Sondheim Forum

Off Topic => General Discussion => Topic started by: AmyG on Aug 21, 2017, 08:34 AM

Title: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: AmyG on Aug 21, 2017, 08:34 AM
We can discuss our get together at @Gordonb's place or any other get togethers here.

So to recap, Chris and I are now coming back to London after traipsing around northern England and Scotland on October 14 -- a day earlier than was previously planned, making the 14th doable for a get together. Dinner is fine by us. In fact, if it's the 14th, it pretty much has to be dinner as we will probably be on a train at lunch time. 

I hope @Leighton can come on the 14th. 

We will be in London from October 3-5 and again October 14-19. The 19th the day we fly back to Los Angeles. Between October 5 and 14, we will be traveling around England and Scotland.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Vera Charles on Aug 21, 2017, 09:48 AM
Dinner on the 14th would be perfect for me ...  ;D
I could also be in London on the 17 or 18.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Aug 22, 2017, 10:48 AM
The 14th is as do-able as the 15th for me; but not 100% sure yet whether I can do either.  I'll confirm once term starts and I can see what my weeks are looking like (if that's ok?)

Gordon, where are you based?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Gordonb on Aug 22, 2017, 10:54 AM
Quote from: Leighton on Aug 22, 2017, 10:48 AMGordon, where are you based?
Blackheath SE13. 
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Aug 22, 2017, 10:59 AM
Oh lovely :) my weekend looks tentatively free, and as it is the weekend before half term I imagine I won't be back in Wales ... so pencil me in, and if it looks problematic I'll let you know.

Are we thinking evening meal?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Gordonb on Aug 22, 2017, 02:32 PM
So it's looking like dinner at our place Saturday 14th. Who's driving, taking the train, car-pooling?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Vera Charles on Aug 23, 2017, 06:32 AM
Quote from: Gordonb on Aug 22, 2017, 02:32 PMSo it's looking like dinner at our place Saturday 14th. Who's driving, taking the train, car-pooling?
I think I'll probably drive to my Dad's in Vauxhall and leave my car there, then stay overnight with him on the Saturday and drive back Sunday morning ... 
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 09:20 AM
Yay! I'm so glad I finally get to meet you all. This should be fun. Gordon, thanks for playing host. We'll be coming from St Katharine's Way, London, England, E1W 1LD. Near the Tower of London. @Gordonb, you can PM me your address and I'll plug it into Google Maps for public transportation directions. Though you would likely have better advice than an automated system.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Gordonb on Aug 23, 2017, 09:38 AM
Quote from: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 09:20 AMYay! I'm so glad I finally get to meet you all. This should be fun. Gordon, thanks for playing host. We'll be coming from St Katharine's Way, London, England, E1W 1LD. Near the Tower of London. @Gordonb, you can PM me your address and I'll plug it into Google Maps for public transportation directions. Though you would likely have better advice than an automated system.
It looks as though you'll be at the Tower Thistle Hotel right? There are lots of public transport options but the simplest will be a nice/interesting 15/20 minutes Thameside stroll from the Hotel to London Bridge Station, and from there it a pretty regular 15/20 minutes train journey to Blackheath station where I will meet you.

If we're smart maybe Mairi @Vera Charles could meet you at  London Bridge ...
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 10:26 AM
Yes, that's the one. According to Wikipedia, it was twice voted the second ugliest building in London. They don't say which was the first. We are staying in lots of quaint and character-rich guest houses and airbnb's on the trip. This will not be one of them.

The directions seem very simple. Thanks. 
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Aug 23, 2017, 10:52 AM
Quote from: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 10:26 AMThey don't say which was the first.  
Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre.
I will get the train from Reading to London and I imagine I will aim to arrive at Blackheath with everyone else.  
Or I could meet you all at London Bridge if that ends up being the plan :)  
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Aug 23, 2017, 11:14 AM
Wow, I'm thrilled this is coming together so well. I've been letting Amy make the arrangements, but I can't tell you how excited I am about getting together with you guys. We've known each other for years and this is our first chance to meet in the flesh. I'm looking forward to this get-together as much as I'm looking forward to seeing England and Scotland for the first time in my life (though that's pretty exciting too ;) ).
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Gordonb on Aug 23, 2017, 11:59 AM
Quote from: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 10:26 AMYes, that's the one. According to Wikipedia, it was twice voted the second ugliest building in London. They don't say which was the first. We are staying in lots of quaint and character-rich guest houses and airbnb's on the trip. This will not be one of them.

