Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002

Subject: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 07:17 PM

As the thread UK STONY STRATFORD GATHERING 2002 has now reached 100+ messages here is the continuation thread. There were some previous discussions at UK Gathering Part ii and at UK Mudcat Gathering 2002
So while alanww is holidaying in Madeira (does he wear his hat when he goes swimming?) here is the place to post.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 08:21 PM

Details of the Gathering (so far):

The one and only Dai has bravely made arrangements for this Gathering. He has booked an ex-boarding school, York House for the weekend of 8/9/10 February 2002. The building is on two floors, and has plenty of space for indoor camping. There is some limited space for caravan parking, but please check this with Dai.
The schedule of events is still being organised; there should be some singarounds, a scratch ceilidh band should materialise at some point, and there are various friendly pubs which may tolerate music and singing. Please let Dai know if you have any helpful suggestions. It looks like there will be a bar with real ale as well.
Costs should be fairly low; a fee of £4 has been suggested to cover costs, but indoor campers may have to pay another £4 for accommodation and food.
Dai has given a location map at Location Map (if this link doesn't work go back to the previous thread to find it)
alanww has posted a list of possible and definite attenders at Attendance List( again check previous thread if link doesn't work)
Hope to see many of you there,
Matthew.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 04:33 AM

Still giving it BIG considerations, just have to try and judge (more like guess) how much work I will have on then, and going to see if Fib wants to come along too...

What's this about indoor camping... what is that?

Trying to give herself a jet propelled organised kick start for once!

Ella

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 05:06 AM

Indoor camping is like outdoor camping but without the tent. Just bring a sleeping bag and bedroll and sleep on the floor.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: MudGuard
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 06:11 AM

Just got permission to take a holiday from 7th to 11th February, so chances are increasing that I will come.

Liz, this time I plan to arrive in London on Thursday afternoon to avoid getting up at 3 in the morning... (Lufthansa does not yet give any information on flights in February, but if they do not change too much, the plane should arrive around noon, and it takes about 2 hours to get from there to your place).

So count me in as "almost sure".

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: nutty
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 06:54 AM

Weather permitting I would like to come as well. Would need camper space for the dogs and indoor camping for me

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 07:06 AM

That sounds ok... I had visions, of putting tent up indoors, that sounds fun too... appeals to my eccentric side...

Right, put me down for a nearly maybe got to see if I can get any other volunteers...

E

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: MudGuard
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 07:36 AM

Oh yes, please let us put up tents indoors!

I especially like hammering the tent pegs into wooden floor panels or a tiled floor...

And a camp fire just outside the tent...

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: JudeL
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 08:12 AM

It has been done before, not with pegs but someone did put up a small dome tent in the scout hut one year at Cheriton Fitzpayne(Crediton Festival). We decided it must be an attempt at partial privacy and did consider using a nice bright torch to see if it produced any interesting shadow pictures - but thought better of it.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 09:35 AM

oh have I started something...

I was just laughing to myself imagining a room full of dome tents... At least you wouldn't trip over guide ropes...

And NO mudguard, everything BUT the fires solid fuel burners only...:)

OK, what about snorers... is it open season on ANYONE who snores...

WARNING...

If I come along, I must warn you all, I talk incessantly in my sleep sometimes, most of it coherant (except after a few, when I gain my own language) and I sleep walk!...

Ella

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: lady penelope
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:01 PM

'Ere MudGuard, I'll bring the sausages! Nothing like camp cooking, eh?

I will deffinately be B&B-ing, the charm of indoor camping having lost its' thrall many years ago. :) I just need to sort out which one. Any recommendations, Dai?

TTFN M'Lady P.

"There'll be a welcome in the dormitory...."

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:28 PM

It's looking a bit more probable, but have to let you know later,

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Dead Horse
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 03:22 PM

Dead Horse and mare are now definates, (with camper)but she would like to point out that hammering tent pegs into wooden flooring is a no-no. The splinters deaden the sounds of her jingle-taps when she dances. AND SHE'S ALWAYS DANCING.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 04:45 PM

MudGuard - that sounds a much better plan... look at the chocolate drink thread for the rent agreement.....

Lady P - do you want to use the same sausages? They're in our freezer.....

