h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm up for it but the end of feb suits best. Hope to be away for ten days from the 15th. Are you headed for the London meet?
take care
boots

Hi boots!

I'm not sure about the London meet because I have to be in Bristol for the day but I might try and make it for the end.

So, if the end of Feb is OK it would have to be 25th onwards for you?

Sevenoaks sounds good to me. AR1 lives there. Although childcare may again be an issue, it is something that can be got round.

Please keep me in the loop.

Hi Coelacanth! I was only planning for the evening of that one too. Don't fancy the museum stuff and don't think I could survibe all day drinking! . Might bring Ravager pup with me if he is still here. He thinks the entire site is certifiable but appreciates how much it has helped me.
Yes currently after the 25th would be best. Plan to do a runner on the 15th (my last day in current employment is the 14th). Going to see some friends in Portugal but pennies will dictate whether tis for a week or ten days.
Hope all is good with you and house settling is going well.
take care
boots

Kent is too far for me, but I am planning on going to London.

Do you need a lift from Bristol, Coley? I am based about an hour away from there. It is out of my way, but if it would make a difference I could give you a lift.

B

We're getting there with the unpacking and sorting but I've just had a school inspection that has taken up a lot of my time. Now I think the unpacking will have to wait until the end of term. Your plan to go to Portugal is probably exactly the best thing to do. Its going to be odd not to be working and to see someone else running the business.

I know what you mean about not having the stamina for the whole day of a meet. The pup might enjoy it though. Caerwynn's hubby has been to more than one so he must think we're OK. I know Keli was going to bring her partner to the last one and he was convinced we would all be axe murderers and bunny boilers. In the end he was ill on the day, so presumably he still thinks that!

ZSF, I thought of Also Ran too. However, I've never been to Sevenoaks so I personally can't recommend or check out anywhere to meet or suggest travel and parking hints, if that's where we decide would be best. Perhaps someone knows it well? I know Maidstone.

Hi Ben! Thanks for the very kind offer but there's no need. I'm on one day course so I'll be driving from Kent in the morning and back again in the late afternoon. I'd never get there in time if I went by train, or I'd have to get up very early. There's also the added complication of there being 2 of us on the course and I was going to give the other person a lift, so if I go to the meet we'll have to take 2 cars, which seems excessive or she'll have to travel back from London which is inconvenient. It's all very complicated!

But you could perhaps tell me how long it might take to drive from Bristol to London on a Saturday evening? I drive myself to the meets anyway so I don't mind about not being able to drink although I might be tired.

Well, I would allow a good 2 hours on the M4 from the M32 to Heathrow. You then have to add time to get out of Bristol, and time from Heathrow into London itself. Say 3 hours plus. Nasty, when you think about it.

The M4 is either good or bad. There are roadworks at J13 for Newbury, but I haven't found them a problem; for some reason there are regularly accidents and delays westbound between Swindon and Chippenham, possibly because that section is about 3 hours out of London and people are more tired than they think they are. There are regular services and if I am going to stop I ususally stop at Membury (just after Swindon) or at Reading.

I cannot remember if Radio 2 does traffic warnings on Saturdays - but they are brilliant if you are travelling on weekday afternoons.

I shouldn't really know that much about the M4, should I? But 30,000 road miles a year make you know about these things. I know all the rat-runs around Heathrow too.

Btw, I am bringing my step-son with. I really must force the poor innocent boy onto h2g2 so he gets to know some people. The devious-minded so-and-so is planning on wearing a badge with his real name, so he stays anonymous.

Ben

I have no idea what is happening over Crimble yet, let alone Feb! I am trying to persuade H to take a week's leave around then. Yet again I have failed in getting him to take his full quota of annual leave and he can cary it through till the beginning of March so I'm working on him to take some time off.

The only place I know near Sevenoaks is a Harvester or something at Rivehead (I think) just off the M25.

The London meet clashes with H's birthday so haven't been able to commit to the meet-up.

I can't say I know Sevenoaks that well. AR1 may have suggestions. I can ask her.

Do you know, I don't know when the London meet is! I must check it out!

If no one actually knows Sevenoaks, perhaps its not such a good idea? The other suggested venues were Westerham and Maidstone. I can't say I know Westerham (I even had to look on a map to find it!) but Caer suggested it so maybe she can tell us what's there. Also Ran knows Maidstone, as does Caerwynn I believe.

Any other suggestions for places or times to think about?

Blimey, coely, the last time I lived in Maidstone it was around 1967, apart from an occasional drive through since!

I was trying to think of places with easy access from the M25, as Feb can be in the depths of winter weather. There is a large pub at Westerham on the A25, the Cricket or Grasshopper? If I get the time, I'll try and have a recce in that direction. I'm sure I can twist H's arm into having a pub lunch or two in the name of research

Well, I knew I had heard you mention Maidstone but it's probably changed a lot since 1967! After I posted I remembered that Abi's been there (2 weeks jury service) and Mina has seen it too but only briefly.

A pub lunch in the name of research sound like fun. It reminds me of how I managed to justify a day out of work and a Bush House visit to drop in on the italics last summer.

Now we really do have an excuse to sort this out. Look! F74563?thread=388247

Oh yes, a reason to celebrate!

It will have to be in a couple of months time though, for me anyway. Or are we talking of a mid week evening?

Isn't that *great*!

I am working near Heathrow during the week. But Kent mightt still be a bit of a streach.

B

I'm up for it but not for a couple of weeks. Well done that girl!
take care
boots

Ok, here's a thought. Since Kelli and Teuchter and Z couldn't make the Meet, how about another Surrey/Kent gno in Surry, while we work out a date and place for a Kent one?

And can we invite Z?

B

Sounds like a plan