Right. I've been thinking long and hard about this. iwcas aside (feeling your pain lovely, have sent you a message) I think money has already reared its head as a problem. So here are my thoughts about keeping the weekend as low cost as possible:
Food
- Friday night I've already said i'm happy to bring something. I'm currently trying out a cornbread topped chilli from a nigella recipe. That would leave rice/garlic bread, salad and sour cream for others to bring. One meal = tick.
- Breakfasts: i think we bring our own. I mean, i'm not talking about measuring out your own portion of corn flakes and woe betide anyone who touches it - but it would save a lot of hassle.
- Baby food: Again i think we bring our own.
- Sat lunch - can we stretch to a ten pound budget for random food somewhere (rkd to advise?) Or Ginsters pasty on a bench?? RKD's list of places give us some good pointers.
- Sat evening: I truly think we could cater a roast for everyone on a very small budget - couple of chickens, bag of potatoes, carrots, a cabbage...
alcohol bring your own. (share it out once you are a few glasses down the line,
obviously 
) and I
hear there are a couple of you who don't Actually Drink Much....

so that would seem fairer for you
lightweights
Entertainment
Well obviously there's wine. And cake (we can rustle up a good selection between us surely?)
Soft play - well, for our age babies it seems like it's more like a selection of random toys. and cushions. Can we not manufacture this somewhere in the cottage?? Yesterday Thea spent about three hours on the floor playing with other kids toys - they were much more interesting than hers... So assuming we all bring various knickknack toys and we take rkd's offer up of the activity arch etc, then i think we could have a very nice time.
I can bring a Wii if we want to do something fun. if anyone has singstar that might be very funny.
Basically, as far i can see it - the weekend is about good company and good fun. We don't necessarily have to spend out to do that - surely the best way to maximise chattage is to spend time in the cottages where the babies will probably be happier anyway.
What do we think?? I can be more specific (and more arcadian Head Girlish
) if you like and start doling out the Things to Bring to people?
i don't intend (or have the means) to spend much that weekend as it is, so am hoping it keeps costs down for everyone so that this isn't a drag for people
Yours, bossily (but excited that it's only two weeks away)
Melk x