Messages

I'm operating under the assumption that if people don't speak up regarding time constraints they don't have any.  People need to speak up for themselves because anybody else would just be guessing.

Assumed correctly (for me anyway).  Time off work is time off work.

Well if Matt's going, I'm going. 

Just like the good old days!

I'll be there.


Probably.

Nikolas, SSH,

I has assumed that you were both 18 (Although, reading the papers that isn't obviously a forgone conclusion in this day and age  ).

Yes, the 18 limit is in place as a legal issue as much as anything.  But, I do remember at the first Mittens, the limit might have only been 16 (ie: same as the forums).  This caused a few problems at the time, one of which was that those of us who were legally aloud to drink, had to consider those who couldn't.  And to clarify, by drink I don't mean get legless over a couple of cans of SPAR XXX, but a nice pint in the beer garden of the local pub, like adults.

The fact of the matter is, that at these gatherings we all act like the 18+ adults that we are, which includes drinking (moderately), smoking (although I can't stand it), talking adult subjects, sometimes swearing (guilty as charged), and basically enjoying ourselves.  I would say none of this is suitable for children, whether they are supervised by you or not.

One of the running jokes from the first ever Mittens was a bloke in a tent next to where the group was set up shouting at about 11:00pm "SHUT THE FUCK UP MY KIDS ARE TRYING TO SLEEP".  Would that be you or Nikolas at one of these events? 

I don't believe that children have any business being near or part of these events, and I think that should be a considering factor when organising future locations.

I also think that this topic has gone wildly off course, and would rather see this kind of discussion more to the Gen Gen forums so that Jet can post more L3nsfl4r3, and Haddas can make people's tents dissapear again.

I certainly have nothing else to say on 'this' matter.

Is everybody now fixated on the fact that some of us like to have a responsible drink?

Did anyone look at the photo's I posted?

What did we do which didn't include drinking?  Well, we went to a theme park, with lots of scary rides and people got soaked on the log flume, and we fired some laser crossbows at Minotaurs.  We laughed and pointed when the bus driver couldn't replace the ticket roll on the way back.  Good, clean, fun, as a group.

We went to a water park, I got a little sunburnt, we went on different water rides.  I watched M0Ds, Quinteros, and Layabout go on some VERY STEEP drops - more fool them!! Magintz, Sintrena, Radiant and I almost stole some people's inflatable tubes before floating around a lazy river.  The four of us then went on the rapids, which was great fun and actually took longer than the queue which is unheard of.  Good, clean, fun, as a group.

A large group of us went over to Benidorm Island for about half a day.  The ferry ride was fun, bobbing over the waves.  We had a soft drink & an ice cream (Radiant finally got his Paella), we then went for a walk up to the top of the island, saw a few birds, a few fake birds and helped Grundislav make his movie (I love Layabout's Mountain Climb).  Good, clean, fun, as a group.

We all chilled by the pool for hours on end, talking, sleeping, reading magazines, designing games.  Oh how we laughed as CJ attempted (and failed) to tread water!  At one point, everyone was encircling him like prey!  Good, clean, fun, as a group.

We all (I think it was all) went out for pizza one evening - the first place couldn't seat us, the next place could.  It was like Brittens 2005 again at Pizza Hut.  M0Ds attacked me with a lightsabre he bought from a street vendor - we'll find out in Canada if I still bear the scar    (Almost) Good, clean, fun as a group.

A group of us played pool, and we all lost to AGA.  The only time he 'lost' was when he potted the black, twice.  We managed to put him off his game for a while by talking about sheep.  Ah, but hang on, that was at a bar, so maybe not good clean fun...

Like Chris, unless I missed something, no-one got inappropriately drunk.  Someone left a used condom on the site at one point, but there was no real tense moments due to alcohol.

To those who are posting to criticise the alcohol situation who did not go, as I said earlier, the posts here are taken out of context.  A lot of CJ's photos are from the evening and include us socialising with Alcohol.  All of mine are taken during the day, and I don't think a single one features an alcohol related incident.

SSH, Nikolas, you are of course welcome to host your own AGS-related events, but as far as I'm aware, both Brittens and Mittens have a minimum age limit of 18.

Lorena, great job on co-hosting.  Sorry I missed you out of my huge "back slapping" to Nacho earlier.

Radiant, I missed having a go at the Pizza Card game, so maybe next time.

Adam, 'Home from Home' out of the question due to SSMS (Scary Single Mother Syndrome), but Beer's Friend next door - outside tables, pool for AGA, 1.10 for a pint if you wanted 2.00 for a soft drink.  Very easy to 'tread water' on one pint there!

