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Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

City gals go mad in Kent

160 replies

Squiffy · 21/01/2008 15:46

Well, having had a fab time on the friday meet-up in Champor-Champor, I promised I would drop you all an invite for a meet-up down on't farm, so here it is. If any of you delightful London ladies would like to feel the wind in your hair then set the 15th March in your diary. I have 3 spare double rooms available on a first come basis - all king beds, so doubling up can be done for those who aren't shy. The other alternatives are the hotel in the village which is very civilised and about 10 mins walk away, or blow-up mattresses in the downstairs reception rooms for the really late confirmers. Then there is the shed and the tent and the last train back to London. If any kids come I have a spare set of bunk beds and a couple of readybeds.

In terms of a schedule I am fairly happy to go with the flow. If people want to come for the evening only without kids then disappear back in the morning that works, or alternative is to come over in the afternoon and if child-free you can grab a massage in the local therapy centre. Anyone who wants to make a weekend of it can bring the kids and maybe spend the day on Whitstable beach or - even better - at a place called Farming World which is in my village and has soft play areas and lots of cute little bunnies and lambs and piglets (which all get slaughtered at the end of the season and sold to the likes of me for munching).

Um, that's about it. We're 65 mins from London (Victoria Station), and it takes about an hour to drive from the city if it isn't rush hour.

If anyone wants to come let me know

OP posts:
eleusis · 29/01/2008 17:58

LA, where does your journey begin? I'm sure I could swing something. Is Wimbledon easier?

legalalien · 29/01/2008 22:04

thanks eleusis - wimbledon much easier, or alternatively can head in the general direction of the M25 - may be worth me trying to plot your likely route versus the rail map (way too hard for 10pm!!)

legalalien · 29/01/2008 22:21

also - weird as this sounds, seems as though I can get a bus from Lewisham to Canterbury for £1 and it takes an hour and a half. This is ALL TOO HARD.

Page62 · 30/01/2008 07:32

oh no!
If the rail is a problem (which was my plan of transport if it's just me and DD1), then i'm stuffed too as i don't know how to drive!
But, DH is seriously considering coming down with us for the weekend. I think we have found a cottage in Whitstable near the sea --- this is still near you Squiffy?

Squiffy · 30/01/2008 09:54

Have reviewed situation. Is nightmare. I do live in back of beyond. I am a redneck.

1st March & 29th March have Engineering works. The options are:

  1. easy option but naff - take National express coach from either Victoria or Lewisham to Canterbury. £1. I can pick up from Canterbury, or taxis are about £15 I think. About 90 minutes journey I think (add 15 mins if getting on at Victoria)

  2. train option is to take a train from Charing X or Waterloo to Canterbury, 90 mins. On journey back I will be happy to drop people off in Ashford (to avoid a Sunday bus replacement service and thus join the train further up the line) again 90 mins total journey. If it was me I'd go for the coach option instead of this.

15th March and 12th April there are no engineering works so trains are normal 65mins from Victoria.

Am happy with whatever solution works.

In terms of where I live, I am appx 10 mins drive from Whitstable, 10 mins from Canterbury and 5 mins from Faversham. Page62 if you want me to check out location of cottage for you then let me have the address - I know Whitstable like back of my hand and am over there this evening so can cruise past for you if you want...

OP posts:
eleusis · 30/01/2008 10:14

At the risk of sounding bossy and abnoxious... don't you enev think about changing it to the 15th of March. That is DD's birthday party followed by a quick dash to Bournemouth after the party for hen night with my ante natal class from when DD was born. So there is no way I could come on the fifteeth.

Will be in Chicago 12th April.

Please please please don't change the date.

God I sound desperate. You'd think this was my only night out the whole year.

But, is anyone else driving? If no one else is bringing kids, I would think that one more care could fit everyone else?

Alternatively, we could all just meet at Waterloo and get drunk on the way down and Squiffy can pick up her drunken mates in Canterbury?

Page62 · 30/01/2008 10:30

Squiffy,

the line is www.theloftwhitstable.com.

in case there is a change of plans due to rail services, the 12th of April is ok with me.

Eleusis, how long are you in Chicago for?

eleusis · 30/01/2008 10:32

In Chicago 4th-13th April. DD hasn't been since she was 3 months old and DS has never been. I've been guilted into it by my sisters. DH is not going so I expect that to be a bloody fun plane ride. Might have to drug them.

kaz999 · 30/01/2008 10:35

hi guys. do any of u live in chatham, or medway. sorry to butt in. trying to find people as i know no one at all with kids near me. x

legalalien · 30/01/2008 10:46

my preference is also not to change the date, so happy to go with either bus or drunken train trip from waterloo (or one leg of each).

kaz999, apart from squiffy we're all in london, but there was a kent meet up thread floating around recently - if you have a look in the meet up topic you should be able to find it

jura · 30/01/2008 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Squiffy · 30/01/2008 14:51

here you are Kaz, new thread for a kent meet if you are interested (apologies that I refer to you as Jaz not Kaz on the thread)...

OP posts:
bertieboo · 30/01/2008 16:06

Coming into this late. Sorry! If its still the weekend of the 29th March i would love to join with DD (currently 7months) squiffy will that be ok???

bertieboo · 30/01/2008 16:08

I will be driving from London and will be able to take 2 adults if that helps at all? i live right in the centre of london....

Squiffy · 30/01/2008 16:35

But of course, BertieBoo, will be great to see you again.

OP posts:
bertieboo · 30/01/2008 16:55

is there a bed avaiable chez squiffy?? (i am sooo forward)

eleusis · 30/01/2008 17:25

Bertie, are you a name changer?

legalalien · 30/01/2008 21:20

....

RGPargy · 30/01/2008 21:27

Ooooo this looks interesting!! I'm only up the road in Rochester and could bring DD (currently 8 weeks) with me and spend a couple of hours in the afternoon/early evening with a glass of vino.

bertieboo · 31/01/2008 07:07

no not a name changer, i just dont post very often. thankfully my nanny issues have been resolved

eleusis · 31/01/2008 10:18

Oh good. I should probably remember you then, since I live on those threads. sorry

bertieboo · 31/01/2008 11:17

Haha, dont worry, i dont contribute very often to threads as A) everyone is much wiser than me and B) my experience is very limited....
I meant to come along to the 18th Jan meet up, but i was away that weekend. Squiffy and i met for drinks in the city in Dec and sweetly she lived up to her name!

Squiffy · 01/02/2008 10:50

Hey RGPargy (great name ), sorry for delay in reply - was off work for most of the day, and broadband connection at home is up the spout (something to do with DH unilaterally deciding to 'upgrade' it. Am sure he will get round to fixing it. Maybe after he fixes the bedroom lights that fused on 23rd December...)

Anyway, this thread started as a dinner party, but looks like it will extend into the afternoon depending on who is coming, when. After I posted it, I discovered that there seemed to be quite a few mums in the area (see the posts below), so I thought it would be an idea to try to do two meet-ups instead of one (otherwise I am a bit scared I might get overwhelmed with numbers). I thought it would be a good idea to try to do something in addition to this meet, just for the kent ladies, so I started this thread here - am hoping this way we can get together quite a few kent ladies and start something regular. so hop over if you would like to join this thread. Otherwise keep posted on this one because we will no doubt be expanding our plans for earlier in the day, depending on who is/isn't bringing children, and whether people will be arriving in the afternoon or evening.

OP posts:
legalalien · 01/02/2008 12:57

overwhelmed by numbers - I'm now having visions of Squiffy as the new Corey Delaney

RGPargy · 01/02/2008 13:48

Thanx Squiffy. Have bundled into the other thread.