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Ideas for your new local site?

(74 Posts)
CeliaGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 12-Jul-12 12:57:37

In response to gransnetters' requests we're about to set up a network of local sites all over the country. We would love to hear what you'd like to see on your local site. Opportunities to meet up, perhaps, or where to find a good plumber? Do let us have your suggestions.

Notsogrand Sat 21-Jul-12 08:18:12

Bags' knitted fence gave me an idea....how about local groups of Guerilla Gransnitters?

Ahead of local meet-ups we could knit colourful scarfs to an agreed width/yarn. Gransnitters who can't get to the meet-up could send their scarves to the local organiser. Then on meet-up day, we would sew the scarves together and wind them around trees or lamposts or through railings.

If you Google Yarnstorming, there are lots of great examples of outdoor knitted art. Our Gransnitter scarves would be modest, but great fun!

AlisonMA Sat 21-Jul-12 09:19:36

Not been on this thread for some time so would just like to chow my support for the following:

Lunch club
Supper club
Dinner club
Noticeboards
Surrogate grandparents - but I am concerned about how we ensure the children are safe from the wrong type of people. We do have 2 GSs but they are a long way away and we have plenty of love to go round.
Guerilla Grandsnitter which is my favourite smile Maybe at the first meeting do a recee of the area and choose something we want to brighten up then make a plan and share with the rest of the GNs in the area.

glitabo Sat 21-Jul-12 10:01:35

I have recently changed my gransnet name as it was very recognisable.
What about visits to the local theatre?
Also walking and book groups appeal.

eGJ Sat 21-Jul-12 10:19:49

How about supper and theatre club! (or lunch and matinee club?) smile

AlisonMA Sat 21-Jul-12 10:57:57

eGJ and glitabo yes please and you can all come here to our lovely theatre in Malvern! Alternatively Birmingham Hippodrome has some great shows and is very accessible.

Anagram Sat 21-Jul-12 11:19:23

I wonder how many local sites there are going to be? And could you be a member of more than one?

Grannylin Sat 21-Jul-12 11:53:20

Give us a clue glitabo.Were you alchemillomollis!!grin

alchemillamollis Sat 21-Jul-12 17:02:05

I'm still here though! Why would glitabo be me???

(Have been to the lovely theatre in Malvern, however. grin)

deebav Sat 21-Jul-12 17:32:00

I agree with Whenim64. I would love to meet people from my local area.
I have a friend and we go to Bingo together but others would be welcome and also I would like pals to share cinema and other trips with. My husband follows his own interests!! (Good on him) I do a lot of knitting of socks for disabled as they are non elastic and very warm and comfy and for walkers and others too. A grans knitting club to swap patterns or a book club etc. Any suggestions I am interested in = however I suffer from Vertigo occasionally and so to lead a group might not be a good idea. I live in Berkshire - Newbury. Any other Grans in this area please say!!
DeeBav.

NannaAnna Sat 21-Jul-12 19:03:15

I'm wondering how many Gransnetters are down here on the Sussex coast, or anywhere in Sussex for that matter?
If the local groups follow the same format as the Mumsnet groups, they will relate to towns, but I guess it might depend on how many of us are interested in being involved.
Another factor might be how far people are prepared to/able to travel. Would county-wide groups be too large an area?
There are 2 aspects, it seems to me: The information providing one (services, facilities, etc) and the social one: (meet-ups and so forth). One is more distance- specific than the other.
It will be interesting to see how it all develops grin

Grannyknot Sat 21-Jul-12 19:05:27

are we all 'coming out' then? wink My fantasy is a cinema screening where the lights are left on and people can bring their knitting/embroidery/darning and watch the film and do - we can multi-task as we all know! A friend told me that happens in Leeds (I think) and already our local arty cinema has a mums and toddlers screening - that's another of our strengths - keeping focused while chaos swirls around us. It will have to be not too 'deep' a flim I guess, a rom-com, or even a 'bro-mance' will do grin Remember when we went to 'the bioscope'? It could be a knitscope I guess!

glitabo Sat 21-Jul-12 20:02:03

Grannylin, I was irene114.

Anagram Sat 21-Jul-12 20:58:59

Grannyknot, I can't think of anything worse! Why go out to the cinema if you really just want to do your knitting/embroidery or whatever - wait until it's shown on TV or rent the DVD.
I love the whole atmosphere of a cinema, with the lights going down and (in the olden days!) the curtains sweeping away from the screen. It's bad enough with people's phones going off and those who inist on talking throughout the film without darning mushrooms being brandished in the stalls! hmm

alchemillamollis Sat 21-Jul-12 22:26:40

Oh, I disagree - I think knitting in the cinema is a lovely idea. Then we could go out on the street and do guerilla knitted street art, adorning statues of famous men with scarves and fifties pullovers.

Grannyknot Sun 22-Jul-12 13:46:48

I can't believe I actually said darning! Does anyone even do that anymore? My thinking is more a quiet contented buzz of industriousness whilst watching a favourite movie with the lights turned down at least! Phones would definitely not be allowed. shock Love the idea of guerilla knitting, I think it's been done in London, they covered parking meters with knitting grin. I'm not sure whether this has been listed for what should be on the sites, but I'd definitely like to see singing groups/choirs, tai chi or any exercising.

Grannyknot Sun 22-Jul-12 13:52:56

Meant to add - on knitting in public: I was in a arty restaurant with my 30something kids last winter and got bored waiting for the food to arrive on a rainy afternoon - we knew we were going to be there for a while - so I surreptitiously took my knitting out (flip top gloves) and quietly got on with it whilst chatting and sipping my wine. Next thing the trendy young waitron comes skipping over straight to me and says "Oh, you're doing performance art, that's so cool, thank you for adding to the atmosphere". Got a good laugh that did!

Grannyknot Sun 22-Jul-12 13:54:25

that should be 'an arty restaurant' (before I get into trouble on the other sat/sitting thread)...

Hankipanki Tue 24-Jul-12 20:52:02

Love the idea of guerilla knitting. How about guerilla gardening, we could choose drap areas of our cities/towns/villages and brighten them up.

alchemillamollis Wed 25-Jul-12 08:59:14

Guerilla gardening, with hand-knitted scarecrows. smile

AlisonMA Wed 25-Jul-12 09:24:07

I'm up for guerrila kniting and maybe gardening too as long as there is someone to tell me what to do as I'm only just learning.

Anyone in the Three Counties want to join me?

eGJ Wed 25-Jul-12 14:00:06

With you on that one AlisonMA; where shall we start? grin

alchemillamollis Thu 26-Jul-12 16:02:20

We really have to do knitting, so we can use Notsogrand's term Guerrilla Gransnitters.

No other name would make me as proud.

And I want a badge.

CeliaGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 21-Aug-12 11:01:52

Thank you all so much for so many inspiring and original ideas. smile Guerilla knitting - fantastic! We're taking them all on board - and please do keep them coming. flowers