Oxford

Hurray!! Would you be happy to pm me and we could share mobile numbers and (whisper it) names in case of problems nearer the time? Oldgirlfriday can you do that day too? It also occurs to me that goose says she lives in Oxfordshire - could you make it? I might have to be a bit after 11 as it is a good hour+ and I don't know how early I can use my bus pass!!

I'm going to have to see if I can move other commitments around a bit, but I'm very keen to come if I can. So count me in as a provisional. I really hope I can make it.

Soutra Hi - I'm in for a meet-up in Oxford, especially if it's in the Ashmolean. (Goose:-)

Aha - zee swallows fly south in ze winter nudge nudge

'Ah weel onlee zay this once! Ze meeting will take place on ze 25th Feb in ze Ashmolean cafe, but 'ow weel we know each other? ' Hmmmn...... I can imagine me bounding up to a table , beaming and saying 'Hi, I'm Roses, ' while you all kill yourselves laughing at the other end of the room at a different table! Some amazed women will gape at me, and all conversation will cease. GULP.

We did the opposite at our Reading meet-up:tried to drag into our gathering some poor soul who had come for a business meeting.She was looking around for her colleague and we assumed she was looking for us.
She thought it was funny and said she considered we would have a more fun morning than she would. We had bright scarves tied round our handbags for identification.It seemed to work quite well.

We aimed to wear something purple at the Midlands meet up in 2012 - Galen had purple fairy lights on her "luggy" (very inconspicuous) and somebody - was it Mishap or OGM had a purple feather boa. We were not very hard to spot! Unfortunately it also led to looking closely at anybody of a certain age wearing anything vaguely like purple and asking "Are you with us?" - we got some very funny looks along with the negative response and laides moving away to the other end of the restaurant!!
Scarves on handbags sounds like a good idea.

BTW I think OldGirlFriday and I will be on the X5 from MK and so that we can use our bus passes the earliest bus we can get is the 9.51 which gets us into Gloucester Green bus station at 11.35 - so we won't be there until about 12. Does that fit in with the rest of you?

I think I may be the same as I will have to catch a bus from Arborfield to Reading and then the X30 from Reading station to Oxford.

Why don't we say 11.45 for our meeting then? It's only a short walk from the bus station anyway, and we can wait for you to arrive? Scarves on handbags sounds a good idea.

One thing we do need to sort out is; are we going to the cafe or the restaurant? The cafe is on the lower ground floor, the restaurant is up at roof level, we don't want to have 2 groups in different places! If the restaurant, then it will need to be booked as I have heard it gets very busy. The cafe, does drinks, sandwiches, cakes etc.If we want more then it has to be the restaurant.

Looks as if I may get there. I don't do handbags, but I'm sure I can find something purple and obvious.

Okay, let's make it 11.45 in the Ashmolean cafe (in the basement). The restaurant is more formal and quite a bit more expensive. Good idea to have a purple scarf at least, preferably on your handbag. I reckon there are a maximum of about 12, so I'll try and get there a bit early and purloin a couple of tables. Let's hope we're on!

Good idea Purple I had a word with my daughter [her book group meet up now and then in the restaurant] she says a nice view from there but expensive and slow service! Don't think we will be able to book the cafe though? I may go in next week just to see how busy it gets at 11.30 ish.Just had another thought, if the 25th is half term week it could be really busy.

Hmm you may have a point, but worth a try? Sorry IO have not responded to any of thism have been out all day and am paying a "flying visit" before Book Evening at our Thursday Group - but how much more would I rather curl up indoors and not go out in the rain again!!

.....cafe if cheaper please!

Half term is the week before in this area ( Berkshire ) at least.

Yes Gorki just found out that about half term it's the week before here too.Went into the Ashmolean today with a friend and we ended up having a coffee in the basement cafe. We were there about 12.15 and it was about 3/4 full, I had a word with the girl on the counter and she thinks a Tuesday between 11.30 and 12 would be fine, as it's always quieter early in the week.So, people, we should be ok.They do a range of lovely cakes and light lunches.

Thanks for doing the research roses.It's all looking good.
My bus from Reading gets in at 11.25.I can either get off at St. Aldates or Castle Street. Which is best for the Ashmolean ?

In terms of walking Gorki I would say it's almost the same.Castle St may well be nearer [a bit] depending on where in that St. it drops you, but if you don't know Oxford all that well, it's more straightforward to get off at St Aldates [the top of St. Aldates] next to Carfax [where the streets go 4 ways.]High St to the right Queen St to the left and Cornmarket straight on.You would go straight down Cornmarket keeping on left hand side,until you come to cross the road by a large Debenhams.Keep going straight past Debenhams and you come to the Randolph hotel, turn left there and cross the road to the Asmolean museum on the other side.For anyone coming into the bus station who doesn't know Oxford; exit bus station into the market square, go to left hand side and into first little lane left[there are black bollardy things there.]keep left, past the small Burton Taylor theatre,and out into a broad street, turn right here, with The Oxford Playhouse on one side and the Ashmolean on the other.

When you get into the museum through the turnstyle [one at a time please! they tell you off.]turn right, go past the desks and down some stairs into the basement and the cafe is straight ahead.There is also a nice shop where you may want to part with some money.

Hey! I had purple and green fairy lights!
Suffragette colours you know!

Thanks roses. That is very helpful. I know where the museum is in relation to the station but not from the other places. When I get to Debenhams I will be OK. Looking forward to it.

Hi there, just checking the latest time/place.....I'm arranging to come with boheminan by bus.....

Looks like we can confirm that the meet up is in the Ashmolean Museum cafe (in the basement) on Tuesday February 25 from 11.30. See you there, complete with scarf (preferably purple!) tied to your bag for recognition! I will get there a bit early and if people can confirm they are coming, I'll know how many tables to purloin.