2013 IHD "Let's get together in The UK!"

[dublin]

Just bumping this up to remind peeps that we ARE having
a get together in ENGLAND on April 25th/26th/27th in Cambridge UK
Make sure you pencil it in your diary!

Can't promise you brilliant weather but we will have some fun, a good meal or two, Cambridge is a wonderful city to amble around or shop,
and a good hotel to hang around in.

    

Hi sugarlump do you mean april 2015 thanks very much have a lovely week-end.

Regards
Dublin

[Sugarlump]

Just bumping this up to remind peeps that we ARE having
a get together in ENGLAND on April 25th/26th/27th in Cambridge UK
Make sure you pencil it in your diary!

Can't promise you brilliant weather but we will have some fun, a good meal or two, Cambridge is a wonderful city to amble around or shop,
and a good hotel to hang around in.

    

Hi sugarlump do you mean april 2015 thanks very much have a lovely week-end.

Regards
Dublin

No 2014!!! Friday 25th April this year!

[Sugarlump]

Gah, now I'm ticked off.

The owner/landlord of these self-catering places in the Cambridge area emailed Gwyn March 12 saying if we wanted this flat for our meet weekend to let her know, and he did immediately. She has now written back to say that that weekend is booked but we can have their bed and breakfast instead, for one night, then MOVE to another place where we can stay for Saturday and Sunday night. Oh, gee, thanks. We can disrupt our weekend with a move in the middle (cause those are such fun!) and then stay an extra night to meet her minimum night requirements for her cottage. The kids have school the following Monday, we are *not* staying Sunday night.

Gwyn is emailing her back to demand to know why she reneged on our agreement. Not sure what we're going to do now but will update when I know. Once we have another place, well, TripAdvisor Reviews here we come!

That's not good. Not good at all. 

[Sugarlump]

www.HomeAway.co.uk have some cheap n cheerful cottages/flats in Cambridge area.
Inc Garden Cottage at Swafham Prior near Newmarket.

[Iona]

 
Also Cariad have you tried  Cambridge University Accomodation Services..if you fancy staying in the heart of the  city? 
It might be a bit late to book a couple of rooms in a college but the university does own many places offering short term bookings. Some cheap rooms starting from £20 a night (£50 twin room) or house in city centre. There's one for £525 (3 nights. See Regency House Apartments - not all great reviews but you are a hop into town). The accommodation services have a selection at the moment. If you phone them you'll find them very helpful too. They sometimes offer parking permits for their guests at £1.60 a day (or have a free one and walk to our house - a good work out for somebody?)
Good Luck with your search..

[RichardMEL]

Coach is not that bad! I dreaded it with the boys, but it was actually worse for me being alone. The time passed in a flash going from Heathrow to LAX on Virgin. I know most of you probably use miles. I know I could never pay the asking price in cash for a business or first class ticket - you could get a week at a lovely hotel for what they charge for you to be able to be more comfortable for a handful of hours. I am fine with coach but wouldn't turn down a higher class ticket if someone is offering. I prefer an aisle seat so I don't have to worry about someone falling asleep and blocking my path to the loo.

Sorry I guess I come across as a snob or somerthing. It's mostly about comfort for me and Danny, and I am VERY lucky I can afford, one way or another (this trip is a mixture of miles-I would NEVER pay for the insanity of Emirates First Class longhaul-and cash, but your points are all very valid. I take the aisle on long night flights(nothing much to see) for this very reason - unless the seat is both a window and an aisle, which is almost usually only in First, or certain rare staggered Business Class configurations, but I digress....

Dear Cariad you do not need to travel on a plane to this meet, so that offer is off the table, plus I am not sure Gwyn would be too happy with such an arrangement !!! 

