Right. This year we should do it right - a day out, sort of thing, possibly in London. We could actually get organised and book something, maybe. Who knows? All I know is that no matter how much the forum is falling apart, we're still a good little group of friends here, and these are people I'd hate to lose touch with.

I would like to avoid having to organise everything again if possible, considering that 2004 and 2005 did not go 100% according to plan (that is to say, what little planning their was) but I will be happy to assist where necessary.

So... let's get this ball rolling.

I might actually try to attend this one, if it occurs at a time that doesn't clash with anything (finals being the obvious one :p). Yes there's the dire warnings from my parents about not meeting up with anyone I know online, but heck, I'm 21 in less than a month's time. So yeah.

Show them the pictures from the last one.

Show them the pictures from the last one.That does make sense.

Best time for me to go would probably be one day in May Week, after the exams. May Week despite its name is in June (One word: Cambridge).

I would like to avoid having to organise everything again if possibleAs long as you keep starting the threads, you're doomed :p

I suppose that, having a job, I would be marginally more likely to be able to make it.

Oof, London!

I'm working now though, so i should be able to make it. It would be nice if some northern people such as Betong could make it though.

Again I'll say it.
Hook up a webcam and I'm as good as there. ;)

This is a good start. Does anyone else have any objections to June?

...Wait, I do. We're supposed to be going to Paris for a long weekend. Nuts.

This is a good start. Does anyone else have any objections to June?

...Wait, I do. We're supposed to be going to Paris for a long weekend. Nuts.Bearing in mind that that doesn't necessarily intersect with May Week.

When is your May Week?

I can come any time, I just need to know of the date four weeks in advance.

I recommend Birmingham as it's central and probably easier for most people.

But what should we do?

Maybe we could all visit an event? Like the ECTS or ECDL or something?

And could we make it a sleepover? Corr.

Sometime, if I ever finish university & have a job, I will come to the UK.
Beware!

(Can you actually take live mice with you on the plane?)

ahhh good old ECTS, not been there in a while.
I like how you suggest birmingham then mention somewhere thats hosted in london :p

I won't be able to make it, obviously. My sister could, but that'd be awkward.

I recommend Birmingham as it's central and probably easier for most people.
Thew downside, of course, is that we'd have to go to Birmingham.

The man has a point ^

When is your May Week?Beyond "some time in June", I'm not entirely sure yet (which is a little worrying, I'll concede)

Come again? You have a May Week in June?

Er, what is a May Week, then?

what is a May Week, then?
Weak, maybe?

Come again? You have a May Week in June?

Er, what is a May Week, then?The week after the exams where we all get drunk (P i s sed led to an unfortunate-looking starring).

Used to be in May. Now in June. Still called May Week because of Tradition (for this is Cambridge).

Which reminds me, I'm back home now: time to change the location back to Swansea.

Okay. We really need to get cracking on this. We just need to agree on:
A time
A place
What we're doing

We're probably going to have to aim for July/August for the time. London is probably the "easiest" answer to the place as there's lots to do there, but that doesn't make it easy for thems up North to get to. If we choose somewhere in the middle, we need to choose something fun, like Alton Towers or something (although I know not everyone likes theme parks, so it's tricky).

The last two years have, it needs to be said, been very poorly organised. I have spoken to the guy who organised everything and he said, "You're talking to yourself again. That always happens when you stop taking your meds." Insightful words.

Right: where, when, what. Discuss.

My last written exam is on the 9th of June. I have a viva vocae on the 15th, but I doubt a day out somewhere would get in the way of it.

Although you said July anyway, so meh.

A time
A place
What we're doing


1st of August.
Isle of Man; a rocky beach.
Searching for two male crustaceans and letting them fight.


Or how about Graz, Austria, Ghegagasse 19/7 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=de&q=Graz,+Austria&ll=47.074667,15.420492&spn=0.010493,0.026994&om=1)?

Or how about Graz, Austria, Ghegagasse 19/7 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=de&q=Graz,+Austria&ll=47.074667,15.420492&spn=0.010493,0.026994&om=1)?
Doesn't that defeat the point of the UK OD Get Together?

Doesn't that defeat the point of the UK OD Get Together?
Not if all only OD members from the UK get together in Austria.
I didn't say that I'll attend. :D

I won't make it.

I won't make it.
To Austria?

Hull! :) *cough cough*

To Austria?
Nowhere.

fjdsjfjd

Manchester?

I like the idea of going to Alton Towers. But if we do go we should plan which rides to go on and when, to get the most out of the visit. However this doesn't really give us much chance to have a natter.

Manchester?
Why is it that I associate you with Manchester?

It may be that my brother Paul who also does maths is there for uni, but I'm sure it's something to do with you. I can't think of anything that connects you with the city, though.

Why is it that I associate you with Manchester?

It may be that my brother Paul who also does maths is there for uni, but I'm sure it's something to do with you. I can't think of anything that connects you with the city, though.I lived there for about four years when I was young, my mother's side of the family is from there, and my accent is roughly Mancunian with Lancs and Yorks influences.

