UK Canterbury Gathering signups!

Subject: UK Canterbury Gathering signups!
Author: Scapegrace
Posted on: 2015-06-25 22:34:00 UTC

This is where you express interest in coming to Canterbury to meet PPCers. Canterbury is a smallish city in south-east England whose population is made up almost entirely of day-tripping French schoolchildren. There are Many Things To Do in Canterbury, all of them fun, some of them alcoholic.

To get to Canterbury from London, you want the trains out of Platform 11-13 at St Pancras International. Select the blue trains (High Speed 1) if you wish to get there in time for this year's Gathering; select the white trains if you wish to get there in time for next year's Gathering. There will be fun and frolics and Roman underfloor heating and possibly a museum dedicated to Rupert Bear if I can remember where the blasted thing is. Also a big stone shed full of Jeebus.

That's basically what a cathedral is, right?

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UK Canterbury Gathering signups! by Scapegrace on 2015-06-25 22:34:00 UTC

Depends when by Baroom on 2015-06-26 11:14:00 UTC Reply

As I am at the mercy of the school terms, some point in August would be easier for me.
Checking in and dates. by Huinesoron on 2015-06-26 09:13:00 UTC Reply

I-or-we should be able to make it, though which it is depends on the date.

So, in no particular order:

-What are Sunday opening hours like in Canterbury? Sunday would make it easier for me to drag Kaitlyn along.

-If we're doing August, the last two weekends would be our best options: I can get my parents to look after the children. That actually applies to September, too - I guess there's nothing that says all Gatherings have to be during the school holidays!

-To throw in an early-date wildcard... what about July 11th? That's the Saturday two weeks from tomorrow. Kaitlyn might/should be free (at least for the afternoon), and the lack of school holidays might even make it possible to breathe in Canterbury.

Obviously in the last case, we'd need to move quickly on the planning. Where are you proposing we meet initially? If people are coming in by train (we're driving), near the station is probably a good bet...

hS

July 11th suits me. =] by Scapegrace on 2015-06-26 09:54:00 UTC Reply

But then it would, living locally. =]

Where I planned to have everyone gather for the Gathering is at Canterbury West station. Specifically, the Goods Shed right next to it, which is an indoor market and general Aladdin's cave for middle-class people. It also has pretty good car parking facilities and an interesting wine shop, which might make your parents a bit more amenable to future childcare. I used to babysit for my dad's friend's children. I drink now. =]

Saturdays are definitely better than Sundays around here, in that we might be able to go to things. And stuff. And possibly things and stuff, if we're lucky. =]

As for August, I... well, I'm not sure how feasible it'll be to take time off on any weekend. Part of the problem I have is that weekends are the busiest times for me because of all the little darlings running around kicking lumps out of my vintage arcades and having tantrums because they're not very good at it and trying to pull the machines over in groups of ten burn them burn them BURN THEM ALL, so yeah. August is probably going to be completely nuts for me. September less so, because back at school and theme parks are seasonal, but still.

Hopefully that's reasonably comprehensive. =]

The 11th should work for me too. by the Irish Samurai on 2015-06-26 11:08:00 UTC Reply

I've just confirmed my other plans for that weekend, and they are for the 12th, so yeah, the Saturday works for me.

Given the distance involved I'll probably take the train. And that will take a few hours, so I could easily get there for midday, maybe a bit before. Much earlier than that I could still do, but you might have to put up with me being half-asleep at first.

- Irish

Midday is probably a good time. by Huinesoron on 2015-06-26 11:23:00 UTC Reply

Kaitlyn has A Thing in the morning, which we currently don't have a timeline for, so I think noon is probably the earliest we can make it.

Given that Scapegrace is pseudo-hosting this one, and her difficulties with August, it's looking like July 11th is probably our best bet: we can't hold the Canterbury Gathering without the local! If Baroom's really interested in attending one, I suppose we could consider a second Gathering in late August? A few hours on a Sunday in London should be doable (and Sunday is fine in London, because you don't go into places anyway!)... Irish?

hS

Yeah, that works for me. by the Irish Samurai on 2015-06-27 07:50:00 UTC Reply

Midday on the 11th, assuming that's good for Scapegrace too (as you pointed out, it would be somewhat unfair of us to start without her!).

I could easily make it in to London in August. And yeah, if we can't all Gather at one time, then why not have two?

-Irish

This is where I make things worse. by Scapegrace on 2015-06-27 11:23:00 UTC Reply

While I can do the 11th for definite, the problem is that I have to take the morning'/afternoon shift to make the times work. Which basically means I can't get there until 3, which is... slightly irritating.

Minor addendum: by Scapegrace on 2015-06-28 09:41:00 UTC Reply

I can now definitely get there by half-past two. Which is... marginally more acceptable. =]

Marrrginally. by Huinesoron on 2015-06-28 16:24:00 UTC Reply

We're still not sure what time Kaitlyn'll be available, but it's looking like... hrm.

Well. We're an hour's drive from Canterbury, so she'd have to be here at one. Which is actually about right.