The directions seem very simple. Thanks.
I wouldn't have put it anywhere near the top of my list - it certainly is no beauty but location-wise it is hard to beat. I think that back in the distant past when I had a real job I went there a few times for conferences ... it's that sort of hotel, but quite comfortable I imagine.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Vera Charles on Aug 23, 2017, 04:33 PM
Quote from: Gordonb on Aug 23, 2017, 09:38 AMIf we're smart maybe Mairi @Vera Charles could meet you at London Bridge ...
Quote from: Leighton on Aug 23, 2017, 10:52 AMOr I could meet you all at London Bridge if that ends up being the plan :)  
I think that sounds like an excellent plan.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: AmyG on Aug 23, 2017, 05:22 PM
Quote from: Vera Charles on Aug 23, 2017, 04:33 PM
Quote from: Gordonb on Aug 23, 2017, 09:38 AMIf we're smart maybe Mairi @Vera Charles could meet you at London Bridge ...
Quote from: Leighton on Aug 23, 2017, 10:52 AMOr I could meet you all at London Bridge if that ends up being the plan :) 
I think that sounds like an excellent plan.
Great! That will keep Chris and me from doing something stupid like getting on the train going the wrong way.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Diane on Sep 03, 2017, 09:23 AM
What other towns/cities are you visiting?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Sep 03, 2017, 11:46 AM
Quote from: Diane on Sep 03, 2017, 09:23 AMWhat other towns/cities are you visiting?
The places where we'll be staying are Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, York and Edinburgh, but we'll be taking day trips from some of those to other places. We'll be taking some day trips from London too.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Oct 01, 2017, 09:29 PM
We're leaving for the UK on Monday and will be arriving Tuesday. Feel free to leave messages for @AmyG and me on this board. I'll also be monitoring Facebook. I won't have a computer, but I'll be posting via iPad and iPhone.

Wish us luck. It's gonna be a long flight!
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Oct 02, 2017, 12:01 PM
Have we decided where we're meeting prior to Gordon's?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Oct 02, 2017, 12:55 PM
@Leighton - I'm not sure. @Vera Charles, we decided on the previous page to meet at London Bridge. I believe that's London Bridge Station, correct?
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Oct 02, 2017, 12:58 PM
@Gordonb - What time do you want us to meet you at Blackheath Station? We can arrange to meet at the station in time to get to your place.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Vera Charles on Oct 03, 2017, 02:02 AM
Just confirming that the plan is I'll meet @Chris L , @AmyG  )and @Leighton ?) at London Bridge Station - time tbc and then either @Gordonb  will meet us at Blackheath Station OR he will give me his postcode and I will get us there!! Exciting!!!
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Oct 03, 2017, 10:57 AM
Sounds good :) let me know times
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Gordonb on Oct 03, 2017, 12:06 PM
Quote from: Vera Charles on Oct 03, 2017, 02:02 AMJust confirming that the plan is I'll meet @Chris L , @AmyG  )and @Leighton ?) at London Bridge Station - time tbc and then either @Gordonb  will meet us at Blackheath Station OR he will give me his postcode and I will get us there!! Exciting!!!
What sort of time will Chris and Amy get to their Tower Bridge hotel after their trip from North of the Border? Once we know that we can plan a meet time at London Bridge Railway Station (Not underground station). It's less than 15 minutes to Blackheath and then a 10 minutes walk to our house ... how daring walking the mean streets of Sarf London😂😇. Keep in touch. As to wine @Chris L yes please and as @Vera Charles is coming, lots of it! Your colour choice.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Oct 03, 2017, 01:40 PM
We're in London now, guys, and will be back again later. More details when we've recovered from the trip.
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Leighton on Oct 04, 2017, 10:36 AM
I will bring wine too :) 
Title: Re: Chris and Amy's trip to the UK
Post by: Chris L on Oct 20, 2017, 09:32 AM
We're back from our trip, which was wonderful. I posted about most of it in the Daily a few days ago, but to reiterate, we stayed a couple of days in London, traveled by train to Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, York and Edinburgh, stayed a while in each, then went back to London for the last five days of the trip.

When we were in London we had dinner at @Gordonb's house. @Vera Charles and @Leighton were also there. Gordon's partner Rey cooked us an excellent meal and a good time was had by all. It was a wonderful evening. (Thank you for the tin of biscuits, Mairi! They were excellent and we finished them off before we left, though I managed to get the tin back in my luggage as a souvenir.)

We saw Follies at the National last Monday evening. It was a stunning production and I'll try to write more about it in the appropriate thread.

I can hardly list all the things we saw and did, and probably shouldn't, lest I become one of those people who forces you to look at all the photographs from their recent vacation. (Besides, if you're one of my Facebook friends, you've already seen the photos. ;) )

It was a delightful 2-1/2 weeks and we're now recovering.