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Meet ups/where are you?

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Testing the water for a "Northern mini-national"

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Elegran Tue 24-Sep-13 15:06:06

There was talk of a National meetup a little while ago, but nothing concrete seems to have happened about it. There was a lot of general interest then, but how many people are still interested and would come to an all-day meeting in Edinburgh in November/December? If there are enough to make it worth the effort of organising it, I shall make a detailed plan and agenda and take serious names.

Central Edinburgh is a magical place around Christmas, so a meeting at a date from the end of November would be good (St Andrews Day is the 30th November, highly suitable, and the decorations and entertainments in Princes St Gardens open just before that) Time for gift shopping could be built in.

Here is a possible scenario - a meeting room overlooking the castle booked for the day from 9 to 5, with three tea/coffee/cake/biscuit breaks, a buffet lunch, and a couple of talks on relevant subjects, plus time for limitless socialising and retail therapy on Princes St. This would cost, at a very vague reckoning, about £25 a head plus £7.50 each for lunch. A bit of negotiation might bring it down, but that is a conjecture, so is a spot of fundraising of some kind to offset the cost. (GN have indicated that they are not able to offer any funding) Other places might be cheaper or dearer, but this is somewhere that we know does a good lunch and afternoon tea and has a nice atmosphere.There is a lift. There would be room for up to 40.

There are usually travel deals on at that time of year. There are a lot of hotels/B&Bs etc in Edinburgh, (lists are available from the information centre), and we might get a bulk rate if several people want to stay over in the the same place.

I don't know yet whether this will be viable, so there is no guarantee that it will happen, but it could be a very enjoyable day. If you are interested enough to be counted in provisionally, please pm me.

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 03-Dec-13 22:19:08

grin

Clearly another meet up is much needed

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Galen Tue 03-Dec-13 22:22:15

YES!

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Galen Tue 03-Dec-13 22:22:44

GNHQ Arrange one!

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Galen Tue 03-Dec-13 22:24:36

If someone local can take dictation, I'm happy to do that.

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 04-Dec-13 07:39:55

I think there is clearly need to arrange a huge one...given everyone is from everywhere in the UK (& beyond but I think we should start with a domestic meet before going global grin) we should have a think about where best to do it. If you prefer I will borrow Elegran's map and stick a pin in it - though with my sense of direction I suspect we will end up in the outer Hebrides. Which, while beautiful, may not be the most practical of choices.

Unless...we could colonise. And claim independence <mind races...>

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ffinnochio Wed 04-Dec-13 07:48:09

CariGransnet I think a big Gransnet meet would be wonderful, but please don't dismiss those of us who are not 'domestic'. We are as much a part of Gransnet as everyone else, and am sure many of us would love to join-in if possible. smile

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 04-Dec-13 09:12:19

Absolutely NOT dismissing I promise. And couldn't agree more that those overseas are as big a part of Gransnet as anyone else.

On a purely practical level though I think the meet up would need to be (somewhere) in the UK. Although VERY happy to be tempted by suggestions from those in sunnier climes smile

Finding somewhere (anywhere in the world) to suit everyone I fear will be impossible so I think we will have to agree on a compromise to suit the majority but there's no reason why we can't have skype etc running for those who can't get there but still want to join in <panics about technical aspects of this but promises to consult those who will be able to help>

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GillieB Wed 04-Dec-13 09:19:15

Sounds great, Cari, 'twas lovely to meet you and others and put a face to the names we all know.

We brought JaneAinsworth up with us; we picked her up in the dull morning light, we talked non-stop on the way up (I was in the front of the car and she was in the back, so no direct face to face conversation), jumped out of the car just off Princes Street and hurried along to the meeting. It wasn't until we had sat down at the table for quite a while that I realised that I actually knew Jane in real life - or, at least, recognised her from pick ups at school and the local shops! The trouble is that, like many people, when I think of grans I think of someone really old (not me, of course) and then get a shock when I meet all these elegant stylish women.

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 04-Dec-13 11:51:49

LOL!!!

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janeainsworth Wed 04-Dec-13 12:36:24

Yes I agree GillieB, when I met my friends in the evening and said I'd spent the day in Edinburgh with the Gransnet members, I got several funny looks and I got the impression that they thought Gransnet was for really old people, and would have been amazed at the lively, intelligent gathering we enjoyed.
Thank you again for the lift to Edinburgh and so nice to meet you after all these years smile

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 04-Dec-13 23:20:09

Saw this and thought of everyone especially Granny23

m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25205017

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Granny23 Thu 05-Dec-13 00:15:06

Came on to post the same link which was forwarded to me by DD, and you had beaten me to it. Well done Cari.

Remember, folks, you heard it first on Gransnet wink

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CariGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 05-Dec-13 23:42:12

grin

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Tegan Tue 10-Dec-13 17:52:00

Just got home [not from Edinburgh I hasten to add, even I can't get THAT lost shock]. Was a super day and quite an adventure, but still can't understand why they had to have a 'practice evacuation' at Berwick Station when there was a]only me there and b] no trains runningconfused. Big thanks, yet again to Elegran for arranging it all. Where's the 'group photo' by the way?? Good job we didn't have it on the Wednesday [or whichever day was the windy one; I've sort of lost track of time].

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