Sloggers and Betters Midlands Meet
Posted by Admin on November 23rd, 2010
Kathryn’s Dad has arranged a lunchtime get-together for solvers, setters and bloggers in Derby on Saturday 29th January. The details he has sent me are given below.
Derby get together on 29/1/2011
The details of the get together in Derby for sloggers, betters and most importantly solvers are now finalised. We’ll be having lunch on Saturday 29th January, at 12:30 for 1:00pm. The venue will be The Waterfall which is a thirty second walk from Derby train station. There’s also plenty of parking in the vicinity (which is not cheap, but it’s cheaper than Leicester Square …).
You’ll see the venue on the website: we’ve reserved an area of the restaurant for our own use, and most of the main courses are around £8, so it shouldn’t break the bank .
What’s it about? Simply a congenial, Midlands-based lunch for folk who are interested in crosswords, following on from the now well-established London evening do that Peter B. has organised over the years. A chance to natter about crosswords and gossip relentlessly about regulars on fifteensquared, or other similar sites, who decide not to attend.
But most importantly, an opportunity to meet some of the setters that entertain us each day. At the time of writing, we have had confirmation of attendance from Rufus, Anax and (almost certainly) Shed. Other setters are of course more than welcome to come along.
If you’d like to attend, please e-mail me, Kathryn’s Dad (aka Peter), at pwharvey {at} msn {dot} com. We do need to confirm numbers for the meal, so if you are definitely interested in coming, please let me know. I’ll confirm any final arrangements to people nearer the time.
Look forward to hearing from you and to seeing lots of you on the 29th.
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Can’t wait!
November 23rd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Nor me!
It might be nice if you could indicate here, too, if you’re hoping to come, so that people have an idea what / whom to expect!
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I am even now (in between posting here) investigating the train timetables from Oxford to Derby.
November 23rd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I’m up for this too. Great.
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:27 pm
I hope to be there.
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I’ve put it in my diary!
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:04 pm
It sounds like an unmissable event – I’ll be there!
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:13 pm
It’s great to hear that this is going ahead – I’m trying to arrange to be there, but I can only be a “hopefully” for the moment..
November 23rd, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Include me in too.
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I hope to attend but Southeastern railway have engineering work for me that weekend, which so far makes it look like I’ll get home at 6:30 the following day. Still trying to find a way to attend. Phil
November 24th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Please do report on any gossip about the Man from Madras (that is Chennai now). I bet Rufus and Anax can make some contributions.
In India we are having a second S&B meeting. The first one was in Madras. This time it is in Bangalore and a couple of us are going there from Madras.
There we will be meeting two bloggers based in Bangalore – a retired army officer and Shuchi of Crossword Unclued.
I have met both of them before – during trips to Bangalore when I went there for other reasons.
Before this second S&B many cyberian friends have met me in Chennai when they visited the city.
November 24th, 2010 at 10:05 am
I’ll try to be there too. Still too soon to confirm yet, but I will as soon as I know for sure.
November 24th, 2010 at 11:11 am
We (Enigmatist and I) are hoping to be there.
November 24th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I’m putting it in my diary. And btw if anyone fancies a pint of real ale beforehand the renowned Brunswick Inn is literally only yards away.
November 24th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Yes, Allan, it is a good pint in the Brunswick if anyone fancies an apéritif. Thanks for all your replies, both here and to my e-mail. Main problem at the minute might be that I haven’t reserved enough space, but don’t let that put you off coming, I can soon reserve some more!
Peter
November 24th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I don’t know whether I’ll get there myself, but I’m delighted to see something happening outside London (Derby or Bangalore).
November 24th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
The beer’s better in Derby, Peter.
Allegedly.
November 25th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
I also hope to come – sounds like fun. The Brunswick beforehand could be good – carrying a rolled-up copy of the Grauniad?
November 26th, 2010 at 11:32 am
If there’s space left I’d like to come. I could give anyone a lift who could get to Hemel Hempstead.
November 26th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Of course, Judy, since we’re some way from the date I can book more space if needed.
Is the Hemel Hempstead Magic Roundabout still confusing people? (Used to work in the Kodak building and the default boredom option was to look out of the window and see how many accidents you could spot …)
November 26th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Please count me in if possible. I live in Derbyshire and it would be ideal for me!! It would also provide my wife with a break from me talking about crosswords!!!!
November 26th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
K’s D I still have nightmares about that roundabout(s) and the one(s) at Swindon…
November 27th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Look forward to being there (to meet bloggers for the first time!)
November 27th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
K’s Dad and flashling, so sorry you don’t like our Magic Roundabout. I love it. In 25 years I’ve never seen an accident, but maybe I shouldn’t say that…. Alas, Kodak is no longer Kodak. My younger daughter always knew we were nearly home when she saw that landmark. Many of us wanted the name kept on the building but the powers that be thought otherwise. Did you know that the Ski Slope has been replaced by a Snow Centre with real snow? What an extravagance.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
ps I love confusing my foreign guests by asking them which way round the roundabout they would like me to go!
November 28th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Am closer to Bangalore than Derby, but not close enough – close, but no cigar. Drat. Have a pint for me…
November 28th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Hi K’sD
Sounds a great idea. Unfortunately, I suspect it’s going to prove a bit far from this neck of the fens unless I can motorise a punt!
November 29th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
At the S&B II meet in Bangalore (our S&B stands for Sloggers and Bloggers) we drank beer. The venue was the private terrace of a blogger, Col. Deepak Gopinath. The beer that we drank flew well. Now, you can guess what it was!
It was strange that everyone chose beer, though the Colonel’s fridge was stocked with other libations.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I hope to attend too, and am looking forward to meeting some of the band of bloggers. Do I wear my Busman or Gozo hat?!
November 30th, 2010 at 8:20 am
I don’t think we’ve got as far as a dress code, yet, Tom; I was minded towards smart but casual, but I’m relaxed about it.
More seriously, can I ask those that have indicated they’re coming but haven’t yet mailed me to do so? I’ll need to contact you nearer the time about your choice of meal and other final arrangements. I won’t share anyone’s e-mail address with others.
Thanks
Peter
November 30th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to meet Rishi and Shuchi and all the other contributors from around the world. Maybe we should cook a bruise, as Spooner would say.
December 3rd, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Pintas at The Brunswick, stiff with fellow crossipuzzlers? I`ll be there (if this darned weather doesn`t drive me out of England first).
December 13th, 2010 at 1:38 am
I was thrilled to hear about a northern venue and would love to be there (from the other side of Manchester) but the date coincides with a booked Rhythm’n Blues Weekend in Skegness, sadly. Best wishes for the event and I hope there will be more up here in the future!
December 30th, 2010 at 11:55 am
As a Nottingham solver, I’d love to come – Derby is just down the road. However, I’ll be out of the country. Hope it goes well.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:55 am
If it’s not too late I’d like to join you all at the end of the month? Looking forward to it.