If we do go to Alton Towers, my mate Forester has a very good way of getting onto all the desired rides. I'll ask him how if that gets the go-ahead.

That sounds good... providing everyone can afford it, of course. Amy and I aren't making as much money as we'd like to be although I'm up for a raise and not one but two promotions. However, it's not going to cost the Earth... I expect we can budget for it.

Alton Towers would be bítchin'.

You may feel free to ignore this comment as desired.

Do they have crazy golf? ;)

No but Toyland Tours has SONIC THE HEDGEHOG in it!

What sort of amusement park doesn't have Crazy Golf in it? :(

;)

(My only real experience of amusement parks is Oakwood, mind)

Alton Towers has tons of rides, though.

Indeed. My favourite would be Air.

If we plan to go to Alton Towers though, make sure it's at least on a weekday. I went 2 years ago during school time (it was an end of y11 school trip) and the queues were still pretty long.

the queues are ALWAYS long, even on a weekday during term time. I went last year, was good but you realy do have to plan in advance, get tickets for rides etc.

A friend of mine once went there on what was literally the first day they opened. Queues were negligible.

the queues are ALWAYS long, even on a weekday during term time. I went last year, was good but you realy do have to plan in advance, get tickets for rides etc.
Yes, they're always long but they're even longer if you go on a weekend.

We could really push it and get some of those tickets that let us jump queues. ROCK ON BABY, YEAH! Hang on, do they actually exist?

But wait a god damn minute, here. This is supposed to be a meet, so how are we going to enjoy each others' company whilst we're buzzing around a theme park?

OT: I went there a couple of years ago with my family for a massive party BT were throwing its employees who had worked in the company for over thirty years. It went on over the weekend, the company hired the entire park out and gave everyone a sheet of free vouchers to spend on anything. There was a live concert with Heather Small from M People, an ABBA tribute band, Madness and Status Quo, presented by Cheryl Baker with a broken leg and Tony Blackburn! Top that!

Amy and I have 4 "Free Entry" tickets from Woolworths that require the user to be accompanied by "one individual paying the full day rate". If there's 8 of us, that's half the cost of the tickets gone. The downside is that they're only valid between 3-7th July, 10th-14th July, and the 17th-21st July. So we'd have to go... well, in July, really, if we want to take advantage of them.

I'll probably be on holiday with my parents for the first of those. Not sure about the others, they might clash with another plan I've sort-of made (but not confirmed yet), but if I can't make one, I can probably make the other.

Our four Free Entry tickets have reduced to three. We're using one tomorrow at Madame Tussauds.

Our four Free Entry tickets have reduced to three. We're using one tomorrow at Madame Tussauds.
You waxy traitor!

You waxy traitor!
I've got the pitchforks. Bonz, you bring the flaming torches. Matty, be sure to take the tar and feathers along.

flaming torches
We need to take care not to melt away the whole museum though.

You can melt the Kylie Minogue and Shayne Ward models.

So... Alton Towers. Are we going in July, or shall we go in August and pay full price?

I really have to organise with Jack what week he's coming over.

...Jack? Jack who?

One of my friends from Uni. I'm having him over to stay one week in July, so I'm trying to make sure this doesn't clash with it.

You should bring him along. :p

edit: Who all is coming anyway?

You should bring him along. :pIt's an idea (would certainly give me someone to make sure I don't get lost travelling to Birmingham ;)), but I didn't want to deprive an OD member of a place. Although the more the merrier, I guess.

It's an idea (would certainly give me someone to make sure I don't get lost travelling to Birmingham ;)), but I didn't want to deprive an OD member of a place. Although the more the merrier, I guess.
You alsowould have a person around you that knows you better than the OD members in case you get píssed to the gills.

Jack says that he doesn't mind too much, and he'll plan around us.

So I'm back to being open on either of

10th-14th July, and the 17th-21st July

Amy doesn't have any holiday left, if much at all, so we personally are banking on one of the Fridays (17th or 21st), as she's likely to have one of these off (if not then she can shift swap). I can book it off, so it shouldn't be a problem.

So Friday 14th July or Friday 21st July, ideally. Thoughts?

Do you mean the 14th rather than the 17th?

I do indeed.

Let's all do the bump! C'mon, we've got a month to go and little-or-no planning done!
Amy and I received four £8 Off Entry vouchers at Madame Tussauds, which are valid until October 28th (hmm... the date of the 2004 get-together). So at a pinch we could use so of those instead although we wouldn't save quite as much money.

Pinnochio?

I think going to Alton Towers doesn't give us a chance to get to know each other offline. Maybe we could wait longer and plan to all go on holiday somewhere basic for a couple of days?

Jack's actually had some news from his parents saying that he can't actually make either of those dates, because of stuff I can't remember now (Should've said this a while back, reallly).

I think going to Alton Towers doesn't give us a chance to get to know each other offline. Maybe we could wait longer and plan to all go on holiday somewhere basic for a couple of days?
In 2004 some of us went bowling, thrn we wandered around Milton Keynes shopping centre.

