I have firmed up the accommodation for this and bookings are now open.

To remind you will will be meeting in Birmingham, England, from 06 to 09 October 2006 and, with air fares as low as they have ever been across the Atlantic, it's a wonderful opportunity for our US Wordcrafter friends to come and visit the home of the English language.

There is a booking form, courtesy of Arnie, here http://www.greenwich-guide.org.uk/assets/Booking_form.pdf

If you do not have Adobe (which you will need to read it) you can get it free of the Web.

Complete the form and snailmail it to me with a deposit for the accommodation (no deposit is needed if you don't require accommodation).

Let's all look forward to a wonderful gathering.

As I need to start firming up ground arrangements I would appreciate an up-to-date indication of who is likely to be coming to the convention (I have as yet had no booking forms or deposits).

The provisional itinerary includes three nights accommodation at the Thistle, Birmingham, commencing 06 October 2006. Suggested events during the three days include:

A visit to the Hook Norton Brewery
A visit to restaurant to have t typicla English meal
A visit to the Oxford University Press

As I have to know numbers before I can start to arrange these things, could you please:

Let me know if you are coming and how many in your party
Whether you need accommodation
Whether you will want to take the suggested events
What else you want

I am willing to fix everything but I do need to be sure that there will be people turning up to enjoy what I've fixed!

If you won't need hotel accommodation then I don't need a deposit from you, but I do need a definite yes. Or failing that, a definite maybe;-)

You can email me on retraining@pncl.co.uk or pm me on this board.

Here's my definate YES. I'll confirm by post if you like although as I've said I don't need accomodation.

Thank you, Bob. We will liaise.

I have to give the rooms back to the hotel soon and also make arrangements for the various visits.

Could I have a final indication as to everyone's intention (those who've not already told me)?

Richard, our fortunes have improved recently, so Sue (Sunflower) and I should be able to attend. However, we will need the least expensive accomodations possible, as we are still quite impecunious. Also, since neither of us is a red meat eater and Sue's not a beer drinker, the tours of pubs and breweries will not likely be of interest to us, so perhaps you might suggest some alternatives for us.

I hope this does not get to you too late, or that our requirements aren't too burdensome. If we're too late and/or our needs unreasonable, we'll see what we can do on our own.

Best Regards,

Geoff Sanders (Asa Lovejoy)
ama11285@hevanet.com

It will be splendid if you can come.

The accommodation I have booked (details on the booking form link) is cheap for what it is (about half-price) but you might be able to find something less expensive. The Hagley Road is full of hotels of all kinds. However, you will have to accept that accommodation of any kind in England will be expensive to Americans. This is because 1. The dollar is relatively weak at present and 2. We do not have the cheap motel and lodging tradition of the USA.

If Bob reads this he might be able to check out a few places in the Hagley Road - I used to stay in a small hotel in Fountain Road - the name excapes me for the moment - which was pretty good and might be cheaper than The Thistle.

So far as visits are concerned - I have had just about zero feedback about what people would like to do and the brewery trip and the pubs/meals ideas are my own. I would be happy to take any suggestions. Remember, though, that pubs in England are unique and, unlike bars in other countries are not just about drinking. It's difficult to explain to those who have not experienced English pubs, but those who have will surely confirm what I am saying.

Keep us all posted.

The Black Country Living Museum is interesting (although I've been there on school trips often enough to know it inside out) and for groups will arrange guides.


It might however just reinforce the American view of how quaint we are.

As for accomodation, there are, as Richard says, places that are cheaper than The Thistle. There are quite a few web sites that will give you more information about prices and bookings and booking with them on-line should be pretty easy.

Here's one.
Here's another.

Thanks, Richard and Bob! The second link takes one to Brimingham Alabama, USA more than it does to the REAL Birmingham! Oh, welllll... The first link's excellent, however!

Huh.

http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/birmingham.asp

takes me to my own Birmingham, there's a clue in the "aboutbritain" part of the name.

