pluk

To the immediate left of the tunnel entrance, is that a light coloured sign or is it new untreated wood?

How long do you think it takes to design, commission, make, install and get H+S/building regs clearance for well themed pieces. I'm not saying it won't be done well or on time or in theme or anything. I'm just saying I don't trust them not to screw it up especially in the context of how misguided I think this whole idea is and that they appear to have only just started thinking about it. Also worth saying I will probably actually enjoy the backwards sensation and will give it a go if I'm there. But that doesn't change my opinion that it is a stupid thing to do.

It's good to know. Everyone should do it. Considering what we go to our training is basic, but I've still used it quite effectively a few times. You don't need to be an expert but you'll be glad of a little knowledge when something happens in front of you, because one day it will!

That really is great. Makes me want to go!

I could agree with that, it really is quite a violent ride. In a good way, now they've stopped it jerking about like crazy, but probably a bit much for the younger ones. Just because they provide something new for people outside of their core target market does not mean they are necessarily changing direction. However much they want to cater for one demographic they know not to completely ignore the wider audience, if they did think like that the likes of banananana boat and carousel would have gone long ago, as they've been aiming at the yoofs for years now. As for the X changes, while the lowering of the height restriction might be a very nice side effect I'm sure that is not the driving force behind the switch around. It is simply that the ride as it is is pretty much knackered and one of the things they have a big problem with is people being sick because of the disorientation, so if work needs doing anyway they might as well resolve that problem while they're at it. Personally I think it is a shame. I enjoy the odd sensation of backwards in the dark and am lucky to never get any sort of motion sickness, but can understand why some don't like it and it might be a good idea overall. I'm not expecting anything spectacular from any referb it gets, but am just hopeful they market it appropriately. If they've gone to town on it with effects and music and a real experience then shout about it and promote it. If they've just turned it round, given it a lick of paint and and a clean up then it would be better if it just sort of happens unannounced, let people discover it, like it's the nothing new that it is. Just embarrassing and disappointing otherwise.

'Drop Dead', like it, good name. Some of the 'show' descriptions don't give much away, really looking forward to finding out what they've done.

That is the sort of thing that concerns me. To say these things have 'a lot of thought put into them', but then leave something as major as how they are going to make this not be an absolute mess in the the queue doesn't really add up. It should have been thought about and planned when the decision was made months ago and be done properly within theme (which would not be cheap). I can just see that superbly themed church filled with tensa barriers or those metal interlocking fence things. Please prove me wrong Thorpe, don't make the mess I'm expecting of something you spent so much money and effort making so good.

Tonight... http://www.channel4.com/programmes/derek Really looking forward to this, the one off they made previously was superb.

That's a shame, thought it was unlikely but to see them putting so much effort into the area it would have been nice to do that too. It is beyond saving with little bits of tinkering though, needs pretty much ripping out and starting again. I wouldn't call the mess they made of the lighting a couple of years back an improvement of any sort. That 'finale' should be ashamed of itself!

That is looking rather fine. Wouldn't it be great if they surprised us with a heavily refreshed Bubleworks ride too, as they are clearly doing lots of work around the area, including the shop. Zufari is looking a long way from completion still.

Is there still that much snow oop North, of is that a pic from a week or so ago? Does not look from that like vertical construction has progressed to the other side of the site at all.

A few years ago I jacked in an easy, local and well paid job (running a Sainsburys, as seems to be the Saturday job of choice round here funnily enough) to do something I found to be worthwhile and enjoyable for a lot less money. Best thing I ever did. If you can, enjoy your work.

Just watched the last Miranda. Sooo good. So so good.

Unfortunately for me this has fallen foul of its closeness to valentines day. As the only day around that time wifey and I are both off work I'm out with her instead having our valentines evening. Have a great time though and hopefully I'll be able to make the season opener.

Too busy trying to hold my legs in the air to avoid soggy socks for the rest of the day to be able to enjoy anything I'm afraid!

