NationStates Jolt Archive

Right, it has been an absolute age since I collapsed in a pile of my own vomit in front of a group of bemused Internet people, and as such, I feel we should discuss the possibility of another NationStates UK meetup. We have already done, I think:
- Manchester
- London
- Birmingham
- somewhere else - Leicester?
- I don't think the 5th one ever materialised

There can be new and interesting topics of discussion, such as:
- is Obama a cold-blooded reptile King who feasts on human fetuses?
- does NS2 suck?
- Current Economic Climate.

And old favourites, such as:
- which of us secretly works for the intelligence services?
- do we all still really dislike, well, you know who?
- Myrth.

This is usually the point at which we all fall out of the mix on location, but, well, I thought I'd try to see if anyone was interested, as I have four months of 19th century journals staring me in the face and the only possible hope of reprieve is alcohol.

-- Quintessence of Dust/Gruenberg

London in the summer, when I have money?

I'm guessing Belfast is never going to be a serious candidate

York, as long as it's before September when I move :p

But seriously, it's a lovely place, lots of great pubs and about 3 of us live here already.

London and Birmingham = bad.

I'll have cash mid April so then onwards would be good.

however these things never materialized last year (either that or you all hate me) due to where to go so OP had better demand somewhere

London and Birmingham = bad.

I'm not sure their is really much in Northampton for you guys though I mean you mostly have to go home about 1800

could always blag cheap tickets to legoland or something (hurrah for forces discount) :/

could always blag cheap tickets to legoland or something (hurrah for forces discount) :/

Oh my God yes! The NS daytrip to Legoland! How win would that be?

Oh my God yes! The NS daytrip to Legoland! How win would that be?

anyone good at sneaking alchohol into theme parks? :p

anyone good at sneaking alchohol into theme parks? :p

It's not difficult.

It's not difficult.

guess whos buying :p

York
This. It's on 4 main raillines and has umpteen pubs.

This. It's on 4 main raillines and has umpteen pubs.

iirc I need to test your tequila tolerance :wink:

umpteen pubs is irrelevant were all skint and need cheap bars with all you can drink and a back entrance for kidnapping

iirc I need to test your tequila tolerance
Ah getting shitfaced on tequila, one of live's small pleasures.
umpteen pubs is irrelevant were all skint and need cheap bars with all you can drink and a back entrance for kidnapping
Aye theres plenty of those, also by the money vested in me by the British government I'm never that skint for the good times.

Aye theres plenty of those, also by the money vested in me by the British government I'm never that skint for the good times.

*makes note to spend all your student loan*

whats that you say? go as the cast of top gun?!

*makes note to spend all your student loan*
Yeah well here's an offer NSG can barely refuse - come to York and I'll get the first round in :eek:

Yeah well here's an offer NSG can barely refuse - come to York and I'll get the first round in :eek:

just buy a bottle off the bar and save yourself the exercise ;)

[shamelessly keeps thread at top of forum]

stupid forum just ate my post :mad:
i came to Manchester and London, and i'd be up for another. missed Gru throwing up by mere minutes last time :p

as long as its not too far north... cos i'm a southie and travelling too far sucks.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=52.902276,-0.472412&spn=5.468151,15.831299&t=h&z=7&msid=112345261414933311298.000464c78e24a3b6f4827

so far, on that map, Birmingham looks pretty central to me

South is good. North is also good. Not too far, though. Either way.

York is currently top of my list as there's the promise of free booze.

York's a little far for me.

I can do London easy :p

I cant really afford to go anywhere further north.

BUT.

as it is a lovely town, I would suggest Canterbury, in Kent.

as it is a lovely town, I would suggest Canterbury, in Kent.

Isn't that a bit far from pretty much everyone?

York is not that bad for me, dont mind where really depends if i can get to easy from my neck of the woods

I'll say what I said last time this question was asked.

Come to Manchester, we have a bar with a space shuttle in it.

Would you be thinking of that place near the Millstone, up in the Northern Quarter? Damned if I remember what it is, but still. There was also, if I'm thinking right, a dalek.

Would you be thinking of that place near the Millstone, up in the Northern Quarter? Damned if I remember what it is, but still. There was also, if I'm thinking right, a dalek.


TV21. There is also a full sized Predator.

