To take an iPad to a Nice Meal on Sunday?

[EngSun]

Football related, obviously.

We've got a very fancy day planned on sunday.

It's not changeable.

We will most likely be eating at kick off time, not quite sure of timings.

Even it we're not eating at that time, we're at the table till 9.30.

Wibu to take some means of watching the game?

I'm sure many of the other people in the room will have some means of following the game, so it would be impossible to hide from any scoring. I think it'd be impossible to just record it and watch it at home at 10.30ish.

We'll be discreet as possible, and obviously not the only people at the meal interested.

Wibu?

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I'm hoping it might be some common cohesive experience for a good propagation of people on the train ... But also not intrusive on those who are not fans

With the (known) poor signal on trains, it's likely many will be there precisely because they're not interested, but if even just 10% are, there's no way that won't intrude on the experience of others during any exciting moments - or even all through if you're really avid fans

You mentioned if "others on the carriage appear to be watching it", but how would you know unless they're being thoroughly indiscreet (not doubt after also insisting they wouldn't)?

I think there'll be natural conversation throughout the day about the football: It's such a significant event.

So I think the vibe will be able to be gauged.

I also think the staff may make some sort of overtures as to what is acceptable and what isn't. Which we'll of course adhere to.

My big 0 birthday was last weekend. We had an early table booked so we could get back for the match... Made my birthday that we won tbh!!

I think it might be possible with the seat arrangement as is in that photo. You are less likely to ruin the day for more people than those sitting directly opposite from you. But, before you do this I would have another think about is this really what you want your experience of this special train journey to be? Instead of great conversation and looking at the scenery, it will be about watching an ipad in silence. And then if they lose the game, then you will remember this as the day you ruined your day for nothing...

If i were on the train on sunday evening, having paid 100s, perhaps hoping someone might propose/anniversary/family meal with an elderly parent etc/ and you got out your ipad to watch footie, i'd take it off you and stick where the sun don't shine.

Not everyone likes football and its not a "significant event" its not even the world cup, it's a regional final.

Take it with you, judge the vibe and set it up facing the window not under the window and distracting other diners.
I bet you’ll end up with the whole carriage crowding round if it goes to penalties.

@jasjas1973

If i were on the train on sunday evening, having paid 100s, perhaps hoping someone might propose/anniversary/family meal with an elderly parent etc/ and you got out your ipad to watch footie, i'd take it off you and stick where the sun don't shine.

Not everyone likes football and its not a "significant event" its not even the world cup, it's a regional final.

might propose

Omg imagine if it was a “no”.

That would be more awkward than an iPad.

You think you may be discreet but I bet if England score you won’t be, but deliberately but emotions take over. I’d be incredibly annoyed if someone ruined an evening like this for me. I’d also check if devices like this are allowed as they may not allow phones, screens as part of the atmosphere of the evening / experience.

As well as reading the vibe of the day, you also need to consider how you’d react if someone nearby asked you to turn it off, @EngSun. As long as you’d put the iPad away without making a fuss, that might be fairly reasonable.

It depends what the other couple think and how well you know them.
If you were out with me and DH we wouldn't mind at all and would be watching with you.
Just be upfront about it.

On any other day - NO NO NO.

Sunday - do it ! You never know when it will happen again.

Plus - earphones.

@couchparsnip

It depends what the other couple think and how well you know them. If you were out with me and DH we wouldn't mind at all and would be watching with you. Just be upfront about it.

I think asking the couple is the easier part

It’s across the aisle that’s more tricky

If the op asks they need not to say yes out of a sense of politeness but it still impact negatively their time in any way

Some people might be too polite to voice complaints but at the same time be upset that their posh day out effectively turned into a standard pub outing.

I really don't think you should.

I'd speak with my friends and likely end up with a conversation that goes "remember that time we stood up the Orient Express (or whatever) to watch the football?"

It's just one of those situations where I'd have to choose... it would be like bringing an iPad to the opera and hoping to be discreet. Completely understandable and also completely unworkable.

I don’t get all the “some people might not want to know the score, cos they’re recording on the VCR”.

You will be travelling past houses unless it’s rural AF. Im setting fireworks off and running round my garden like a crazy if England win.

It’s not every day you get a free bank holiday.

How likely is it that there'll be a good wifi signal on the train?

It’s really fucking rude.YABVU.

I would find that very rude, but as you can see from this thread, others apparently wouldn't mind. You know your friends so you know better than us whether or not they're likely to be bothered by this.

Op maybe wise to contact the company running the train /meal.there could be rules about the use of phones etc..

Imagine you go through a tunnel at a vital moment!!

God no!

Totally inappropriate, OP. And I say that as a lifelong big sports fan.

If the football is important to you, cancel the evening.

I know you said you can't get a refund or change but it's sunk cost now. The money is spent regardless of what happens so either go, and forget the football, or don't go.

Please don't be THAT table of people who think they're watching something discreetly, when it's not. This looks like the type of trip people save up for, have special birthdays / anniversaries etc. If it was the 6.50 Paddington to Swansea - fair enough, but not this type of trip. You could be ruining a very special trip for someone who really doesn't give 2 hoots for football. I'd be very upset as a fellow passenger, thinking I'm having a posh train trip AND getting away from the football to find other passengers forcing me to listen to it.

To be able to listen to the commentary / crowd the sound will travel not just to the table opposite but the ones behind and in front of you. This would ruin the ambience of the whole train experience for me. I have no time for football. I would have saved up for a special trip on a train only to find the genteel ambience (the chink of bone china & cut crystal glasses and quiet chatter of other passengers) of the train carriage drowned out by a loud crowd and excitable commentators. It's unfortunate for you that the trip and the match are on the same day, but that doesn't mean it's OK to ruin the trip for other people. Record the game and watch it later, or cancel the trip and re-book. Please

I think it's acceptable if you've checked with your party and you're going to keep the sound off and your reactions muted. Suspect there will be more than a few doing similar and probably more empty seats than normal too, so it may be a good idea to ask the company what accommodations they are making for those who want and don't want to keep appraised of the match.

I doubt you'll be able to stream off wifi, so you may want to make sure your phone provider covers the area you're traveling through well and possibly look up what site will be live blogging or the like if you can't get a decent video stream.

How are you going on the Orient Express when you can’t enter France except for essential reasons? Or if you were doing the other way you’d have to quarantine for 10 days in Italy.

Hopefully the train will turn off the wifi, to preserve the experience for the other passengers.

It's obvious the football means more to you so why not just go and watch it somewhere properly.
You won't appreciate the train experience if your watching the football or fully enjoy the football if your trying to be restrained on the train.