.

jackcbr
28-11-2011, 21:55
Hmm, that's a bit out of your way mate. Don't mind waiting as I can't see me finding the time to do a burn any time soon. Hopefully be able to make the Jan meet. Even more so if there's a bit of snow. Really fancy a camp out in the snow, a first for everything.

Peter_t
09-12-2011, 18:31
can't make this one :(

pete

veryWildbill
09-12-2011, 19:10
1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3 Simon H
4 Dropped out
5 tjroots
6
7
8
9
10

Sorry guys I'm haveing to pull out of this one. I'm just recovering from a nasty chest infection, and my wife is threatening all sorts of not nice things if I go out playing in the nast cold damp woods.

lamper
12-12-2011, 15:42
Hey guys,

Is this still on? I've been given a free pass! :)

Simon H
12-12-2011, 16:51
I hope it's still on, I'm having a tooth out Friday morning and am looking forward to this as the antidote to having the dentist's knee on my chin!The attendance is looking a bit thin though.....

Hugo
12-12-2011, 17:09
Think I'll come along to keep you boys company.
Not sure if I'll be there on the Friday afternoon as usual though.

1 Neumo
2 Lamper (95% Confirmed - Just need to ask SWMBO)
3 Simon H
4 Dropped out
5 tjroots
6 Hugo
7
8
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10

Hugo
12-12-2011, 23:03
The weather forecast looks a bit grim for the weekend.
I'm still up for it mind.

Graywolf
13-12-2011, 12:17
Not gonna be able to make this one,and I was really looking forward to it,have a great one guys.

Hugo
14-12-2011, 19:42
Is there any chance of everyone bringing some dry wood along so as we can get fire going, I'll bring a bit that I have in my garage.
@ TJ Roots, where do you live, regarding getting a lift there and back.

Simon H
14-12-2011, 19:51
Yeah i'll bring some too Hugo. Popped in there to look for your hat the other day but didn''t see anything mate, was getting dark though. I'll have a proper look with you this weekend.

Hugo
14-12-2011, 20:01
Cheers Simon.
Think I'll bring a small stove for my tea just in case.
Be good to see you mate.

jackcbr
14-12-2011, 20:44
You guys still want my metal dust bin for the meal? I can drop it off sat morning if anyone is going to be around.

Hugo
16-12-2011, 14:14
You guys still want my metal dust bin for the meal? I can drop it off sat morning if anyone is going to be around.
Jack mate it looks to me that there is not enough people for a turkey dinner, I count there is Four of us. Neumo, simon Lamper and myself, TJ Roots has mentioned somewhere that if PeterT is not going then it is a long walk, Peter is not going so four people.
It seems that Neumo has not been on the forum since the 28 of last month, quite a long time has passed, he might be ill like last time.

So guys I'm still coming early Saturday morning with a little dry wood to get things going, I'll be eating the usual bacon sarnies and bangers, yum yum.

Kepis
16-12-2011, 15:51
have fun chaps, wish i could be there, but ive just too much running around to do this weekend.

Simon H
16-12-2011, 16:46
I've been over there twice today and no one is there yet. We didn't have a confirmed booking either, the Fire Brigade have got D1E this time which Dave provisionally booked for us but according to John there he didn't confirm so they gave it away.John said to use on A9 11 behind the Chapel this time. I'll be going over in the morning now as a meet on my own in this weather will be a bit boring!

Hugo
16-12-2011, 17:34
I've been over there twice today and no one is there yet. We didn't have a confirmed booking either, the Fire Brigade have got D1E this time which Dave provisionally booked for us but according to John there he didn't confirm so they gave it away.John said to use on A9 11 behind the Chapel this time. I'll be going over in the morning now as a meet on my own in this weather will be a bit boring!

Do you mean A9 behind the chapel, I cant find A9 11.
See you there tomorrow morning.

Neil1
16-12-2011, 18:41
I'll see you guys in the morning - I'll have all the usual kit - so a good cook-up should'nt be a problem (and I have a couple more lanterns!).
N

jackcbr
16-12-2011, 19:26
Cheers for the heads up. It's quite a drive over, so if you guys aren't likely to do the meal, I'll give it a miss. Sorry I can't join you, but tied up else where.

May be a turkey dinner in jan? Anyway Merry Christmas guys and have fun, wish I could join you.

Neumo
16-12-2011, 20:05
Oh, that is weird as I was told the booking was confirmed. We ARE having a Christmas meal of some sort, as I have bought some of the bits, including a large Christmas Pudding with Brandy butter... I will be over there mid morning. Looking forward to seeing you all in the morning. I will source a smaller turkey on the way.

I have been away on my holiday, so apologise for being a bit quiet the last 2 weeks.

jackcbr
16-12-2011, 20:28
So shall I bring the bin over?

Hugo
16-12-2011, 21:11
I'll see you guys in the morning - I'll have all the usual kit - so a good cook-up should'nt be a problem (and I have a couple more lanterns!).
N

Be good to see you Neil and that nice big parachute as well.
Do you have the pegs to hold it down or are we looking for some hazel.

Hugo
16-12-2011, 21:14
Good to see you are around Neumo.
See you in the morning then fellas.
Jack you are a star.

TJRoots
16-12-2011, 22:11
hey guys just confirming that i wont be able to make it. i did seriously consider walking, but with my non-kit pace it would take about 7 hours so with kit that would probably extend to 9 hours plus rain slows me down a bit which is likely so im looking at a walk that would have one or both ends in the dark along busy roads without pavements which is something i try to avoid.
see i considered it ;)
i will be along for the next one though, i've missed too many meets this year (way too many!).

hope you all have a good time :)

lamper
17-12-2011, 13:04
Missus needs the car, something about turkey.... I'm out. Sorry peeps!

