Who wants to meet up (and where)?

There is cliquey and there is regional. I think Greenmossgiel was being regional, not speaking to "special groups"

That is the trouble with trying to do a universal meet-up - everywhere is too far for someone.

I am all for regional meetings first, then when/if a national one is planned it will not be a sea of strangers.

I'm pretty sure that any meet ups mentioned on these threads are for anyone who can get to them. I'm also sure closer friendships will be forged in the process, but that's the nature of the beast, I suppose. Perhaps after any meet ups someone could do a write up to involve anyone who can't get there to say what happened that day [obviously withing a framework of a certain amount of anonymity]. For me it's a nice thought to go somewhere that I've been planning to visit anyway and meet people there.

Green do you mean 'everyone' or just some special group? I think that is too far north for some of us.

Perhaps if this is an invitation for a special group it would be better to do it by PM. Someone has already mentioned things could get cliquey.

I think it's a good idea to have a 'regional' meet-up as well. I know Gally is away until September - not sure when in September, though. I would think she may want to be involved in something. Glass is in Newcastle area (she's on holiday this week), and I know that one of the other GN's might be planning to travel up with her at some point, though she lives in the Lincolnshire area. I could perhaps make it to a meet-up in Newcastle - (even better, Edinburgh, crimson) if that was ok with everyone?

I can drive but my driving is rubbish and Birmingham is a nightmare at the best of times. I'm oop north for 2 weeks in August from 20th so thought it might be nice to sort something out for 'our friends in the north'. Again, my driving is rubbish, but I can get the train or bus to Newcastle or Edinburgh even; we're staying in Bamburgh so a day by the sea could be a possibility [although more difficult for those relying on public transport]. It frustrates me that I can't just get in a car and drive places these days, my confidence in that respect being zilch....

crimson What Newcastle meet up? Can I come please? I'm a short train ride away. By he way, is "Dudlai" like "Hove Actually"? (So you live in Brighton? Hove, actually.)

Everyone Happy to join in long chatty lunch – I am both long and chatty – or more formal meeting. Happy to travel to Birmingham or wherever. Happy to stay overnight. I don't drive so I can only travel to somewhere with good transport links – preferably trains. s I'm self-employed, my time is very flexible.

Birmingham sounds fantastic. I was just chatting to someone yesterday from 'Dudlai' [jeni will know what I mean by Dudlai and not Dudley] and it left me with pangs of wanting to revisit the old place with it's wonderul friendy residents, albeit with a somewhat dark sense of humour [jeni will understand that also]. As a Brummie I love the place of my birth and have been planning a meet up with a cousin of mine there. Maybe we could go to the Museum and Art Gallery, one of my favourite places in the whole world, and have something to eat there also [only a suggestion; I'm getting carried away here . I only have Wednesdays off, by the way [other than weekends of course]. Then, of course we need to sort out the Newcastle meet up as well! How exciting!

Birmingham sounds about right. An informal gathering sounds good.... somewhere we can just chat and eat/drink.

I'm in the east Midlands and would be happy to travel say Birmingham, Coventry, Peterborough, Cambridge. I'd like somewhere we could chat like a wine bar, Wetherpsoons something like that- no lectures or seminars though.

I believe Meriden (near Coventry and Solihull) is the centre of the country but I don't think it is very easy by train. Perhaps somewhere near the NEC (Birmingham airport) would be better as that has excelent road and rail links.

I would be happy to travel a bit for this and stay overnight but to give people more options I think a long lunch after which those who want/need to could go home and and those who can stay longer could have a group booking at a hotel.

I am slightly in favour of a regional one first just so everyone would know someone at a national one. Not sure how you define regions but perhaps by the number of people? Would 30-40 be a good number for a first meeting? Maybe even less? What do others think?

I think it seems to be from which exact point you take things from...where the sort of middle of uk is..I used to think it was Dunnysop Bridge (which my friend and I ride to now and again on our bikes)..but apparently that is if you cut out a map of Grt Britain and balance it on a pencil lol..so I really don't know

I think Sewsilver's idea is sensible. Start regional and see how it develops, although there are so many Gransnetters from afar that i would really love to meet

I would like to be a part as well, but unfortunately I think distance/cost would prevent it. Boo!

Me for long lunch and chatting too. Preferably North West so similar idea to you When. What about regional gatherings to start with then no one has too far to travel/ too much expense then consider a more central meeting later on ?That way we could get to know local GN's first then branch out.

Just read that, too, Notso!

Wiki says somewhere near to Coventry is the geographical middle of theUK.

I'd love to come! I'm on the south coast so would need to stay overnight.

I'm right down in the south green - not far from the south coast!

And me! I'd prefer a long lunch too, in a place where we can relax afterwards. I can catch the train to wherever, as long as it's not too far south.

Me but I think it need to be overnight/weekend as its a long way to go for us in the NE and Scotland.

Weekend would be nice. Fairly informal. Perhaps discussion groups ,forums?

Me! Long lunch and informal surroundings where we can sit around and chat after the meal if we want to. Preferably in the north-west.

Me!