Sorry - off diving that weekend. Buggar!
Damn. Maybe next time.
I’ve sent an email to Nostradamus, but no reply. He obviously didn’t see it coming. [sub]I’m sorry.[/sub]
You’re not in the least sorry!
Right tickets booked.
Flying in to Gatwick Friday morning 09:30. I’ll flute around town for the day. I like being in a city I’m not that familiar with. I’ll hook up with people whenever they’re meeting.
I’m flying out Sun. 20:55.
Hope this time line is ok Francesca?
I think we’re flying out from Gatwick at approximately the same time, Yojimbo. That’s convenient in the case of a delay or something. Won’t be so boring. 
What’s the bar like in Gatwick 
Let’s hope there is one. :eek:
Flashbacks of Euro 2000, me walking into London City airport 3 hours before my flight so I could catch the Holland - Yugoslavia game, and… finding out that there is NO TV at City!!
That one security guard that saw the panicked look on my face, then went into the storage room to find a tiny antenna operated TV, which enabled me (and 300 other onlookers :)) to look at the match, albeit on a snowy 35 cm screen?
He goes to heaven, that’s for sure.
If you’re flying from the South Terminal at Gatwick there are plenty of bars (if you count Yates’s and The Sports Bar):
That’ll be fine, yojimbo. You can either come straight to mine on Friday or have a look around town then make your way. If you come straight to mine you can catch a train direct from Gatwick to Wokingham, if you have a look round town you can catch one direct from Waterloo or a slightly indirect (but faster) one from Paddington -> Reading -> Wokingham. It’d be nice if everyone was at mine by, say, 7.30pm, so that we can head out for local drinks.
I do have a full house this time - Coldi, Yoji, LaurAnge and her SO. Woo! I’m afraid I can’t afford to provide much food - I’m hoping that in exchange for a free place to stay you’ll buy yourself burgers and chips
In other news, I’m going to mention Glee in the hope that he’ll do a vanity search and see his name here and say “Hey! That looks like a fun time!” and come too. We could always use more chess teachers at Londopes.
No worries Frannie, we’ll take care of ourselves in the food department.
Do I need to bring anything? Sleeping bag, pillow, inflatable sheep?
Hey Fran, if you are out and about in Wokingham Friday night, I may be able to join you since I’m just a couple stops down the line in Farnborough.
No need to bring sleeping bag/pillow we’re just fine in that department. The inflatable sheep is entirely at your discretion and I wouldn’t want to intrude on what is clearly a very personal issue.
Kferr, that would be great. I’m sure we can meet you at the station in the evening.
Bugger.
In London the weekend after- I read the exploits after the first International LonDope and wanted to come to the next one.
Arse.
Sounds great. How long can I stay if I buy a Big Mac Supersize meal? 
I must apologise. That day, I will be in Torquay at the British Chess Championships, where our motto is:
“We can’t use any more chess teachers”
Have a great time - I will come to the next one (assuming you’re not all signed up to Big Brother by then).
P.S. Francesca, practice saying ‘het ontbeit is klaar’, then use it on Coldfire in the morning. (It means ‘the breakfast is ready’.)
Greetings you crazy party people. As things looked to be firmed up for the 3rd August, I’d like to put myself down as a probable/highly probable attendee. Lock up your mothers !
For those fellow sad bastards who have been sucked into Big Bruvver; the day before (Friday the 2nd) must be very close to the end…but how close ??
Looking forward to seeing some old faces and meeting some new – most Eurodopers tend to either tall or short so I’ll be practicing my neck exercises between now and then. If you see a man dressed in 1980’s High Street chic and nodding wildly, come and say hello.
Fabulous, L_C. I look forward to meeting you. Ems and Glee weshall be sure to raise a glass to you.
Since no one has voiced any objections, I took the liberty of calling The Mitre pub in Paddington and the manager said that sometimes they’re very busy, sometimes they’re not. I asked about how likely we are to get a seat and she said she couldn’t guarentee anything BUT if I were to call her back with an aprox number of people then she’s happy to set aside a little reserved area for us at no charge.
How does that sound?
fantabulosa
whine
I want to go, too. I should just butt out of this thread, but I keep reading it as some form of self-torture. I’ll be in exotic Philadelphia, PA on August 3rd, probably having a cheesesteak or something.
Have fun!
excellent.
Annie! will you post me back a cheesesteak?