Andail, you were sorely missed, although understandably so.  Make sure it doesn't happen again. 

Everyone had a great time, I think when it comes down to it, people will always want a greater time.  Like girlfriends, the grass is always greener.

Just as an aside, on the way back when the road-trip crew stopped at the CarreFour Express HyperMarket place, 1.5L of Water was 20c - how cheap is that!?!?  Just a bit far to go for some hydration each day.

Nacho, Lorena, before I forget, and so as not to start a new thread, when it comes out in Spain, you must go and see Guillermo del Toro's new film "Pan's Labyrinth" or "El Laberinto del Fauno" as it may be called.  I saw a showing over here on Friday with an Introduction by del Toro and it's amazing - kind of Alice in Wonderland during the Spanish Civil War.

Helm, you are right, we are all on holiday.  And we're on holiday as a group which we've all paid to be a part of.  As such everyone should be considerate of everyone else, whether that it down to people's behaviour regarding alcohol, or they're likes and dislikes regarding what the group does.

Nacho say's that you weren't big on going for the drinks and socialising, but made an effort because you're a considerate person.  I'm not a huge fan of thrill rides, but I was more than happy to hold the bags at the theme park while other people experienced them.  I would like to think that I am a considerate person.

You're right it is easier to talk about 'slapping someone for being inconsiderate' than it is to do, and I would never suggest that we resort to violence over such matters  .  My point / dream is that as we get to know people more, and build up our relationships, we will be able to turn to each other and verbally 'slap' each other into shape as you and your mates do at home.  We should be able to tell each other when we are being unreasonable, and when enough is enough.

You're right, it was never about GET DRUNK vs TALK ABOUT AGS, but at the same time, going out of an evening was not about getting drunk - I think we might have some crossed wires.

I personally went out because there were places other than the campsite where it was easier to talk, whether that is over a meal, a drink or the walk from one place to another.  We could stay at the campsite and get drunk, we could stay at the campsite and talk AGS, we could do both of those things away from the campsite.

The only problem with discussing this stuff after the fact is that it looses some of it's context.  It is now a bigger thing than it was.  As I said in my earlier post, what was fundamentally lacking was communication.

Anyway, talking of splits, "disidenties" and bad stories would make the outer witness think that this has been really awfull...    I think we should make clear that there are not bad feelings, and that everything has been 99% perfect except this small issues we're discussing now, no?

No, no Nacho, it was truly awful 

Everyone had a great time.  I didn't get burnt, now own a great hat, and have stopped making bad smells due to a lovely curry (thankyou curry).

Grundislav, MTL2 is amazing, better than some of the crap I see day in, day out.  Drop me a PM and we can sort out the best way to include a DVD version on next year's annual.

Right, before we go any further, I want to make one thing clear which I believe no-one will disagree with me on:

Nacho did an amazing job organising this year's Mittens.  He sorted out a good location, with good facilities.  He organised great days out and ensured there was discount so it didn't cost as much as it should / could.  He did everything possible to make everyone welcome, and did his very best to try an accomodate everyone.

As I said earlier, the sad fact is that there will always be people who will want their way all the time, and not be willing to compromise for the benefit of everyone else.

Normally I'm really bad at posting photos, mainly because I'm too bone idle and can't get the hang of these web albumthings, but below is a link to this year's photo's although at quite a low res:

http://mattgoble.com/AGS/Photos/Mittens_2006/index.htm

I don't take my camera out of an evening, because a)It's big a crap b)I don't want to loose it.  As such, this is what we got up to IN THE DAY, and WITHOUT ALCOHOL.

Let's not forget it's a f***ing holiday which we all had a great time on.  If people have a problem with the fact that there's is going to be alcohol drinking the perhaps Mittens isn't for them anymore, because quite frankly if I'm on holiday, I want to have a relaxing drink, and have a good time and not have to worry if it's my first or third beer of the day.  I'M ON F***ING HOLIDAY.

If people are dumb enough to get drunk and then suffer the next day from a hangover then more fool them , cos they'll miss out on the fun of the next day.  If people disrupt other people's enjoyment because of their drunken antics, then they you be given a good slap for being inconsiderate.  By the same token, if people are going to huff and pout because 20 other people are not doing what they want to do, then they also need a good slap for being inconsiderate.  The door swings both ways.

