UK meetups

[Bakemaster]

Originally comes from *chans.

Fix'd

[LE4dGOLEM]

Originally comes from *chans.

Fix'd

I was under the impression that we were trying to keep all links away from ...those places... as possible. I would have said it came from the japanese "sageru", "to lower", but I didn't want even that link.

[Bakemaster]

Then why'd you bring up sage in the first place? Ah-HA!

For what it's worth, I get all my knowledge of chans and chan-related stuff from ED which I actually find amusing—filtered, as it were, rather than straight from the source.

[keozen]

Well I'm in West Yorkshire here so another vote for something north friendly here too.

Maybe somewhere in the midlands as a halfway house between us northerners and you southerners?

[Moo]

XKCD meetup is too awesome a prospect to be hampered by distance - especially when it is a distance that can easily be covered with a 1-2 hour train journey. Or, in an ideal world, money; but that is only easy to say when you're not skint I know

I will be there, wherever.

[skydivingyeti]

Newcastle (Upon Tyne) anyone?

Or Birmingham ... what about something in the holidays (yes i am a student bum), new years madness?

[Robin S]

I'm very likely to be busy for the new year.

[crystal_owl]

We need somewhere with a rollercoaster... rules out Oxford, nothing happens here.

[ann]

XKCDer in Oxford! Woot! Do I know you?


If any of the American fans read this thread they'd be thoroughly bemused at the British concept of distance. London - Leeds is about how far they'd drive to get a good doughnut.

[Jesse]

We need somewhere with a rollercoaster... rules out Oxford, nothing happens here.

Blackpool has one...

But as stated before, I do not think I would attend a meet-up. I intend to hang with Lead at some point, and anyone in the Blackpool area is welcome to come out to Scrooge's for a drink with me.

[BiggAl]

I'd go for a meetup in london - I live fairly centrally so anywhere in zones 1-3 is easy for me. Meetup at the west end and pretend we have the cash to get last minute tickets to something?

Any bonus points for chess in a situation that is /not/ a rollercoaster?

[Robin S]

Chess on the Tube, whilst decelerating, could be worth a shot.

[BiggAl]

or series with different modes of transport...

[Moo]

I'm totally doing Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day so anyone who wants to come is welcome!

It's not going to be some hardcore attempt to be as realistic as possible (although kudos to those who are going that route); it's more like a bunch of geeky friends glad of an excuse to dress up and have some fun.

Sunday 8 Dec at St James' Park (London) at 10am. (My Facebook event is private but you can ask for an invite if I recognize you from the fora).

[Cheese]

Sorry to be an asshole, but I'm going to complain about 'us northerners' said by anyone south of the Scottish/English border. I will be concise, though: I'm really pedantic.

I'm UK-based, but can't really travel as I'm 16, with wonderful concerning parents* and a full time education. However, I'll watch this thread in case anything comes up that I could somehow get to (for example, something in Edinburgh). This is actually the first time I've visited this subforum...

*This is probably a good thing, I concede.

[Coin]

I'm based in London as well (E1W)
A meeting some time after the new year would be great, once those pesky exams are over.
There is usually a lull in work just around the middle of January which I think could be ideal for the purpose of a bigger meeting.

Concerning roller coasters I'm not sure if they are open for business in the winter season... That might be an idea to save for later.
Picking up on the earlier idea of playing chess on the tube, a set of pictures with people playing different table top games at various locations in London could be fun.
Scrabble at(in?) the fountains of Trafalgar Square, checkers on the bottom of the Themse at low tide (possible at Waterloo) or perhaps at a pub during a sports event
There are plenty of places where a table top game just shouldn't be played; these were just taken from the top of my head.

I think visiting the pub is a given

[Edit0r]

Sorry to be an asshole, but I'm going to complain about 'us northerners' said by anyone south of the Scottish/English border. I will be concise, though: I'm really pedantic.

I'm UK-based, but can't really travel as I'm 16, with wonderful concerning parents* and a full time education. However, I'll watch this thread in case anything comes up that I could somehow get to (for example, something in Edinburgh). This is actually the first time I've visited this subforum...

