Not dead and keen for a UK Spring Gathering.

Subject: Not dead and keen for a UK Spring Gathering.
Author: Neshomeh
Posted on: 2009-03-05 02:18:00 UTC

School has finally caught up with me, which explains my two-week absence from the Board(s). It's probably going to continue like that, so I apologize to anyone who was expecting my presence or participation for various things.

The good news is that I have my weekly schedule for my London spring course. I'm really interested in meeting as many of you fine PPCers as possible. Right now it looks like the best time for a Gathering would be the weekend of May 9 and 10, since I have both days completely free, but I have other free times, too, if that doesn't work for enough people. Please let me know if you're interested. I'll keep an eye on this thread. If you need/want it, my e-mail is exswyzie14 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com.

~Neshomeh

Reply Return to messages

Not dead and keen for a UK Spring Gathering. by Neshomeh on 2009-03-05 02:18:00 UTC

Okay, I may only be available for the Sunday ... by Laburnum on 2009-03-12 00:06:00 UTC Reply

... because there's a family party on the Saturday evening. If everyone shows up on the Saturday and nobody else can make Sunday, I'll come on the Saturday and leave a bit early so I can get home in time, but it looks like I won't be able to do both days.

I don't know if we're looking to do both days. by Neshomeh on 2009-03-12 01:29:00 UTC Reply

I probably can, though.

Come to that, it would be useful to know if other people prefer one day or the other.

It would also be useful and much appreciated if someone other than me, possibly ~~Huinesoron~~ someone who knows the area better than I do and has some experience with these things, were to keep track and do whatever it is that makes these Gatherings work, because I haven't the slightest idea and may well be out of contact in the days leading up to the event. I'm willing to exchange phone numbers with a few people, but I don't know yet whether or not my cell phone service will be of any use over there. Finding out is on my to-do list.

~Neshomeh

two days'd be better by Pads on 2009-03-15 01:26:00 UTC Reply

I was thinking finances would rule me out completely, but it seems there's a megatrain option from Hull (and about time too - the megabuses don't run from here and it is very annoying). Round trip would cost between two and six quid. But the earliest I could arrive is 11.19am, and the last train back is about half past two, and ten hours travelling for three hours there doesn't seem worth it.

Mind you, this is still all very tentative on my part, because not only is it the start of the birthday week, I've also got two people coming up for that week with dates as yet unfinalised, and there's also a possibility I may be cramming for my Old Norse exam.

You have Old Norse? by Neshomeh on 2009-03-15 02:41:00 UTC Reply

That is awesome. I wish my college offered old languages other than Latin. I'd do Old English in a heartbeat.

It's sounding like it probably will be two days. It isn't as though I'm going anywhere. I guess I need to start finding out where interesting things (and trains) are.

~Neshomeh

yep :D by Pads on 2009-03-15 11:11:00 UTC Reply

Well, technically I have Myths, Legends and Language of the Vikings. Half the grade's an essay, and half's an exam, of which 25% is grammar, 50% is translation of something from the sagas into modern English, and 25% is commentary on what's been translated. I'm quite looking forward to it - getting that much knowledge in my brain will be tough, but there are actual right and wrong answers, unlike for the rest of my degree, so this exam makes the difference between a first and failing the module.

Ah, Old English. Not something I ever got on too well with. Now, Middle English, on the other hand, that I like.

I'll keep an eye on dates of when everything's happening, and let you know nearer the time whether I'm in or not.

Well... by Huinesoron on 2009-03-13 14:10:00 UTC Reply

... we can only do the Saturday anyway, but it's a good idea to give the option for both days. We've had a couple of Gatherings where people could only do one or the other, so it came out as two Gatherings with a few common people between them. So you might have Kaitlyn and me on the Saturday, but Laburnum on the Sunday. Other people could go to both, or just one, or whatever.

As to organising it, that basically comes down to picking a meeting place and time, and giving an estimate of when it would end. If there's something several people want to do, it'd be an idea to meet there, but at the least the meeting place needs to be near a train station, preferably at a major landmark. London has lots of train access, of course, so it's pretty dependent on where people want to be.

Um, so yeah. Date, time, place. And then put together a list of who's said they'll go, so you know who's not made it.

hS

Um. Well, if I come down... by Cassie Cameron-Young on 2009-03-13 18:27:00 UTC Reply

I'll be there both days. Unlike hS some people who are okay with making a round trip to one end of the country and back in a day with a Gathering in between, I don't quite have the same stamina for travelling. Plus, I have relaitives in Oxford and Brighton, so if needs be I can probably get them to put me up for a weekend.

So I'll be there for both days. :D

AWRIGHT! by Cassie Cameron-Young on 2009-03-11 12:04:00 UTC Reply

Will have to save up like crazy to even try to afford train fares, unless I can find doting grandparents willing to cough up... but hells yes, count me in. I'll make it even if I have to hike down to London and back. And if a certain somebody can get his backside over to this side of the Atlantic at around the same time, that would make it even mroe awesome.
Hmmmm.... by Crystal on 2009-03-10 20:32:00 UTC Reply

Annoyingly I don't think I'll be able to make it. Pity because I've been unable to ever get to a Gathering.

