Sophie we’d best get cracking and start putting away some cash for this hoopla!
(could someone give me a less vauge date that June or July?
its easier to see what kind of air fares I’ve got to cough up.)
I am posting just to keep track of this thread. If the Dopefest could be pushed back juuuuuuuuuuust a bit - even to May - I might be able to swing it. Summer is just too expensive for me, though.
I’d like to throw in a thought…
Is it possible to perhaps reschedule the Dopefest for a time when the air fares would be a little lower, and London won’t be as packed with tourists? Looking at air fares for July runs about $1000 RT (L.A. to London). Going, say, in March… runs about $421, which would make it possible for more people to attend, even though it does cut back on planning time.
Or, what about holding off until after October?
Besides, I don’t mind the cold weather.
I’d love to go in the offseason, as that is when I am accustomed to traveling. May definitely has my vote.
MR
Cool! Official goat holder of Londope 2002! Move me up to the definite list.
I don’t want to slag off the pubs Crusoe chose for the last 2 meetings, but I’d like to go somewhere with some real ales, since I’d rather drink American beer than John Smiths!
How about the Great British Beer Festival as a venue? It runs from the 6th to the 10th of August.
And just to keep the sub-thread going, I currently live in Surrey (Frimley), have lived in Guildford, and have been to Dorking several times since it is the home of Surrey Harley Davidson.
Listen, you limey bastard, first of all, my ass is quite petite, thank you very much, and second of all, I’m four-bit if I’m a ha’penny!
But, um, I’d love to come! I’ve been dying to visit England (being a bit of a Medievalist), so you never know…
Esprix
At this rate we’ll have to hold a DorkDope.
oxymoron alert 
anytime will suit me, start of the summer preferable.
Am I invited too?
Can you bring a bottle?
Er… a bottle of French wine?
Well I was hoping for a hot water bottle myself. Something fluffy.
Might not be such a bad idea. I haven’t ever come across (Matron, the pills please) the hand position of the receiver before, but one imagines Number 6 has a hell of a tongue:
http://www.womensrugby.net/dorking/
Note the exaltation towards the bottom of the page: “Interested in playing with us? Questions?”
Oh yes. And yes some more. Could make for an interesting ruck (Rubgy talk for y’all)
There are, for the under 16’s, but down them ways, the country girls is keen to get up early in the mornings – and that was way back in my day.
Anyhoo, thanks for the memory: Oh my goodness! The glorious virgin territory of that unspoilt, unexplored valley. The soft gentle undulations of form, the beautifully moulded incline towards perfectly formed peaks, the breathtaking reaction to unimaginable pleasure …you recall the sunny upland slopes of Box Hill (just outside Capel) and the great views over the Sussex/Surrey countryside, I presume ?
Lets have it a Kabbes House!!!
WOO HOO!!! Toga! Toga! Toga! Toga!
::Thinks: Hmm. What does a Twisty wear under his toga? OH NO! NOT THAT::
No. No togas.
beachwear.
So we are having it at Kabbes house!
one question. what will the Kabbess have to say about 20 assorted gentry, geezers and furriners turning up at her doorstep?
A DorkDope wouldn’t be half bad. Especially since I am desperate to bum a ride off one of you who lives there so I can wander around my old haunt for a bit.
I should have guessed. How long ago, by the way, was your day?
And yeah, I’ve definitely been to Box Hill. Used to take the kids I babysat for walking there.
What I am struggling to remember is the name of this magnificent little manor that was cut up into a bunch of apartments. It was right on the road on the way from Four Elms to the gas station/post office, the pub, and the Paki shop. Behind the manor, IIRC, are immense cow pastures.
I remember what it looks like and could certainly get back there, but I can’t recall what it was called.
MR
Hmmm…I don’t think I know that one because it’s just a little beyond what was our world – Rusper was about our limit. But there are any number of Manor type Houses around that-a-ways. I doubt whether you mean Ridge Farm Studio’s - nearer Rusper than Capel but with a Capel address and it does have quite a lot of quality accommodation - although it could easily be mistaken for a Manor House (opened as a recording studio in the late 70’s as a recording studio) ?
My brother had a girlfriend who worked there – reasonable client list - err…it used to be a bit lively 
Otherwise, I don’t think I can really help on that.
How old – old enough to remember Bad Company drinking in The Plough but not being old enough to get served
Bah - want to talk about Surrey but my car has arrived & I have to go. Tomorrow.
Twisty - don’t worry. I simply won’t tell her 
pan
Heh. Dorking is about 5 train stops and half an hour away from me (Wokingham). I guess those who want to stay at my house could pop over in between trips to London
I would like to propose the tentative dates that Londope could centre around:
The weekend of 18th & 19th of May.
This is because air fares are considerably cheaper in May than in June or July and a few people have mentioned that they were planning a trip around then anyway. I’m flexible, and if these dates are disagreeable I’m sure we could work something out. How does it sound?
Fran