Edinburgh meeting / confirm numbers.

Don't worry. Grannylin, I can vouch for the fact that Bags, although an adopted Scot, speaks with received pronunciation.

I'm so glad ga has reappeared.I was getting quite worried about coming on my own and needing an interpreter

All so excitipating. Gally A five star rating. I shall not be tempted to look under sofa. Unless of course Bags goes missing...

What are you going to need - besides loaves and fishes and the odd miracle? I would rather know that my contributions will be useful. It's going to be a brilliant few hours.

GillieB If you wear your labels the butler at least will remember your name.

I have made some bread to bring (will be frozen until Wednesday so that it is not dried out) The white was no problem but I must have skipped a line or something with the onion and herb, because it did not have nearly enough water in it. The poor bread machine was groaning. I couldn't just slosh in some more water so had to take it out and throw it in the bin (where it rose beautifully - maybe I should have left it alone) and start again. It is now in the oven baking.

Machine currently working on oat and bran, experimental so no guarantees, bring your own pickaxes. I had no bran so have used all-bran. That is near enough, isn't it?

Sounds like Wednesday is going to be fun ! If there is a handsome butler going, then I may just catch a cold!

Gillie - very impressed with "lawns", just how large is your garden?? Glass good to know you have face masks at the ready, I could bring rubber gloves too (or may not, it could imply I'm willing to do the washing up!)

You're a star Gally and deserve a medal for working so hard and cooking for us

Under the sofa, Gally - I am very impressed. And thanks for doing the labels - it will make things easier for us (well, perhaps not for me if I am out in the garden with the butler).

My DH is out mowing the lawns; not sure if this is for Glass or Moomin when they pick me up on Wednesday morning, or whether it is the last mow before the winter.

Gally: are you sure there is nothing else we can do?

I've made a list of GN names and REAL names - just a couple are confusing me. Maybe I will write them on sticky labels to apply to bosoms on arrival?? I have been cleaning today in readiness (annual event!). Thought I should sweep the front steps then got sidetracked and started chopping down bushes, so had to sweep the steps again. Hoovered under the sofas, collated reading material and stored away, shoved gc's toys and paraphenalia into a cupboard, dragged more chairs into the kitchen - oh and made 4 big lasagnes. Tomorrow will swab the decks and clean loos - I shall be a complete wreck by wednesday

Soop - giggle - or should that be Snoop?

Now I really must go and make Paprika Pork for tonight's dinner.

Like nanapug I am envious of you all. I will have to travel to the next one.

Should we ask you to remain outdoors, Gillie We could always hire a handsome butler to pamper and wait on you... We'll keep an eye on you both through the window.

AArgh!!! I'm not that bad, really, honestly, truly! (But I might be by Wednesday....) I suppose I wanted to just warn you. My colds go one of two ways - either I sniff for a couple of days and then it goes away completely, or alternatively I am like a tap, but I promise not to sneeze all over you (and I'll wash my hands and bring a bell that I can ring and shout "Unclean, unclean!".)

Do I need to bring a torch so that I can see whilst I am in the boot?

moomin I have the face masks for the journey or we could sit GillieB in the boot

Belt and braces, Marelli
nanpug when we raise a glass of cheer...you, together with all absent grans, will be in our thoughts.

Very envious of you all, hope you have an amazing time and can't wait to hear ALL about it xxx

I think I'll do 2 labels!

Oh no GillieB!! Will put on my protective clothing for our journey then

I have to say that I think labels might be a good idea (with our proper names on!). My proper name isn't easy to guess, of course.

Just started a wretched cold and am now blowing my nose like mad, but I am not giving in to it.

As far as I'm concerned, you're all darlings ...and I'm not being smulchy when I say so...

Bags...Love you to bits...

I think the idea of labels with our names on would help (knowing my hopeless memory for people's names!) and as you say elegran especially when we have "two names" - goodness, does that mean we have to have two labels?!?

That's fine by me, elegran

It wll be dizzying meeting all those new faces. I won't remember anyone's given names, they will be forever their user-names.

Has to be something important to make me cancel Cubs! It's only the second time I've done that. The other time was because DD wasn't well and DH wasn't at home.

baubles, I'm nervous too. But looking forward to it as well

Glass*Marelli*i know, not very logical is it? Yes I'm driving & have directions. See you all soon.