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Odd choice to remove Spinball from ERT, but otherwise all good news. One can only hope that this works out for them and they can bring this sort of operating schedule back for the rest of the year. Or at the very least the summer...

Carters Steam Fair is the most wonderful travelling vintage fair. It's set up in Maldon today, if you find yourself nearby I thoroughly recommend you go. The rides might be ancient and powered by steam, but don't let that fool you! The Steam Boats are probably the most genuinely dangerous (and therefore properly thrilling) ride operating in the UK, they are incredible. Unfortunately the Divebomber and Giant Octopus aren't touring this year, I'm really going to miss them. Little facebook video from today in Maldon gives a good idea of the set up. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcarterssteamfair%2Fvideos%2F1663665057087173%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>

But Universe of Energy is being refurbed right now anyway. I hope there's not much damage. EDIT: I've seen more pictures and there is clearly a lot of damage!!!

Yep, because Wicker Man should’ve clearly been operating in cold snow temperatures. Some things do happen from time time to time resulting in things not going as smoothly as they could be. Mack are indeed reliable at the best of times.

It's almost like they're a normal theme park again!

Yeah, stupid Cedar Point.

I would say it's way more intense than it looks. Really nice airtime, good laterals and a relentless pace. I did however ride it at the end of a hot, sunny day. If it takes a while to warm up then I probably rode it at the best time. Honestly, I was expecting not much from Wicker Man but it's probably my favourite ride at Alton Towers now.

The entrance feature looks so tacky Shame that the station building is a bit bland though...

Surprised no one posted this, Phantasialand got a letter off a 9 year old girl wanting to be an engineer, so they invited her along for a look at the morning checks on Taron...

Ah, phew. I have to say the website really confused the hell out of me, I think the park really should of perhaps made it MUCH more clearer. I really hope BPB succeed with Icon but with the butchered USP in the advertising, the website, and a real lack of strong marketing (not yet anyway) I think Blackpool really are hanging on by a thread here, hopefully the Mack greatness will sell the ride in itself.

There have been some bad theme park fires over the years, however this one seems one of the worst for some time. The only positive I can take here is no one got hurt. Pirates Of Batavia may have not been the greatest or most sophisticated dark rides out there, but it was one full of character, charm and atmosphere. It may have been a variation, imitation and (to some) rip off from Pirates, but it was a classy ‘old school’ style dark ride. It took some elements and even made them better. For an attraction over 30 years, it had aged (and been looked after) well and certainly in a better condition than some newer dark rides indefinitely. It’s unexpected demise also marks the last of the ‘Pirate imitation’ dark rides. Following the closures of Los Piratas at Bellewaerde and Pirate Adventure at Drayton Manor. Whilst the park will hopefully recover from this unfortunate event, it is still deeply saddening that such an iconic and traditional area of the park. Whether they decide to rebuild a replica or replace it with something new, whatever it is will not be the same. Best of luck Europa and Mack family to the recovery. Pirates In Batavia 1987-2018

Park official Twitter confirmed it as Piraten in Batavia... Hopefully they can sort it quickly... Might help it get a refurb sooner rather......

https://www.looopings.nl/weblog/10128/Europa-Park-getroffen-door-enorme-brand.html sadly a large fire has broken out at europa park more details soon - it seems to be in the scandinavia hope its not pirates of bratslavia:-(

Popular YouTube games critic, John Bain aka TotalBiscuit died of cancer yesterday. I guess if there is one word of advise he gave about cancer it’s this; If you notice any type of bleeding, for god’s sake see a doctor. Don’t ignore it or shrug it off even if you may find it embarrassing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44250597