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Steve T · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject: About this forum

The Confession Box is not just a dodgy pub in a central Dublin back street, it's where we come to share our darkest and most embarrassing paddling experiences with the rest of our club.

Some time ago we started a swimmer’s league: a light hearted focus for the banter which goes on within the club, whereby a record was kept of how often each of us (who should have known better) took a swim. At the end of the year the lucky league leader was presented with a valuable trophy and all the honour and recognition that deservedly went with it. Part way through the second year of the league, discussions within the club suggested this might be counter-productive (see thread elsewhere on the forums) and it quietly disappeared.

However, the reality is that paddlers swim, for reasons (OK, excuses) which range from because we’re pushing ourselves to try something new, to whether we’re just having an off day. In nearly all cases these swims are harmless, with nothing more than a bruised dignity and a case of ice-cream head to show for it. This is where the gentle Mickey-taking between the club members comes in, but only after the paddler and gear are safely collected and re-united on the riverbank.

Hence, the purpose of this new forum. Here you can cleanse your soul by confessing to any experiences where you were at one with the water, but not with the boat - the river Gods will see your repentance and take pity on you next time. Just start a new thread to share with your fellow members what, where, when and why. Just be prepared for any well-intentioned and light-hearted banter which will follow from those who you previously thought were your friends, and be ready to get your own back when the inevitable happens to them. You never know, people might be sympathetic.

If you really don’t want to post, then don’t, and please don’t post on anyone else’s behalf without being 100% sure that they’re happy with you doing so (ask them). I'll happily delete any posts or threads which upset or offend anyone.

While you’re here, why not share any other embarrassing incidents which might be of interest. Perhaps turning up at Burrs with boats for four but no paddles, or maybe a one-hour detour through Harrogate on the way back from the Ure looking for somewhere to buy LPG for your Jeep late on a Sunday afternoon (random examples - I don’t know anyone who has done either of these …)

Strangely, you might be the sort of person who wants to tell us all about your good experiences. So, whether it’s a description of an idyllic evening paddle into the sunset over a mirror-like expanse of water, or an adrenaline-fuelled charge down a rock-filled ditch, leave this den of ruthless sarcasm now and post on the “Paddle reports” forum. We can do without all this positive stuff in here, thank you very much.

Steve

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Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk