[Sticks]

I thought I would carry this on from the Nice to meet you at last !!!!!!!!! thread.

If we want to make this work, Janette needs numbers to establish the feasibility of this project. So can you U2U her if you want to come.

Go on, go on, go on go on GO ON

The idea is to hold it in the Manchester area, my suggestion is Bury as it is easy to get to on the Metro link from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria. (Well as I lived their for 11 years I need a good excuse to see it again )

I did wonder, instead of a party on one night, would it be possible to extend it to a weekend convention - that way we could tour the local area as well.

Have seminars on internet & BB related issues with guest speakers. Proper catering, maybe a deal on the accomodation, possibly

This could be an annual event going around the country.

It could even be held here in Tyneside one year

But for them moment we need to get the first one off the go.

So let Janette know if you can make it ASAP

We have just about 2 1/2 months to Nov 2

Lets go for it!

[Princess Pink Pants]

Originally posted by Sticks
would it be possible to extend it to a weekend convention

Then I definitely, definitely could'nt afford it!!!

that way we could tour the local area as well

How about touring the local nightclubs instead? Lol!

This could be an annual event going around the country

Yeah then we could have it waaaaay down south once & I'd be able to afford it!

[Janette]

Ok, Sticks and I have had a long conflab and we have worked out some finer points.


If enough people are interested, then I can arrange accommodation for roughly £10 a night, and I have provisionally got a venue as well!


U2U me if you want to come

[Sticks]

Absolutely

If we can turn this into a TiBB weekend, then you can get a chance to see one of the oldest outdoor markets, sample the Bury Black Pudding and take a trip on the East Lancashire Railway

See the link on Bury MBC

If this is successful, maybe we could hold it in another stomping ground of mine, Bromley in Kent

Remember U2U Janette today and let her know if you can come

[kaphc]

By November 2nd, I will be almost 7 months pregnant, so I don't think I will feel like travelling up to Manchester by then.



You'll all have to have a drink for me though!

[BusyBee]

A week-end type convention sounds great to me. Make the journey worthwhile. I have done a bit of checking around and for anyone who is worried about the cost of getting there, if you go by train and book in advance tickets cost about half price. In fact from Bristol its even cheaper than National Express and obviously much quicker. Would be lovely to meet as many of possible of the fellow obsessives who haunt this forum.

[Princess Pink Pants]

I looked up how much it would be by train and its still waaay too expensive!

[Princess Pink Pants]

Originally posted by Sticks
If we can turn this into a TiBB weekend, then you can get a chance to see one of the oldest outdoor markets, sample the Bury Black Pudding and take a trip on the East Lancashire Railway

Suddenly Im not quite so gutted that I cant go!

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Princess Pink Pants
Suddenly Im not quite so gutted that I cant go!

Oi!

What is wrong with the culture of the North West

Especially the food of the region has lots of interesting cultural history. Here in Newcastle upon Tyne we have the Stottie cakes, I will have to find one to image.

Meanwhile in terms of the traveling costs there is alway's National Express

And as Busy Bee pointed out Apex tickets can cut the costs further.

So go on

Send Janette a U2U to let us know you are coming.

Go on, go on, go on go on GO ON

[Sticks]

As if to prove a point

Quote from the railway Newcastle to Manchester about £47.40

Quote on National express (Newcastle to Manchester) £23.00

If I just go to Manchester on the coach I get a better time of

Leave Newcastle 09:15 ----> Arrive Manchester 14:45

The link to Bury will be via the Metro link

(Janette could you find out the cost of single and return tickets for Manchester to Bury )


As for accomodation, Thompson Local on the net can give a good variety of Hotels for the Bury Area. Go to the home page select Hotels (or Guest Houses) and Bury. It will quibble which Bury, select Bury Lancashire.

It will then offer Hotels, Guest houses and Hostels as choices.

