I set off nice and early for todays Rally at 7.45am and got there at 9.05am! For once I had no hangover so I can't even blame that! A 20 minute journey from home to the site took me 1 hour and 20 minutes! When you consider I live in Cardiff and a young lady called Jade managed to find the site no problem all the way from York - it really puts my Sat Nav and map reading skills in perspective!
Anyway enough of that I found the site thanks to Rob talking me in, which was most amusing. The usual shenaigans started the day with Phil leaving most people in awe at his amazing buckle,registration, polo short & badge sales and then on to the briefing. I personally though it was a very apt and a tremendously observed minutes silence for Meshak who recently passed away. Thank you all for the contributions you made as well, which Phil Ynysboeth will deliver to his wife.
Onto the finds! We had several pasture fields to play with and the day started quite slow for most. The first find of note came from Richy and caused much excitement and amusement as it was in the form of a stair rod holder!
" Millsy's face was a picture" - how coincidental.
Richy was also the proud new owner of a George III silver sixpence.
I ventured off towards the old Mill site with The Stig, both of us narrowly dodging The Wild Horses - who had a real paddy on about something! The Mill site didn't produce anything of interest bar for a few coppers and to cap it all I nearly broke my ankle traversing up and down the hill. Stig's machine packed in on him, so I sent him to my car to use my spare X-Terra 30 for the rest of the day. That was it in that field for me a dodgy ankle and a broken machine - the field was cursed in my opinion!
On returning to the main fields I found Adie with a lovely Lizzie three pence, a vicky six pence and a really nice sweetheart brooch. This was quickly followed by Stig with a snake buckle. These things are increadibly hard to date they from Roman to Medieval to now - I even wore one in the 1970's!
Next finds I saw was Coleggwent with a silver Joey and he proceeded to tell me about a ring he found which got him all excited, until he saw inside it said
"Made in Hong Kong" on the front it had Santa as well. Christmas Cracker anyone?
Then there was a quiet period for sometime until news reached me that Ancient Pat had struck again. Rumour had it he had found a Groat, then Geoff appeared and said it was a Groat and a Half Groat. Then I saw Gadget who informed me it was a Groat, a Half Groat and a Hammered Gold coin! Surely someone was pulling my leg here, after all very little else had come up in the way of hammereds!
I wondered if they were just from Pats astonishing coin collection he had brought to show us, but sure enough Ancient Pat had struck again! The coins were outstanding and he looked pleased as punch
(If only he was a young as Punch! 
). Well done Pat on yet another amazing day.
I think thats makes Pat's haul off Detectingwales rallies to date at 7 hammered, 1 gold hammered and a gold ring! Way to go mate! Theres a lot to be said for slowing down and knowing your machine well. I have no idea on what the gold coin is, but I am confident an experienced jeweller would be able to straighten it.
Onto other not quite so important but interesting finds. Jeff Stock had a 1 Ore coin from Denmark and a Jubilee Head Joey that didn't feel or look quite right -possibly an India issue.
Someone {I forget who} had a battered Roman. Steven King (him of the metal detecting fame and not horror movies fame) had a nice Half Crown and sixpence. The final find of the day was my old mate Jaydogg with a William III sixpence - well done buddy.
All in all an excellent day out. Thanks go to Digga for arranging the land - cheers mate - much appreciated. Thanks as always to Geoff for organising. Rob for being Rob! And everyone else for turning up!
Until the next time my friends
Neil