Yes, we all meet up because of AGS, but quite frankly I don't want to spend the whole time talking about games.  I want to talk about life, universe and everything with people.  I like to hear what Goldmund, Domminka, Helm etc think of the world, what their favourite movies are and the like.  I like to hear about Petteri's new course.  I like to hear about Grundislav's life, and the adventures he's had.  I like to hear about CJ's new flat.  And if you do these things in a restaurant, a bar, a club, on some dirt at the campsite, I don't care, but some options are more comfortable than others!

Interesting that Helm mentions Andail in his post.  When some of us went down to Brighton this year, Andail organised a couple of good party games, and then he and a bunch of the group went to a club until early o'clock.  No-one came back stupid drunk, so maybe there is an Andail influence even in drinking establishments...

I too, will never do karaoke, but Grundislav was bloody good!

Please enjoy the photos 

I wouldn't say there was a huge issue with drinking, certainly less than Brittens last year where we did go through a LOT of alcohol.

On a few nights, I know a group of us went out to the early hours of the following morning (5:30, 6:30am) but for me, it certainly wasn't a marathon boozing session.  The fact of the matter was that it finally became cool in the evening and so you could go out socialising, with the emphasis on socialising.

If we stayed at the campsite, we either sat around the restaurant until we were yelled at, or we sat around on gravel until we got yelled at, the lights switched off & we pissed off the other campers.  21 people cannot keep quiet, even if they try.

Going out of an evening, meant having a seat, or standing around in groups, or having a few games of pool.  We didn't piss anyone off, we didn't make too much noise, we had a good time, a bit of dancing.  If people wanted to drink they did, but as adults if you drink too much, that's your fault.  If you just wanted a soft drink, that's your choice, and I did on a number of occaisons when I wanted a drink, but not something alcoholic.

Would it have been different if we had stayed at the campsite?  Did people not buy booze to drink at the campsite?  Would people not have gotten more pissed as the purchased booze would have been cheaper?

How do I see next year's Mittens?

A group of mates, sitting in a cabin, in comfort, chatting and joking and having a good time.  Some will drink, some will drink a lot, others will be happy with a glass of water, milk, pineapple juice, whatever.

21 people who are spending a week together are going to clash, go through cool spots, even say things they don't mean, because it's 21 people with their own wants and personalities.

For me, the biggest problem this year was communication.  Everyone has different expectations from these things, and want to do different things.  It is logistically impossible to please everyone.  I could say that some people should have been more considerate as what people wanted to do as a group. 

I think in future, people should & will split off into seperate groups to do their own thing, and this could be improved upon if times and dates are agreed as to when we all, as a group, meet up to enjoy everyone's company.

This year, a lack of communication meant that people were going off, and it wasn't known when they would get back, and people would wait, then get pissed off that they were waiting...

I think this year we reached pretty much farcical proportions on the last night, and at times over the week I did get pissed off because of the lack of communication and the lack of decision making.  Guys, most of you are smart enough to do some pretty amazing stuff, that I can never get my head around, but no-one can make a decision whether to go left or right at a junction in a theme park!!!

Did I have a good time?  Yes
Did I get annoyed / pissed off / frustrated at times?  Yes
Did it spoil things?  No

There is always going to be things to bitch about, and please voice those concerns here, because some of us are considerate enough to listen to them.  If I did anything to annoy anyone, PM me and we can discuss it.  I would urge everyone to do the same.

As Layabout says, the emphasis was on having a good time, which means socialising which can include going to places which serve drinks.  You don't have to drink alcohol, and everyone is adult enough to drink responsibly.

That's enough for now...

Hi Guys,

Just a quick note for now to say I got back ok, although the flight was delayed for 30 mins.

A fantastic time, great mates, cheap booze, not too sunburnt and plenty of good memories (aided by photographic evidence...)

Will try and sort out my photo's this year, I promise...

Well, I think I've managed to jam everything into 1 bag...

Just enough time left to finalise the annual and burn off a couple of copies tomorrow - it looks like I won't be able to bring enough for everyone, so the British Contingent will have to give me their postal addresses and I'll send them when I get back!

Sorry, updated list of attendees is at the top of the first post - I've deleted the old list to avoid confusion.

Cheers Puddin'

Oh Sweet Momma the first post is updated!

Bumpety Bump Bump

How many entries so far, Matt?

A few, but it's not too late to enter!!

Heard anything from me? I said right from the start my tent was a 1-man and nothing but

Earlier, when I posted a breakdown of the tent situation I listed you with your one-man tent, and myself with a two-man tent.  As we are both sharing a car from Barcelona, I didn't know whether you wanted to crash in my two-man and save a bit of luggage space?

I think the plan now would be for me to use one of Farlanders, to help try and keep the space down as You, CJ & M0Ds are bringing tents in the car.