There are no Hostels

There are 2 Guest Houses listed

But 21 hotels listed

Currently I am waiting for an official list from Bury MBC if they have prices I will post them up.

I am also waiting on details of the venue hire.

We will keep you posted.

Just U2U Janette to let us know you are coming.

All we have to do is thrash out the itinery for our TIBB weekend

[Sticks]

As promised the image of a stottie cake

I am afraid it is a relatively small one, as Glitter Babe may confirm.

Don't forget to U2U Janette to let us know you want to come to the TiBB convention

[Romantic Old Bird]

I thought we were going to Manchester.


I was going to ask Discolady if I could kip on her settee, and have her lovely OH sing me to sleep with a lullaby..................

[LEE]

We are going to Manchester ROB.

Bury is next door and Sticks is just getting a bit enthusiastic about his old stomping ground.

[peachy]

My U2U isn't working but I am interested in the idea of a convention. One day might be all I could manage though, but certainly count me in.

[Sticks]

Bury is part of Greater Manchester.

Just North of Manchester see attached map

It has decent food, a steam railway and was the home of Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the police force

[Janette]

The cost from Manchester to Bury is around £2.50 single, and at weekends I think a return ticket is only £3.50.

You can even have a full weekend ticket for around £5.00


Wherever we have this convention it is going to be fantastic, but it won't happen at all unless people let me know if they want to come. I can't book a venue because they want money up front, and i'm not prepared to do that until I have more interest!


To make this possible, I need to have a set of figures by 2nd September, that gives everyone two months to save up, and give me two months to try and set it all up.

[Maggie]

I have just got back from hols and have only just seen this you can count me in, I'v been on about this for quite some time I loved meeting the lovely friends I have made on this site, and had a wonderful birthday thanks to 3 of them

One thing how about some Karaoke lol
You should know what I'm like, I love Karaoke

[Princess Pink Pants]

What is wrong with the culture of the North West

Calm down Sticks Im only joking! When you were 18 Im sure you'd have found it boring as well!

Especially the food of the region has lots of interesting cultural history. Here in Newcastle upon Tyne we have the Stottie cakes, I will have to find one to image.

that doesnt interest me either, Im on a diet so dont tempt me!


I live in sussex so theres no way I'll be able to afford to travel to manchester, even by coach, so Im definitely not coming now, I have got £100 saved up but Im putting that straight towards another 18-30 holiday with my galpals next summer before I start uni!

[Maggie]

Maybe a lift with someone else who lives nearer to you ppp, have to check them out first though

[BusyBee]

Perhaps it would be possible to make a block booking for the night somewhere - surely we could get a discount. I am sure there must be somewhere in the area who would be honoured to accept a group of such well behaved, sensible, well brought up, well mannered people who are visiting the area for a cultural weekend!!!!!!

[Janette]

I did look into that Busybee, but unfortunately nowhere seems to do a discount. In fact it's more the opposite! they want non-refundable deposits on group bookings because if we didn't go then they would have loads of empty rooms!

I have, at this moment in time, got quite a few things in the pipeline so watch this space


We still need more numbers though, so U2U me if you want to come!

[splodge0]

May I suggest a Rural venue? Most smaller hotels have rooms more appropriate in size and are more willing to take a risk on a booking of some kind. There are many in the area between Manchester and, say, Warwick who I think would have easy access to train and motorway.

[Sticks]

Originally posted by splodge0
May I suggest a Rural venue? Most smaller hotels have rooms more appropriate in size and are more willing to take a risk on a booking of some kind.

Bury is fairly rural if I remember correctly

Where we used to live, down the hill was a pig farm, and if the wind was in a certain direction .......

[Mark]

Originally posted by Sticks

Where we used to live, down the hill was a pig farm, and if the wind was in a certain direction .......

Thanks for that Sticks!



- Mark

[splodge0]

I'm not saying you do this deliberately, sticks, but you've missed the point, again.....! I was suggesting it might be easier and cheaper in a rural area