Well hello there and thanks for stopping by! Clicked the wrong page? Run - now! This is gonna be waffly so you have been warned (if you are still reading). Go grab a coffee or beverage of your choice and get yerself comfy.....

So.....after precisely zero hours sleep, the night before (not helped by the fact that Mr Fish was snoring LOUDLY in my lounge) I necked a fair few coffees, got ready and headed off - at 5am! We picked up Ethan, Ricky and James & Co then headed towards Thorpe Park, not before almost crashing into a van - first near death experience of the day. I questions whether Mr Fish actually has a driving license or just needs an eye test.

Arriving at the park slightly after 7am it felt a tad surreal - we filled out the consent forms then some of us went to the toilet (not a great idea to go on Stealth if you need the loo). Peaj did the introductions and it was great to see both new and old faces - I have no idea how Peaj remembers peoples names - I would get confused (mind you, it doesn't take much to confuse me)

While waiting to go into the park it was a nice opportunity to mingle and catch up with people as it had been a full 4 weeks since the last meet!

Finally we got into the park and headed towards the Stealth area - this is when my anxiety started to really kick in. I had actually taken one less anti-anxiety med than I usually would as I am cutting down but needed to take another one once I saw the Stealth trains testing.

Stealth is not a ride I am a huge fan of - it is the only coaster at Thorpe Park where I get really scared before hand - the launch and my fear of heights and I end up like a screaming lunatic (although I scream at most things). I have only been on it 4 times prior to this meet up. After my first ever go on Stealth this year I was so terrified that I bought the ORP because I vowed NEVER to go on it again - however, I did go on another 3 times - twice being very close to tears and the other time, sat next to a complete stranger as I decided to skip lunch and go on it - methinks I perforated the poor guys eardrums - oohps!

Ok.....am waffling.....bear with.....

After the ice cream stuff (which wasn't ice cream) was set up (and a Mr Whippy van arrived) everything was ready for us to go. One of the staff members pointed to myself and a few others and asked us to sit in the front 2 rows - OH NO - My WORST nightmare. Why did I go and buy a turquoise t-shirt?! My anxiety ramped up a few notches at that point but we headed towards the ride whilst I tried to not have a heart attack/panic attack.

I didn't realise just how many times we would need to ride Stealth and by the end of it, my fear of the ride had completely dissolved - it took a while though. I think I screamed several times before the train had even moved. I was really pleased that I managed to go in the front row about 4 times. I also did the back row and middle bits - I had a massive headache after a few rides so I took a headache tablet/cigarette break. I dread to think of how many times I swore during the ride times as I managed around 16 goes (ish). I am such a lady (not). I honestly don't know how some people did ALL the rides on it - you must be insane! It felt like I had done a workout afterwards - those restraints are pretty heavy to lift up - I reckon I toned up my bingo wings a bit after that!

Some people had to dash off and others went and did their own thang after the photo shoot but I stuck with the main group.....because that is how I roll.....innit

The park didn't seem *too* busy which was nice - I am awful at queuing and get restless legs and cigarette cravings (nasty habit). However, being with TPMers definitely helps with queuing and it was nice to speak to a couple of people I haven't previously had chance to chat to.

We didn't get chance to do Rumba, Detonator or Slammer as they were all down (not that I would ever do Slammer anyway and I am 50/50 about Detty). We were hoping for a relaxing ride on Rumba after the headache inducing multiple Stealth rides but it wasn't to be so instead we went to Inferno where I sat on the back row alongside Mr Fish, James & co and JoshC and gave myself another headache.

My ride count for the day was pretty good -

Stealth x 16(ish)

X - x4

Flying Fish x 1

Colossus x 1

Inferno x 1

Saw x 2

Loggers x 2

Rocky Express x 1

Storm Turd x 1

Samurai x 1

At lunchtime I went for a wander, hoping to get a sneaky go on The Swarm but the damn thing had a 60min queue so I met up with some of the others in the sunken gardens after grabbing a large cappucino. I got lost trying to find the sunken gardens - I didn't even know they were still there and I *almost* ended up queuing for Stealth

At this point in the day, on previous meets I would usually take more anti-anxiety meds (along with my anti-sickness tablets) but I felt pretty chilled and relaxed so it was a bit of an achievement for me.

