Northern Mumsnet Meet-up

[Rhubarb]

Anyone want to come to a Mumsnet meet up here in the North? I don't want it to be exclusively for Northerners though, so if any of you can make it, please post your ideas here.

I'm relying on public transport so I would prefer to meet somewhere that isn't too hard to get to, like Manchester, which might also be good middle ground for those who live further afield. But if any of you know of anywhere better please tell me.
I'm also assuming that a Saturday is ok.

If anyone is interested please post your names here and then when we have a suitable number of people I will give out my email and we can make proper arrangments.

Ferrets are optional!

Good point Tinker! Maybe I should wear a big badge that says Mumsnet or something!! Tell you what, I'm bringing a couple of things for Janh that I need to give her back, they are a microphone and a toddler's hammer toy - I will probably be first in the pub so I will find a table and put those things on it, so once you see those you know that it's me - is that ok? I don't want to wear anything obvious or stand out like a moron with a rose stuck in my buttonhole! Name badges are a bit ugh too. This is the best solution I can think of unless you can think of anything better? I suppose I could wear my flat cap and clogs, bring my whippet and ferret and order a pint of Boddingtons!!!

Does everyone know where the pub is? I will take dh's mobile with me so if you email me at [email protected] I will give you the number so if anyone gets lost or runs into problems, they can give me a call.

Are we going to reveal our nicknames then?

Right Rhubarb, I'll look for the strange woman with the kid's toys

Have a great time everyone. You should be easy to spot Rhubarb, I wouldn't have thought many people will be sitting alone in the pub at lunchtime with toys!

ok where is cross street ive forgotten already!! rhuby.. am up north this weekend to get mi mum for the holidays and so may be able to meet .. be shame not to really! hehehe am excited now!

custardo, my O½ says it's off Deansgate but that's all I know so far!

Rhubarb/Tinker, how many doors/bars does the pub have, please? Can we be specific about which bit to meet in, I am a total wuss at meeting people in pubs and stand in the doorway like a hypnotised rabbit! (Not a pretty sight.)

Custardo!!! You are coming!!!! Wa heh hey! Why did you not tell me this on the phone?? Shall I book you in at the restaurant then?

Janh, I don't know how many entrances the pub has but it is pretty small. I will be there probably bang on 2pm if the train is on time so I will pick a biggish table and arrange my accessories accordingly, I will try and find one relatively close to the bar so that I'm in sight of everyone. I find that when I'm meeting someone the best thing to do is to head straight to the bar, order your drink and then look around the room whilst waiting for it, that way you don't look too consipicious. I should be easy to spot and I do know you Janh so I will keep a special look-out for you. Just listen for someone hollering out!!!!

Mr. Thomas's Chop House, just off Deansgate, head down St. Annes Way and turn onto Cross Street. If you go to www.mapquest.co.uk and put in the address 52 Cross Street, Manchester, M2, it will give you directions to get there as well as a map showing you where it is. But as I said, if anyone emails me I will give them my dh's mobile number which I'll have with me so if you get into difficulties on the day you can call me and I'll direct you.

See you all there!!

Empress - not heard for a while, are you still ok to come?

Hi I just came online (I'm in the middle of making tea and having a shower at the same time!) to say no, sorry sorry, i can't make it on sat, i've got to work, its either this w/end or next, & next is out cos we've got visitors coming..sorry sorry, love to meet you all some other time. and very interested to hear how it went/ whatyouall got up to.

Cherry - can you still come? We are down to 5 again as Custardo can only come to the pub. I will need to inform the restaurant so would be grateful if Cherry could get in touch soon.

The pub is near King Street, if this helps. Next to Tommy Hillfigger (have I spelt that right - you can tell I don't go in for labels!) and opposite Lloyds Bank on Cross Street. They say they have outside tables, so if the weather is fine I will sit outside which might be better, if not I'll try and get a table with a good view of the bar. If all the tables are taken, I'll just prop the bar up with my 'accessories' laid out in front of me!!!! It shouldn't be that busy as it will be past lunch time and everyone will be heading back to work.

I just hope no-one else pulls out! Oh well, it's a day away from the kids and partners isn't it? Should be good fun!

Got much better directions now! Here goes:
From Victoria Station (this is easy!)
come out onto Victoria Street, go straight down and it turns into Deansgate, turn left onto St Ann's Street and right onto Cross Street, the pub is on your right.

