SN Meet Up!

[fio2]

Courtesy of Davros who seems really enthusiastic to have a meet up Would it ever be possible? Or would we have to have a virtual one

aha! that works much better with the wine!!

Okay, (being bossy now) who would be bringing children? and what would you need if you were? My dd being little is easy and we can manage pretty much anywhere londonish - park, swanky restaurant (okay maybe not)....

I can make it to London but am CERTAINLY not bringing DS1!!! I wouldnt have a single minute to talk to anyone! Might have to bring DS2 though who is 2yrs old.

I'm also very new to mumsnet but would like to come. One suggestion if it's too complicated for us all to meet would be to do several smaller meets in different areas. I probably would have to bring at least one child unless it was a weekend then I could leave dh in charge .

Possible suggestion for venue if there were a lot of us - you can hire out whole soft play areas for birthdays etc - would that be a possibility or is that too stressful in terms of charging after children balanced precariously halfway up ropes etc

Also I would be happy to give lifts but that would depend on number of children/ carseats etc.

I'd love to come along if I possibly could make it but the children would be with me and it would have to be in school holiday time. Also, I'd have to save up for it and plan well ahead. It would be a train and hotel job.

Who knows? If you all get something going on a regular-ish basis, I may be able to sort something out.

Okay, here's a suggestion. How about those of us who can easily meet in London and either don't want to bring children or can easily bring little ones meet up somewhere centralish London for lunch sometime in the next month or so, probably a school day so that childcare is taken care of. We can have wine Fio2! Really don't want to exclude anyone but just trying to be practical.

As Saker has suggested, maybe others who can't easily make London could organise similar meet-ups in their area.

Then, maybe half term or possibly even Christmas hols we could try and organise a big meet-up, hire somewhere, even stay somewhere, maybe bring dh/dp's if they want and have a big family meet up. We could make it somewhere more central so everyone can come. Actually as this would probably take lots of organising, might have to be into next year. Would this work or just impossible? Would everyone actually want to do it or would it just be too stressful/impractical? I can be quite a bossy organiser at times (might have noticed ) so would be happy to sort this if everyone wanted to do it.

Thoughts welcome.

Looking at who lives where, the majority of 'us' (not me) live in London or the home counties so an initial meet-up in the South seems reasonable. To do a national one would need a lot of planning and negotiation.

Can I suggest a national one in 2005 maybe around February half term. Would people prefer to meet during the week or weekend? Who works, who doesn't? Who has school age children?

May I initially suggest a venue such as Legoland (as it's had a good report on MN). I would have to book a Travellodge or similar but it would be a break to look forward to. Has anyone else got ay ideas?

HIC, I'm game to meet in London (can hardly not considering where I live!) and would probably bring 17 mos DD (so far NT!) NOOOOTTTTT DS! So daytime during the week would be best but not w/c 20th Sept as DS's school closes then to move location.

I could be up for it - only catch is I work full-time 5 days a week. I work Oxford Street/Grosvenor Square area so could do lunch somewhere around there during the week. Would also possibly be keen on a 'family' day sometime on the weekend. Interested in maybe Legoland. Whatever is decided I'll try to see if I can make it - would love to meet.

It's probably too complicated for me to get down to London for lunch - although I am only in Cambs, it would still mean drive, train, tube and to get back for school pickup. Happily would meet up with anyone in East Anglia although looking at Anniebear's thread it doesn't seem like there's many.

Coppertop if you think you can't make London would you fancy meeting up in Ely or somewhere? Don't worry if it's too much effort as you don't have transport.

Am going to start a new thread as not sure if not many people can/want to make a London meet-up or if people haven't seen this.

Dottee - I like the Legoland idea. Like you I'd have to save up and maybe even stay in a Travelodge too but it sounds great. I would think that MrsF would probably be up for it too. I'll have to look into costs and travel etc but it sounds like something to look forward to.

Saker - I'd have to look into public transport but a local meet-up sounds like fun.

Posted earlier on London meetup. I think I would prefer somewhere like Legoland. Been meaning to take kiddies there for ages. I'd rather have dh and kiddies there, spend whole day out and if necessary stay over somewhere. Much less stressful (hopefully) than trying to get dd up to London on my own, and only be able to spend a short time there.

I'll bow out if it's legoland, too bloody expensive with 6 of us!

Have to agree that Legoland is very pricey, but have been meaning to send off our Tesco vouchers for tickets for a while, so I guess I should get my act together. Would this be a weekend?

I think if we did something like Legoland it would have to be a weekend for people to be able to make it. And I guess some people would have to stay over.

Just a thought - does Legoland shut for the winter?

We could try a different venue. The cheaper the better IMO.

Yes, just looked it up, it is open from March to end October.

Just looked at Legoland website - I see what you mean about prices . I'd still like to go one day but has anyone thought of somewhere else appropriate - bearing in mind ages and abilities.

I would be up for a weekend later on in the year or early next year (probably better) or Feb half term.

One idea I had, and it is probably completely ridiculous, would be to hire some kind of 'bunkhouse'/hostel type accommodation for a weekend. It would obviously need to be child/disabled friendly. Needn't be ridiculously expensive - I found some places that are about £15 pp/pn.

But, would it be practical? How would we keep children amused/calm. Would we actually get any time to talk to each other (evening?).

It would need lots of organising/planning of activities.

Probably not realistic but thought I'd throw it into the pot .

That sounds good to me but I don't know how others feel.

I'd keep my two happy as follows: sn dd with her cd/tapes etc. NT ds with a bag of air aka football.

An advantage of everyone being together is no-one would be gawping at each other!

Sounds good. Ds1 would be happy with a place to run around in. Ds2 would be happy running and spinning (preferably in an enclosed area to stop breakouts!).

Can I try and come without my family and just get pissed?

I've got a better idea, Lou. What about if you go minus the family, look after my little 'dears' instead.....while I get pissed?

What about if we both go without kids and get pissed together?