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UK Caudata.org Meeting, Suffolk, England on May 15th

A

alan

Guest
I'd like to say three things about yesterday.

First and foremost, thanks to Dave and Fiona for such a great time. Fiona, you were the perfect hostess, and Dave, you opened my eyes. Contico boxes it is then. My Salamandra should be in them by next weekend. I concede, you're right. About everything. Except dart frogs, about which you talk boll*cks
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. When you train your Salamandra to sing to you, let me know!
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Second, thanks to everyone else for making it such a marvellous day. Great talk from David, and fun talking to everyone.

Last, I really value opportunities such as yesterday. Apart from having fun, what a great learning experience. Caudata.org makes this possible for me (and others), so thanks to all those who purchased larvae etc. from me. The funds will be on their way to JC (as soon as he trusts me with his bank details!) to support the future of Caudata.org (all that bandwidth!).
 
P

paul

Guest
Just a quickie to echo everyones sentiments, the meet was a splendid day,excellant company,very informative.
Huge thanks to all concerned,cheers Dave and Fiona,good value as ever.
Thanks to all who swapped or bought stuff from me.
Also thanks to David for the papers Cd etc.

Laters

Paul
 

mike

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Dorset, England.
Just to add my two bits worth of appreciation to Dave and Fiona for a great day out in the wilds of Suffolk, with a great bunch of people. Not forgetting Rigo and Widget.
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My thanks, especially to Gustavo and Jago for taking the effort to make this meeting a truly International event.
(I'm really looking forward to the next meet of Caudata-Catalonia in the not too distant future).
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I thoroughly enjoyed the day meeting personally those people that I had only conversed with electronically through this site.
On a sadder note, please excuse my red nose in any future mugshot postings. It was not caused by an excess of alcoholic hospitality, but by an Eagle Owl that was a bit miffed with my taking her 3 owlets from her that morning. (It was her second attempt at rearing, but she hasn't quite got the hang of it yet).
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Mike.
 

caleb

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I can only repeat what everyone else has said- excellent day, and many thanks to Dave and Fiona for hosting it!

I have one of the aforementioned mugshots here (taken by Fiona), left to right: Yago, Mike, David, Paul, Dave, Gustavo, Matthew, Alan, Caleb.
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J

john

Guest
Wahey! That goes (along with the previous 2 meetings') into the magazine, which is coagulating (lovely word!) as I type. That is, assuming I have the photographers' consent! (?)

I truly wish I had been able to attend. You know that you will all have to do it again later this year ;). I've only met Dave (in Surrey) and Gustavo (at Gersfeld) before.
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S

sergé

Guest
Great picture! They probably made t-shirts with 'you should have been there' on it ?
 
D

dave

Guest
Thanks for all your comments, I thoroughly enjoyed Saturday too, it is always good to meet people with similar interests. I would be quite happy to do it again next year, if there is enough interest
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Y

yago

Guest
Hello
It was worthy 2000 km journey! We had a great time and it was a very enriching meeting. Special thanks to Dave and Fiona for their amiability. Was very interesting Dave’s introduction to their collection and their captive rearing methods. Also, special thanks to David, the Spanish specialist in salamandra algira and their subspecies, who did a great conference on those fascinating animals yet unknown.
Also to all participants who brought their personal insight and made a worthy occasion. Also, thanks to Paul who gave me the opportunity to expand my collection of Bosca’s newts and the fascinating chioglossa lusitanica.
It was a great occasion and I hope to meet everyone again in Barcelona or in Gerstfelt meeting, depending on which will be held before.
Here is just a tiny photographic report of the meeting….
P.S.-No need to say that John can use any pics for caudate magazine
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J

jennifer

Guest
Looks like a great time! But does anyone else find it odd... where are the women caudate enthusiasts? Are there any in Europe?
 
J

john

Guest
I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and ask why does it matter Jen? There is no sexual (or any?) discrimination in our hobby so what's the problem? There are female enthusiasts (anyone who has been to Gersfeld can testify to that), though there are far fewer than their male co-hobbyists. There are at least 3 female posters on Caudata.org from the UK and I'm sure there are a lot more lurking on the site.

In my experience, most women have the attitude of "Ew! Slimy!" when it comes to newts. Men generally don't seem to have the "slimy" issue with which to contend so perhaps they find it easier in general to get into the hobby/interest of Caudata?
 
J

jennifer

Guest
Isn't Kaysie from North America? I'm not suggesting any discrimination. I just found it surprising, and wondered if women are less common in herpetoculture hobbies in Europe than the Americas. Certainly Gersfeld would be a more realistic sample size.
 
P

pin-pin

Guest
Maybe the females couldn't convince their boyfriend/husband/significant other that they really were just going to look at salamanders in some guy's "basement." It's quite a strange scenario to explain to someone not familiar with the hobby.

Anyway, IAD already had all the "cool" females. ;) Heh.
 
M

matthew

Guest
Can I throw two dodgy sexist hypotheses into the pot...
a) when a man / men gather(s) around a Contico box to examine and appreciate a Salamander he/they instantly revert(s) to the age of six, catching newts and frog tadpoles and just how good that felt;
b) Many women respond with even stronger revulsion than the "Ew! Slimy!" John mentions, to the point where "I have a shed / garage full of newts at home" is an even more reliable contraceptive device than the 95% reliable "... and some of the crickets have inevitably escaped in my house..."

PS
I was evangelising about my terrestris at work to a colleague the other day. She said "Errh! Slugs!"
 
P

paris

Guest
For matt's point-i saw a show on cable recently about a forensic entimologist who keeps leeches in the fridge, he lamented about loves lost to midnight fridge raids! i can pity with him as i have similar stuff in my fridge and have had loose crickets crawling across me in the middle of the night, drowning in dirty dishes in the sink or popping out of the bathroom tap! unfortunately women who are into such things might be labelled (at the kindest) as 'tomboys', needless to say whomever gets me is going to have to put up with an awful lot of stuff - so the newts shouldnt phase them much!
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(Message edited by john on May 21, 2004)
 
K

kaysie

Guest
Jenn, Alan means that I'm currently in Europe (and most recently was in England, paid a visit to Morg and his mini-zoo, very lovely place he has). Paris, I have all my live been a "tomboy" much to my mothers chagrin. Always bringing home frogs and snakes and slimy stuff. My moms a priss. But nevertheless: there may not be many female hobbyists, but the ones who are into it are really into it!

PS: Hi back, Alan

(Message edited by kaysie on May 21, 2004)
 
A

amy

Guest
oh!!! i only just saw this! i want to go! bit late now! but i didnt have any little creatures then. is there going to be another one in suffolk? things like this only happen in suffolk once in a blue moon. i live in peasenhall so it would be great if there was another one
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K

kim

Guest
I believe from a chat that me KC and Jeff had there will be one in the near future, well nearish.

We were thinking of May time not sure where and when (maybe Jeffs?) but lets discuss it and make a date!
 
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