Dear Armorama,
I joined this wonderful site in may of 2001 after just getting into modelling as a 13 year old and I have been here ever since. I am writing this letter to thank everyone who has made Armorama possible specially Jim Starkweather our awesome webmaster.
On January 29th I will be leaving New Zealand for the first time and flying to England. Where I will work at a YMCA camp based 30 minutes or so from Southampton, I will be there for 6 months after which I am planning to travel around Europe for a month or so before I come home. Because I will be working 6 days a week 7 hours a day I will have little spare time which means some things will have to go and the first is sadly modelling. If I can I might buy the odd figure set and build it if and when time allows.
This also means I will not be able to visit the Big A as much as I would like. I will miss all the great friends I have made. While in Europe and the UK I plan of meeting a few members in person, Namely Pete and The Rotterdam boys (Martin, Jurjen and Hilbert).
Thanks for reading my letter, Take care everyone,

Regards Andrew Barclay
AKA Andy007

P.S I know that is over two weeks before I go but I very much doubt I will have time for anything else but packing from now on. So I wrote the letter today.

Andy I wish you luck and enjoyment on your trip. Take care mate and keep in touch. It will be nice to hear from you now and again and when you come back make sure the glue is still OK LOL

cheers
Cliff

Thanks Cliff, I will be sure to keep in touch. Hopefully I will get back into modelling when I get home.

I wish you good luck, and enjoyable time on your travels......
C U when you return.

Sounds like an awesome trip Andy.. Hope to see a ton of photos when you get back.. Safe travels... One for the road..


Dave

Young Kiwi Jedi Type Dude

Not to get all blubbery,-- but I've got to admit I'm going to miss my good friend from New Zealand over the coming months. We've always clicked as chat room buds, and I've always found you to be "nice people". In addition your desire to stretch your modeling experience/expertise over the last few years is very evident in the fine dio work you have displayed on this site. Fine fine work.

Very best wishes for a safe European adventure, and a thank you for allowing me to call you friend.

Steve

I am sure that you will find us all most welcoming in the UK.
Have a great time and you have some real history to see not too far away, including the Tank Museum at Bovingtom.

Good Luck,

John

Thanks Dave , Dave,Steve and John.
I am hoping to visit all the Museums I can but I would also love see other non-History/military things

Hi Anderew
Hope you will enjoy your visit to the UK ,if you are staying near a public libary i'm sure you can get membership and use their PC's to keep up to date and in touch with the big A when you have time,so don't be afraid of being alone ,someone is just a click away :-) :-)
There are plenty of places to see as well Bovington Tank Museum , Duxford Air Museum (to mention two) .

Enjoy yourself

SAS007

Now why would you wanna do that?

Have a good time at the Y! Be sure to take lots of pics, and try to meet all the members you can, trust me It'll be fun! And you don't have to give up modeling, you work only 6 out of 7 days, that leaves 24 hours at your discretion :-) :-)


But over all try to have as much fun as possible!

Hi Andy

You know my thoughts on your adventure my friend.

I know you will enjoy yourself and grow immensely as a person.

You are a fine young man a superb ambassador for our country.

I will miss our on line chats and endless discussions about OD.

Not long to go my friend I hope to chat before you go.

Everytime I see a Sheramn or OD I will spare a thought for you on the other side of the world far from your home, family and country.

Keep in touch.

Warmest regards

Sean

Good luck on your trip and enjoy your travels.

Will miss seeing your projects , but have a great time


Ian

Good luck Andy and have a safe trip. STUG

Thanks guys, I am planning on having as much fun as I can possibly have I am always game for new things.
Sean I will try my very best to put across NZ as the clean green place we are........And that we bet the Lions rather well :-)

Safe travels Andy. Have a great time and see you again someday.


Best wishes
Steve

me Anzac brother is growing up and moving off to the world. Well Andy, i really hope you find your travels safe, but most of all, fun, have a great time mate.
You were one of the first mates i made around here, and i'll miss our chats.
You know where to get a hold of me.
Cheers

Hi Andy,
Have a great time in Europe,take in as much as you can and savor it.... pretty much the one thing I remember feeling, is no matter where I went I was walking with history, very cool that.
Cheers and have a safe trip.
Joker

Dave, I will miss the chats to mate, remember we still have to take that expedition to the pacific and I would love to come to Aussie to see you and Cliff.

Andy, you will be missed here!!! I do bet though that everyone will remember you when you get back I wish you lots of good times and high adventure on your first trip away from home. Hope you have lots of fun and take lots of pics. Cheers Kevin

Going on abit of an OE eh? Have a great time while you are there and take no crap from the pommies. They hassle you about sheep shagging and you just remind them of the Lions tour and the Grand Slam ya hear? I tried it on my UK buddies here and it works! :-)

Im sure you will find a computer with an internet connection so im sure you wont be gone too long. Us guys will hold the fort while you are gone.

Have fun!

Andrew,

If you decide to come to Eastern England, let me know....Duxford is nearby, plus there is lots of history around, Roman and Vikings for instance.

John

[quote] They hassle you about sheep shagging and you just remind them of the Lions tour and the Grand Slam ya hear? I tried it on my UK buddies here and it works! :-)

Jeremy

I guess though that the Lions didn't have to cheat and risk peoples lives by 'Spear Tackling'. Nuff said....accept it as tongue in cheek.

John

Hey Andrew,

We're going to have a great time :-)

Oh and btw I live in Gouda, not Rotterdam (about 20-min travel)

Martin

Andrew,

I have spent 4 years studying in the Southampton University and worked there for another three years. I throughoutly enjoy my time there. Southeast England will probably the best place to be in UK in terms of weather.

You may not loose much even if you have no time for modelling there. When it comes to LHS, there is next to nothing in town (when I was there), the best you come to is the toy shop called Beatle (or some other name similar) near the Bargate. There is a aviation museum on the seafront which is worth visiting.

A bit further to the east, you will find couple of tanks by the seafront in Southsea, Portsmouth.

If by any chance you need assistance of an Estate Agent, stay away from Countrywide Residential Lettings. My tenant told me so.

Good luck to your trip. I hope you'll enjoy it.

How does a NZer find sheep in long grass?....
Seriously, have a safe journey and an able Tasman
As for packing from now until departure, how about pack stuff this week, and then take most of it back out the next? Travel light my friend...
Cheers and bon voyage
Brad