My trip to Belters

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Herr Taff
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2005 10:34 am
Location: Mid Wales

My trip to Belters

Post by Herr Taff »

The trip to belters

To begin in the beginning…

It is night in the little welsh village and Herr Taff makes his way down to the sloe black crow black M4 motorway…

My trip began in 1981 when I began to collect and build tamiya military miniatures in 1/35 scale.
I would always want German infantry and vehicles and used to compile little reference books by cutting the boxes up (remember the brilliant artwork?) outlining the uniforms and insignia.
A few years went by and following an advert in the “Exchange and mart” I sent for details of the “BRA”, but never took it any further…one day I thought.
That “one day” arrived on Friday 23 july 2005. With a childlike excitement I made my way up the motorway to belters.
The intention to meet people I had only met on the internet, (something I warn my wife about all the time) who I had no idea of what they would be like, or more importantly what they would think of a dwarfish Welshman with a crazy accent!

At 7.00am I arrived at the carpark after a 5hr drive with only one coffee and er “comfort” stop.

I was second in the queue, and struck up a conversation with the guy in front of me about military vehicles.
A larger throng formed outside the glass doors of the ground, and at about 7.40 the doors opened, and I made my way through the mystic portal (ticket office) to the world of reenactors.

Belters was waking up so I thought I would give my friends to be, some time to wake up, so I wandered around in awe of my surrounding until I finally made my way to the GD camp.
I recognised faces from the website straight away, and approached the display and made my introduction, that was met warmly!
A few handshakes later I felt as if I had known everyone for ages.
I was then escorted around the traders market with Rich and Golly, an experience itself! During which I had a phone call from my wife who enquired “what are they like?” (Meaning the people I had met on the internet!!) to having only spent 20 mins with Golly I replied “they are mental!”
Rich and Golly showed me what to look for and avoid in terms of kit- a most helpful morning. This expedition resulted in a purchase of a good pair of jackboots from Underwoods.
A trip back to the car lunchtime to get my kit to show the group, and a further trip with Lyndon around the market, and again another purchase, a gas mask tin.
By the evening I was in my kit having borrowed a pair of trousers from Rich, and I must admit it was a very strange feeling, I am sure you all must have felt it the first time you got into uniform. A trip to the beer tent then followed. This was a superb evening! The spitfire was going down far to well, and I then realised that standing amongst you lot from GD, with other groups all around, that this was the life for me! I knew I had enough when I started seeing storm troopers from star wars in the beer tent!
The next morning, yet another shopping trip, where I bought a m40 helmet and shovel.
I was in awe of the show, walking around speechless, and immpressed with the sheer size and scale of it, the battle on the Friday afternoon was awseome!
Family life dictated that I left belters at about 11.30, and after saying goodbye I left the GD camp to return home, having “broken the duck” ?! as golly put it.
I loved the trip and more importantly meeting you all, was great and the welcome was tremendous! Thanks to each and everyone of you, So its now no longer at the recruiting office door I have signed on the line!
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emma.b
Posts: 508
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:36 pm
Location: Burntwood

Post by emma.b »

Well done Tim im really glad you liked it and the group and im more than happy for you to be joining as im sure the rest of the lads are.

Welcome Aboard mate

Em.xx
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Reinhard
Posts: 163
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:39 pm
Location: Sunny birmingham

Post by Reinhard »

he he he
another inmate for the asylum.......................

only joking mate glad you enjoyed yourself and may it be the first of many


Rich
Coming Soon..........
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