Keep me posted and get some pics, I'm in for the next one.

spandit
17-12-2011, 14:43
Good to see all of you earlier, hope you have a great time. Real shame I couldn't stay

jackcbr
17-12-2011, 15:31
A few more turned up since I left then. Just Neil and Hugo when I stopped by.

spandit
18-12-2011, 00:20
Neumo & SimonH turned up just as I was about to leave. Chilly night for them!

monkey boy
18-12-2011, 07:10
hope you all have a good time, will see you at the next one ;)

spandit
18-12-2011, 12:12
No word yet as to whether anyone survived...

jackcbr
18-12-2011, 15:39
Oh no, I hope my dust bin is alright, and everyone else as well. ;)

Simon H
18-12-2011, 18:58
Yeah we all survived! It was very cold though, frozen condensation inside my tent this morning but I was plenty warm enough in bed.Thanks to all for the use of kit, food, cookery and generally being a good laugh!See you all in January...

Peter_t
18-12-2011, 19:18
wish i could have made it. my weekend involved lots of driving and turned out to be pretty dull:(

pete

Neil1
18-12-2011, 20:14
Another brilliant Sussex Meet!
Thanks to Alan, Dave & Simon for great company & a great laugh. Thanks to - to Robin & Jack for looking in (Jack your bin is safely stored.
For those who did'nt make it - you missed missed the "al-fresco" xmas dinner! complete with turkey and all the trimmings, Xmas pud, brandy butter, custard & cream.
We did'nt have the snow we were hoping for - but this mornings frost on the forest was thick & white, and almost compensated!
I took a few pics (not many - the battery for the camera had to be warmed for an hour - to get two photos, before it needed warming again!). I try to put some pics up in the out & about forum.
Have a great xmas & new year guys.
N

jackcbr
18-12-2011, 21:55
Glad you all had a good one. Really wish I could have joined you. My evening don't live up to expectations and was a little flat. Never mind, now looking forward to a jan meet. The next question is to hammock or not to hammock. Can I knock up an under blanket by the next meet? Maybe even adapt my tarp to take my stove?

spandit
18-12-2011, 21:57
Can I knock up an under blanket by the next meet?

Items needed:
1) square sleeping bag
2) 4 x kilt pins/large safety pins
3) paracord/string/bungie

Takes about 10 minutes - easier to show you when we next meet

spandit
18-12-2011, 22:07
Maybe even adapt my tarp to take my stove?

I was thinking of sewing something like this into my tarp, with a hole in it to take the flue:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILICONE-SILICON-BAKING-MAT-TRAY-NON-STICK-40-x-28cm-/150613023304?pt=UK_HomeGarden_ Kitchen_Cookware_GL&var=&hash=item68c7bf3299

Kepis
18-12-2011, 22:08
Can I knock up an under blanket by the next meet?

All i did to make my under blanket was to get a poncho liner from Endicots, then i sewed a 1 inch hem on each end through which i threaded some elasticated cord which has a small caribiner on each end, these then clip over the suspension tapes on my hammock below the drip ring so water cant get to it or me if it rains.

As Spandit says, takes about ten minutes to do.

jackcbr
18-12-2011, 23:12
Thanks for the tips guys. I'm looking to be as least damaging to my tarp as possible, so might take an old canvas tent and make an addition for one end. Will also see if I can find an old or cheap sleeping bag to make an under blanket. Either way I'm going to need to fix my sewing machine. That will need to be Wednesday night job.

Neil1
19-12-2011, 07:51
Under blankets are fairly straight forward to make. As Kepis said they are easily made from a ponch liner, the problem is the method described hangs too far below the hammock (creating a large "cold-air" space), also a single layer of poncho liner is'nt very thick - it needs to be doubled ideally.
I'll send you over instructions for how to make one, it'll only take you 30 minutes to do on a sewing machine.
N

spandit
19-12-2011, 09:56
Your stove design means you could have most of it underneath the tarp with the flue outside anyway. Some of that silicone mat clothes pegged to the edge would protect it from the flue

Hugo
19-12-2011, 11:01
Great time we had fellas.
I was a bit cold in the night mind you as a couple of the dancing girls crept back to my basher.
They must have left the ends open and let the cold in as the left at 3 in the morning.

spandit
19-12-2011, 11:02
Is that what you call Neil and Simon now?

Hugo
19-12-2011, 11:43
Is that what you call Neil and Simon now?

No, darling more like. :lmao:
Funny thing whilst reading this, the front door bell rings. (now this is the first front door as we have two to keep the riff raff out.)
plain clothes policeman with warrant card in hand, I'm thinking bugger what have I done now, was it the 130 I was doing on the A23, anyway after exchanging niceties it seems that one of our neighbours was robbed in the early hours of the morning and another had someone rifle there garden shed, did I hear anything.
Well after being at the Sussex meet I was a bit tired and slept for many hours and didn't apart from a car bonnet slamming at 4.30.
He wanted to look around my back garden for a RED handbag, so we have a look and a chat, find nothing exchange pleasantries and walk back into the side road, now this is where I have my cunning plan to play Sherlock Holmes, I look over my front wall and then pull out the RED bag along with a lot of credit cards that were on show. A bit of hand shaking, ( he wasn't a Freemason) and off he goes to return the RED handbag, to I hope will be a young lady very willing to give Hugo a big wet smacker on the cheek (not hoping too much) for finding it.