That's the bugger! I couldn't remember, probably because I just followed a mate of a mate in there on the latter's stag do. Also sells that very nice Mixed Fruit Kopparberg, although their anti-hat-wearing-of policy was disappointing. It seemed a hatty sort of place. Yet another of life's little tragedies.

I'd recommend Manchester, but for the fact that I find it a rain-soaked pit filled with scallies and yuppies (how odd a combination that is), bedevilled by inadequate public transport and so on. However, should none of these dissuade people, I'd like to add to my esteemed fellow-Manc's statement and emphasise that Fab Cafe is also rather good, if rather small.*

*N.B. No responsibility will be accepted for asphyxiation or crushing injuries received during drunken nights out in Fab.

Isn't that a bit far from pretty much everyone?

Not from me :p


Not the point, its such a nice city.

Unless I pass my test pretty damn soon I can't go past London.

Lets hope I'm driving soon.

Unless I pass my test pretty damn soon I can't go past London.

have you not heard of the train? I can't imagine why you would want to take the car tbh as your gonna have to park in a city centre and have to spend some time sobering up in some godforsaken hell hole

have you not heard of the train? I can't imagine why you would want to take the car tbh as your gonna have to park in a city centre and have to spend some time sobering up in some godforsaken hell hole

I use the train every working day of the week.

SouthEastern rip me off.

And I'd rather spend the money driving so I can actually enjoy the journey.

Thus far York and London seem the most popular, and though my preference is for the latter as I live there, maybe it's best to mix it up a bit. Belfast is probably a bit too far, sadly.

Thus far York and London seem the most popular, and though my preference is for the latter as I live there, maybe it's best to mix it up a bit. Belfast is probably a bit too far, sadly.

just put your foot down and throw a dart at the map already silly

Actually, I just got out of a post-seminar drinks reception so if I threw a dart at a map of Britain right now I'd probably hit Luxembourg.

And we're back.

I'm still sticking with York - it's cheaper to get to for anyone currently not in London, and I'll buy you a drink if you come.

And we're back.

I'm still sticking with York - it's cheaper to get to for anyone currently not in London, and I'll buy you a drink if you come.

12 hours on the train there and back to York counts me out pretty bad.... and i'd have to leave before 8 to avoid a 13 hour trip just on the return. £100 for the ticket doesn't help either.
10 hours driving doesn't appeal much either :-S


edit: updated mah map a bit: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=112345261414933311298.000464c78e24a3b6f4827&ll=52.626395,-0.516357&spn=5.529127,13.930664&z=7

12 hours on the train there and back to York counts me out pretty bad.... and i'd have to leave before 8 to avoid a 13 hour trip just on the return. £100 for the ticket doesn't help either.
10 hours driving doesn't appeal much either :-S


edit: updated mah map a bit: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=112345261414933311298.000464c78e24a3b6f4827&ll=52.626395,-0.516357&spn=5.529127,13.930664&z=7

Same problem for me.

Also, on that map I am down by Maidstone, right out of the way :( Unless the location is London, about 30 mins away by rail. 25 - 30 miles by road I'd guess.

Yah, I may have been born Londoner, but not one any more =P

TV21. There is also a full sized Predator.

Small world - I know the guy who runs that place.

Well, when I say 'know', it'd be more accurate to say I used to go out with an old friend of his, so we've met a couple of times. Great guy, somewhat insane.
If you should ever have the good fortune to be invited to a lock-in there, the spaceship is a really great place to sneak off to with a new ladyfriend so you can get to know each other better.

There's a fair possibility I'll end up there next weekend (20th/21st), since I'm going up north to see the aforementioned ex-girlfriend.

... Scotland? Anyone? :(

... Scotland? Anyone? :(
I'd be up for that.

There's a few of us about, and quite a few from North England.

Doable.

Even though I won't be there, which understandably lessens the attraction, I recommend Cambridge as the best medium.

It's among the prettiest cities in the UK, most likely to be sunny, hundreds of good bars, opportunities for punting fun, and generally soaking up the atmosphere of a place where great men drank.

It's also easy to reach from most places.

I'd be up for that.

There's a few of us about, and quite a few from North England.

Doable.

I'd love to attend a meet, but living somewhere like Aberdeen has always complicated things.

*ponders*

I'd love to attend a meet, but living somewhere like Aberdeen has always complicated things.
The price of train/plain/bus tickets fro the Central Belt to the Deen is a fucking scam.

I've got a load of mates up north, but I hardly ever see them due to the expense.