[quiote]
I'm more an 'explore one place at a time' person, so I'd be more inclined to stay in Cambridge and leave feeling like I had really seen it, and then if I liked the experience make plans to spend a week or two in London in future. Another money saving tip, most of the big attractions these days give a discount if you book online at least a couple days in advance and print your tix out before you go. I know the London Eye does this (frankly I wouldn't bother, we have to go because it appeals to the kids, but the price is ridiculous). Many museums in London are absolutely free (or they were 10-15 years ago) so if that interests you, you could make a day of that, although Sunday/Monday are the days they are most likely shut, so check first. If you want to catch a West End show, they offer Sunday matinees but Monday is traditionally dark in theatre no matter what country you're in. I guess if you do decide to go to London it would be helpful to know what interests you most and then see if anyone has suggestions from there. I don't like the big name shops, but a place like Camden Market (again, I'm thinking back 15 years and I've heard it's changed for the worse) is the type of place that attracts me. Also, I am all about street food, and had the most divine cuisine at Southbank Centre last summer. There's also the huge Borough Market not too far from there. Ideal if you're traveling solo as you don't have to go through the awkwardness of interacting with wait staff. There were two relatively new buildings in London last we were there - The Shard and The Gherkin.You'll know them when you see them. If you like views and architecture, you can travel up into The Shard but I think it's pricey. (I think the Gherkin should be called the Bullet, but then it occurred to me that many Brits probably have little idea what a bullet looks like. Of course it's the first thing that sprang to my mind!)
[/quote]


again some good suggestions there

I guess I was trying to think like the casual traveller who may or may not return to the UK so a priority may be to see some of what London has to offer. Each to his/her own I guess. I certainly wouldn't be one to tell Karen (or anyone else) what to do with their time (not that you were either, of course!)

Another suggestion for Karen is to find if her bank has an agreement with a UK bank for fee free withdrawls and so on. For example my bank has an agreement with Barclays in the UK for access. Still get the conversion cost, but the extra few quid for transaction fees being zero'd is definitely helpful.

We probably should have looked into this when we came over. Although I imagine with our credit union we would've been out of luck. Karen, if you do find such an arrangement I would appreciate hearing about it. I know if you have AmEx Platinum you pay no fee, and of course all of us just have stacks of platinum cards in our wallets so this is totally useful information!
[/quote]

My bank has agreements with Barclays as I mentioned, and also Bank of America. I have some sort of feeling they are in some sort of global alliance of banks together (Paribas is another I've used in France/Spain).

ah here we are... the Global ATM Alliance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_ATM_Alliance

there may be others as well of course.

[RichardMEL]

The problem with coach is that if you are traveling alone, you don't know who you might be sitting next to.  The last time I flew coach, I was in the middle of a row, and the man sitting next to me (in the window seat) was a walking, talking furnace.  He was, like, 6' 3" and was wearing a woolly jumper that made me sweat just looking at it.  Whenever I flew with my son, we flew coach because, well, he was little back then, so we'd pull up the seat divider between our seats and had plenty of room to share. 

yeah not to be picky and such, but you have that in Business Class too (except in some circumstances) and domestic/regional "First" Class products. Only in the really long haul products do you see single seats/suites where you do not have to see or talk to another passenger if you don't want to. Although come to think of it I just realised I have a single seat with no neighbour flying Melbourne-Hong Kong in biz. However I digress....

Certainly not being able to control who you sit with can be one of the good, or bad, parts of travel - be it plane, train or whatever. Recently I've sat next to both nice/interesting people, and some I just wish would shut up... the point is well made. Since I almost always travel by myself I am very familiar with this situation.

Karen, since you are stopping in Iceland, are you also having to change planes?  If so, won't you have to go through customs and immigration there?  And since Iceland is not part of the EU, doesn't that mean you'll have to go through Customs and Immigration again at Heathrow?  Anyone know?

I am almost certain there will be no customs/immigration involved in Iceland for a transit. She's not entering the country or anything. Possibly a security check, but that's pretty normal for international transfers at most airports - but more than likely not like the USA with belt off, shoes off, all that crap, just the more relaxed security - though to be fair I have not transferred at KEF myself so can't say from personal experience of that particular port. This page suggests that a transit is very easy: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/archive/index.php/t-1656166.html

I have an Amex Platinum card, but I didn't use it in the UK because it doesn't have a computer chip.  I still have all of my UK cards and my current account at NatWest, so currency/exchange rate issues are something I thankfully get to avoid.  I guess all of those years living in England did give me some benefits after all!

Karen, there are so many things to see and do in London, but if you have good weather while you are there, you may want to consider visiting Kew Gardens.  Take the Tube to Kew.  It is not only beautiful but also of great historic significance!

Oh that reminds me VERY good point about the chip. Most US cards do *not* have the chip/PIN system, and it's becoming harder in europe to get by just on a signature (and as an aside, legally impossible in Australia post August this year when signing for a purchase will be no longer allowed). So my advice is to try to get hold of a card, or replacement card (if the bank supports it yet) with a chip as it will be much easier in the UK and other places going forward.

