ROLL UP! ROLL UP! Midlands area Christmas Dinner/Get-together: Friday 3rd December

[LunarSea]

Midlands area Christmas Dinner is booked - please come along and join us.

Date: Friday 3rd December
Time: 8pm
Place: Bear Inn, Berkswell
Location: Close to J6 of M42, near the NEC - see map here
Cost: £19.99

Menu:

Roasted Cherry Tomato & Butternut Squash soup laced with Basil (served with half a crusty baguette & butter) OR Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche & Crab Parcel (served with brown bread and butter) OR Warm Salad of Crispy Duck, Walnuts, Spinach & Pomegranate (with a balsamic raspberry vinaigrette) OR Port & Stilton Rarebit (garnished with cherry tomatoes)

Traditional Turkey & Honeyed Ham (served with sage & onion stuffing, bacon, chipolata sausage, cranberry & bread sauces)
OR
8oz Sirloin Steak with Bearnaise sause
OR
Fresh Haddock set on Walnut & Stilton crushed new potatoes (garnished with wilted herbs, capers, cherry tonmatoes and rocket pesto)
OR
Half a Roast Duckling (served with a winter berry and cassis sauce)
OR
Mediterranean style roasted Vegetables, Spinach & Brie Calzone (a folded pizza parcel filled with vegetables, olives, spinach & cheese)

All served with a selection of fresh seasonal vegetables

Christmas Pudding & Brandy Sauce OR Festive Berry Pavlova OR Tarte au Citron (served with a raspberry coulis)

Coffee, mini mince pies & Bittermints

Accomodation nearby: Travel Inn at Balsall Common - we should be able to fix transport to/from if people want to stay overnight.

HOWEVER... I do need deposits (£10 each) by next Thursday to confirm the booking. We may be able to add extra people on to the booking later, if they still have spaces, but no guarantees. I will also need your menu choices in advance of the meal (although not necessarily as early as next week.

Can anyone who wants to come either CAT me or send an email to
Midlands_Xmas AT mail2uk DOT com
and I'll get back to you with details of where to send cheques to.

Probables so far:
jampot (Solihull)
NomDePlume (Worcester)
GeorginaA (Worcester)
LunarSea (Leamington Spa)
Ailsa
Ronniebaby (Tamworth?)
MumtoLaura
whimsy (North Birmingham)
clary (Derby)
CHRIZ (South Birmingham)
Mum2girls (Coventry)
MadameButterfly (Burton?)
Lavender2 (Cambridge)

Well MB - you might as well order one if you're paying for it and then we can all taste it too - you should order one that no-one else is having

Good point JP.

I will order the Duck then

remember the cheekiness of the other night - if you dont ask you dont get [wink}

lol hope mine makes sense

tc all

hi wont be long now only a few weeks away,will email you jampot ok

MadameButterfly...is it still alright to share a room..?.only 70 miles away (will okay it with dh tonight)..sending e-mail soon about room!

am coming (dh okay about it!)...see you soon.

great lavender2 see u there

tc

Hi Ladies, I know I possible wont be around for this one, so was just thinking maybe sort of setting a date in our diaries for 2005, the first one of the new year

Solihull Kick off Meal. I was thinking maybe we try the end of End, as January will poss be out for some people as wages will be stretched afta xmas, how about either the end of Feb (23rd) or 2nd March.

I met up with Wigwambam today and she is really lovely, she lives in Sutton Coldfield, but would love to come to a meet up, but cant make one till the new year.

If we feel this is a go-er then I'll maybe create a new thread for this???

Just thought I would get your ideas and input

oops that should have been

Solihull Kick off Meal. I was thinking maybe we try the end of FEB

have just booked a B&B 1 1/4 miles away....looking forward tomeeting everyone

Lavender - if you are definately coming can you email me at
Midlands_Xmas AT mail2uk DOT com
so that we can sort out deposits etc as I need to pay £10 up front to reserve a place for you.

lunarsea...did yesterday (and have rung the Bear and they said it was booked under a Weeks from Leamington Spa and there were still places available...I will book tomorrow...many thanks for organising this btw

Where have you booked Lav? You are welcome to share the twin room I booked at the Innkeepers lodge if you want

Hi MadameButterfly...it was a recommendation from one of the guest house numbers that the Bear gave me....it's coming in the post tomorrow, the confirmation that is..it's on the outskirts of Berkstell 1 1/4 miles away from the Bear....wasn't sure if you still wanted to share or not tbh and needed to book quick...(how do you find sharing a room with someone you've never met? what happens if you snore and I sleepwalk....not sure how other people do this thingy sharing business with new people)

hi ronniebaby

yes by all means start a new thread for the end of feb or early march

glad you managed to meet Wigwambam and had a great time look foward in meeting her in the new year

tc chat soon

Lavender - I've not had an email from you yet. I'm a bit confused about what's going on here - have you booked directly with the Bear and paid a deposit directly to them? Or just rung and added yourself to our booking but not paid a deposit? Or do I still need to add you to the booking and get the deposit to them? Please get in touch (email to Midlands_Xmas AT mail2uk DOT com) and let us know.

Lunarsea ..have just sent you one at that address (got the hyphen thing wrong

lunarsea have just booked a place at The Bear and paid my deposit.

MadameButterfly...have a room booked at Barnacle Farm in Meriden and will get a taxi there and back (apart from those that aren't staying over is that what other are doing?).

Sorry am new to all of this but are there any places left ?? or guest list only???

I dunno ray1 but when I rang the Bear last week they had spaces left...best to check with Lunarsea....are you from around that way

hi ray1 - all welcome, as long as the Bear still has places. Would you like me to check for you?

hi there me and jampot leave b,ham /solihull way wasnt sure yet if i,m driving or using a taxi

let me know jampot what you wanna do my dh at work so i cant get hime to drop me or anyone else

tc c u soon

Lavender2, NomDePlume and Mum2Laura can you let me know your menu choices please.

ray1 - we should be able to fit one more in if you'd like to join us.