Isn't that a bit far from pretty much everyone?
And it's a bit of a shit-hole.

Even though I won't be there, which understandably lessens the attraction, I recommend Cambridge as the best medium.
It's sort of eh... not near anywhere though.

Even though I won't be there, which understandably lessens the attraction, I recommend Cambridge as the best medium.

It's among the prettiest cities in the UK, most likely to be sunny, hundreds of good bars, opportunities for punting fun, and generally soaking up the atmosphere of a place where great men drank.

It's also easy to reach from most places.

Agreed, but the closer it gets to summer the more filled with tourists it becomes.

When would this meet be?

It's sort of eh... not near anywhere though.

It's between the North and the South, though people getting trains might have to go through London anyway.

£100 for the ticket doesn't help either.

*looks up the rail fee for me*

okay its costs pushing £200 for me to take a train up North but £40 if I take a plane to Aberdeen

I'd be up for that.

There's a few of us about, and quite a few from North England.

Doable.

Me too. Although Cambridge would have some draw for me so i'd go there too

Same problem for me.

Also, on that map I am down by Maidstone, right out of the way :( Unless the location is London, about 30 mins away by rail. 25 - 30 miles by road I'd guess.

Yah, I may have been born Londoner, but not one any more =P

Lets hold the meet in Maidstone! I can show you all the delights of the expensive but mediocre shopping centre, the other old shopping centre thats basically died because of the new one, the near-constant traffic congestion, the hordes of 14-year old chavs trying to start a fight with you if you don't have a cigarette to given them. Then I'll spot someone from school who might recognize me and have a completely irrrational panic, running around manically before knocking myself out by accidentally running into the phone boxes outside a well-known fast-food retailer.

Seriously speaking, probably I'd only consider going if it were in t'midlands. But I'm not great company, so its not a great loss!

Lets hold the meet in Maidstone! I can show you all the delights of the expensive but mediocre shopping centre, the other old shopping centre thats basically died because of the new one, the near-constant traffic congestion, the hordes of 14-year old chavs trying to start a fight with you if you don't have a cigarette to given them. Then I'll spot someone from school who might recognize me and have a completely irrrational panic, running around manically before knocking myself out by accidentally running into the phone boxes outside a well-known fast-food retailer.

Seriously speaking, probably I'd only consider going if it were in t'midlands. But I'm not great company, so its not a great loss!

Yeah, that's pretty much Maidstone. :p

But I go to college in Tonbridge, so no one in Maidstone will know me and you would then have a wasted trip. Sorry. :(

*looks up the rail fee for me*

okay its costs pushing £200 for me to take a train up North but £40 if I take a plane to Aberdeen

*Chuckles that you appear to be advertising the RAF in your post*

*Makes mental note to look out for group of strange looking people arguing in a pub about nonsense in a few weeks time*

Lets hold the meet in Maidstone! I can show you all the delights of the expensive but mediocre shopping centre, the other old shopping centre thats basically died because of the new one, the near-constant traffic congestion, the hordes of 14-year old chavs trying to start a fight with you if you don't have a cigarette to given them. Then I'll spot someone from school who might recognize me and have a completely irrrational panic, running around manically before knocking myself out by accidentally running into the phone boxes outside a well-known fast-food retailer.

Seriously speaking, probably I'd only consider going if it were in t'midlands. But I'm not great company, so its not a great loss!

Could be worse, it could be Gravesend.

edit: updated mah map a bit: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=112345261414933311298.000464c78e24a3b6f4827&ll=52.626395,-0.516357&spn=5.529127,13.930664&z=7


Currently in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire - by Stansted Airport, halfway between London and Cambridge for mapping purposes. London and Cambridge are therefore obviously the best locations for me should I choose to attend any sort of meet-up, which I'm undecided about.

However, I have strong personal and/or family connections with Edinburgh, York and Portsmouth (I'm an Anglo-Scot halfbreed who's lived on both sides of the border) so any of these would potentially be an option for me, though Portsmouth is presumably unlikely for logistical reasons.

I live in Birmingham, can get to most places from here - although the train fares are just well... wtf!?!?!11? London's doable (undesirable though lol - people are just so damn rude to one another), York is far but doable I guess... thinking about it though, if anybody's travelling from Birmingham to wherever this meet might end and has a car or a rocket or something :p then I'd pay half the fuel costs for ya.

If it ends up in the Midlands then financially yay for me!

