Han30

Belated Happy Birthday Coasterdude - hope you had a good one Also Happy Birthday to Sidders - I know he hasn't been on here for a while but just in case he has a look at t'forums - oooh arrrr happy birfday!

I would hate to see Slammer go - took me a long time to go on it (it looks visually a lot worse than the ride experience itself). I can't see it lasting many more years - is it 10 years now that both Rush and Slammer have been at the park? I hope it doesn't leave any time soon - considering the amount of money they have ploughed into it I would imagine they want to keep it for as long as possible but of course there does come a point where investing money would be pointless if it has massive issues. Also the ride is so unique and there are no other sky swats left (ok I know only 2 were ever made but it's the only one remaining) I can see Samurai departing before Slammer - both Samurai and Slammer are my fave flats at Thorpe but in all honesty I think their time is numbered

Toofpick - sorry to hear about your cat - he looked like a lil cutie! It's so hard when pets die, as said before but hope that you can remember the good memories ChessingtonSam - your cats are adorable My current upate - meeting up with Cats Protection on Tuesday to discuss adopting the 2 cats I have been fostering - I've got so close to them (one of them will sleep as close to me as she can which is a bit tickly with her whiskers on my face!) Both cats are currently snuggled up next to each other on my chair in the living room

Oh dear - that's a facepalm moment! Does make me laugh what some people come out with and I quite enjoy evesdropping on peoples convos whilst at Theme Parks - right now can only think of 2 examples but there has been a lot more - The year Vampire re-opened after getting the Vekoma trains - bunch of gobby kids in front of me in the queue saying "yeah this is so cool - it goes upside down now" - I felt like saying "you are in for a disappointment then" but instead I chuckled to myself And more recently - 2 days after The Smiler incident I was queuing for Samurai and a pair of girls were unfortunately stood behind us (I say unfortunate because they would not shut up) - One of them decided to make up a load of crud and say "oh yeah the reason Saw is closed is because 2 people died on it the other day" - I did literally smack my own face. I know the GP don't have as much knowledge as enthusiasts which is understandable but to spout out complete and utter nonsense I don't understand. Oh I had a staff one aswell - went on Loggers on my own a few months back - got back into the station and as I was getting out I said to the offload host that I stunk of skanky water (I have a lovely way with words) - his response was "oh don't worry it's clean water" - pretty sure that he knows the water IS scabby and comes from the lake but was possibly trying to make me feel better

I've never ridden a stand up coaster but would like to, just to see what it is like - I can cope with a bit of head banging (have done Saw 10 times in a row before) I would love to see a dive coaster where you are in flying position, so basically Oblivion with Air trains.....oh but the trains are on the side of the track a-la Swarm or other wing riders.

I'm starting to somewhat question my co-ordination.....yesterday I "almost" fell over after I came out of the slide on IAC maze - that was after I got stuck on the slide because of my damn shoes. Then to top it over I actually did fall over after I came out of the MBV maze - embarrasing, yes....painful; a fair bit. Woke up today with bruises down both my shins, feeling like I've been beaten up and a slightly twisted ankle. I think my shin bruises are from riding loggers twice in a modified boat - never put your knees against those silly middle handlebar things - it's painful

Was there last night and would be surprised if the big top is open tonight - didn't look near ready st all. Also be careful whilst walking out of MBV - there is an uneven piece of flooring and I fell over like a sack of spuds! I found the mazes disappointing - MBV is more lit up and felt rushed, Saw Aive was ok, Blair Witch has more foliage which is fine but be prepared to get assaulted by tree branches. CITW still my fave but they had waaay too much fog going on you could barely see anything- and the tunnel wasn't working an had no actor in it. As for the audio on the rides - the director was much much better imo. Hopefully it will improve though

Vortex still has scaffolding round it

I am really forgetful - just assumed this topic was about broken bones! Years ago I fell over on icy pavement and managed to twist my knee - frigging hurt that did - I don't know what was worse, that, or the fact that there were a group of people behind me Going over the handlebars of my bike and scraping the skin off of my hands and knees - it hurt but I was more concerned if anyone had seen Cutting a fairly large split in my finger with those god-awful old tin opener things - they were awful and left tin lids really jagged When I was a kid - rolling onto a portable heater and blistering my hand up quite badly to the point where I had to go to hospital Currently having issues with my left hip which could possibly be arthiritis eeeek - been offered physiotherapy but declined for now Thinks that's it which isn't bad considering I am clumsy as hell Edit: Injuries inflicted from my sister - Massive black eye after she locked me in a room with no handle to get out - I panicked, and was screaming at her to open the door - my face was right by the door and she kicked it open and I went flying.....that hurt a bit Getting thrown against the side of the house and ending up with a vertical scab down my face.....yummy Getting my head smacked against the kitchen cupboards and almost passing out Getting thrown against a piece of furniture and cutting my head open ^^^ these were years ago now, we tend to get on better these days

Happy Birthday Amaargh - have a fab day!