In 2005 Andrew, Euan and Pooka came to Luton, watched a movie, and stayed at my flat for the night.

We owe ourselves something Exciting this year, and that's why Alton Towers has been brought up again. It's a fun day out, for one thing. I think the general consensus is that if we're going to meet up and do something it may as well be to do something worthwhile. There's no point travelling halfway across the country just to go to a pub, for example.

Alton Towers is a fun day out, which makes it worthwhile. That and Amy and I really, [pi]really[/i] want to go! :p

NEWS FLASH:

Jack can in fact make the 14th, and only the 14th.

So I'm putting forward the motion of Alton Towers on Friday the 14th of July as the place and date for the meet-up.

Jack, at Alton Towers, with the plush alien.

Amy's actually scheduled to work that weekend, meaning she's on lates on the Friday and working all day the Saturday. She's checking to see if she can arrange a Shift Swap. If she can, great. I can easily organise a shift swap or possibly a holiday, so it shouldn't be an issue.

My sister might be coming, too. In fact in all probability she will be coming, as we owe her a treat and Alton Towers sounds as good a treat as any. That and I think she wants to meet Liam :p

I was at Alton Towers last Monday, I suggest you all go there. Top day out! The latest ride (RITA) is really good, still doesn’t beat Nemesis though!

I think going to Alton Towers doesn't give us a chance to get to know each other offline.
Remember you get to stand in the ride queues for ages, plenty of time to chat and get to know each other!

Heck, why not, I could invite Gareth (who you may just remember as manitou) and Amy (that's the Amy I know, which is going to make names confusing) as well. Although if I do that, we may be in serious danger of having more non-ODers than ODers there.

The Powers That Be have spoken, then. Apparently. Can everyone confirm the date?

Well I've found this :: http://www.midlandmainline.com/mainpage.aspx?id=332
If you want to post it on the Get-Together thread in OD that'd be helpful.
Odds are I'll forget about it by the time I get home. Unless I CC it to
myself. Which I have. Huzzah!
Apparently.

Keep in mind that Midland Mainline's price includes the cost of the Alton Towers ticket. I'm still trying to find out if they'll accept our Free Entry/£8 Off Entry vouchers. If they do, then this is probably the best way to go. If not, then better to organise other forms of transport and buy our entrance tickets when we get there using the vouchers.

IMPORTANT EDIT: Midland Mainline does NOT accept the vouchers we have. Which is a bit pants, really.

Also: [AltonTowers.com How To Find Us page (http://www.altontowers.com/resort/gethere.asp)]

I wouldn't depend on a bus service between Alton Towers and a train station that isn't prebooked.

Well, Midland don't take the tickets so we're looking at alternatives. We're hoping National Express run a coach from in or near Luton to Alton Towers.

Virgin Trains are cheaper, though - we can get a return from Milton Keynes Central to Alton Towers for £35.50 each, which is cheaper than Midlands from London, obviously. MIght be worthwhile checking out [Virgin Trains' Alton Towers page (http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/altontowers)].

edit: Yeah, we're definitely booking with Virgin. The only downside is that we won't arrive at the park until 10:40am, but we leave at 5:30pm, so that's not so bad.

Just so you all know, the current plan is to go to Alton Towers on July 21stWait. What?

(Although presumably the reason is that Amy couldn't get a shift swap)

Hang on, I'm very confused. I'm sure we were talking asbout the 21st. Did we lose a whole chunk of conversation?

You did mention the 14th.

Can we, uh, agree on a day?

Edit: Amy can only do the 21st. So, uh... yeah. I'm an idiot either way.

Hang on, I'm very confused. I'm sure we were talking asbout the 21st. Did we lose a whole chunk of conversation?

You did mention the 14th.

Can we, uh, agree on a day?

Edit: Amy can only do the 21st. So, uh... yeah. I'm an idiot either way.Oh, peapods (as my mum would say).

Oh, well, Jack will just have to go without Alton Towers (either that or I go twice in a week, once with him and once with you guys, which would be rather surreal). It's not like I won't be able to think of things to keep him occupied for the four-and-two-half days he'll be here. And I can still ask Amy and Gareth if they want to come so I don't feel an idiot travelling to Alton on my own.

Although there is the irritating fact that he could now have come in August and therefore my dad could have got the decorating done on the week he was going to do it (i.e. the week Jack is now coming over). But, meh.

Problems over problems.
I still say:

1st of August.
Graz, Austria, Ghegagasse 19/7 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=de&q=Graz,+Austria&ll=47.074667,15.420492&spn=0.010493,0.026994&om=1)

Sorry for messing you about, Paul. Entirely my fault.

So... who's coming?

I'll come. Turns out my parents are quite happy to drop me (and Gareth and Amy if they want to come) off and go somewhere else in the area for the day. So I have no problems about travel arrangements.

Cool. You can use one of our Free Entry tickets then, if you like - sort of an apology for mucking your plans up.

Well, good news, Amy (that's the Amy I know) can come. I'm still waiting for Gareth's reply.