Custy is this where we sign up for the annual MN Christmas meet?

[MarsLady]

Where?
What time?

C'mon girl you're slacking!

Just checking it wasn't some secret pizza meeting!

Will you be wearing tart straps again?

I'm wearing a very lush silver dress, no straps. I'm allergic to straps now. Funny that

And are you on the rebounding pull?

Or will you sensibly leave it at flashing your norks?

I'm still going out with him. At the moment..

So no pulling for me. And my norks are not fantastic, just pert.

DD has just fallen asleep so I'm off to enjoy a relaxing bath.

You kleptomaniac

I thought he'd buggered off and you were doing the sensible thing.... letting him?

Hmmmmmm.... well whatever you want darling. But if you need me to I'll bring my brothers!

I am letting him.

But I still love him. So I'm waiting til he gets back in August before I decide what to do.

Bring your brothers anyway, if they're half as gorgeous as you.

at Boris's pert norks.

And at the idea of Mars's brothers

Funny, because I'm @ the thought of The Mars brothers

Boris

There was drink taken, I will start a thread later to see if anyone can remember.

Is there a date?

1. Custy - the great organiser
2. MarsLady - only if she brings cake
3. Boris- Yes she really is going to London on her own again
4. Kimi
5. Bree/MrsGordonRamsay/LGJ/DoorstoManual (trying to decide who is going, they are all on their best behaviour at the moment.)
6. Carmenere - Oh what will I wear?? Jeans and a nice top I expect.
7. hat even if no-one ever remembers me
8. tranquilamanana (nee nappiesgalore - some of them are in pants now) and i so vote for that place LGJ is harping on about.
9. LTH - who is going to rid herself of her pathological fear of London (might stop her breeding again)
10. Suew who hasn't been on a 'proper' mumsnet meet-up since 2001

GOT IT

Damn I am good.

I am not choosing a venue ever again if you all slag it off

Personally IIRC we went to a bar as some felt £35 for the meal inc wine and dancing was too much, The bar idea happened as

1. everyone could decide how much they wanted to spend and not worry
2. they could get around a whole group and not just speak to those on their table
3. it was easy to organise - a couple of phone calls
4. there was no deposit/money worries/stress about staying in hotels (Thanks Oranges )

So if anyone wants to research some ideas I am sure it would be fab

Criteria that seems to be needed

1. Somewhere to have an 'edible' meal for 80ish people!
2. somewhere to dance
3. somewhere not too pricey
4. Someone else to arrange it all including sorting deposits form hundreds of people (poss helps if you have a paypal account)

Personlly I thought the italian was great, the food was pretty rubbish tbh, but £35 for food and 1/2 bottle wine, plus free dancing etc in london was not that expensive.

The bar was fab and I loved the dancing (my choice of venue) it was glam and a laugh, but too noisy and too busy for some.

One idea suggested last year was the top room of a pub, organised buffet, DJ etc etc. However that means a real organiser being involved to do everything, I cannot do it, I don't think Custy will want the hassle, so if anyone else fancies arranging it, great stuff

Mid to end Nov is a good time, before the christmas parties

Da Marios was cool.

I think room over a pub is a good idea though.

I dont mind helping research, but, I dont think I can get involved in the finer details towards the end, because I am also planning my wedding, which is on 10th November. So, I shall be v busy in the weeks leading up to, and I am assuming the xmas meet will be on or around Saturday 24th Nov????

LOL - no secret - the bar last year had no provisions for food so groups went off to eat first. If we can find somewhere to eat AND drink AND dance then it'll be fab.....

1. Custy - the great organiser
2. MarsLady - only if she brings cake
3. Boris- Yes she really is going to London on her own again
4. Kimi
5. Bree/MrsGordonRamsay/LGJ/DoorstoManual (trying to decide who is going, they are all on their best behaviour at the moment.)
6. Carmenere - Oh what will I wear?? Jeans and a nice top I expect.
7. hat even if no-one ever remembers me
8. tranquilamanana (nee nappiesgalore - some of them are in pants now) and i so vote for that place LGJ is harping on about.
9. LTH - who is going to rid herself of her pathological fear of London (might stop her breeding again)
10. Suew who hasn't been on a 'proper' mumsnet meet-up since 2001
11. VVVQV - looking forward to post-wedding wind-down in absence of a honeymoon
12. Sallystrawberry

Crunchie... I think that £35 a head was rather reasonable!

ML I didn't say it wasn't, I just remember last year some complaints over the £35 from the previous year, therefore people wanted a cheaper less hassle option, hence the bar. IMHO I would do Marios again, unless

1. someone found somewhere better
2. Someone else organises a big do, and sorts out getting money from 80 odd people in advance

if I come down all the way from oop North in Yorkshire, would everyone be nice to me and look after me?

1. Custy - the great organiser

2. MarsLady - only if she brings cake 3. Boris- Yes she really is going to London on her own again 4. Kimi 5. Bree/MrsGordonRamsay/LGJ/DoorstoManual (trying to decide who is going, they are all on their best behaviour at the moment.) 6. Carmenere - Oh what will I wear?? Jeans and a nice top I expect. 7. hat even if no-one ever remembers me 8. tranquilamanana (nee nappiesgalore - some of them are in pants now) and i so vote for that place LGJ is harping on about. 9. LTH - who is going to rid herself of her pathological fear of London (might stop her breeding again) 10. Suew who hasn't been on a 'proper' mumsnet meet-up since 2001 11. VVVQV - looking forward to post-wedding wind-down in absence of a honeymoon 12. Sallystrawberry 13. Flamesparrow - and StG better get her arse on this list too!

(was wondering who you were TM)

Maybe you and I should go... pay our £35, slag off the MNers and dance all night! What do you think? Bet Custy would join us!

I'm up for £35 and some bitching

(as long as CSWS lets me sleep there... or MRM... or anyone)

Crunchie

The food in Da Marios was less than ideal.

The noise, the inability to talk and the mixed crowd and the lack of fire exits last year was less than ideal.

On balance I would rather pitch this years gig at £40 to allow for inflation and go to Da Marios.

Just my opinion.

the year before last i didn't get to dance as i was sorting the bill out - i was very worried about it adding up - and i didn't know there was a mandatory service charge - which pissed people off even more.

i am NOT sorting out a food bill. it sounds simple but then everyone asks for a drink or another bopttle of wine - and it gets complicated.

the premis of da marios - the venue - the food - the dancing - is great - its a nice little place not at all arsey

if someone can figure out how to pay the bill in a more simple way in advance of the night. which would ensure people actually turn up as one third always don't and if they don't then it makes the bill smaller for the rest of us.

people have everyintention of coming then realise that its the payday before xmas and can't rationalise it to their spouse.

perhaps if mumsnet could get involved. take the payments from paypal inadvance - pay the bill in advance - but that would take some administration - they may not be prepared to do?

room above a pub with egg cress sandwich tpe buffet and cheesy disco - would be ideal i think.