Great, now we’re into one-upmanship on the “sad pathetic individual” stakes.
Anybody else want to steal my (pathetic) thunder?
The above post is an attempt at humour please, please forgive me.
Speaking as someone who flinches at the sight of a money spider, Crusoe, do tell me if this works … but, please, don’t go into any details.
Steve, if you want the number I’ll post it. I can’t even see a bad child’s drawing of a spider without the cold shivers. I tore the “spider recognition” pages out of my Lonely Planet guide to Australia before spending a year there (how’s that for sad, confessorknight?, apart from the fact I probably live about 5 mins from you).
They claim an 80% success rate, including the diehard arachnophobes like myself, and it’s based on discussion and hypnotherapy with an optional “spider handling” element at the end if it’s worked for you.
Hope it works out well for you Crusoe, but in my twisted mind this leads to a potential for entertainment. We could get a list of the people envolved and have a “runs screaming like a big girl” derby.
But making fun of phobias is a bad thing, so ignore the above.
The real reason I came here is to ask if there is a semi-official London hotel/B&B for the weekend? If I can’t get a room, I need to leave no later than 10:30 to get the last train back to rustic Farnbrough.
Just a side note: Ann (the spouse) has a birthday on Thursday, so if she decides to come along on Saturday (as she may), be sure to wish her a belated happy birthday.
kferr, some of us are staying here.
http://www.thistlehotels.com/main/hotel/londonryan/index.xml
Thanks Anahita, I’ve just booked in there too. Now we’ll be able to stumble back from the pub in a group.
That’s amazing! I guess the 80% is based on the take-up of the spider handling bit? Anyway, good for you!
Now, I still need to get around to getting flights and accommodation…
Now, Annie, is it just my eyes going funny or did you miss little ol’ me from your list’o’dopers?
I’m still hoping to be there, you know.
Px
I got the dates mixed up and went to the Silver Cross a week early, doh. It turned out for the best, as I was double-booked to go on a movie date, and Pirates of the Caribbean is fabulous, if you haven’t seen it yet then you really must. Next week I’m working in Oxford on Saturday, but will join you all in the evening - I know exactly where the pub is now!
Well, I just got a lovely phonebill for almost £100, so that’s me out.
Arse.
Sorry guys, I’ll have to buy you all back beers at a later date.
Yay!
Arse!
Speaking of arse, my flight is now 100 euro + tax instead of 65 last week. Maybe if I leave it another few days I can pay 200?
Okay, no more messing around. I’m booking the flight tomorrow.
I’m too lazy to search through all nine pages of this thing, but if any of this is happening on Saturday, 23 August, then I’d love to be involved in some fashion. Can anyone point me to when and where or summarise, please?
To recap: This Saturday in the Silver Cross Pub on Whitehall (Trafalgar Square end), starting around 7 if not earlier.
There has been discussion of pre-pub activities, but nothing definite has been determined.
Perhaps we could change the title to include the words “August 23rd 7pm Silver Cross Pub Whitehall”?
pan
Possibly someone should take a lead on the pre-pub activities front… ? All that’s needed is a focal point, to which people can swarm like moths chasing a mixed metaphor it they feel so inclined. (Thinking of the trip to the British Museum, which for a substantial proportion of the gathering turned into the trip to the pub across the road from the British Museum.)
Tate Modern?
Science Museum? (seriously, it’s great, and it was free last time although I don’t know if that’s still the case)
Or, since it’s free (or at least the last time I went) the National Gallery?
I’d go with the focal point thing and i’d second the choice of a (free) museum - at least to start with.
I’ve just noticed that my last comment added no value to the discussion whatsoever.
bugger - i’ve finally succumbed and started behaving like a proper Civil Servant.
[sub]help me![/sub]
All the following museums are now free:
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
V&A
Imperial War Museum
Museum of London
British Museum
Sir John Soane’s Museum
and:
National Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
British Library
Wallace Collection
etc
here’s a page on London for free.