I bought a big and joined the circus.

[puddlethumper]

I have also added to my, erm, fleet*. I bought a  lecky bike. An E Wayfarer. So a sort of EV. I think it's brilliant especially for whizzing round the site and getting the beer in. It's not just pedal assist coz it has a twist grip so you can give it some beans and not pedal at all. Three settings, first for pedal assist, obviously most distance, second is sort of pedal assist but less pedal, then into the third setting which is when the turbo* kicks in and no pedalling at all. Buggered if I know what speed it goes. I thought they had to be only pedal assist and 18mph. This bugger, I'm sure, does more than that. The seat is really comfy for my skin and bone ass. Love it.

[puddlethumper]

Oh yea, usual offer to any shiters in the area to visit for a tour and I can probs sort a couple of tickets

[Sunny Jim]

'lecky bike looks good but if it's not pedal assist only it would be classed as a motorcycle and you'd need the appropriate licence and to wear a crash helmet so beware, keep the pedals turning and don't look like you're doing more than 15mph!

https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, Sunny Jim said:

'lecky bike looks good but if it's not pedal assist only it would be classed as a motorcycle and you'd need the appropriate licence and to wear a crash helmet so beware, keep the pedals turning and don't look like you're doing more than 15mph!

https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

He's only using it onsite, not on road. Those crazy Circus workers!

[Matty]

11 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

Oh yea, usual offer to any shiters in the area to visit for a tour and I can probs sort a couple of tickets

Still nowhere near. Let me know when Lancashire happens!

[DeanH]

Likewise for Lancashire/Yorkshire. Is there candy floss on a stick? Mrs keeps bleating on about it. Bags aren't the same apparently.

[puddlethumper]

40 minutes ago, DeanH said:

Likewise for Lancashire/Yorkshire. Is there candy floss on a stick? Mrs keeps bleating on about it. Bags aren't the same apparently.

Yes, there is candy floss ON A STICK.

[puddlethumper]

Unfortunately York/Lanc is not on the menu this year. Aberdeen next then Newcastle, Folkstone, Eastbourne, Hastings, Weymouth then Plymouth.

[bezzabsa]

are you missing duglee yet???

[quicksilver]

3 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

Unfortunately York/Lanc is not on the menu this year. Aberdeen next then Newcastle, Folkstone, Eastbourne, Hastings, Weymouth then Plymouth.

I saw that big move coming up on the website. Newcastle to Folkestone must be just about as far as you can go in England. That'll take a good few hours.

[Matty]

4 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

Unfortunately York/Lanc is not on the menu this year. Aberdeen next then Newcastle, Folkstone, Eastbourne, Hastings, Weymouth then Plymouth.

Means you'll have to keep working for them at least another year then 😄

[High Jetter]

7 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

Unfortunately York/Lanc is not on the menu this year. Aberdeen next then Newcastle, Folkstone, Eastbourne, Hastings, Weymouth then Plymouth.

Bet you'll be cursing as you drive past Hastings to get to Eastbourne, then have to re-trace your route a week later! Am away the w/e you're in Eastbourne, might be able to pop down either side of it though

[puddlethumper]

5 hours ago, quicksilver said:

I saw that big move coming up on the website. Newcastle to Folkestone must be just about as far as you can go in England. That'll take a good few hours.

About six hours in a car so add an hour/hour and a half for a truck, I reckon.

[puddlethumper]

9 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

are you missing duglee yet???

Where ? 😁

[High Jetter]

Posters for the Eastbourne visit are up in my shops

[puddlethumper]

There next week. In Folkestone at the moment.

[MJK 24]

On 6/9/2023 at 11:24 PM, puddlethumper said:

Not sure about that but still not supposed to do over 56mph I think.

Is the Iveco is pre 2001 then it won’t legally need a speed limiter.  It can also do 70mph in the outside lane.

[High Jetter]

...eventually.

How long did the big descent South take in the end?

[puddlethumper]

40 minutes ago, MJK 24 said:

Is the Iveco is pre 2001 then it won’t legally need a speed limiter.  It can also do 70mph in the outside lane.

It's on a Y prefix so August 2000 to Aug  2001. Depends if it was registered  before January. 

[puddlethumper]

44 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

...eventually.

How long did the big descent South take in the end?

Newcastle to Folkestone was 8 hours in a truck.

[MJK 24]

15 hours ago, puddlethumper said:

It's on a Y prefix so August 2000 to Aug  2001. Depends if it was registered  before January. 

What’s the reg?

[BeEP]

Y prefix is March-Sept 2001.  X prefix Sept 2000 - March 2001.  It went from yearly to half-yearly in 1999 (S prefix Aug 98 - Mar 99)

[Vantman]

On 03/08/2023 at 18:49, puddlethumper said:

There next week. In Folkestone at the moment.

@puddlethumper How long will you be in Folkestone please?

[puddlethumper]

3 hours ago, Vantman said:

@puddlethumper How long will you be in Folkestone please?

The last show is on Tuesday although being in the advance party I will probably be going on Sunday or possibly the Monday as it's a short trip to Eastbourne.

[High Jetter]

I happened to drive past the potential site today, all anti-pikey blocks are still in place.

[beko1987]

Shame your not closer! Can you do MK or Oxford one year? 😂

[mark165]

Well, funny how the internet and real life collide.

I've really enjoyed reading this thread since you started it, thank you for all your efforts.

Today I went with the wife and kids to Folkestone to see the circus. First time for my wife and I in about thirty years. Very first time for my kids. My wife was pondering how long it took to set up and I thought I'd check here only to find it's the exact one!

My eldest (aged eight) now wants to grow up to be a clown.
My youngest (6) wants to be a dancer, with the hula hoops. But no eating fire. Too dangerous apparently. Also not too keen on having their bum out.

Seeing it all set up and in operation, with all the different people working really hits home how many hats people have to wear.

In today's day and age, what struck me was how honest the whole thing was.

A big thank you and please keep the updates coming.

[mark165]

Yes, there is candy floss ON A STICK.

Now in my children's hair. And on my jacket. And on my jeans. And my wife's dress.

Totally worth it.

[EyesWeldedShut]

8 minutes ago, mark165 said:

My eldest (aged eight) now wants to grow up to be a clown.
My youngest (6) wants to be a dancer, with the hula hoops. But no eating fire. Too dangerous apparently. Also not too keen on having their bum out.

Our eldest (aged 11) went to an event twenty odd years ago with us and hooked up with some New Age Traveller type kiddies whose parents were there for a mini-festival. After a night of sitting around a log fire with a 'hippy' hat one he went back to his Grammar School and formally announced during their career tutoring session that he was going to be a Hippy when he left school.
School not impressed and told us. We thought it hilarious.
Sadly, he's now a Data Wrangler. Neither smokes, drinks much nor takes any sort of risks and would not sit near a log fire 'just in case'.
His mum's a bit of a hippy now though.

Kids are great - they grow up so fast - enjoy

[Spottedlaurel]

As noted in the grin thread, saw the Puddlethumper combo myself on the M20 today:

It came as a surprise to Mrs SL to learn that I knew someone who worked for the circus. Explaing the living/working arrangements etc gave us an additional topic of conversation as we plodded through the 50mph section of M20.