*This is probably a good thing, I concede.

Then we shall be stealin' you an' tyin' you up to the castle! *swag*

[Coin]

I took the liberty of making a table of interested people and their corresponding location and preferred location:

Code: Select all

Name                    Location                Preferred location for meetup

Robin S                 London                  London
dubsola                 London                  Would like an excuse to go somewhere else   
MLM                     Brighton                London
Mat                     Brighton                London/Brighton
Nickoli                 Stoke-on-Trent          London with three weeks notice
Moo                     Essex                   London
craig1709               rural Shropshire        Anywhere a train stops
Brandon Oto             Netherlands             England, but only if it's a good one
Stief                   South Wales
LE4dGOLEM                                       Leeds, possibly Blackpool
Crazy Jimbo             Edinburgh
T                       20 min from Brighton    Brighton
Cassi
cmacis                                          Leeds, possibly Blackpool
no-genious              Brighton                Brighton
xyzzy                                           A well scheduled place
Sir Blackberrybush      Brighton                Brighton
keozen                  West Yorkshire          Somewhere in the Midlands
skydivingyeti           Newcastle (Upon Tyne)   Newcastle or Birmingham
gothgeek                Oxford                  somewhere with a rollercoaster
ann                     Oxford
BiggAl                  London                  London
Cheese                  The South (of Scotland) Edinburgh
Edit0r                  Edinburgh
Coin                    London                  London
loratwopointone         Manchester              London, if cheap accomodation is avaliable
DuSTman                 Lancaster               Lancaster, could travel if given sufficient notice


Edit: Amazing, it worked!

[loratwopointone]

I'd be interested. Based in Manchester, although I could do London/the South with notice and someone telling where a cheap hotel in the area is

[Coin]

Heh, we'll I'd offer you my couch (one of those that fold out and becomes a bed) but somehow I don't think you'd accept...
For cheap hotels I'd have a look at the Bayswater area. Plenty of them on Queensborough terrace and Inverness Terrace.
They are generally cheap but still with good connections (just north of Hyde park).

We need more ideas on what to do though.
These are the ones that I've identified:

• Playing chess on the tube
• Go on a rollercoaster
• Going to the pub
• Going to a concert

[frosty]

hate to burst your bubble, but rollercoasters aren't that common in central london.

London dungeon may have a ride, but its pricey even to get in the first place :p

There is HMS belfast and various other landmarks you could take pictures on.

time to vanish again.

[Coin]

Well I just thought I should list it in case someone's got a roller coaster in their back yard or something. Not that there are many back yards in London either...

[loratwopointone]

Chess on the tube sounds alright, roller coaster wise I think Oblivion at Alton Towers would be the ultimate achievement

[DuSTman]

I'd be interested in attending a meetup. I'm based in lancaster, although I could travel given sufficient notice.

[frosty]

Chess on the tube sounds alright, roller coaster wise I think Oblivion at Alton Towers would be the ultimate achievement

how about stealth at thorpe park?

its 0-80(mph) in 2.3 seconds.

now THAT would be an achievement.

[Cheese]

Code: Select all

Name                    Location                Preferred location for meetup

Robin S                 London                  London
dubsola                 London                  Would like an excuse to go somewhere else   
MLM                     Brighton                London
Mat                     Brighton                London/Brighton
Nickoli                 Stoke-on-Trent          London with three weeks notice
Moo                     Essex                   London
craig1709               rural Shropshire        Anywhere a train stops
Brandon Oto             Netherlands             England, but only if it's a good one
Stief                   South Wales
LE4dGOLEM                                       Leeds, possibly Blackpool
Crazy Jimbo             Edinburgh
T                       20 min from Brighton    Brighton
Cassi
cmacis                                          Leeds, possibly Blackpool
no-genious              Brighton                Brighton
xyzzy                                           A well scheduled place
Sir Blackberrybush      Brighton                Brighton
keozen                  West Yorkshire          Somewhere in the Midlands
skydivingyeti           Newcastle (Upon Tyne)   Newcastle or Birmingham
gothgeek                Oxford                  somewhere with a rollercoaster
ann                     Oxford
BiggAl                  London                  London
Cheese                  The South (of Scotland) Edinburgh
Edit0r                  Edinburgh
Coin                    London                  London
loratwopointone         Manchester              London, if cheap accomodation is avaliable
DuSTman                 Lancaster


fix'd, for my location, and to add DuSTman.