Eww yuck. Pretty sure years ago there was a news report on a paedophile that got taken to CWOA by his probation officer (or similar). A few years back I got chatting to a bloke on Vampire ride - ended up going round a few times on the ride with him. He was on his own which I just assumed he was an enthusiast - when I told my mum she said "well clearly he's a paedo" erm well I was in my 20s so he was targeting the wrong person. I don't doubt that paedophiles go to parks because they will go to places where kids are but its kinda sad that if a male is on his own it automatically looks dodgy (to some people)

Ahhh Thunder River.....where you actually got wet!

Never broken anything other than possibly a couple of toes that got slammed in a door and went black and hurt like hell. Now I've said that I'm probably going to go break my neck or something!

Just read the article and, well it's The Daily Mail soooo you have to take what they say which a pinch of salt (or bag full). It would make sense for him to speak to the victims before reopening The Smiler out of respect - however after the way he conducted himself with that awful interview with Kay Burley, and even just after the incident he seems to be very diplomatic. If (and it's a big if) he did explain the situation in the way it's described I would be very surprised. I for one hope that The Smiler reopens soon and that Merlin pick up business at Alton Towers but at the same time I can see why the young lady would feel angry at them - all the victims have been extremely dignified following the accident and their bravery has been outstanding - they probably hoped it would never reopen again and if it does then maybe it's too soon for them to mentally absorb (if that makes sense) - in less that a 4 month period so much has happened to them - yes they will be compensated and have already had payments but perhaps it feels like a kick in the teeth to reopen a ride that they thought was going to kill them. Of course we all know that they wouldn't open it if it was unsafe but none of us were there on that ride during the terrible accident or could comprehend how it has affected the people involved emotionallt

I'm quite lucky with my neighbours although one of them does occasionally like to play reggae music loudly on a Sunday!?!? My sisters neighbour is a right sour faced cow and has always chucked her dogs poop over into my sisters garden. Nothing was sad for years until one day when the neighbour didn't know my sister was in the garden and decided to empty her rubbish over the fence - she got a bit of a shock went my sister went ape at her and told her in no uncertain terms to pack it in. The neighbour swiftly came round to grovel and apologise. God the amount of times I've wanted to grab one of her dogs turds and hurl it onto her conservatory roof is unbelievable - I of course didn't but still the temptation was there!

Happy Birthday InfernoMartin - have a spiffing day

Matt - ours are the same apart from the last 2. I want to like Inferno more, I really do - maybe my body can't cope with the forces! Back onto the Swarm - I've noticed this year it seems a lot more forceful (Swarm also as well as Inferno occasionally sets off my asthma which is annoying- I've also greyed out a couple of times aswell) - I think the ride experience of Swarm will only get better - if they could just maybe add a bit more track to make the ride a bit longer that would be great

Was the tired just flat or had it been slashed? When I used to cycle everywhere I had a bike pump attached to my bike which was handy. I'm absolutely useless at puncture repairs though - too much faffing around

I can't see them releasing a press statement about reopening until it is open (if that makes sense) - the media will be on it like flies around poop and Merlin might want to make as little fuss as possible. Just my thoughts but I may be totally wrong. I really didn't think it would reopen at all this season but with whats been going on around the site with works being done its looking like a possibility - who knows. Will be good if it does reopen this season and brings X-Sector back to life

1) Nemesis - just wow. Love everything about Nemmy - whats not to like? 2) Swarm - As said before, could be a tad longer but ride experience and theming is fab 3) Oblivion - fab ride 4) Air - love this but does give me neck ache a tad - very comfortable restraints like the other B&Ms 5) Nemesis Inferno - I like it but for me the inversions are too closed packed together and for some bizarre reason it often gives me a stitch and/or sets off my asthma - I do love the mist (when it's working that is)! Oh and the theme tune

Strewth - are you made of money? I've never been rich enough to splash out on an ice cream at thorpe park I do agree about Swarm backwards being a bit "meh" though - for me personally the best part is the drop off the lift hill and then it's a tad pointless as you miss all the near misses. Hence I've only done it several times - was worred about chundering first time I went backwards as I get motion sickness but was fine - went on it backwards a few weeks ago and felt ill for about 3 hours afterwards But hey - at least whenever you go on backwards you can have cornetto time! And now I want a mint cornetto for breakfast damn it

Although The Smiler is not my favourite ride at Towers, I do miss it - walking into X-Sector and seeing it there looking all alone, dirty and no signage/screen on was odd. And although that blinking tune can get annoying (especially if you are stuck in a 3 hour queue) I have to admit I miss it.....a bit

Hi there Morgan - welcome! As coasterdude said, you've come to the right place! I first visited Alton Towers in 2013 (although been into theme parks for a lot longer) - Nemesis is a fantastic ride (one of my faves). Stealth is brill - have to disagree with you about Detonator though - it is the only ride at Thorpe Park I vow never to go on again - but I am a wuss While I'm here - what is cornetto time?! Made me laff that did

Oooh - is it real though?

Gah well I wouldn't personally go on it in this weather but it is always a laugh watching other people