JK2005

[Mrs H.]

Aaaah - child protection. i think If i can do anything on this front it's going to be on a DIY basis - just a dry space for people to be.

I already have a volunteer for a phone line on the saturday night between specified times for elite starts on sunday.

Anything else i can help you with

[graeme]

Elite Classic race (day 2) start positions is determined by the position from the medium race (day 1)

Ah yes, thats what they always say. And you can work it easily enough:
(position)*3 minutes before x o'clock - give or take a few minutes for people not entered both days.

Until you turn up and there's different unpublished rule for parents which means you missed your start time and, no, you can't start according to what it says in the programme like everyone else can, indeed, you can't adjust your start time at all.

If i can do anything on this front it's going to be on a DIY basis - just a dry space for people to be.

Assuming that by "people" you mean "small children and their parents" that would be fine. Many of the parents know each other, and could work stuff out if they could only have a place to play and to find each other.

Not convinced how bad the red tape really is. In most countries, even the super-litigous US - you just have to sign a waiver. I was horrified at having to do a risk assessment to put on a street-O, until a teacher friend showed me how simple it was.

Graeme

[Mrs H.]

by "people" you mean "small children and their parents"
Graeme

I'm doing my best to help and i don't want to mislead anyone so if there's any chance of swinging this then by "people" I mean eeryone who may not have a club tent like Johnny Foreigner whose flown over or Harlequins who managed to forget their's at the last JK.

I can't for a moment imagine that the organisers are going to agree to the hassle of finding staff for a creche - and that's me being honest and yes I've admired the system abroad - i just don't think we've got the people here to do it.

What do you think about the phone line idea? i'm reasonably confident that can happen.

[MarkC]

Mark - the bus would have to be out early and back late to cater for as many people as possible.

Thanks - I'm sure you can count me in then. My concern was that the organisers might give everyone in the bus the same start time, fix a departure time a couple of hours later and expect everyone to be ready to leave by then! Given how far away Day 1 is, I'd be quite happy not to have to drive there.

[helen]

Re the bus, parents say I can camp alone providing I have a lift to the events (except to day 1 and from relays) so yes please for a bus if possible.

[*Carol*]

yes to a bus, as i probably wont see my parents at all that weekend and doubt ill have passed my test by then

[Guest]

Creches were often mis-used by people particularly in bad weather where they became a dumping ground for kit, changing room....need I go on - and no children in sight of theirs!
There was also the adult to child ratio problem. Besides parents dumping the kids and not coming back till end of day, it is sometimes difficult to estimate how long you are going to be so can arrive back later than you said and then ratios are out.
At this years O-Ringen I heard on one day that there were 80 members of a club running the creche. Also in Sweden there are upper and lower age limits.
I know how much easier a creche can make life(been there, done that many times) but the logistics are horrendous and don't you think these volunteers have enough to do?P.S. Don't go down the road of suggesting paying local playgroups - it's been tried and tested!

[Mrs H.]

Yes I think the creche idea per se is a no-goer but I shall work on the communal space idea and see what I can do.

I'll price up the bus when the tourist info lady gets back off holiday and recommends a good local firm

Carol - don't imagine you'll be that ellusive - I may have some jobs lined up for you - and probably Gareth too

Anything else?

[samsonite]

apparently i need a minion. who wants to be my minion?

[eddie]

mr samsonite i see there you have a position vacant sign for minion i advise now to replace it with position filled cause i'm your man

[*Carol*]

I always thought minions were smaller than their master, or is that just me?

Mrs H. what on earth could Gareth and I possible do of any use.... mind you we'll both be 'real' adults by then

[brooner]

I always thought minions were smaller than their master, or is that just me?

thats just you cos yer a short-arse

[samsonite]

indeed it is cos of ur sm,all stature, plus last time i looked eddie was smaller than me in all directions

and he wont be the minion

[rob f]

I'd pay for the bus, but of course we'd need to have buses going at different times. On both days i will need to be at the event at the crack of dawn probably (depending on circumstances)

[Jo]

i wont use the bus - i'm just going from home everyday