Queuing for Colossus was funny - Ryan had me laughing with his randomness, plus Ricky being Ricky. Jack and I got on before the others as we were a bit too keen - have only ridden Colossus 5 times and I do like it - except for those inline twists - which make me feel a tad dizzy/sick.

First 2 goes on X were ravey fun - SO much better than X:/NWO which I couldn't ride due to the damn thing going backwards and me almost barfin on my one and only go on it. The second 2 rides (at the end of the day) - was in the dark which I didn't enjoy as much. I don't like the dark (I'm a wuss) plus I like to see where I am going so I'm pretty sure I screamed a bit

Storm turd was actually SPINNING! Only ridden this eyesore once and it was nice to have a sit down but I thought it was a bit pointless (and looked SO much better when it was at Cypress Gardens). But we went on, and after a 2 hour trip up the lift hill, off we went - and I screamed (v embarrasing) - the boat was spinning like crazy which made my head go a bit funny - it is still naff, still needs a damn good clean and was also making funny noises

First go on Saw was pretty smooth - second one, not so much and my head took a bit of bashing and I gave myself ANOTHER headache. I do like Saw (my second fave coaster at Thorpe after Swarm) but for me, after the indoor section and lift hill/drop the best bits are over and the head banging begins

A lot of us went on Rocky Express and I was in pain - during most of the ride I was sat sideways clinging on and trying to readjust myself - note to self: next time sit next to someone!

Samurai - why oh why did I do it? Done it once before, vowed to never do it again.....did it again and screamed a fair bit whilst possibly swearing. I don't like things that spin and it got to the point where I closed my eyes, opened them and I was upside down. I felt pretty rough as the ride was coming to a close and had to lean my head against the restraint because I felt like I was going to pass out. Still.....I would do it again!

We braved it tunnel-less twice on Loggers Leap - first time I was sat behind Phill Pritchard whilst sporting one of my "han-hats" aka an Asda carrier bag - works a treat at keeping hair dry - not great if you are fashion conscious but those who have seen the way I dress will know I do not follow fashion and generally look a mess. We got drenched and I was glad that I didn't sit at my usual place at the very front as Phill took most of the drenching!

Our second ride on Loggers was.....scary.....seriously. My second (sort of but not really) near death experience of the day (after Mr Fish's near collision with a van in the morning). All was going swimmingly until we realised that the boat in front was a bit too close - so going up the first lift hill it stopped (and I screamed), then it started again. Good stuff, sorted.....but no - going up the second lift hill the boats were too close together and as RideWhisperer said "guys there are 4 boats on the lift hill - this isn't good" I panicked a bit. I had visions of the lift hill collapsing, or our boat going backwards, or being evacuated (not that I over-react or anything!). Luckily the lift hill started and stopped so that there was a gap for the final drop. Felt a bit sorry for the people who had been queuing for Loggers as they shut it down and as we exited the boat I told the ride assistant that Ethan broke the ride

Swarm.....my favourite ride at Thorpe , had a bit of a queue but nothing major until it had technical difficulties and after that had to be sorted out (someone puked methinks). We ended up sitting down in the queueline where I attempted a bit of meditation which is difficult with an ambulance screeching etc etc, so we decided to play I spy which I was absolutely crud at, but hey, it passed the time and we were soon into the station. I sat front right next to James&co - most of my rides on the Swarm have been on the left so doing right and front row was really good - definitely my fave seat although James nicked the outer seat!

We all met up at the end of the day in the Dome but Monsieur Fish had forgotten to get a parking ticket so we dashed off to get one and then met everyone outside and headed towards Frankie & Bennys.....a great end to a great day

I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to everyone or even speak to everyone that was there on the day (there were a lot of us) but I had an amazing time, loads of laughs and my anxiety was a lot milder than it usually is - my anxiety levels change depending on who I am with etc so a big thank you to those who spoke to me, made me laugh and just for being lovely people.

And of course a big thankyou to TPM and Marc for getting the opportunity to ride Stealth 2000million times, to Peaj for being a brilliant meet organiser as always, and to Thorpe Park for letting us in and riding Stealth loads, and as a non MAP holder for the free entry. Mucho appreciano!

Waffle over.....!!!