Testing the water for a "Northern mini-national"

Wouldn't mind a go on the Ferris Wheel but I think I'll pass on the ice skating! Looking forward to it

This meetup (on Sunday December 1st) is mentioned in the GN newsletter this week. I am hoping that more people will realise it is on and sign up for it. There is enough room for quite a few more of us, and it looks like being a great day.

Edinburgh's Princes Street Christmas decorations will be operational by then, and the giant Ferris wheel and other rides, the outdoor skating rink in the gardens, a German Market in one part of the gardens (lots of continental traditional goodies and unusual pressies) and a Highland Market in another (venison, anyone?). Plus a Christmas Market in Castle Street, and of course all the other retail therapy opportunities.

We are in the Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, with direct views over the Ross bandstand to the Castle. They have bedrooms to let, for those who wish to arrive on the Saturday and stay over.

If you fancy a day (or a weekend) in Edinburgh, PM me for more info.

Done (Paypal)!

Arrived safely, GillieBob Thank you.

Cheque went off on Tuesday, Elegran, as DH forgot to post it on Monday. Sorry about that.

Thanks, everyone who has sent me a deposit (that is most of you) I shall confirm the booking tonight, and then we are committed. Hope the weather is decent.

Finally..........sent. Who thought of that stupid Paypal password?

Will put a cheque in the post today. Still not sure about travel arrangements; pity I have to be in Bamburgh on the Saturday night or I could have travelled up on the Saturday afternoon. The S.O. is oop north this week so he might formulate a cunning plan [if push comes to shove he'll drive me up anyway].

Me too

Done, looking forward to it!

Done cant wait.

Should be:

Done <excited face>

Done.

Calling all those who will be coming to Edinburgh on December 1st.

I have to send a deposit to the venue by the end of the week, so could I ask you for £15 each? I have sent everyone a PM, but in case you don't get a notification I have put a post on here too.

There is still time to add to the numbers, so if you are still undecided you can reply later, but I do need some cash from those who will definitely be there.

CHEAP TRAIN TRAVEL 30th NOVEMBER/1st OCT for all those who are not travelling because of train hassle and expense. BOOK BY 4th OCTOBER

East Coast Trains have pre-booked train bargains if you register with them at http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/ and book BY 4th OCTOBER for travel from 8 October to 19 December. Their London-Aberdeen trains stop at Peterborough, Lincoln, Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Berwick-on-Tweed, Edinburgh.

Travelling to Edinburgh on Saturday 30 Nov and returning on 1st December looks like a good price. There are beds available at my house and in Fife for a few people who want to come up on Saturday and return on Sunday.

If you are registered with them, they will send you a link to use with your registered email address, which goes to a page where you can book bargains online. You can search for departure and arrival locations and times. I have copied the results of my York-Edinburgh search to my Facebook page as an example.

Me too, looking forward to seeing you all.

Glass - so am I! I am getting quite excited about the thought of it all.

gillieB I am pleased you jane and moomin are sorted.

That is really good news, Gill. I was beginning to despair of seeing people who needed trains to get here.

Send OH to get Christmas presents - that will keep him busy!

Elegran - my DH has kindly agreed to drive me, JaneA and, possibly, Moomin up for the meetup on the Sunday morning, so you can definitely count us in now. He says he can find plenty to do wandering around Edinburgh, so I was happy to take him up on the offer.

moomin sorry Gillybob and I have booked trains and hotel for the Saturday due to the train problems on the Sunday, we have booked the 18.46 home, as later trains seem to be starting with a bus journey to Berwick first, why not join us and anyone else who would like to?

gillybob and I are booked on the train and will be in Edinburgh from Saturday lunch time and we have booked into the ROSL on Saturday night.

Cant wait

Offer closes in 37 hours and 19 minutes

Groupon 'Getaways' have an offer of flight and hotel from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Southend starting at £89. May be worth looking at for those considering coming from the south. Can stay up to 3 nights......

Moomin - was just looking at the rail times and fares, was aghast at the time it was going to take, and then I logged on to Gransnet to send you and Glass a PM to see what you are intending to do. How many of us are there from the Newcastle area, do you know? I think we will have to look at some alternative transport - I can't go up on the Saturday either, so unless I can sort something out, I am out, I am afraid. It can't be beyond our wit to sort something out.