[RichardMEL]

Cariad, that is a bulltish situation from the owner of the self catering place. I wonder if it's also some kind of scam to extort more $$$ out of you for a B&B vs the self catering thing. I don't like the sound of that. If an arrangement is accepted, in writing, that should be that short of a disaster like a flood washes away the place or something. Sounds like a shoddy operation. I'd be tempted to look elsewhere and tempted to tell them to stick their booking - if they can't manage the booking thing properly what else is not acceptable about the place?

I'd be very ticked off too. I hope this works out OK!! So want to see you and Gwyn again - let alone your boys who we all hear so much about!

[Sugarlump]

Right folks, I just want to finalise attendance details:

Saturday 27th April am National Stud Tour:
                                 Sugar and Drew
                                 Richard
                                 Cariad ,Gwyn and boys

Saturday 27th April pm Bills Restaurant: (Don't forget I need starter and/or main course choices by midApril please)
                                 Sugar and Drew
                                 Richard
                                 Cariad, Gwyn and boys
                                 Cassandra and hubby
                                 Poppy and Blokey
                                 Iona and hubby
                                 Karen

Sunday 28th April am Private Punting Tour: (Hats optional)
                              Sugar and Drew
                              Richard
                              Cariad, Gwyn and boys
                              Cassandra and hubby
                              Poppy
                              Karen
If I have missed anyone off shout loudly now!
That should leave plenty of times in between for more casual stuff, like a meet and greet Friday night at HI Express bar and
wandering round Cambridge sightseeing or shopping!
                               

[KarenInWA]

You can add me to the stud tour!

[cassandra]

Sorry SL we are not in the Punting Tour

 Thank you for organizing all this. 

Love Cas

[Sugarlump]

No problem
I posted the lists for that very reason to check.

[cariad]

Cariad, that is a bulltish situation from the owner of the self catering place. I wonder if it's also some kind of scam to extort more $$$ out of you for a B&B vs the self catering thing. I don't like the sound of that. If an arrangement is accepted, in writing, that should be that short of a disaster like a flood washes away the place or something. Sounds like a shoddy operation. I'd be tempted to look elsewhere and tempted to tell them to stick their booking - if they can't manage the booking thing properly what else is not acceptable about the place?

I'd be very ticked off too. I hope this works out OK!! So want to see you and Gwyn again - let alone your boys who we all hear so much about!

Yeah, I found the whole thing shady and best avoided in the end. Really looking forward to seeing you again, Richard. You can regale us with tales of your many adventures with Danny since we last met.

We are now officially booked in to a travelodge for the weekend. Not my first choice (obviously) but as it cost literally half of what we were going to pay anywhere else, we are taking the risk. Thanks for that suggestion, Iona. We chose a recently refurbished one and we won't be eating at the onsite restaurant, so hoping it won't be too scary an experience. Unfortunately, the one walking distance to the Holiday Inn was fully booked, so we're staying on the opposite end of town. The University Housing suggestion (also from Iona) was grand, if we ever decide to take another holiday in Cambridge we will stay longer and book through them. Sooooo many lovely looking places, but sadly the places that would have suited us were already booked.

[cariad]

You can add me to the stud tour!

I love referring to it as 'the stud tour'. So full of double entendre possibilities!

[Sugarlump]

You can add me to the stud tour!

I love referring to it as 'the stud tour'. So full of double entendre possibilities!

Especially with Richard in tow!!!! 

[RichardMEL]

Especially with Richard in tow!!!! 

I was waiting for someone to "go there" - you did not disappoint!!

that tour is... no i shall hold that thought!
 

[Sugarlump]

Ooh ooh ooooh it's April already!!!!
Just to confirm:

1) Saturday 26th April. AM. I have booked the National Stud Tour at Newmarket.
                                       Tour commences at 11.15am
                                       We need to be there 15-20 minutes beforehand and don't forget packet of polos for Amberley House (ex Grand National Winner)

2)Saturday 26th April. PM. Table is booked for 14 at Bills Restaurant, Green Street, Cambridge.
                                      7.30pm
                                      DON'T FORGET : you need to choose your starter and/or mains and let me know, preferably this week!!!!! 

3)Sunday 27th April. AM. We have a private punt booked for us for 11am at Mill Lane Punting Station,Cambridge.
                                    The tour of The Backs etc lasts an hour (Just in time for lunch)
                                    Hats optional!!!!!!