[Coin]

Right. So we have a list of people interested in meeting up. Now for a bit of statistical analysis.

We have a total of 27 people interested in a meeting
A maximum of 12 of these would like, or could be persuaded, to come to a meet-up in London.
A maximum of 7 would like, or could be persuaded, to meet up in Brighton
A possible 5 would prefer somewhere further north.

These figures could vary as there hasn't been a poll.

I would be willing to put in some work to create a meeting in London if there is a genuine interest.
If you like, I can investigate possible hotels and hostels to stay at at various costs and find a pub (or a bar if that is preferred) where we can reserve an area for the meeting.
Taking pictures on the tube is in theory illegal, allthough I'm not sure how well enforced the rules are. It has something to do with the undderground being a bomb shelter and all that. I'll check if the rules are the same for taking pictures inside the train as well.

So what do you say? Wan't to meet up?

[loratwopointone]

Taking pictures on the tube is in theory illegal, allthough I'm not sure how well enforced the rules are. It has something to do with the undderground being a bomb shelter and all that. I'll check if the rules are the same for taking pictures inside the train as well.

I've gotten away with taking pictures on the tube, I think we'd be okay as long as it wasn't too busy (so not rush hour/lunchtime).

London is fine with me, as is anywhere northern, Brighton is just a wee bit too far though. Depending on when it is I might be driving down so if anyone else from the Manchester/Cheshire area is going I could possibly take a few of you (as long as you're not weird, don't bitch about my driving and bring snacks )

I think after Christmas sounds like the best time for a meet-up now due to present buying etc.

[Edit0r]

Just for the records, I'm in Edinburgh. If anyone wants to meet up here... let's meet up!

[Vichyssoise]

I'm from Macclesfield in Cheshire so I would prefer something that isn't too far south but with a fair bit of notice I could probably manage London.

[loratwopointone]

I'm from Macclesfield in Cheshire so I would prefer something that isn't too far south but with a fair bit of notice I could probably manage London.

Woah, me too! *is slightly scared*

[Vichyssoise]

Your from macclesfield?!

[loratwopointone]

Yeah, moved here about a year ago. It's rather rubbish and too quiet for my liking (no offence). I'm used to the hustle and bustle of Manchester

Nice to see someone else from round these parts though

[Vichyssoise]

No offence taken, seriously though Macclesfield's two notable awards are "Least Cultured Town in the UK" and one year it was "Chlamydia Capital of the UK".

[loratwopointone]

Yeah... according to Wikipedia we're also responsible for David Dickinson and Mr Methane, a man who makes a living by farting on stage. Go team!

[Vichyssoise]

Yeah spectacular place really,

[Cassi]

I'm in Cheshire as well...London is a possibility, though if I'm getting a train I'd need quite a bit of advance notice to be able to afford it.

Of course, there's also talking my mother into the whole thing. If it's after Christmas, though, it'll probably also be after my 18th birthday, which could make things rather easier...

[loratwopointone]

Hehe cool. Well if there's a few of us going down from this neck of the woods it'll make the journey better =]

The coach to London is only £39 return, it's a journey and a half but it does save you a fair few quid.

Me and Vichyssoise have just worked out we live round the corner from each other O_o

[Vichyssoise]

being 18 does make things easier, was my 18th in october.

[Jesse]

Macclesfield?! I was there a couple of months back at that big event in the park, ran a hilariously bad wrestling show there.

We're going back next year for a couple of shows. What I am saying is, if you are happy driving me down to London for a meet-up I can get to the Manchester area and will bring Revels and Doritos.