Bah. Stop living so far north... I can't afford to go up north on some random jolly. I could however if one of my many relative up north died in mysterious circumstances.

Bah. Stop living so far north... I can't afford to go up north on some random jolly. I could however if one of my many relative up north died in mysterious circumstances.

Should I call my assassin friend - he specialises in death by Grandfather Clocks.
:p

Could be worse, it could be Gravesend.

HEY! That's where I'm from and even we think Maidstone is a worse shit pile! At least we've managed to isolate the chav into one area.

HEY! That's where I'm from and even we think Maidstone is a worse shit pile! At least we've managed to isolate the chav into one area.

Chatham.

Chatham.

Well no one wants to speak about Chatham ever...In fact forget it even exists and maybe it won't be there anymore.

Well no one wants to speak about Chatham ever...In fact forget it even exists and maybe it won't be there anymore.


I wish I could, but to my eternal embarrassment I was born there.

My parents only lived there very briefly, but it was long enough for me to be cursed with 'Chatham' on my birth certificate.

I could manage Edinburgh.

I could manage Edinburgh.

This.

I could manage Edinburgh.
Same.

Maybe a Scotland/North England meet might be in order?

Same.

Maybe a Scotland/North England meet might be in order?
Yeah alright. Could have one for the southerners in London or something and a competing one in Edinburgh, compare the two and it's all good. York to Edinburgh isn't too horrible a trip, so whatever.

Yeah alright. Could have one for the southerners in London or something and a competing one in Edinburgh, compare the two and it's all good. York to Edinburgh isn't too horrible a trip, so whatever.

Except that, as a former York and Edinburgh resident myself, I know that the train trip from York to Edinburgh is an hour longer (3 hours) than the train trip from York to London (2 hours).

Maybe you could compromise with Newcastle?

York to London is two hours? That's useful to know...

Anyway, I vote London or Oxford. Cambridge is doable. York and farther north are too expensive, although Edinburgh is again a possibility at the right time.

Purely on the selfish basis that I will be there at that time, I suggest Cambridge, afternoon/evening of Thursday the 9th of April.

Currently in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Ha! I come from Hitchin, and some of my friends lived in BS. For some reason, I thought you were Australian, instead of living, you know, next to me.

Anyway, if it was in York I know of floors I could sleep on there so I'd try to come; if we did a North/South split, then London would make most sense for south.

The other thing is when: most people seem to think summer would be best?

Yeah alright. Could have one for the southerners in London or something and a competing one in Edinburgh, compare the two and it's all good. York to Edinburgh isn't too horrible a trip, so whatever.

So it's war you want! Fine! There shall be war!

Ha! I come from Hitchin, and some of my friends lived in BS. For some reason, I thought you were Australian, instead of living, you know, next to me.

Anyway, if it was in York I know of floors I could sleep on there so I'd try to come; if we did a North/South split, then London would make most sense for south.

The other thing is when: most people seem to think summer would be best?

Summer would be best, for students anyway you know with having nothing to do and in the summer we can sit outside, except when it rains...

Ha! I come from Hitchin, and some of my friends lived in BS. For some reason, I thought you were Australian, instead of living, you know, next to me.


That's probably because I was living in Melbourne between 2001 and late 2007, and am married to an Australian passport holder.

I'm a British passport holder myself, but I've only been in Stortford since October 2007.

Except that, as a former York and Edinburgh resident myself, I know that the train trip from York to Edinburgh is an hour longer (3 hours) than the train trip from York to London (2 hours).

Maybe you could compromise with Newcastle?
Feh I'll take the trip up to Edinburgh pretty gladly, at least it's not dull and green like the trip to London, and it's a fair bit cheaper too.
Anyway, I vote London or Oxford.
Argh no.

Right, it has been an absolute age since I collapsed in a pile of my own vomit in front of a group of bemused Internet people, and as such, I feel we should discuss the possibility of another NationStates UK meetup.
See, I read this and was all "Wait, that happened more than once, with that one guy?!"

But then, with one little word,
-- Quintessence of Dust/Gruenberg
the world was set right again. :tongue:

I'd be willing to travel within Scotland, but not outwith. Edinburgh is convenient for me for obvious reasons, but Glasgow (my hometown) is also a good choice.

So... Edinburgh seems popular. All in favour say aye?

*raises hand*

I vote York.

Any further discussion/interest?

York or Edinburgh would be fine, aye.