Anyone keen to have one in Scotland...?
Further London stuff. by Neshomeh on 2009-03-08 08:41:00 UTC Reply

Two to six people (not including me) sounds promising.

As far as times, locations, and activities go, I'm pretty much willing to let someone else make the suggestions. I don't much care for "tourist" stuff in general, and I think my class is doing some of that, like the Tower of London. Anyway, I'm up for any cool stuff on or off the beaten path. I assume I'll get the hang of the train/bus system pretty quickly, so no worries about that. We get passes to use. We're staying in Bayswater, if that helps.

~Neshomeh

The Natural History Museum is great. by Laburnum on 2009-03-09 15:28:00 UTC Reply

And if anyone will be able to be there in the late-ish evening we could see if there's a Jack the Ripper tour on one of those days - will have to google that. (I've been on it and it's pretty cool. They show a copy of the Mary Kelly crime scene photo, so it's not recommended for people with weak stomachs.)

Ooh! "My Immortal" drinking game! by Laburnum on 2009-03-11 03:11:00 UTC Reply

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DrinkingGame/MyImmortal

Possibly not with alcohol if underage PPCers are present, but since we'd all be laughing too hard to swallow normally anyway ...

Oh dear. {X D by Neshomeh on 2009-03-11 23:52:00 UTC Reply

I don't drink alcohol, but that's still very amusing.

How many shots if one of the readers has their beverage come out their nose because of uncontrollable laughter? ^_~

~Neshomeh

If it was in the winter... by Leto Haven on 2009-03-06 12:52:00 UTC Reply

I coupld possibly have made it. I am (if all goes according to plan) moving to Ireland in October. Maybe another gathering in November?

Leto

Ireland! by Kaitlyn on 2009-03-06 13:30:00 UTC Reply

Why moving to Ireland? That's pretty awesome.

To live with my brand new nephew! by Leto on 2009-03-06 15:37:00 UTC Reply

Well, he will be brand new in May.

L

perhaps by Pads on 2009-03-06 02:12:00 UTC Reply

I'll give this one a tentative maybe.

On the plus side, it's about three weeks after loan day, which means I could afford the train fare.

On the other hand, we've a three day birthday celebration on the 13th, 14th, and 15th, and many years of practice have led to the conclusion that these three need spreading out for the sake of wallets, livers, and generally not vomiting and making a tit of oneself. This year's celebrations are thus due to begin on the 9th and finish on the 18th. Making it to London then may therefore be problematic.
I should be able to make it. by Laburnum on 2009-03-05 23:40:00 UTC Reply

My job is pretty good about letting me arrange shifts around stuff - as long as I put in the right number of hours each week they're okay with me asking for said hours not to be on a specific day - so I should be able to ask for those two days to be free. Means having to get up at five in the morning to get to London at a reasonable time of day, but there we go.

BTW, if we're looking for stuff to do, the Natural History Museum provides much opportunity for fun. If we end up going there, remind me to bring a cardboard cutout "Chainsaw of Natural Selection" to place on the Darwin statue for a photo op :)
:( by Gabriel on 2009-03-05 15:13:00 UTC Reply

Curse the Atlantic Ocean!

Seconded. :( :( (nm) by Maudlin Hart on 2009-03-05 16:34:00 UTC Reply

Join the club. (nm) by Sedri on 2009-03-05 21:25:00 UTC Reply

I'm usually in the club. by Neshomeh on 2009-03-08 08:43:00 UTC Reply

Thus, my keen interest in taking advantage of my short time of not being in it. {= )
*joins the club* (nm) by Maudlin Hart on 2009-03-06 12:50:00 UTC Reply
*delurks to join the club as well* by Lily Winterwood on 2009-03-06 05:47:00 UTC Reply

Curse that frakking Atlantic Ocean indeed. And the entire expanse of the U.S. Why am I on the West Coast? :[
*joins the club* (nm) by Sara on 2009-03-06 01:02:00 UTC Reply
*patiently bides time for Comic-Con, herself* (nm) by JulyFlame on 2009-03-05 23:18:00 UTC Reply

Fun! by lynxihez on 2009-03-05 10:57:00 UTC Reply

Both those dates sound good, though I'll have to check at home. Hope this works out!

Yup, it's all good. by lynxihez on 2009-03-08 18:04:00 UTC Reply

Mum was a bit "Where in London?", but Dad's agreed to take me, so yeah.

Ooh. by Huinesoron & Kaitlyn on 2009-03-05 10:18:00 UTC Reply

We're definitely interested, and will probably be able to get there at least for the Saturday. You might have a problem if you're looking for it to be down in London -- the hub of PPC activity in the UK seems to have moved up north of late. Still, hopefully lots of people will come down.

hS

Re: Ooh. by Heliomance on 2009-03-05 21:31:00 UTC Reply

Nooo! No moving up north! I'm in Southampton, even London's a fair way north. Can probably make it tho.