SW DIS Meet 2004

[Kevin Stringer]

Yes, it's that moment you've all been waiting for ........ it's that moment some of you have been waiting for........... so you haven't been waiting for it at all, but you're going to get it anyway!

We have (as in me and Tam) decided on a date for this years South West DIS Meet.

A tactical decision has been made to extend the event to a weekend long type thingy similar to the Northern Meet. The reasoning for this is two fold. Firstly it allows those who have to travel long distances to relax and enjoy themselves a bit more and secondly, it provides additional drinking time. Obviously the second of these factors was the one that really swung it.

So....... we are thinking of Fri 23rd April, Sat 24th April and possibly Sun 25th depending on how many people want to extend their stay for another night.
The reason for picking this date is that I am off to Florida at the end of May and Sam and a few others will be there in early May for her wedding. I realise that you may be very busy organising things Sam, but we wanted to at least give you the chance to attend if possible. You must owe me at least one drink!

Our most likely venue is the Cotswold Hoburne (www.hoburne.com)
There are many different sorts of accommodation available varying from pitches for tents, through caravans to lodges and chalets. The rates are pretty reasonable. There is an indoor pool and a club and family lounge along with many other activities.

I'm not sure if they have a function room to suit our size group, but I'll find out as soon as I know details of numbers.

If you are interested have a look at the link to the website above and then either reply here or e-mail me. If you all let me know what sort of accommodation you require and for how long, I will contact the Hoburne and see if they will do any reduced rates for a group booking.

Once all is booked I will get Tammy working hard on activities for the weekend while I relax and watch TV.

Cheers

Kev

[WDWfan,uk]

Sign us up Kevin honey :) ! Putting this on the calendar and about to check out the accommodation - so ............ what's on the agenda? APART FROM BOOZING!!!!!! A quiz perhaps? Any boogying? Enquiring minds need to know :smooth:

[Kevin Stringer]

Agenda?

Crikey, I ain't got that far yet!

A quiz (or quizes) is a given.
I also notice that on the 'events' section of the Hoburne web site there is something called 'The Latin Quarter' on the weekend we are planning. This is described as 'Celebrating the music of the world's leading latino stars'.
How are you at the salsa Shirleyhoney?

[AlisonB]

Hey - we'll be able to make a SW meet at last!!! We'll be there Kevin!

[UKDEB]

We'll be there. Not sure about staying in a caravan though. And I definitely don't do tents! :snooty:

I've got a few Disney prizes I can donate for the quiz.

[Kevin Stringer]

Good news Alison!

Deb, take a look at the web site, they do a nice line in rustic lodges. That's what we'll be going for.

[Olaf]

I think it's great that you guys get together as often as you do. It's not so easy over here. :( One of these days, Lorraine and I are going to have a little get together at the Potomic Mills Mall and then you guys will be jealous. ;)

[Hilary]

I really, really want to make the meet at some stage over the weekend, but my calendar is showing a dental appointment on Saturday, DD2 needing lifts to / from a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the Brecon Beacons on Friday / Sunday, and we'll have been back from our Florida trip only a matter of days...... :rolleyes:

So count me in, if only fleetingly :)

[KayleeUK]

Hello :)

Yeah...... SW Dis Meet!!

Sounds good to me - working on DH as to how long we can stay as we speak ;)

[Kevin Stringer]

There is a slight flaw in my otherwise perfect plan.

We rang the Cotswold Hoburne today to check availability etc. only to be told that there is a 3 day minimum stay. No mention of this was made on the web site, by the way.
Also, day guests are not allowed. Even after I talked to the manager they would not budge.

The trouble is this would be the perfect place as there is plenty of entertainment and things to do for the children, a large club house for our afternoon activities and music at night, based around a beautiful lakeside setting.

The good thing is that it is relatively cheap with a 2 bed caravan starting at £26 per night, a 2 bed chalet at £37, up to a 4 bed lodge at £66. So, if people only wanted to come for a couple of nights (say Friday and Saturday), they could pay for 3 but only use 2 nights.

As I see it we have 2 choices. If everbody is happy to pay for 3 nights we can go ahead. If this is too much then I will look for another venue.

Sorry for all the confusion, I blame Tam.

[Hilary]

I think the biggest flaw in this second otherwise-perfect-plan (from a purely personal point of view) is that they do not allow day guests. :(

Whilst I've said I would really, really like to be there, I'm not so keen on the idea of paying for three night's accommodation if I can only get there for a couple of hours :rolleyes: Call me a cheapskate if you will ........

If there are others who weren't planning on staying over, it may thwart their plans too.

[WDWfan,uk]

What a pity - as Hilary says, it wouldn't work for anyone just visiting for a few hours.

It also rules out anyone wanting to stay for just one night as they probably won't want to pay for three.

It might still make a good base for families and we could all meet up somewhere else during the day?

[signtalker]

Kev, is there a plan B ????(venue I mean!).

Oh and being a typical girly here, how far are we talking driving wise from Norfolk??.

Jules

[Astrid]

Tammy and Kev - Sounds great to me, hopefully count me in, though like the some of the others I will probably just come for a day or one overnight stay so not sure how the Hoburne fits into all this now there are various spanners being thrown into the works!!

I've stayed at another Hoburne site down this way and their chalets are fab.

Thanks for arranging this! :)

Astrid :wave:

[Fantasia Sam]

LOL ofcourse at least one round of drinks would be on us ;) ;)

We want to come for sure but what with all the wedding planning etc and the fact that I fly out on the 30th we'd only be able to be a day visitor or maybe stretch to one night's stay :( and I really wanna come and say hi befor I go off to be hitched :Pinkbounc

I really hope that there is a plan B - otherwise not too worry I'm sure I have plenty of other things to keep me busy ;) and obviously I'd make a huge saving on the drinks :p

[WDWfan,uk]

Sam, I believe a Plan B is being hatched so that those who can only make it for a day are included :) !

[Kevin Stringer]

That Shirley woman is right again (as always).

The Hoburne is not really going to be a starter as it is too exclusive in terms of the '3 night' deal.

Alternative locations are being sought even as we speak! Well, maybe not as we SPEAK, as I am actually typing this, but it's pretty close.

All of those interested PLEASE keep the Saturday 24th April free as this will be the date for the Meet.

Whatever the venue is, it will have to encorporate everyone, even if they wish to come for the day.

I am, as always, your most humble servant,

Mr Kevin Stringer esq. (except for that Shirley woman who teases me mercilessly). :) :Pinkbounc :wave: :teeth: :wave2:

[signtalker]

24th in diary as we speak:)

DH has said due to the travelling time, we will have to stay for the weekend(oh that'll be hard wont it!);)

Jules

[Fantasia Sam]

Yayyyyyyyyyyy - the date is in my diary - so excited :Pinkbounc

Thank you Mr Stringer - sir :crazy:

[signtalker]

SAM, I think thats Sir String Vest !!(sorry Kev, cant look at you and not think of you as Mr String Vest)):eek:

Jules

[Astrid]

In my diary too Kev!!

Jules - hey, you mean we actually might get to meet up again??! Will Josh be coming along with you?

Astrid :)

[KayleeUK]

Date is in the diary :)

[signtalker]

Astrid-YES Josh will be coming, so best tell Bryn!!!

Gameboy, and football will be packed LOL!!!.

YEP fingers crossed we can make it, missed the last 2 meets due to one thing and another,but this one is planted on the calendar, loads of people I havent met yet!

Jules