Glad to see the back of you

Thank you, yaya! Lovely to meet you yesterday. Hope to chat more next time

looking forward to everyone else's photos

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

soop We did remember to toast absent friends and, just for good measure, we toasted absent's friends as well.

I've so enjoyed reading all the happy comments from you lot...I can just imagine how noisy the natter/banter was around your table. I was thinking of you and wishing that I could have joined the scrum fun. I'm delighted that Absent had a fitting farewell do. Enjoy your new adventure. Shall enjoy seeing the photos.

harri get well soon

gillybob wishing your DIL a speedy recovery.

Baubles and Bags Going completely off tack at this point...but I wish that you lived just around the corner. Why? I have to clear my wardrobe of numerous beautiful items of clothing [many new] in readiness for the move [when it happens]...I need help with sorting/photographing and listing it all for either ebay, or simply giving to a charity shop.

I have just been told that while I was out carousing with a noisy mob of friends lunching with the ladies yesterday, Mr absent agreed that we would have dinner with his sister, brother-in-law and two daughters this evening. No outings for months and then two come along together. I suspect that this occasion will be a little more restrained.

Trying to upload photos from the iPad but as fast one uploads the next one down disappears! It's all a mystery to me. 2 of Marelli Moomin and Baubles on my photo page. Will persevere

Why not post photos to your Local forum and the Local Facebook page as well as on here. That is what they are for! and the editors will bless you for your input.

Thank you so much for our lovely lunch, absent! Everything was perfect - and what a racket we were making!! baubles went upstairs to the loo and said you could hear us yattering (very loudly) through the floor ! The company, as ever, was lovely and I think we all feel as if we know each other so well now.
gillybob, I hadn't known about your DiL's accident - we were at the other end of the table and though we were able to smile and laugh to each other, not much actual news came across! I hope she's doing ok now, albeit with sore and broken bits?
Lovely to meet Janeainsworth, nanaej, and yayajen for the first time, and hope we meet up many more times!
The day was a joy - from beginning to end! Thank you again, absent, and may you settle happily in your new country. xx

My thanks to Baubles, too, for adding the Indian restaurant where she ate again on the way home onto the listings on the Ed Local (where did she stow away another meal?). I must have been pre-occupied, because I forgot to drum it into everyone while you were a captive audience that ANYONE can add to the listings and reviews, so you can put all your favourite places and services on your local site.

That includes places of worship, what's on, shops, groups, classes and clubs and a whole lot more. The current push is for garden centres and plantsmen, for all the gardening now that spring may? be here.

My head is as clear as a bell! Maybe I did not imbibe as much as some - or maybe it was just so empty to start with that there was plenty of space for expansion.

Thank you everyone for coming. I hope the heads are not too sore this morning. Didn't we have fun? Thank you too for the beautiful earrings and the lovely card which, together with Bags's clever and delightful handiwork, will be treasured mementoes of Gransnet meet-ups.

Such a shame that you couldn't join us harrigran. I hope you are well again soon.

What a lovely time you have had for absent's send-off. Wish I could have been there, too. I can't wait to see the photos.

Thank you Absent for a truly fantastic (and scrumptious) goodbye lunch. Had a lovely day with fantastic company too, what could be better.
Feeling a tiny bit delicate this morning , probably due to the fact that I twisted my ankle on the way back to the station ( bloody high heel shoes) and definitely nothing to do with the consumption of wine .

Thank you all for your kind wishes for my DIL you are such a thoughtful bunch!

Will miss you lots Absent and wish you so much happiness for your future in New Zealand.

That sounds like a good recipe for some sparkling chat!

That's obviously a baker's dozen!

Greatnan there were twelve of us - from absent's left going round the table -I'm sure someone will post photographs.

Marelli, Moomim, Baubles, Yayajen, Gally, Glass, Gillybob, Elegran, Granny23, Bags, Janeainsworth and Nanaej

How many lucky members were present? It sounds as if you all had a ball!
I know absent won't leave us when she gets to NZ, once her internet is up and running. (Absent, there is free access in Richmond Library!)

A huge thank you from me too, Absent. It was a lovely day although it is difficult to speak to everyone when there are so many around a very noisy table. A good time was had by all

Good morning everyone and a huge thank you to you all for making me feel welcome and especially to Absent for your generosity and for being you..<3

Which facebook page will pics be on?

This is mine...https://www.facebook.com/GransnetNorthYorkshire

And it's thanks from me too - I didn't realise that you were picking up the tab for us all Absent so generous. I had a lovely day and enough hugs to last for a good while. Great to see everyone again and to meet Jane, Nanaej, and Yayajen.

Look out NZ, here she comes!

And huge thanks from me too (she squeaks from the back). It was a truly scrumptious lunch and I too have a slight headache - must have been the rail travel I think . It was lovely to meet everyone again. Have fun absent. NZ doesn't know what's coming!!!

Thank you from me too, absent. It was lovely

gillybob, Ouch! for your DiL. Hope she feels, and is, better soon.

A lovely time, absent hope you soon make enough friends down under to have as good a time with a dozen dizzy women as we all had today.

Hope you didn't fall off those heels on the way home.

Thank you absent from me also - a lovely, lovely lunch and super to see everyone, but sorry it had to be a "farewell" lunch, you will be missed.