District Conference & The Big Pit

I have been without internet since last Friday so I have been unable to post since we left Haverfordwest. The District Conference was an awesome experience for me as well. As been already mentioned, the best part was seeing so many Rotarians that we had already met. I felt more like I was at my conference instead of their conference. A special thanks to the Morriston RC for hosting us on Friday night for dinner and escorting to the Caribbean Night. It was great to see so many Rotarians dressed up and everybody there had a great time dancing to Smackie and the the steel drum band. The picture that is on the blog with my head down is because Mariah had basically called me a " fuddyduddy" and I thought I had been anything but so far. Our presentation went very well and Rotarians back home you should be very proud of our Wales GSE Team. We have sent a great group to represent us here. After Saturday's session was over, we down to Plymouth harbor as Richard's pictures have already shown. Adrel, Mariah & I went down to where the Mayflower set sail for America. We then went on a tour of a Gin Distillery that has been producing Gin since the early 1800's. It makes Plymouth Gin!!! Yes, we got to taste it except for Mariah sticking to her values. In WW II, Plymouth was bombed and part of the gin caught on fir as well as the tax office. The fire brigade was called out and they saved the gin first so the tax records burned up. Because of their efforts they are still able to make the gin in the same vat today. After the tour was over, I was accosted in the street my this guy on a bicycle. I thought he was be extra friendly until I realized it was our gin tour guide in shorts and a bicycle helmet. He came me some more history of the Pilgrims and why they were docked in Plymouth before their departure to the New World. We got back to the hotel just in time to change into our suits and evening wear for the banquet. We were feasted to Welsh Lamb. the comedy of Owen Money and got t watch Her Majesty's Drum & Bugle Corp before we ended the night dancing. Sunday, we attended the conference session again to hear the presentation of Phil Steele and his team's trip to India. After seeing their presentation, I am glad we are visiting Wales.

The Big Pit was quite an experience. When we got to the bottom, our tour guide told us we were no longer in a museum but an actual mine. To show you how dangerous it is, we just had a fall in in our older mine shaft which I was going to take you down. We are not going there now but down the newer shaft. He said based on my experience I will keep checking the conditions and if you see me run- run after me!!! Off down the mine shaft. Some places you had to duck and boy was I glad I had on that hard hat. It was damp and cool in the mine and a little slippery at times. About half way thru our tour, He took us to this door and explained that it was the job of a 5 year old boy to sit at the door and open it for the trams carry out the coal. He had us all to turn out our lights as he was talking to us except for his. He then went on to describe the conditions with rats around their feet and cock roaches falling on their heads. He then cut out his light and said the boys would be down there for 12 hours in the dark like this. It was the most engulfing dark I had ever experienced. If I was not in the company of people, I would have been scared to death .It was a great feeling to have that light come back on again after about 45 seconds. Can you Imagine 12 hours down there like that???? It was great to come topside again!!!! Rick