Sloggers & Betters Gathering – Manchester, 4 May 2013 – UPDATE
Posted by Admin on March 19th, 2013
Arachne and I are hosting a get-together at the Vine Inn, 42-46 Kennedy St, Manchester, M2 4BQ, from 12.00 on Saturday 4 May. This is a final call to all fellow travellers to email me ( [email protected] ) to confirm their attendance (or send their apologies if they have received a better offer for the day). We are expecting around 40 to turn up. There will be a charge of £7.50 to cover costs, including food – a buffet will be provided.
Among the setters attending the gathering will be: Anax/Loroso, Arachne/Anarche, Donk, Enigmatist/Nimrod/Io, Kruger, Rorschach, Tramp/Jambazi and Tyrus.
We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.
Gervase
March 20th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Thanks, Gervase and Arachne, for organising this. Highly recommended for anyone who hasn’t attended one of these before – those who have need no encouragement!
I’ll repeat a comment I made before the first ‘Derby Day’:
‘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!’
[I'll be there!
]
March 20th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Are you ‘Admin’ Gervase? nFifteensquared has an Admin Dept??
March 20th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Hi Rowly
I am ‘Admin’. I posted the announcement on Gervase’s behalf.
March 20th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Ah, sorry. I was confused.
March 20th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
As confirmed by email, I’m on for this. Fingers crossed I’ll even have that gorgeous daughter of mine with me.
March 20th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Looking forward to it. Thanks to Gervase for organising it. Be nice to see some new faces as well.
March 20th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
I (don’t know how to put a heart symbol in) Sloggers and Betters gatherings. Will do my best to be there.
Thanks organizers.
March 20th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
I’ll see if I can get there but as I live South of London, it’s a bit of a long-haul.
March 20th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Thanks for this, Gervase and Arachne. I shall aim to be there. It’ll be good to see lots of people again.
March 20th, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Umm, Reading beer festival same day damnit, mind you will probably be quicker to go to Manchester to get a beer knowing the queues. So I’ll see you there!
March 20th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
I will hopefully be there, health permitting.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:33 pm
A bit of a busy weekend but I might be able to fit it in – will let you know nearer the time.
March 20th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Tickets booked, look forward to seeing you
March 20th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
sorry, I typed my e-mail address wrong. Should be a good event, see you there
March 21st, 2013 at 7:05 am
May the fourth (I’ll) be with you
March 21st, 2013 at 12:45 pm
It’s not exactly my neck of the woods, but I have some family and work connections in the area so will do my best to be there.
March 22nd, 2013 at 3:45 pm
I’ll be there
March 22nd, 2013 at 4:08 pm
I lived in Manchester for many years and have enjoyed the odd drink in the Vines, though I’d be found more often in the City Arms right next door. Unfortunately I’ll be in Iceland that day! Being a one-time regular blogger hereabouts I really will try to make it to one of these one day. Have fun!
Colin
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Would love to be there and meet fellow poster/bloggers and setters but I will be in Umbria for a few weeks then.
Gaufrid, did you hear from RCW?
Giovanna x
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Hi Giovanna
“Gaufrid, did you hear from RCW?”
Unfortunately not.
March 23rd, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Thanks to Arachne and Geoff for organising – I’m looking forward to heading up for this. See you there!
March 24th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Hi Gervase and Arachne
Would have loved to come and meet some of you who are still just names as well as old friends. I grew up in Manchester (to the extent that I did so at all) and it would be nice to revisit, but can’t make it I’m afraid.
Best wishes to you all.
March 24th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Whilst working in Manchester (1962-1984) the Vine became my local, so an added incentive for me to attend the get-together.
March 24th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Thanks Gervase and Arachne – you can count us in as well!
March 24th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
I will be there too (with or without my PinC).
). It would indeed be nice to add Everyman to that list!
Through these events I have met quite a few highly respected setters (and co-bloggers and others who like a glass of wine
For those who are still hesitating: our torturers are just people like you and me. Well, more or less.
Gaufrid, I really hope that you can make it this time. You’re the heart and soul of this incredible community called Fifteensquared.