We are very different!!! I'm not going to pretend to understand much of that, but isn't it great when you can incorporate your passions into work/studies? Secret to a happy life me thinks.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, for me the music that comes with me always feels like it is defining the narrative of my life and will cement the memories I keep of certain times. So I thought a little blog of what that music is as I go along could be fun. Here then will be what is currently in my head, be it things I like, love or that are just inescapable whether I like it or not... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firstly, my car CD player (yes, I'm so 90's. MP3 what now?) gave me a wonderful Christmas day present of deciding that from that day forth it would not eject the CD it had inside of it. As the radio stopped working about a year ago and I drive a 44 mile commute every day that means I have heard a hell of a lot of one CD going round and round in the last month. Luckily for me it is a quite wonderful CD, even if it is a few years old, being Tanto Tempo by Bibel Gilberto. If you've never heard of her and like enjoy some Latin, chilled, jazzy kind of stuff (I don't really know what it should be called, genre wise), then you really should take a listen to some of this. More suited to the summer months maybe, but this has very much been the soundtrack to my snowy battles driving to and from work recently. The CD also contains some rather fine remixes to liven things up slightly, a couple of my favourites being That is more than enough of her for now you would think if you've managed to get all the way through that lot, and you'd probably be right. But I'll be hearing it all again and again until I work out how to eject the disc, or give up and buy another radio. I'm not sick of it yet, but there is only so much. On the inescapable list outside of my car is something which seems to have been around for a couple of years but refuses to go away. Luckily it is superb and after all this time I still can't get enough of it, especially the masterful Shy FX re-edit that has just prolonged its airplay life indefinitely again. Wow. All quite upbeat so far then, as is life right now. 2013 has started well, nice and stable. Successfully dieting (over half a stone in two weeks, go me!) and feeling good for it, and a bit of a change at work going smoother than expected. Long may it continue. Now I'm off to attack my CD player with something sharp, wish me luck.

I've been in plenty of portaloos which were of a higher standard than Altons permanent ones, none of which seem to have been updated since about 1994. When I saw the mess of supports designed to build SW7 around the old block I did think it bizarre, just knock them down and build something modern if they are in the way. Would seem more than worthwhile to spend thousands updating the park infrastructure around a ride you are spending millions on. I'm glad they've admitted quite early on that it is not opening for the start of the season, should stop it ending with a rush job and visitors know where they stand to make plans. I love the thought of soft openings happening, seems to me like a much more sensible way of introducing a new attraction rather than advertising a full opening off the back of testing only and then pissing many people off when inevitably things aren't quite right (or are very wrong (hello NST!)), and could also give some real excitement around the place. They need to be explicit in their advertising that this is what is happening though, the public are so used to new things opening with the parks season I can see a lot of people being pissed off unnecessarily if they just see the smiler everywhere and don't strongly attach a date to it. If this goes well I hope it is something they consider as standard across Merlin for all new major attractions. The name still sucks though!

Although sometimes it just might be right!

I disagree with the naming of this thread. Improvements indeed. Fail.

I can understand why some like it when it is taken in context as I can see how it fits. But it has to work both in and out of context, when people are talking about it without knowing the story/having been on it (ie, nearly everyone), and that for me is where it falls down. It is awful and hasn't grown on me a bit, sounds amateur, childish and just wrong.

I call it real, and amazing.

Unnecessarily annoying music, but the removal men have arrived! http://youtu.be/MrbHnqjeQmQ Also, BRIAN!!! http://youtu.be/AiVvJLEnX38

I nice little closed season tour... http://www.cprundown.com/1/post/2013/01/off-season-tour.html Every time I see it Gatekeeper looks better and better.

No, it doesn't mean they should get one. But there's a lot of things Thorpe should or shouldn't do and they often do the opposite instead. They bought a SkySwat knowing the other one had been fooked on and off since it opened. If Huss could persuade them they've ironed out the problems with the design Thorpe could end up with one.