MattyMoo

We might be surprised that Chessie are actually doing something?
I mean like, RMT and Dragon Falls only needed for the stuff to be redone to the same standard as it was before, but considering Merlin's fondness for 'the cheap' or 'the bare minimum' when it comes to theming there's not exactly many reasons for enthusiasts to be excited about when it comes to Chessie...
Sure an aviary walkthrough for the Monkey/Bird Garden would be good (as it should've happened back in 2011, but budget cuts), but the park has a LOT of work to do on itself to actually stop the rather bad plunge it's taken the past two years... Having some rockwork theming is actually the least of the park's worries currently, though it was the last straw for many fans as to how the park was going...
The thing is, we know what's due to happen with RMT, and that's the rocks are coming back... But the question is, in what FORM are they coming back? Bear in mind the original set of rockwork was brilliantly done in order to make one of the most basic track layouts going quite interesting, and linked well with the overall theme and queue-line itself... But what have Merlin done to lead us to believe that the same level of intricacy will continue onto the new rocks?
People are negative at Chessie quite simply because they haven't been good enough, and need to actually prove that they will improve... Problem is, we've also heard it time and time again from the same park that 'next year will be different' and 'it will improve'...
It rarely did... 2010 has been the exception to the rule this past decade... And it's embarrassing that one of the UK's top parks is in the state it's in today, with poor operations, half the place falling about and piss-poor designed new attractions (including Land of the Dragons)...

I can only agree with this. Also think it is worth pointing out as you bring it up that there is a real wide range of ages attending these days, from mid teens up to a few of us around the 30 mark and a couple even older (I won't guess at stretchys age out of respect for my elders! ). My point is the meets really are for everyone so if you are thinking about it then just do it!
As for what I want / expect from a meet, it is pretty much what we get! Always a good time.

Saaaaafsea!
Not sure on this one, so it's a maybe at the moment.

Scorpion? Sounds a perfect excuse to stick some decrepit Abdabs in the queue line to me!

Advertising a 26 year old ride as new really shows how far Chessie has fallen...

Judging by the rumours I've also heard, I'd happily take money from you you up on such a bet...
It sounds like a bitter disappointment quite honestly... So it suits Chessie...

Don't forget that Chessington ran a competition for people to submit ideas for the theme of Runaway Mine Train and Dragon Falls (http://www.chessington.com/updates/) There were restrictions such as it had to fit with the Mexicana theme but something completely new wouldn't be unexpected if they have used a child's submission. Some kids imaginations are great so they could of got some good sketches in.

The trough itself is my biggest problem with the way the ride looks. We know it doesn't fit and was poorly thrown in but there is no reason for it to look quite so much like that is the case. Painting the trough and some sort of blending and softening of the ride against it's surroundings could make it look much less turd like for no great cost.

You can say that again! So much advertisement was released back in 2010 (construction fence banners ect.)...and all that hype was somehow wasted into such a bad attraction!

Facebook competition on their page at the mo, like and comment for chance to win a 'goodie bag'.
Worth a go, I wonder what is in it?

Pieces of Slammer that they don't know what to do with?
I hope it's that...

You're welcome! Beautiful day today - bit chilly though!

Thanks for these, TPM and Thorpe It does fascinate me seeing rides in closed season in their dismantled state

Pretty amazing stuff!
I imagine at least one of those songs is written about you then, I wonder which?!

Assume this is OK putting this in here!
My other half, Becky, is a songwriter from Portsmouth - she has plenty of music online, both covers and original - she works with publishing companies who pitch songs for artists, adverts, films etc and has had a few songs placed, her biggest placement being "La La Love" on the trailer for "Love Wedding Marriage"
Anyway - have a browse on her two channels here, I recommend "Weird Nerdy Crush", "Biggest Regret", "Sing With Me" - and the promo for her Delicious Sessions EP is rather s****y!
http://www.youtube.com/user/beckyjerams/videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/beakyboo123/videos
Soz to spam!

Interesting is the word. It would be impressive for all the wrong reasons if 2014 surpasses 2013 for rubbishness!

What a brilliant idea this thread is
I would like to add to it to say how flipping awesome Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Triple Chocolate Cookies are. Give them a go, £1.65 well spent (they were on offer at £1.00 a while ago and damn that marketing, because I'm hooked haha)
Yum!

But the mood doesn't need lightening...

I did have really bad psoriasis which really affected my self confidence, but thanks to these awesome creams I have, its about 95% gone, only abit of the scalp left now and I will be psoriasis free for the first time in 8 years!!

I am now... employed!! My first ever job, I am so grateful for the opportunity I got given by college to go and work there for work placement and at the end of it, they gave me a temporary Christmas job! Very happy Liam is happy!

I haven't gone running around shouting about my private life, but...
This summer my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fast forward to now and she's finished her chemo, is due to start radiotherapy in a week, and is doing really well! She hasn't been given the all clear yet but after the initial surgery she was told things are looking positive, and she was given extra treatment as a preventative measure.
As much as I could rant about how cancer is horrible, blah blah blah, I don't see the point. I'd rather focus on how well my mum is doing than fixate on the fact she was diagnosed with it in the first place.
Proud daughter right here!

There doesn't seem to be any positive equivalent of the ever popular rant thread. What a miserable bunch. I'll start...
Right now I am on a month long driving course at work where I get to spend all day every day driving a variety of fairly high performance vehicles very very fast. Learning to do it safely of course, and the concentration required is very draining, but I don't know how it would not be possible to not love every minute of it. Three weeks still to go, big grin on my face at the thought of going back to 'work' on Monday.

Naked Swarm trains make you glad Merlin actually bothered to theme them...

http://thorpeparkmania.co.uk/news/26-11-2013/Closed-Season-November-2013
Closed season update from the park here.
Please avoid taking these pictures / uploading them to your own twitter / FB
Enjoy!

Yeah you can't just make a comment like that and not go into further detail....it's cruel.