(no subject)

[hellison]

Gnah everything is BUSY. Busybusybusy. Suddenly have LOTS to do at work, all of which needs done about NOW.
Also plenty to do at Home, between horse, hospital visits and not letting the house descend into chaos (I may be failing on that last part). Mainly now trying to avoid falling into the STRESSY ARRGGGH of last week where I constantly felt that no matter where I was, I should be rushing to get somewhere else.
On the plus side Mum *is* doing better, the infection in her shoulder is apparently responding to the antibiotics, but she'll be in hosptial for at least another week, possibly 2, on the IV thingy.

Another plus, I had a really good and surprisingly relaxing, or at least stress-escaping weekend at febmeet. Partly due to avoiding f'ing Feltham as much possible (beacuse it IS a dreary shithole).
Also, probably because one reason I wasn't looking forward to it so much this year was that a lot of the people I really wanted to see were unlikely to be there. But then most of them actually turned up on saturday, plus a kelemvor on friday, which was great ;)


Had a lovely afternoon Friday pottering round Windsor, thanks to malvino's cunning plan, with a boat trip down the river, viparian entertainments and Scientific Discourse. Did you know goose honks sound the same forwards and backwards? Trufax! Except Belgian geese of course (they pronounce the 'h').
And there was certainly NO disturbing nice waiters in Nice Bars by muttering "They're clawing at MY EYES" as he approached (note to self - never visit butterfly house with thipe).
Arriving in Feltham to discover the bar staff were already pissed off with the group was less good, but allievated by some of their lovely lovely ciders. And singing (in a good cause!). And befriending Locals.

Saturday, had a lovely day lurking in the hotel room with tasty snacks and lots of fizzy cola, and planning The Best Cave Ever. Then bar again, with more cider and SURPRISE people. And presents! Later, more singing and eventually bed. With a Trustee AND Director (or, high lord and lord for us older folk ;p). Tho sadly this consisted more of "shut up or I will STAB YOU IN THE FACE" than hot sex0ring, but still, surely gets me some sort of points? If only for NOT stabbing them...

Sunday was just pain and tiredness and Oh God WHY Am I Still In Feltham?? Tho, farewell HUGS from lovely people were good (except Tique who is just disturbing, as always ;p), also promises to visit. Again ;p
And then eventually going home. Stupid late flights.

In short? Great weekend, had a wonderful time because of the people there, but would be even better if it was Somewhere Else less shite. With a decent hotel.

And now, back to work! Woe.

Comments

[hellison.livejournal.com]

There should be plenty of places around london that meet the basic criteria. It's a big place!

The private/semi-private room would help too, to avoid annoying locals and thus the bar staff. Somewhere that is a nice place to visit ITSELF not just somewhere that is easy to flee from.

Mostly i am just fed up spending a fair bit of money to get to fucking feltham (particularly when i discovered a weekend in MALTA was cheaper ;p). I can't understand why people get so up in arms about the idea of moving it somewhere *nicer*.

[sleetersoulfire.livejournal.com]

The criteria are easily met in so many other places... :(

My only real crteria is just a Main Pubbe. I didn't like Manchster's fragmentation of MUD people into many pubbes. :(

I like everyone to be in one place so I can float from table to table, bringing JOY and LOVE to the hearts of all. :D

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a main pubbe - preferably with a room to ourselves. Or a hotel that *has* a decent and affordable bar, so we can just drink there.

it is much better being able to flit around everyone, like a pretty social butterfly (CLAWING AT MY EYES). I think I actually managed to talk to everyone one I wanted to this year, which is good.

[sleetersoulfire.livejournal.com]

Social Butterfly! OMG

I didn't flit *that* much, but I did get to speak to some newbies, which was fun. :D

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

The main problem is that London's airports aren't really in London. Heathrow's in zone six, and Gatwiok's beyond the zones, FFS! *Does not want to get started on "London" Luton and "London" Stansted*

Given the number of people who drive, somewhere on the M4 corridor might also work. Of course, within easy cycling distance of the above (*points to icon*) would also be nice!

(I appear to have royally screwed the HTML in my last comment. There ought to have been a "</I>" in there somewhere, and a vague offer to Research a New and Exciting Venue!)

