2009 Lecture comments and opinions (please post)

[Phil Rea]

Next time, can we have a photographer that knows how to work the self timer on his camera please Mark?

(Sorry Richard )

[wesley flower]

Next time, can we have a photographer that knows how to work the self timer on his camera please Mark?

(Sorry Richard )

i think richard has the hydrolic model they are more tricky to opperate

[Peter Kirk]

The whole event was absolutley brilliant - AGAIN - this year! This is of course due in no small part to Mark and Kim's hard work throughout the year which ensures the smooth running of the event.

The lecture from Eddy Hijmenson on tarantulas of the Mayan world was excellent and more so when you consider that he was drafted in literally last minute to replace a lecturer who was unable to make it. This was all sorted out while Mark and Kim were (supposed to be) on holiday in the week before the lectures.

Rupert Barrington's lecture gave us a real insight into the workings of (and problems faced by) by BBC's Natural History Unit when fiming animals that are both fast and small! Paul Carpenter and Ray Hale both gave interesting and informative lectures of arboreal tarantulas and why spiders are so successful respectively. Both of these were illustrated with some absolutely superb photos.

Andy's after dinner lecture was true to form and made even more interesting with the game of "Bulls**t Bingo" that took place at the same time. Andy has PROMISED us that he will be using PowerPoint next year!!! Don't hold your breath.....

As far as I could tell, everyone had a great time and I for one can't wait for next years!

As far as cameras go - you want to think yourself lucky it wasn't Andy Smith taking the photos - he still pulls a black cover over his head and uses a separate "powder" flash!!

[James Box]

was an amazing time! i am so glad i went. met some fantastic people, who didn't seem to mind me sitting round soaking up their vast knowledge!

as for the lectures, Pete's was hilarious and a real eye-opener (lol), Paul did a cracking one on arboreal tarantulas and the fun and challenges of finding specimens, really made it come alive. i for one really loved Eddie's lecture, it was a detailed account of his trip searching for B vagans, but also touching on the other great spiders he found on his way. he had loads of pics and a map of his travels, which was great for people like me that suck with geography. i learned loads, and to think he put it together in a week! well done! (i may be slightly biased though as he showed pics of Aphonopelma)
Ray followed this one up nicely with a great lecture on spider colouring, which was brilliantly informative. really cool to be able to understand some of the reasons why animals look the way they do, definitely learned alot!
Rupert's lecture on filming inverts was great, with highlights of some of the films he's been involved with and one or two others that illustrated points he was making.
finding out how some stuff in the 60's was made was absolutely astonishing, ie with the hot lights and the massive cooling tanks! what a huge amount of effort to put into something just for the love of it! thankfully it's gotten technically easier, but some of those shots were beyond belief. i for one had shivers down my spine at the amazing Aphonopelma footage (again, bias ...but it WAS amazing!)...and the basilisk, and the hilarious clip about the jewel beetles! funny thing that male inverts would share a strange attraction to sand-based objects (glass) with some humans (silicone)!
the dinner was lovely, but was followed by Andrew's fantastic storytelling about the trip through Mexico, following on his talk from last year, for which i finally got the DVD, as i realised there must be so much more then what he had time for at the BTS show last May.
then we all sat around and drank and talked til 4am, some of us!

i met so many people it'd be hard to name them all, but a special mention to Chris Hamilton and Eric Reynolds who came all the way from the States, and are absolulety cracking chaps to hang out with, and Stuart Longhorn, who kindly drove us all over the south of England and was an equally great guy to hang out with. much gratitude and several pints when we next meet up!

[wesley flower]

4am, some of us!

i know!!!!!! you woke me up when you came crashing through the door at that rediculous hour , i never seem to be able to get my needed beauty sleep

[matthew spooner]

i never seem to be able to get my needed beauty sleep

you looke dliek you could definitely have done with a few more hours on sunday morning, i dunno, these bloody lightweights that come from the south west, ha ha only jokin

[Colin D Wilson]

i dunno, these bloody lightweights that come from the south west, ha ha only jokin

Think you may have to retract that Matt, the myths and legends of Wesley putting away more than enough of an evening in Yokel land are quite true

[matthew spooner]

Think you may have to retract that Matt, the myths and legends of Wesley putting away more than enough of an evening in Yokel land are quite true

ah yes but when compared to a south eastener, there is no real contest lol. its the hangover part that worries me, a true drinker should not suffer that problem, his immunity should kick in lol

[James Box]

you looke dliek you could definitely have done with a few more hours on sunday morning, i dunno, these bloody lightweights that come from the south west, ha ha only jokin

lol! with that spelling, doesn't look like you've recovered yet, Matthew

[matthew spooner]

lol! with that spelling, doesn't look like you've recovered yet, Matthew

recovered? i restarted twice since i left bristol lol

[Eduard Johan Hijmensen]

Thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend. i just have one question: who was the scallywag that was sleeping during my lecture?? i jest you not. i heard snoring.

Eddy

[wesley flower]

Thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend. i just have one question: who was the scallywag that was sleeping during my lecture?? i jest you not. i heard snoring.

Eddy

i know the one you mean, i nearly had photographic evidence but the bugger awoke as i took the lens cap off.
BTW cracking lecture eddy, really informative.

[Lisa Baines]

oh i think me and matt will have to make a concerted effort to get to the 2010 lectures.

It sounds absolutely fantastic. Gutted to have missed out

[Rebecca Norris]

Thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend. i just have one question: who was the scallywag that was sleeping during my lecture?? i jest you not. i heard snoring.

Eddy

How rude! I loved your lecture, fascinating stuff.

[James Box]

nobody could've slept through that! maybe someone had a runny nose?