Midlands meet up

Museums and Art Galleries don't make me feel old; to me they are places where people young and old go to learn, and wanting to learn and be curious about everything around you isn't a sign of getting old but of not getting old. However, about 10 years ago my marriage broke up and I joined a singles group; not with a view to 'meeting someone' but in an attempt to have a social life of some kind. Our local group met up in the most depressing pub ever and they just weren't the sort of people I wanted to be with. I can remember arriving home after the first visit to this pub, looking in the mirror and saying to myself 'what have you become?'. It was like a scene out of a Hitchcock movie; even my face looked distorted in the mirror [and I hadn't been drinking], so I get what susie means in that respect. I then joined another singles group that was completely different and had the time of my life for a couple of years. It'll be very strange for me going to Birmingham Art Gallery because I spent so much time there in my childhood and I've only been back once in the intervening years, and even that was @ 15 years ago, perhaps longer. This year has been a stinker; not on the awful scale that some of the dear ladies on this forum have had, but I'm really chuffed that I've met a group of such funny, lovely people and really looking forward to meeting some of them . Oh, and I must warn you that I don't usually drink so if and when I have a glass of wine I get very giggly and can't stop talking .

There is a lift just around the corner and across the pavement its just a bit further to walk to the lift and then a bit further when you get out. Will need to use lift myself, so will look out for your fairy lights.

Beginning to wish I lived in the Midlands!

Rd disabled access. If I have problems I'm sure you will all help? I'm the tallish one with silver hair! Fat! And pearls!
I've ordered a very cheap fascinator from amazon!
Might look for some fairy lights for my crutches!

NO WAY IS,THIS GOING TO BE STUFFT!

When you all get together the food or the venue wont even figure in things, hope the public have ear plugs the noise of you all chatting will be deafening.

Disabled access?

I have always found the food to be good, with a varied selection including veggie. The Tearoom is a large room with a very high ceiling with an upstairs gallery. When you come into the main entrance and up the stairs you come into a round gallery with paintings around the walls. You then walk through the shop down a gallery of stained glass windows and pots and vases to the tea room.
The museum part is mainly upstairs and and well away from the Tearoom, the gallerys surrounding the Tearoom on that level is mainly paintings and the silver collection.

Nothing less Annobel

Hell's Grannies!

There is the distinct possiblity that we may be thrown out of the tearooms for lowering the tone. But we wouldn't let Geraldine know that.

HEELS?HELLS!

I think it will be more like a meeting of 'older' HEELS CHERUBS '

susiecbI thought your aversion to tearoom may be exactly as you describe. We can all sit around in tasteful beige outfits drinking lemon tea, eating cake with a little fork and talking in hushed voices that somehow echo around the room and try to outdo each other about how wonderful our families are, how clever and successful we are - I don't need to go on. I sometimes work in our local 'big hoose' tea room and see the grim expressions on the faces of the parties from the very organisations you mention - and they are meant to be having a good time!

I think meeting of the Midlands Chapter of GN is more likely to be a bit of a riot - a lot of giggling and loud conversations - and I don't think we will be on our best behaviou. More like we are playing truant. Well that it how I envisage it. I hope you do come - you know the train I'm getting. If it's not fun I shall eat my purple, green and white accessory.

Agreed!

I do agree with gracesmum that it would be good if you would join us Susiecb
Reading the various threads on this website makes me think that the women who write them are far from the stereotypical old person , and are testament to the fact that growing old is, among a lot of other things, quite liberating and fun. I think that our get together will be lively and interesting and you would probably benefit from joining us. However, as much as I would like everyone to be there, I do think that we should stick to our agreed plan and go to the Edwardian Tearooms as voted for by most of the group.
gracesmum has gone to a lot of trouble to organise this event and we should support her and bring this debate to a close.

For susiecb

I understand where you're coming from in a way; look, I'm stuck into the athletics at the moment but when I'm 'unstuck' I'll get back to you; still think you should come, though....

But, jeni- aren't we all mummies???

Dinosaurs and Egyptian mummys?gracesmum you must be the senior GNetter!

I do wish you would come though susiecb - maybe it was the company of the WI or U3A (pax jessM) which made it so awful. I truly do not believe (fingers tightly crossed that I am right) that we are destined for some dusty fusty tearoom with lace doilies and scones - although I am a particular fan of Betty's in Harrogate and you can't beat a good scone or piece of lemon drizzle
Art gallery restaurants are often fantastic - and even if not Cordon Bleu, are usually good for interesting salads and veggie dishes. We could cure you of this phobia!
Personally my only problem with museums is when I recognise too much of their stuff from my childhood, but the less said about that the better.
Not going to put any pressure on you, but it would be nice to put this phobia firmly to bed!

Does it help if I explain a bit more? Stupidly I suppose I am having enormous emotional problems wth getting older and anything or any environment that makes me feel old is leaving me with days of depression and sleepless nights. I had horrendous experiences with WI and U3A snd their trips to cafes to have tea and scones. DH worded for 40 years in local government and me 30 years in the NHS and council or NHS run eating establishments give me real depression. I agree the meeting up is the most important thing and you may feel as I do that my reasons are silly but I am stuck with them despite struggling withe them and discussing with DH all day. I do hope and I am sure you will enjoy your meeting and in the future if you decide on different venue even a Wetherspoons I look forward to meeeting you. Best wishes
Sue

I'm not too fussed about the food as long as it's veggie.

I'm coming for the company not the food so whatever suits most of you is fine by me .travelling by train from Bristol with Barrow and jeni.

Any further thoughts? My feeling is that meeting up is what we are going for and that is what I am looking forward to. The environment is obviously important and a nice lunch would be a bonus, but the company will be what makes it special. I am just waiting for somebody who knows it to confirm what crimson, jeni, grrranny and glitabo are saying.

I will wait a couple of days before taking it any further, but if we have said all there is to be said, it would be nice to reach a consensus and get on with it!

I agree with JessM .