[thipe.livejournal.com]

Our main suggestion was Reading since:

a) People Know It
b) We know a good hotel that is as cheap as St Giles
c) There's a cheaper hotel next door and an even cheaper travelodge all on the same road, within 5 minutes of each other.
d) We could almost certainly book out part of the pub, with sufficient notice.
e) There is a town centre, with shopping diversements
f) Cost of Heathrow->Reading is £22 return. Buses leave every 20 minutes. £14.50 if you have a rail card.
g) Cost of Reading->Central Londons £15 return. Less with rail card. £19.50 if you include a travel card as well.
h) Cost of Reading->Oxford/Windsor/etc is about £6.
i) Is right next to the M4.

p.s. who r you on teh mud? *eyes*

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

Your points are all good, and outweight the not-meeting of my personal criterion! Here's a thought: if people are compatible with Advanced Booking and Suchlike, perhaps discounts could be sought from the poor victims hotels...

PS
I'm not a MUDder - I'm a MUDder-in-law. Our household MUDder is Vesta/Trinity.

[thipe.livejournal.com]

Ah, cunning!

May we have made refined conversation on the Friday? *has blurry memories*

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

We might have made Refined Conversation - I certainly spoke to a few people whom I didn't know from Adam (or Eve). hellison would be the one to ask, as I spent most of my time in the pub either in her corner or losing money to the quiz machine.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly sure you made conversation at some point, but it is all, somehow, rather vague...

(ahh cider, Nature's Tippex)

[gnillot.livejournal.com]

Helen! Did I meet Kelemvor on Friday? My memory is a tad... blurry :p

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Possibly? He was the tall one stood by the quiz machine!

[hellison.livejournal.com]

sadly however, there are a subset now Deadly Against Reading (mainly it seems Because We Suggested it) so we may have to look elsewhere..

[thipe.livejournal.com]

I suggest Acton. Then when they all get shot, we can move it back to Reading.

[glassstrider.livejournal.com]

f) Cost of Heathrow->Reading is £22 return. Buses leave every 20 minutes. £14.50 if you have a rail card.
g) Cost of Reading->Central Londons £15 return. Less with rail card. £19.50 if you include a travel card as well.

Both of which are more expensive than the equivelant from Feltham - 2 x £2 bus fares and one £7.50 travel card (£11.50 versus £41.50).

£30 is a not inconsiderable amount. And the St Giles is actually a good hotel. So unless reading manages to be just as good and at least £30 cheaper, it's a worse deal.

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

I would suggest, having lived in Reading and spent a lot of time in Feltham, that the £30 would be worth the difference in facilities all round.

But that's just my opinion...

[thipe.livejournal.com]

It's not that huge an amount either. And frankly, if cost is the only reason for choosing Feltham you're not really selling it well. There's also a lot more facilities, places to eat, and places in the surroudnign area in Reading than Feltham.

And for the price we end up paying, the St Giles really isn't a good hotel.

To be honest, it doesn't have to be Reading, but somewhere other than Feltham would be nice.

[dasquian.livejournal.com]

Aye to this.

St Giles isn't *bad*, but there are plenty of just-as-nice-hotels and, dare I say it, nicer ones. The Wetherspoon's is a nice pub, but not ideal.

The best meets, the most anticipated meets, have been the ones with the novelty factor. Feltham while it was still new or when PF showed up; MancMeet, the Scotmeets, etc. They're all great because they break routine and are enjoyable weekends even before seeing mudfolk.

We could certainly stay in Feltham til the end of time, but wouldn't it be nice to do something a bit different? Even at the cost of a few quid more, or the chilly breeze of Change rustling across our routine-warmed cheeks (POET IS ME). With a bit of careful planning I'm sure we can find somewhere with equally good access and facilities, and interesting new day-trip opportunities.

[thipe.livejournal.com]

Which cheeks?

*bares all*

[thipe.livejournal.com]

(ZOMG NUDIEMEET)

[hellison.livejournal.com]

I do not know if i am more intrigued or terrified by this concept.

I think, on the whole? TERRIFIED

[sleetersoulfire.livejournal.com]

Well, one of my least favourite things about MUD meets is everyone naffing off to the wind for the best part of the day. But that's just me, and I know most people love the meet trips.

For me, the atmosphere makes the meet great. If we're being leered at/frowned at/growled at by locals/staff that makes it less enjoyable.

I would like somewhere a bit different. It would make a nice change and we could all get drunk somewhere new and shiny! Then get lost because no one actually knows the way anywhere... :D

Ahhh, good times...

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Yeah, going somewhere that's actually a nice place to *stay* rather than just handy to get away from would also be a bonus.

And... somewhere DIFFERENT. Surely 9/10 years in feltham is enough?