I know I sound like a sergeant major  but I want our get together to go well...

[RichardMEL]

Awesome organisation SL

so any thoughts for transportation for us non locals to various places like the studs (I know, all I need is a mirror, right? :p  ). I haven't mapped it but is Bill's etc walking distance from the hotel same with the punting station? I love that Cambridge is a walking city (don't get me on a bike. Last time I did that in Camb was 25 years ago, I had better vision even at 2am when drunk!!! but that's a whole other story)..

Anyway for other stuff, eg: Sat afternoon, Sun afternoon  (if we do not go on the walk to the gardens/pub as suggested by Iona earlier) here's a search of events on:
http://www.visitcambridge.org/whats-on/searchresults?sr=1&rd=on&stay=2014-04-25&end=2014-04-27

Total trivial aside. I just got myself some folding money and I got some old 50's and new 50's. I hadn't seen the new notes before. Ripped off!! One of my fave parts of English paper currency has been the silver/metal thread through the note.. and now it seems ot be gone!! btw this does not mean I am shouting the bar

[Sugarlump]

Rich ... a lot of places won't take £50 notes!!! (Used to be a lot of forgeries floating about)  Try and change them in London bank if you can!!!!


As regards transport :
1) To the Stud, you and Karen can come in our car and we will meet Cariad and Gwynn and boys there in theirs.
     It's not far!
2) Bills ... we can share a taxi there and back so we can drink ... bit too far to walk (specially for me I'd need a piggyback!)
3) Punting again we can take up to 3 in our car with us or those who feellike a leisurely walk can meet up there!)
It isn't too far to walk/or to bus stops etc for casual meanderings inbetween!

I have paid up front for Stud tickets and punting, but happy for you to pay me on the day. There were enough of us to have a private guided punt
and we could still fit two extras in!!!

[Sugarlump]

P.S. Don't forget to choose your mains and/or starters etc for Bills and let me know!!!

[RichardMEL]

Awesome SL thank you. how much is the stud tour. Will you accept 50 quid? LOL

yeah I should be changing into smaller bills when in London, but seriously Cambs isn't THAT small that they wouldn't accept a 50.. really? ugh.
always a problem when changing money.

Still I have some 2's and 1 and 2 quid coins and silver from previous visits so I'll be fine. Plus I have a CC that will work there. no problemo.

OK Bills...
for me.... starters not too much there for me, though would be willing to share the crab, chilli and prawn cakes
The main, since I carry on like one, the suffolk pork chop looks like it would be the go.


PS: 2 extra spots for the punt. I'll keep it in mind if I pick up on Sat night!!!  (is that a Cambridge pick up line? "Hey baby, how'd you like to come back to my punt?"  )

[Sugarlump]

The Punting is £15 per adult £7.50 per child.
The Stud Tour is £10 per adult (Family ticket for Cariad is £25)

Bills ... I think I will probably have : starter Potato and rosemary bread with oil and vinegar
                                                 main slow roasted belly of Pork (specials menu)

I would have gone halves with you Rich on the crab cakes which I love but not with chilli in them!!!
And I really fancy the roasted vine soup (but everyone will be tut tutting me  )
The mini doughnuts for desert are good but I don't usually have space at that point!!!

[Sugarlump]

Drew (that's my partner) has chosen to share my starter!!! and Bill's style bbq pork ribs !
Start choosing folks  

[cariad]

It looks like we owe you £70 for the activities, Sugar! If you want to PM me your bank account number and sort code I would be happy to pay you via BACS this weekend.

Here are our orders for Bills:

Me - halloumi and hummus burger. (Could I be a pain and get the yoghurt sauce on the side?)
Gwyn - sugar and spice marinated chicken
Aidan - BBQ pork ribs (do you happen to know if these are spicy? Aidan does not tolerate more than a touch of heat.)
Dylan - chicken skewers with cous cous (kids menu)

Starter - crispy lemon squid for Gwyn and the kids

We are going to leave it there, hopefully if we want to add a bread starter that will be doable on the day. Am I right that we don't have to order dessert in advance? We also would find it difficult to predict if we will want dessert or not until after we've eaten.

3 weeks!!! 

[Sugarlump]

BBQ sauce is normally not to hot in the spicy sense of the word though I have never eaten them there.
I imagine extra bread or salad or suchlike will be fine on the night and as for deserts, leave to see who still has room!
I know i usually don't!! 
Yep three weeks to go