2010 Puzzlebrains Meet ideas

[Bunnylump]

I'm just starting this up so that if anyone has any bright ideas they can go here. Like I said on Today I've mostly bin..., I don't mind helping to organise something if a couple of others are up for helping me. Sorry but I'm not prepared to host it though.

First point:
Is it worth considering getting a holiday cottage for a weekend and sharing the cost? That would give us a "base". Or is this too expensive?

Second point:
Hands up those who might be interested in coming.

Third point:
If I don't get any responses I'll assume you're not interested and give up the idea.

[clvrlad]

well im game gove me a place and reasonable notice so i can sort out hols at work etc and im in

[Bunnylump]

Gill's suggesting the possiblity of caravans. Which might be a cheaper option and sounds like it could work well. Apparently they hire them out from Friday 4pm to Monday 10am and are quite big. Obviously then we'd have the clubhouse to use if we wanted. Thoughts?

As I said to Gill, I can either do a weekend in term time (but it would have to be just for the Sat/ Sun) or for the Summer hols (or half term come to that).

[LAT]

Well I would be happy to help you organise - but be warned I have said that before and then ended up with a wedding to go to so that I scarpered off leaving everyone else to do the work!!

[giraffe]

I'll express interest in coming, subject to the diary (which is looking a bit hectic). I'm flexible as to location, despite my query about the idea of London. If I'm available I'm more than willing to help in any way.

[giraffe]

Clvrlad just voted for "up North", but he was on the wrong thread at the time.

[Bunnylump]

Doesn't bother me. What does everyone else think? (I say everyone, but it's only 5 so far...)

[giraffe]

Do we need to throw some dates around?

[gill216]

Ill go anywhere anytime- unless I get a flight to Spain at some point in the future- I have nothing booked, and am more than happy to help out in anyway I can. That includes holding another meet if I have to but I'd rather go somewhere else

[Bunnylump]

Yes, probably. I was going to wait until next week when I'm back at work to see if and when I can take any time I've accrued off. But there's no reason why we couldn't just meet at a weekend, anyway, is there?

If we're talking weekend, these are the ones I have free at the moment (I've given the Saturday each time).

22nd May
5th June
19th June
26th June
10th July
7th August
18th Sept
2nd Oct
16th Oct
23rd Oct

edit
Oh, that's good Gill. Which ones of these suit you best?

[clvrlad]

well at the moment i dont know when or where i am or can be off.....
things at work are...shall we say complicated...i think its time for me to rant on a specific thread....
but arrange somewhere and when and ill do my best to come and join you :-p

[gill216]

Free for all of them!

[giraffe]

From Bunnylump's list

22nd May I'm free, but Kingsley is on a course, and various other child things, so may not be a good one to abandon husband.
3rd June *****
10th June *****
28th June *****
10th July FREE at present!
7th August On holiday
18th Sept Not sure, something in diary, but we may not go.
2nd Oct
16th Oct
23rd Oct

Hang on ***** these are not Saturdays???????


Other Saturdays:

Possibly free 29th May and 5th June, ( half term)
poss free 12th June
Can't do 19th June probably
Might be able to do 26th June
Can't do 3rd July
Can do 17th July
Can do 24th July (Kingsley is away)
Can't do 31st July, 7th or 14th Aug (On holiday)

[Bunnylump]

OOps that'll show me that trying to read the calendar without my reading glasses is NOT a good idea. I've edited it now.

[Bunnylump]

So most promising so far are:
5th June
26th June
10th July

By the looks of it?

Having said that, if this doesn't fit with everyone else, I'm sure I could manage a bit of a weekend on other dates (so maybe I could come along on a Sunday or something.)

[LAT]

It's my daughter's birthday on 5th June and my son's graduation (hopefully!!) on 26th so I may be otherwise engaged on both of those. But that needn't stop the rest of you getting together if one of those proves the most popular date.

[Bunnylump]

10th July then?

[Bunnylump]

Anyone else interested? Or any more comments about dates? / Where to go/ stay?

Cor, this is hard work!!!

I've just been looking at cottages just to get an idea if this would be feasible.

Here's an example of one which is available (at the moment anyway) for Friday 9th July and Sat 10th July, sort of in the middle of the countryish. It sleeps 8 and costs £391. So if it was just for 5 then that's less than £80 each. Obviously if there were 8 of us then it goes down to just under £50. Be honest guys (she says, flailing around in the dark) is this far too much money or am I in the right ballpark?
http://www.cottages4you.co.uk/sites/cot ... ~N~N~N~N~N

I thought that if more people wanted to come there must be b &b places or travelodges nearby I would have thought. But at least something like this would give us a base to meet up at.

[gill216]

We'd probably pay upwards of £60 per night for a hotel although 2 can share a room to reduce cost. Those who want to go budget style have usually managed to find somewhere nearby, so I think you are working in the right direction.

Edit. 10th July is fine by me.

[Bunnylump]

This is just an example, not any kind of final serious suggestion. What are the prices like for caravans, Gill?