From Piccadilly Station
come out onto London Road and follow it right, it turns into Piccadilly. Keep following it all the way round, past the Arndale Centre and you'll come to a crossroads, turn left onto Cross Street and the pub is on the right.

Driving - it is Commonwealth Games week, if you have to drive I would recommend parking at one of the stations and walking down, don't even think of driving into the city centre, you'll still be there same time on Sunday!

See you all there!

After the day I've just had with my daughter I definitely won't pull out Rhubarb!! I don't care if it's just you and me!! Or even just me!!! See you in the pub at 2 ish!

I hope you all or both have a nice time.

I'm really gutted about missing tomorrow I will definately be coming if you arrange another one in the future even if it means giving up my job(hate it anyway).Have a brilliant time and tellus all about it on Sunday if the hangovers aren't too big.
Have fun love L xx

Don't forget to bring photos of your little ones for us all to coo at! - BTW doesn't that baby on the homepage look awful?! It must be the way the picture has scanned, but the poor thing looks deformed, no wonder it's crying!

Leander and anyone else, it's not too late if you want to ditch your job and come along! The restaurant is not at all busy and you know where we are meeting. Feel free to come along and join us if you get really miserable at work!

Hi, girls! Thought I might be the first one back...brilliant afternoon, Rhubarb, thanks so much for organising it.

Hope all of you got safely home and had pleasant evenings (especially Tinker!!!)- custardo, did your friend appreciate your sacrifice in doing without your lunch? Coxy, did you find Piccadilly OK, and was it the right station?

Great to meet you all and I hope we can do it again soon. Just read down the thread again and there were quite a few who just couldn't make it today so maybe we'll manage a bigger group next time.

glad it went well, wish I'd been there. Next time!!!! did you go to the restaurant as well, or just the boozer?

Hi, Empress! Four of us went to the restaurant (all-you-can-eat buffet £7.95, I was still stuffed hours later!) but not until after 3, and Custardo had to pass on it because a friend of hers was child-minding and she didn't want them to outstay their welcome...
I think we're all up for another go - it was a fantastic day to be in Manchester yesterday though, lovely weather, Commonwealth Games people all over the place, the city centre looking spectacular and lots of happy smiley people. Good fun!

Hi JanH.

It was lovely to meet you - next time dh goes to Burnley I'll have to let you know and maybe we could meet up?

Yes I did find Piccadilly okay and was just in time for the train which stopped in Leyland. Had enough time to get a magazine and then push my way to a seat. Trouble was I nipped to sil's and could have quite easily fallen asleep there! Got home at about 1015 p.m.

I'm glad you got home safely. It was a really good afternoon and I'm so glad that I went.

Rhubarb - was relieved to get your answerphone message to say you got home okay. I was beginning to wonder if you were fine.

Custardo - don't forget if you have any suggestions for 'nice' hotels round you for me and dh to stay in in December.

Tinker - nice to meet you. Hope you got home safe and sound too?! I was watching out for the red diesel signs on the way home. I'll let you know if I see any...

Thanks Rhubarb for all your hard work organising us all, you did a great job. I'll ring you in the week and maybe call in soon.

Well, I'm back and glad everyone managed to get home ok and enjoyed themsleves as much as I did (all day - JanH!). Really nice to meet even more from here and, thanks, Rhuby for organising it!

Glad to hear you all had a great time wish i could have been there oh well there is always next time.

Alright, confession - I am just over the hangover ok???!!! Janh, I should have phoned you I know, but I got back fine (after a very nice conversation with a Palestinian chap at the station who said that being a Muslim was like being a Catholic - should I post that on the God thread?!). Aidan had a bottle of wine opened and a pizza so it was really nice, but we had a little accident so number 2 might be here soonish (!) If that happens I hope you all know that I will sue you all!

It was great to meet you all, yes please Coxy do keep in touch, glad you got home too, I was a bit worried about you. Tinker, well you know what we want to ask don't you?????? Email me all the gory details please!!!!

We will do it again, I might actually stay with Custardo and go to the one in Brighton too, Anyway, watch out for that photo of us all soon!!

Oooh Rhubarb and there was you all unsure about having another one! Hope it's a happy accident if it's what you want. Glad you all had such a good time.