JoshC.

And it is now that I will try and avoid all updates from park, and probably ignore this thread altogether.Top work Thorpe; I just don't want to spoil any more of the experience for myself!

To be honest, I'd much rather have videos than no videos at all.When push comes to shove, these videos are keeping interest up amongst the public and the fans, so even if it doesn't relate to the story in the end, it's doing no harm, is it?

Trains, Guards, Councils and MoneyA rant by JoshC.With today being a Monday, I had to buy my weekly train ticket, as always. I go to the ticket machine, as, unsurprisingly, the ticket office is closed. Becoming a more regular occurrence at Chertsey of late. Now, thanks to my Surrey Train Fare Card that I bought at the beginning of the academic year, I get discounted fares for weekly tickets - half price / a child ticket so I thought.After easily buying it, and my unique code thing being accepted for the discount, all is well, as usual. Then, I get off at 'good' ol' Egham, and see ticket guards and inspectors blocking the exit - they're checking tickets, like they do every 2-3 weeks. Whilst others panic because they thought they could hope the journey as usual, I happily go along and get my ticket ready to show and continue my way to college. I show it, but then get pulled over to one side for a word, with the inspector taking my rail card (and ticket) from me. Apparently, I can't travel on a child ticket; my card is not valid for that type of discount - I get a third off instead. I calmly explain that I've been told I get half price off, so get a child fare in other words, as has always been the case. However, it had changed back in August to a third off. I protest my case and say how that's what college have told me and that they recommend to everyone that it's the best discount available to us, and how other inspectors have not had a problem with the child ticket, and show my other tickets and that I've bought the past couple of months without an issue. He then asks me to give him those tickets as well, to inspect them.'Well, they've just got it wrong then.' be responds. I'm, as you could tell, a bit shocked and worried by this - I always get a ticket, and always get the correct ticket. I say that I've had no trouble with it before, and have been getting that all year. He then passes me part of my rail card back, turns it over to show the T&C, and asks me to 'Show him where it says I get a child ticket with the card'. I look, and whilst it does not say I get half price fares, it doesn't say I get a third off - it just says I'm entitled to a discount, which could mean either. Seemingly a bit annoyed, he returns with 'Well, the T&C you signed to get the card will say a third off, it changed in August'. He was getting a bit rude with me, even though I've done nothing wrong other than not know of an unannounced change. He asks if I got the money to pay the fine, not even offering an upgrade on my ticket, so I ask for an appeal form instead. Though, he was really nice here, as he said he could have fined me for all the weeks I was misusing my card (£20 fine for each college week since mid-September...), though he'll only fine me £20 - gee, thanks a lot... He then asks me for something with my name and address on, though I misheard him (due to the noise of the station) and thought he asked me to 'Write my name and address on something'. When I start writing my details down on a bit of paper, he asks me what I'm doing and why I'm wasting time - I misheard him for goodness sake, and he had a go at me! I don't really want to waste my time having a form filled out, considering my first lesson for college was starting in 10 minutes, and it's about an 8 minute to college from the station, without traffic. He then fills it out wrongly, as he didn't ask for parent / guardian details (which is needed as I'm under 18), and then that was that.I don't get why there's a need to be so rude about it. I can understand that the job probably means dealing with some argumentative people, and probably isn't the most pleasant sometimes, but I made a mistake and was being as polite and helpful as I could - there's no need to be cantankerous about it. These inspectors really do annoy me - I've done nothing wrong, yet I'm being made out to be the bad guy. Seriously, what's the point in me even buying a ticket if, when I do, I get treated in the exact same manner as someone who does not? So, when I had a free during college, I checked the council's website, and the T&C I signed did not specify how much discount I was entitled to, just that it was 'a discount', which I assumed to be the half price like it was last year. After a phone call this evening, it turns out that Surrey council had changed it sneakily, without really announcing it, so no-one, including my college, knew about it. So yeah, guards and my council pee me right off. This now leaves me in quite a predicament. I get £20 a week for EMA supplement, and that's all the income I get. No extra support from the government, nor from my college following cuts. My train ticket will now cost me £14 a week, so that leaves me with £6 a week. Okay, my mum can chip in here-and-there and give me some money, but with times being tough, I feel guilty when she gives me money in honesty. Why not get a job, I assume people will say. Well, I could, but in honesty, I could not keep up the commitment of doing a few hours a week in some shop, and do all my college work. I'm stressing out enough as it is about college; I couldn't keep a job up along with college work. Some people can, some people can't - I'm just one of those people who can't. So yeah, I'm left with £6 a week to get me by, which is basically all going to be saved up for my Annual Pass next year (some will probably question my priorities here, but ah well) and the getting ready for university for next October. I know everyone is probably 'feeling the squeeze' when it comes to money, but I guess many people on here can relate to me when I say, as a student, finances are a ridiculously hard thing to even think about.Rant over.