Here's a direct link to the hotel booking page

http://www.aboutbritain.com/BirminghamHotels.asp

I wish I could remember the name of that hotel I used to sue in Fountain Road - the owner was a chap called John Hanson, that I do recall. I have a feeling that Cat knows the place.

Don't forget, when comparing prices, that I've managed to get a 50% reduction on the Thistle's normal rates, so don't compare any other rates with the Thistle's rack rate.

The Black Country Museum is interesting and, maybe even more so, Ironbridge Gorge - where the industrial revolution actually started.

Is it this one?

quote:

I wish I could remember the name of that hotel I used to sue in Fountain Road

You sound like a typical, litigious American.

Asa, Shu and I are just thrilled to hear that! So wonderful. We are planning to come in on the 6th (must make those reservations!), and stay the 6th, 7th, and 8th in Birmingham. Then we'll take public transportation to London and spend one night there (it's expensive!), and then take the train to Paris for a few days. The dollar exchange is not good these days, so while we'd like to stay for 2 weeks, I just don't think we can. However, you are welcome to share rooms with us or join us along the way, if at all possible. We still have to make the London and Paris reservations (I must get on that!), though I have Hilton points and am hoping to stay at the Hilton in London, as I did last time. It had a great location and really wasn't all that expensive, relative to other prices in London.

Kalleh - you commented on RE's unfortunate typo just as I was about to.

I frequently make that typo; I don't know why.

Bob, I don't think that's the hotel - it's not the name I've forgotten.

Kalleh, the Hilton you stayed in is the Hilton Paddington, not the London Hilton. It's important to get it right as the London Hilton (near Hyde Park Corner) is very expensive, whereas the Hilton Paddington is very reasonable. Plus the Hilton Paddington is only about 5 minutes from "The Victoria" - one of London's best boozers ;-)

Kalleh, You might consider spending a day or two in the south of England, rather than all your spare time in Paris. Paris is a fine city - I've been there many times - but it is "just another city" and you have never truly experienced England's countryside, which is its real beauty.

quote:

Originally posted by Richard English:
I frequently make that typo; I don't know why.

Bob, I don't think that's the hotel - it's not the name I've forgotten.

.

I can't find any other references to hotels in that road on the internet (and pretty good at searching) although there are a number of rest homes, student flat shares and residential care facilities.

Is it possible that there's some sort of spyware on my computer that sees that I'm in the USA, so directs me to Birmingham, Alabama instead of the UK? It really is absurd, IMHO! Anyhow, many thaks for the good links!

Originally posted by Kalleh:

quote:

... you are welcome to share rooms with us or join us along the way, if at all possible.

Wow! Will e-mail you about this!

Richard,
The main reason right now to go to France is to see the Louvre. However, maybe we should just spend this time in England. You might be right about that. Asa...let's talk about what you guys want to do. This is just so exciting! Of course, Scotland would be nice too. It isn't that far from Birmingham, right? I can't believe this late in the game we are still so indecisive! Shu and I will make some final decisions tomorrow so that I can start making reservations. Asa, let's talk.

OK, give us a call tomorrow, please!

quote:

Originally posted by Richard English:
I frequently make that typo; I don't know why.

Perhaps you might sue for forgiveness of the typo? I find it odd that we nowadays only use "sue" as a term of law, not as an entreaty of other kinds.

quote:

Of course, Scotland would be nice too. It isn't that far from Birmingham, right?

By US standards maybe not - but it's still quite a jaunt. And Scotland itself is quite a large country - nearly as big as England.

Richard, I am definitely coming. If it is too late to get a room, please let me know so I can arrange something else. Thanks much.

Richard, dear one, no offense but how are those of us in Chicago, Illinois supposed to send you a deposit in UK currency? Have they not heard of credit cards over there? I have been in England at least 15 times and every place I have been has been fine with MasterCard. I don't have any pound notes lying about the house and am at a loss what I am supposed to do. Please enlighten.