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[Garabaldy]

just found out my local boating pond in aberdeen duthie park is out of action!   :'(

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Sorry to hear your pond is dry.
We lost a pond for five years while the city debated whether it would make a better
baseball field, basketball court, or a skateboard park. It came back due to the
dillegence of a few of us, and one super dedicated modeler that conviced the city
it would make a great resevoir for water the park. Water from the local stream,
saves £7500 a month in water fees.

Could be a good opportunity for some pictures...
A model boat sitting on the bottom of the dry pond.
A kiddie pool with water and you and your boat in the middle of the dry pond.
A small child holding a model boat in front of an empty pond.

Then forward the pics to the city council, or the local press.

 

[fullboat]

Your not the only ones. Adelaide South Australia has its modest pond in the parklands dry for the past 2 years due to water restrictions.
I rang the city council in 2006 after taking boat there one day and finding it dry, and was informed that they may review the pond again in 2008.
I'm not holding my breath. But they still let folks install swimming pools and the like.
What about us poor MODEL BUILDERS. May be i should find someone with a large pool ,preferably in the State Premier's Back yard, and start speeding my boat around there.
Water Politics are a BIG issue here at present. Our Major river systems are running dry due to drought and over irrigation . I can't see council releasing water for a pond just to amuse a small section of the the community that enjoy the age old art of model building. I mean it doesn't create a huge revenue for them like football
(where they are happy to spend MILLLIONS on stadium upgrades) . Boat Modeling in particular is enjoyed by the kind of people that possibly are capable of amusing themselves without the need of millions of dollars spent on them. Yes we are a conservative lot possibly that don't generally create a lot of revenue.
I suspect we are also the inventive type who like just to do things for ourselves and create things rather than spend time in front of the goggle box.
Anyway I don't think in the minds of councillors we are regarded with any thought.

 

[yewmount]

Now then In my youth I remember 3 ponds in the Duthie Park. The large, rectangular one near the gates to the River Dee [beneath the railway bridge], the one near what used to be Birni's Ice Cream Parlour which had the paddle boats and, below this and joined by a small waterfall, a much smaller circular pond.
Last time I was there the only pond in use was the large one and this had paddle boats. previously it had been the model boating pond and the Model Boat Club had a wooden shed in the trees hard by the gate.
I know that at one time the the yachting pond was drained once a year and cleared of blanket weed. We always tried to be there because you never knew what boat you would find on the bed.
Cheers
Yewmount

[SteamboatPhil]

We had the opposite, good old local council spent who knows re-doing our pond, which included getting rid of the mud bottom and putting in concrete (good for us straight runners who wade in the water) then it all went wrong, they put slopping sides on all sides (about 30 deg) which means little johnny has to lean over some 2 ft to get his boat into the pond
(pity little johnny is only 3 ft)How long before the complaints start and they fence off the pond-------

[Garabaldy]

Now then In my youth I remember 3 ponds in the Duthie Park. The large, rectangular one near the gates to the River Dee [beneath the railway bridge], the one near what used to be Birni's Ice Cream Parlour which had the paddle boats and, below this and joined by a small waterfall, a much smaller circular pond.
Last time I was there the only pond in use was the large one and this had paddle boats. previously it had been the model boating pond and the Model Boat Club had a wooden shed in the trees hard by the gate.
I know that at one time the the yachting pond was drained once a year and cleared of blanket weed. We always tried to be there because you never knew what boat you would find on the bed.
Cheers
Yewmount

Its interesting you say that as i just found this on the aberdeen city council website.

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=3725&sID=1925

Looks like they are going to be using the old circular pond as the boating pond and the large square one will have waterfalls in it?

[DavieTait]

I think with Aberdeen City council being £52m in debt the likelihood of that plan ever being done is slim to non-existent !!

I would be exceptionally surprised if this was ever started let alone finished. That council has wasted tens of millions on stupid schemes over the last 5 years and with there being an outside auditor in charge i'd guess it won't be too long before most of the council are forced out !!

I'll have to find out if you can still use the pool at Peterhead Lido. No where in Fraserburgh to float a boat unless your exceptionally "brave" and launch it into the harbour !!

[robbo770]

Hi I am Robert from the Aberdeen Model Boat Club,

I have been in touch with the council due to the condition of the model boat pond and managed to get immediate repair work carried out by the council.

the pond has been emptied, cleaned and some repairs carried out , and is now in the process of being refilled to the Club approved water level mark,

for further details please see the club web site

http://www.freewebs.com/aberdeen-model-boat-club/

thanks Rob

[Garabaldy]

Hi Robert,

I had been checking your site with a keen interest.  Did the pond get filled yesterday?

Im hoping to get some sea trials done this coming weekend 16/17th 

[Mark_Brad]

The amount rain that fell in Merseyside this weekend I could sail a number of boats down my street!

[yewmount]

Hi Robbo

I have visited your website and "signed" the guest book. As I said there, great site and sure brought back memories. Now on your mailing list.

Idid ask a question on my comments in the guestbook but have had no reply. Question is:
Are you the Robert or a relative of the Rob I knew as a child and who lived in Gairn Terrace and went to Gordon's School?

Hope to hear from you.

Ian

[robbo770]

Sorry No, I grew up in Barnhill in Broughty Ferry, originally, been in Aberdeen since 1992,

But hope to see you down at the pond on Wed night or Sunday mornings!!

cheers Rob

[Peter Fitness]

I suppose the advantage in sailing in salt water is that the ocean has not run dry yet. Our lake is fed through pipes from a tidal river, one at each end of the lake, so the water rises and falls with the tide, and is kept clean by the flow through effect. With the so-called global warming effect, and the melting of the polar ice caps, we may have a lot more water to sail in some time in the future   :)

Peter.

[robbo770]

The pond should be full for this weekend, will update you after tonights meeting and status check,

your welcome to come and join us at the club house

Rob

http://www.freewebs.com/aberdeen-model-boat-club/

[Garabaldy]

im glad to hear the club still regularly meets.

Unfortunately i cant come along tonight as i am not driving at the moment and live 30 miles away so have to wait for the weekend  :'(

[yewmount]

Hi again robbo

TKS for the invite but I am unlikely to visit the Granite City again. Born and educated there I left in 1951. Now, at the ripe old age of 72 not likely to leave Hull, not with the car I have :( But, it will be nice to keep in touch via this, or your club's website.
Cheers

Ian [yewmount]

[BarryM]

Ok, I'll ask if nobody else will. What's a "Chief Petite Officer"? - and would the 'Mike Flinn' named have any connection with racehorses in the past?

Barry M

[robbo770]

                       The pond is 3/4 full so this sunday all boats are ready to sail Subs included!!!!


                                 A MODEL WORLD!!!!!!!





are confirmed to be at the September event subject to family addition timings!!!!

[yewmount]

Hi BarryM

I think this "rank" of Chief Petite Officer is very much tongue in cheek and a parody of Chief Petty Officer

As to the racehorse I haven't a clue :-\ but from my memories of Aberdeen it was a city full of inveterate gamblers

Cheers

yewmount.

[BarryM]

...And there was me thinking it was a particularly small official doubling up as a Springer crew member...

[robbo770]

Pond on final few inches!!!!
Well i am happy to report that the pond is almost at

maximum water level and the large yachts just

made it in today.

 

The water by Wedensday should be a full mark and

we all should  be in full boat mode from then on.

 

We wish thank the council and all involved for there

efforts to resolve the issues with the pond.
 

Aberdeen Model Boat Club.