Or someone gets strapped to the roof 

matt, me and disco aren't flying into barcelona we'll be there already. We're travelling by train

Info updated.

Also we do need a lift back to barcelona as we are on the same return flight to the UK as everyoone else.

Aren't you guys getting a lift back to Barcelona with Goldmund?

I haven't hear anything from AGA, so Farlander can I take you up on your offer of a tent again  : Anything to help keep the luggage down on the car.

I'm not bringing a tent, Chrille, Grundislav and I are sharing one which Chrille is bringing. (And that's as many as will fit in it)

That's ok, I can bring my tent - I just started thinking that if M0Ds is bring his, and Chris his, we were going to end up with an awful lot of tents in one car!

Matt, I'm afraid there's no more room in my inn

Doh!

Mattglobe, the last msn message I received from Scotch was that he was bringing a tent, so, if there's no call in a different direction, you'll be hosted in David Scott's Inn.

Yay!

For girls, just a quick note... We're going to a water park, so, bring at least a piece swimming dress that "secures" it all propperly.

Doh!

[Tuesday 15th August]

M0Ds,

Are all your tent spaces spoken for?  I'm just thinking how many of us are travelling in the barcelona car may be bringing tents.  If you've got room, I can leave mine at home as it's only a 1-2 man tent.

I've been meaning to go through the posts and get all the information together (perhaps get the first post updated) with people's timelines and in-tent-ions (see what I did there?  ).  Anyway, if I don't get it done tonight, I'll try and do something for thursday (if no-one beats me to it)

-- UPDATE --

Thanks to Petteri, who had already done a lot of the tracking!

Tuesday 15th August

London Gatwick to Barcelona (18:25 - 21:30) - Iberia

- Mattgoble

London Luton to Barcelona (18:45 - 21:55) - Easyjet

- CJ
- AGA
- Scotch
- Layabout
- M0Ds

*Quintaros arrives in Alicante via Bus?*

Wednesday 16th August

Frankfurt to Alicante (04:15 - 06:45) - Air Berlin

- Sinitrena

Oslo, Norway to Alicante, Spain (9:30 - 13:25) - Scandinavian Airlines flight SK 4675

- Petteri

Arriving in Alicante (14:10) - TBC

- Helm

Arriving in Alicante (16:00)

- Grundislav

Arriving in Alicante (16:45)

- Radiant

Arriving in Alicante (17:20)

- Chrille

*Quintaros gets a morning bus to Benidorm*
*Alicante Airport Group to catch a bus to Benidorm together between 17:30 - 21:00.  Meeting up in the front of the Arrival Hall*
*Goldmund and Dominika collect Disco, Magintz & Layabout from Barcelona for the trip to Benidorm.  Meeting at 14:00 by Columbus column*
*CJ, AGA, Scotch, M0Ds & Mattgoble are taking the hire car from Barcelona for the trip to Benidorm*

Thursday 17th August

Uk to Alicante (arrive 19:15)

- Becky
- Dark Stalkey

MITTENS!!1!!11

Tent Details

M0Ds' Tent of 3

- M0Ds
- Magintz
- Petteri

Chrille's Tent of 3

- Chrille
- Grundislav
- Scotch

Other Tent of 3

- Quintaros
- Radiant
- Layabout

Farlander's Tent of 2

- Farlander
- Lorena

Dark Stalkey's Tent of 2

- Adam
- Becky

Goldmund's Tent of 2

- Goldmund
- Dominika

CJ's Tent of 2

- CJ
- Helm

Farlander's Tent of 1

- Mattgoble

Other Tent of 2

- Sinitrena
- Disco

Alone

- AGA

Wednesday 23rd August

*CJ, AGA, Scotch, M0Ds & Mattgoble are taking the hire car from Benidorm for the trip back to Barcelona - Leaving Early / Mid Afternoon*
*Goldmund and Dominika taking Disco, Magintz & Layabout back to Barcelona??*

Alicante to Frankfurt (14:00 - 16:35) - Air Berlin

- Sinitrena

Alicante to Finland (14:50)

- Petteri

Alicante (17:25)

- Radiant

Alicante to UK (19:30)

- Becky
- Dark Stalkey

Barcelona to Heathrow (20:55 - 22:10) - Iberia

- Mattgoble

Barcelona to London Luton (22:30 - 23:50) - Easyjet

- CJ
- AGA
- Scotch
- Disco
- Magintz
- Layabout
- M0Ds

Shout if things are wrong / more details to add.

Going. To. Bed.