So: Irish? 2-2:30 start okay for you? Or should I concoct a secondary plan to cover the earlier afternoon?

hS

Marrrrrrrrrrginally by the Irish Samurai on 2015-06-30 08:34:00 UTC Reply

Sorry about the late reply - I've been in foreign places for the last few days with unreliable wi-fi.

Anyway, I've just checked the train times I have, and around that time I could get to Canterbury West for either 14:08 or 14:50. In fact the 8 minutes past or the 10 minutes to seems to be my only options for each hour.

So that time works for me. I'll aim for one of the earlier ones and just bring a book with me, because it's quite a delay if I end up missing one of my connections.

- Irish

Let's call it 'about two' then. by Huinesoron on 2015-06-30 09:06:00 UTC Reply

With the understanding that all four of us will basically get there when we can. Meeting point is still Canterbury West station; I'll be wearing the t-shirt as usual. (I propose we force Scapegrace to bring a sign... ^_^)

Unless Scapegrace has a better idea, my plan is to drive in and park at the Park & Ride west of the city centre; apparently it's only £3 for parking and travel, which is pretty good. The description says:

Park and Ride costs £3 per day for a car and up to six people. This allows you to travel across the city on all three Park and Ride routes.

That seems to imply I can take five others on the bus with me, so maybe we can all get free passage around town? I'm not certain of that, though.

hS

About the Park and Ride service... by Scapegrace on 2015-06-30 12:26:00 UTC Reply

((Also in that photo you look about fifteen what is even the hell))

I've never used the Park and Ride much. Canterbury - the interesting bits, anyway - is largely pedestrianised, so it's mostly getting to and from your car that presents an issue. I don't recall what time the last service for that is, but I'm sure you can look it up on the day.

Of course, this is predicated on you not minding a bit of a walk, so, yeah. =]

Thanks, I think? by Huinesoron on 2015-06-30 12:33:00 UTC Reply

That was Bath '09, so I was 23...

The Wincheap Road P&R has buses running until half seven or so, which given that we'll be leaving before seven to get back for the kids, is absolutely fine. And I never mind walking - though if we keep getting weather like today's, I might mind walking outside.

Since we're starting in the afternoon, should I assume everyone will have eaten before we get there?

hS

Breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch... by the Irish Samurai on 2015-06-30 12:45:00 UTC Reply

That's a safe assumption to make about me.

It's going to take me about 3 hours total to get there, so if we're aiming for a 2ish start I'll have an early lunch before I head out, or maybe take something with me for on the train.

Might have to find somewhere to stop for afternoon tea during the gathering though :)

- Irish

Canterbury's pretty well-served for that. by Scapegrace on 2015-06-30 14:09:00 UTC Reply

If you'll pardon the pun. =]

Yeah, probably. by Scapegrace on 2015-06-30 12:43:00 UTC Reply

It's actually been really lovely and sunny down my way all week, so you might be in luck. British summer seems to have got itself confused with actual summer. =]

Also, regardless of what you actually look like, my mental image of you is of a Gandalf-lookin' cove with a beard you could lose a small island nation in, and I'm not completely certain why.

Also also, there was an article of wonderful serendipity concerning the noble institution which you intend to patronise. Slightly NSFW content, but, well... if you're going to do it anywhere...

Terrible joke time! by Scapegrace on 2015-06-28 19:38:00 UTC Reply

Where did Long John Silver write his notes?

In the marrrgin, lad.

"I have discovered the location of Cap'n Kidd's treasure..." by Huinesoron on 2015-06-29 09:04:00 UTC Reply

"... but this marrrrrgin is too small to contain it, me hearties!"

hS

Be that Fermat's Last Doubloon? =] (nm) by Scapegrace on 2015-06-29 09:44:00 UTC Reply

Cap'n Pascal's wager: by Huinesoron on 2015-06-29 09:57:00 UTC Reply

If there be treasure on the beach, and I ignores it, I loses vaaaaast heaps o' treasure. If there be no treasure on the beach, and I digs anyway, all I loses is some time. So get yer shovels, lads!

(That works alarmingly well.)

(Also, Dodgy West Country Pirates are the best pirates.)

hS

But Cap'n Pascal! by Scapegrace on 2015-06-29 11:37:00 UTC Reply

What if, instead o' treasure, yer shovel do hit a sea mine or the unmentionables of a terrifyin' sandbeast twice the size o' a threedecker? How fare we then?

((Translation from Pirate: the problem with Pascal's wager can be summed up as "what if you back the wrong horse?".))

((Also: Yes. Yes they do. "Cap'n, oi do believe we be on the radio!" "What program be that, bo'sun?" "The ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRCHERS!"))

Nay, matey! by Huinesoron on 2015-06-29 11:45:00 UTC Reply

For I has a map, and I do trust my map, for it ha'the very name o' Cap'n Kidd writ upon it! And I know 'tis Kidd's true signature, for Kidd would not lie!

((The 'solution' to the problem: but this religion is the one to back because it says it is. Yeah, Pascal's Wager is flawed.))

(Arrr! Then this be, be, sea radio!)

hS