And Robi, don’t be put off by the “long-haul destination”. It is certainly not as far as 10ac in yesterday’s Mudd.
Looking forward to it.
Who knows what Nimrod/Enigmatist has in mind this time …
I only hope we all fit in, in The Vine I mean.
March 25th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Like Sil, Everyman is a setter I’d really like to meet and have a chat to, so I hope he can make it. And Gaufrid too.
March 26th, 2013 at 6:05 am
Will do my best to be there, work permitting.
March 26th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Sorry, I can’t make it either as I’ll be in Copenhagen that weekend. I’d have liked to have met Everyman, it’s the crossword that sparked my interest in 1969 ! Scary thinking about that long ago now.
March 27th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
I’ll be there Cruciverbati!
Looking forwards to.
March 28th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Sorry to ask here but does this site provide help for the Mordred puzzles in the “I” ?
March 28th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Hi Doktorb
You asked a similar question a couple of days ago and flashing gave you the answer. For help with the ‘I’ visit http://idothei.wordpress.com/ where you will find, if applicable, a link to the 15² blog of the puzzle when it was originally published in the Indy and any clues missing from the blog explained.
March 29th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
I would love to come – it’s my birthday, so my treat to myself!
April 2nd, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Cheers for the response, I didn’t notice the answer. Sorry!
April 10th, 2013 at 10:03 pm
Going to try and join you all. Will confirm one way or the other ASAP
April 13th, 2013 at 4:24 am
Would really love this but is a bit too far. How about September???
April 19th, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Enjoyed Derby – looking forward to meeting old and new friends at Manchester
Neil Robinson
April 22nd, 2013 at 8:53 am
I replied earlier via email, with thanks to Eileen for the nudge, but can confirm my attendance here too.
I will be a new face having only just retired, taken up regular Guardian cryptic solving and discovered the wonderful community here. I have lots to learn and look forward to meeting you all.
April 22nd, 2013 at 6:49 pm
I’ll try and make it
Carrie
April 25th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
As a longstanding viewer of, but not a contributor to the site I am looking forward, albeit with a little apprehension, to attending on May 4th.
April 29th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Norman, that makes two of us. See you all on Saturday.
April 30th, 2013 at 8:54 am
Norman and Eccles, having organised the first Midlands S&B a few years ago now, I can tell you that there is no need to be apprehensive (leave that to the organisers). It’s a very welcoming environment (and we don’t just talk about crosswords …)
April 30th, 2013 at 10:20 am
Look forward to meeting everyone, old faces and new, on Saturday. I’ll second K’s D@41 – I was a bit nervous before the first Derby S&B but I now know that there will be lots of fun to be had.
May 3rd, 2013 at 10:00 am
Train booked! Looking forward to seeing you all again.
May 3rd, 2013 at 1:29 pm
I had to make a decision last week which sadly means I shall not be able to attend. My doctor sent me to Dudley NHS eye clinic last October where the consultant spent seconds examining my eyes before leaning back and saying “Which one do you want doing first?”. Unbeknownst to me, they both had cataracts.
I had my left eye done in January and there is a long waiting list. Then I received a call saying someone had dropped out and offering me the chance to have the op. on my right eye.
I had forgotten that my wife and daughter had arranged a week-end in Venice for this coming week-end. Tamsin is a enterologist in Liverpool hoping shortly to become a consultant, and has been on call for the last two weeks and desperate for a break and sleep.
I had the operation but I am still on medication and not yet allowed to drive and I shall need new spectacles for when my eyes settle down.
The good news is that my left eye is already providing excellent long sight, and I shall probably only need glasses for close-up work.
I very much enjoyed the previous Derby meetings and would have liked to attend. I shall miss you all!
May 3rd, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Nice to get your looks fixed on the NHS!
All the best with your recovery. Mum, Dad, aunties, uncles, they all had it done, and could afterwards see a molecule at 500 yards, much to my annoyance. I continue to fumble for one pair of glasses so I can see where I’ve so cleverly concealed the second.
May 3rd, 2013 at 2:57 pm
We shall miss you, too, Rufus!