2013 Meet

[Bunnylump]

Errrr...(social secretary??)


As you can see I have taken a back seat in the organisation here...

And MBH, there is NO doubt that there is a big variety of choice there, that's for sure!! Looks great to me. Is it the kind of place you need to book a table or not?

[MBH]

Found Jesmond Park Hotel.
http://www.jesmondpark.com/

This is the essence of LAT's message a couple of pages back. Below is the location and the area it's in.

[Bunnylump]

Excellent. Let's just hope it isn't hailing this time... (Yes, folks, I DID make LAT come for a walk in a hail storm last time... AND I made MBH go for a walk in the rain - when he terrified us by clambering around the slippery rocks precariously... )

[Bunnylump]

MBH, do we need to bring anything like pens / notebooks for the puzzly walk thing you've got planned?

Although when folks came here, I asked them to bring scissors / or a knife because I had hoped that they would need to be able to cut through ribbon when they found hidden clues - but someone kindly pinched the clues before they got there. Mind you, they did come in handy for stabbing Scurra by the stocks as I recall!

[MBH]

Looks great to me. Is it the kind of place you need to book a table or not?

I've got their business card - for a group of us it's worth while booking and getting a space reserved (.....they say). They did seem interested in the idea of a group of puzzlers I've just been looking at the reviews on TripAdvisor and the majority are positive with a few very negative ones thrown in. Very odd.

Plenty time to choose when you all get here. Many local pubs doing pub meals too.

EDIT: As I've closed down the computer bus, a bag of a few (hundred) pens seems to have floated home with me The puzzle is 2 pages, so I planned to add a 3rd blank page for 'workings out' and a couple of TASKS along the way.

[giraffe]

If I am getting a train from Durham to Newcastle is it obvious where I get a metro from to get to the area of your map with Hopalong ?
(I'm assuming Metro is the way to get from A to B)

[LAT]

I have emailed the chauffeur and will let you know when I hear back.

Is that restaurant walkable from our hotel or will we need to take Metro/bus? Or is it a suggestion for the Saturday after our puzzle trail?

Are we meeting up with the mini zoo at our hotel or (more likely presumably) at the start of the trail?

Looking forward to meeting Hopalong.

[giraffe]

I just hope her ankle is up to it. Will see what it is like after another weekend of rest or whether I need to take it to be x-rayed.

[MBH]

If I am getting a train from Durham to Newcastle is it obvious where I get a metro from to get to the area of your map with Hopalong ?
(I'm assuming Metro is the way to get from A to B)

If you're coming for the morning of the puzzle trail then center of town (train station) is fine. I'm sorting out the busses that would deliver you from town centre to the start of the trail - dead easy trip.

For the gang meal I was thinking the Saturday after puzzling and wandering works up an appetite - it also means most people are there together. Friday evening is open to suggestions as people may be tired from travelling and arriving at different times.

I do hope Lally is OK by then - maybe you could strap her to a skateboard and pull her along

[Bunnylump]

That sounds like a plan!! Not too sure what Lally will make of it though...

Hope the ankle improves quickly. When I damaged mine (pretty spectacularly) on holiday it looked HORRIFIC (quite literally I had a completely black foot) but it really helped a lot to have it with a support ankle strap on for the first few weeks. So it might be worth checking out some different types (I found some were sort of "stiffer" than others - they were a lot better than the really soft ones.) The other suggestion is, does she have any walking boots? They would offer more support to stop her turning it again (and boy, that REALLY hurts!)

[giraffe]

Yes she has an ankle support which I bought on Monday. Her foot and ankle are completely black down one side and across the top. She has been walking on it and on Wednesday it seemed to be getting better, but Thursday and Friday it was more swollen and more painful. It looked a bit less swollen this morning I think and we are trying to keep her off it to let it rest. The other ankle which she also twisted is nowhere near as bad.

[Bunnylump]

Ice is very good for the swelling too, I found. Plus keep her foot up as much as possible - I had a chair in front of me when I was watching TV etc. to keep it elevated. That really helps with the swelling.

[giraffe]

Yes foot has been up on a pouffe at every opportunity, even homework has been done on the sofa with foot elevated this week. We were advised to ice it for three lots of ten minutes with five minute gaps between. She was also advised to take ibuprofen for the swelling.

[Bunnylump]

I think the stupid thing is that actually, ligament damage (that was what mine was) actually takes longer to heal in some ways than a fracture. Mine still hurts like hell if I turn it in a particular direction, even now. But I could walk on it (being careful) within about four days or so and it didn't actually make it any worse. So fingers crossed it's the same from that point of view, anyway.

I must say, I don't think I've ever gone on holiday and come back black and blue rather than brown... One of the bruises on my back from where I fell down the stairs has only just gone!!

[MBH]

Things are geting close.... Can we get a shout out of when people plan to arrive (which day and an idea of time)?

PM sent to the Giraffe family hope all is well over there.

My puzzle has been passed on (far too late) for a 2nd-person remote test. Fingers crossed I haven't made any seriously stupid mistakes and an 'answer' can be found. Once I know there are no amendments I'll get it printed out and prepared. [Unless I've driven my tester crazy with my obscure references ]

All you will need for the walk is your brains, your eyes, and a pen. [What puzzler doesn't have a pen with them? No worry - I have plenty spares]

Early forcast - wet on Friday (drive carefully), dry on Saturday with a bit of cloudy sunlight (that will do fine if it's true) before rain comes in overnight, then decent for Sunday.

[LAT]

I have just phoned the hotel to confirm they have my booking (which they do).
I'm guessing we will arrive late afternoon/early evening on Friday depending on how many stops we have and what the traffic is like. As you say, it doesn't look like a good day for travelling so that may slow us down a bit.

I think at this point what we need to know is whether anyone else will join the three of us for supper on Friday night and where we need to be by when on Saturday morning. An idea of the best way to get there would be helpful but I'm equally sure I can look that up. If I managed to get us round Lisbon by public transport I'm sure I can do the same in Newcastle.

As for pens - I don't usually have the confidence to fill in puzzles with a pen but I do always have a pencil with me. Surely that is the sign of a true puzzler?

[giraffe]

Hoping to be in Newcastle with pencil at 10am Saturday.

The ankle is looking a little less swollen, so fingers crossed it should be ok.

[Bunnylump]

Can I just check, has anyone changed their mobile number since they last gave it to me? Mine is the same, if anyone needs it again then PM me. MBH / Giraffe / Gill I'll ring you when we're there to let you know (assuming I still have the right number.) Is the Tin Dog going to be there too? If so, has someone got your number?

[MBH]

Mine's the same, and I've just sent a text off to the Tin Dog to confirm that I have his number right. I'll let you know.

Saturday morning schedule and travel plans to come. My deadline is..... wellllllll..... Friday night

[Bunnylump]

Right, I'm all set. I have my supply of stuff for a midnight feast, plenty of money wrapped up in a five pound note, and obviously my stilettos and ball gown packed ready.

All I need now is my chauffeur and my social secretary and I'm ready to roll.