I was sort of expecting there to be a bigger ending there..Glad there wasn't though - great to see Thorpe doing videos for the sake of keeping interest up. Also interesting to see the use of another female, keeping the idea of who / what Lez Cougan actually is rather mysterious..

The day when I leave this forum...

^ Haven't Thorpe had to take that video off their Youtube account due to copyright infringement or some rubbish like that? :PAlso - one of the best videos ever to come from Thorpe!

Getting your hopes up for something big, then those hopes getting destroyed. Worst feeling in the world.

I wouldn't be surprised if they've taken the photo at a specific angle to make it seem a lot tighter than it is. :PThough, it is rather tight, and Josh approves of this..

Canada Creek railway (5)Colossus (6)Depth Charge (5)Flying Fish (4)Logger's Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (6)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (5)Samurai (5)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (3)Stealth (6)Storm In A teacup (5)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (5)x:/No Way Out (5)Flying Fish (+)Slammer (-)

Completely hate this new look. The old one was simple to use and worked a charm. At the moment, this is just terrible.I won't judge fully till it's finished, but at the moment, all I can say is eurgh.

Canada Creek Railway (5)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (4)Logger's Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (8)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (8)Samurai (4)Saw Alive (4)Slammer (4)Stealth (2)Storm In A Teacup (5)Storm Surge (2)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\No Way Out (8)Storm Surge (-)Stealth (+)

^The video, including sound, is copyright to Lobsterpictures.tv GM have just uploaded it.

Double post, but it's worth it...http://go-merlin.co.uk/theswarm/ That time lapse video!!

Well that settles it - outside it is!

Canada Creek Railway (5)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (4)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (8)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (7)Samurai (4)Saw Alive (2)Slammer (4)Stealth (4)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (3)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\ No Way Out (9)Stealth (+)Saw Alive (-)

For the first go, I don't really care. I'm indifferent; I'll go with the flow and see where that takes me. Though, if it ends up being a choice when in the queue, I'll probably go for the one with the longer wait, to have more chance to take in the atmosphere of the station.. :PI'm more debating at the moment as to whether I want to go inside or outside for my first ride. Outside is likely to give better interaction, but inside is more likely to be smoother. Decisions decision...

I think that specific ride audio is something Thorpe has done successfully with most of their rides (my only real grumble being the Saw duo), so I can't see Thorpe making a mistake with Swarm.I love the idea of some sort of eerie choir singing some sort of chant in the station, even if it's just for dispatch. I'm more interested as to how the general island will sound; so many routes Thorpe could go down, and I'm interested which one they'll take..

Canada Creek Railway (5)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (3)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (7)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (6)Samurai (5)Saw Alive (4)Slammer (4)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (5)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\ No Way Out (7)Flying Fish (+)Slammer (-)

Canada Creek Railway (6)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (4)Nemesis Inferno (5)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (5)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (7)Saw Alive (4)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (5)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (5)X:\ No Way Out (5)Saw (+)Mr Monkey's (-)

Canada Creek Railway (6)Chief Ranger's Carousel (3)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (6)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (6)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (7)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (2)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (4)Storm Surge (7)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\ No Way Out (5)CRC (-)Saw The Ride (+)

Canada Creek Railway (6)Chief Ranger's Carousel (3)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (6)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (6)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (6)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (2)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (7)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\ No Way Out (5)Saw - The Ride (+)CRC (-)

The fencing plan seems to show partial accessibility to the Rickety Jet; about two-thirds of the way.

Canada Creek Railway (6)Chief Ranger's Carousel (2)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (5)Nemesis Inferno (6)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (6)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (6)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (3)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (7)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (4)X:\ No Way Out (5)Mr Monkey's (+)CRC (-)

Canada Creek Railway (6)Chief Ranger's Carousel (2)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (4)Nemesis Inferno (6)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (6)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (4)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (7)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (5)X:\ No Way Out (5)X:\NWO (+)CRC (-)

Canada Creek Railway (6)Chief Ranger's Carousel (4)Colossus (5)Depth Charge (5)Detonator (5)Flying Fish (5)Loggers Leap (5)Mr Monkey's Banana Ride (4)Nemesis Inferno (5)Quantum (5)Rocky Express (5)Rumba Rapids (5)Rush (6)Samurai (5)Saw – The Ride (4)Saw Alive (5)Slammer (5)Stealth (5)Storm in a Teacup (5)Storm Surge (6)Tidal Wave (5)Vortex (5)X:\ No Way Out (5)Inferno (+)CRC (-)