Wednesday 12 May 2010

Carpet City, Burning Buildings and Bitzi's BBQ

Monday 10th May

The team were once again donning their presentation regalia for the morning meeting of Carpet City Rotary club.

From where we were taken around the local fire station and met the staff and fire fighters that serve the city. This was to be an exciting morning as Steve was to be taking part in one of the fire departments training exercises.

We were taken to a different location owned by the City of Dalton Fire Service in which they have facilities including building to simulate building fires and rescuing people who maybe hanging off the side of a structure, both demonstrations we were going to see today.

Steve got suited up in his protective clothing and was ready to fight fires UK style! Steve did his employers proud and managed to put the fire out swiftly and safely, it was poetry in motion.

From here the team travelled to Dalton High School for lunch with the rest of pupils followed by a tour of the school facilities. However after lunch, Steve returned back to the fire station as his afternoon was to be spent ‘brainstorming’ and sharing ideas between UK and US departments.

After our tour of the school the remaining group members split off for some vocational visits, Gareth went to Dalton City Hall for a meeting with the Finance Director, Cindy Jackson. Allison was taken to Crown Archives and Hamilton House, Andrea attended one of the classes for children with learning difficulties and Roy was able to find out that the following day he could participate in some football coaching.

When our various tours we’re over we were taken back to our host families for a quick change of clothes as the weather had turned a little cooler and wetter and the plan had been to have an outside BBQ at Stuart & Bitzi’s McFarland’s house.

There were over 60 guests expected and by the time many of them had arrived (including ourselves) the rain had stopped and we were able to take our food outside and dine al’ fresco with our Southern supper!

One highlight of the evening was a surprise visit from local cowboy and Georgia Power employee Waylon. He rode up to the house with two extra horses for any other potential cow girls and boys to have a canter around the lawn.

Stuart and Bitzi were fantastic hosts and really pulled out all the stops for everyone. We left that evening having had a good night. However because of the rain, the McFarlands cream carpet was left several shades darker than when we started, perhaps it could be a new style for the Carpet Capital of the World to embrace.

By Gareth
 
Photo's to follow

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