There are a couple of farting snorers who should be ostracised.... both begin with M.... I know I can snore like a good 'un, but these two are past masters at it, and can do the entire Bach's Toccata & Fugue in Eb (flat) - one does the Toccata, whilst the other does the Fugue.... I will bring my biker boots for obvious reasons!

LTS

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: John Routledge
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 06:08 PM

Thanks Liz - B&B calls!! John

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: mooman
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 06:40 PM

I feel quite hopeful about coming across. If I can confirm plesae count me in for indoor camping.

Best regards

mooman

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 03:38 AM

Dead Horse, perhaps then it would be better to hammer the tent pegs through the mare's feet into the wooden flooring - it would reduce the dancing noise while we try to sleep ;-)

Liz, see chocolate thread about rent.

mooman, please come - I don't want to be the only one coming from the continent (as I was in Llanstock 2001).

Btw., Susanne is considering to come as well, but is not yet sure (at least she was not sure on Sunday)

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 04:36 AM

Liz... perhaps instead of the tennis ball taped to the snorers back to stop (ok hinder) snoring, we can tape your boots to their back?

Time to dig out those yellow foamy ear plug things!

Do you think if we brought some heavy duty duct tape we can tape the offending farters into their sleeping bags so no nasty wiffs escape?

Ella... Still trying to wrangle some time off... bloomin work spoils everything.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: JudeL
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 04:44 AM

Just beware of potty weilding toddlers at 5 in the morning! Paul still remembers a very rude awakening by being bashed on the head - luckily it was at least empty.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 04:48 AM

No problem Jude,

I am used to my neices and nephews peeling back my eye lids to see if their aunty is awake yet... What a lovely thing it is they do, those little fingers are so precise!

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 05:31 AM

Sleep - hotels, bed & breakfast accommodation and guesthouses

The Bull Hotel	hotel & restaurant	64 High Street MK11 1AQ Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mr Paul Wareing (Wobbly)
Calverton Lodge	hotel	38 Horsefair Green MK11 1JP Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] http://www.calvertonlodge.co.uk Mr Colin Bretherton
The Cock Hotel	hotel & restaurant	72 High Street MK11 1AH Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Different Drummer	hotel & restaurant	94 High Street MK11 1AH Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mr Z Keswani
Fegans View	guest house	119 High Street MK11 1AT Tel: [phone]/564246 Mobile: [phone] [e-mail] Mr & Mrs M Levitt
Hilton Lodge	bed & breakfast	65 Ousebank Way MK11 1LA Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Sandra Glazebrook
Horseshoes	bed & breakfast	33, Horsefair Green MK11 1JP Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Ms Carol Fuller
Ikoyi	guest house	33 Deanshanger Road MK19 6AX Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Miss S.J.Gilkes
The Pightle	bed & breakfast	116 High Street MK11 1AH Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mr Bill Marston
Telford House	bed & breakfast	17 Wolverton Road MK11 1AE Tel: [phone] Jim & Sheila Pack

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 02:40 PM

curses
It is the same w/e as Cheltenham FF
& I am officiating on the dance workshop - to write a dance to advertise the festival.
Oh well.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: brid widder
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 03:46 PM

tents?...well a certain performer at Otley a few years ago hed his life saved by the dome tent he'd pitched in the Community Hall...I am certain that without it the other indoor campers would have joined forces to separate him from his snore...or his breath!!

Did the experience put me off?...not at all I was back the next year, that time the only space left for me to lay my weary head was on the pool table...

At the foot of my pool table a couple were getting aquainted...very well aquainted...at the other end of the hall a couple shared their sleeping bag with a Yorkshire Terrier that yapped at every disturbance. One intrepid camper had brought a sunlounger which collapsed every time he turned over...yap yap yap...the large group of morris dancers in the next room were awake very late...nipping through the hall for tea at regular intervals(yes I thought it strange...Morris dancers drinking tea!!)...yap yap yap thunderous snore...yap yap yap...some of us never learn....count me in!!

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Nov 01 - 07:16 PM

Hastings gets a bit like that..... At least the Bratling has lost the musical toothbrush.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Gareth
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 07:16 PM

Yes - but where can I park the sheep if the Paddocks full of Dogs ???

Gareth

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Diva
Date: 14 Nov 01 - 07:19 PM

Did she lose it Liz or have it lost for her?

Diva

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 03:47 AM

What a shame! The musical toothbrush is a rare traditional Briton instrument, now only found around Cwm Tydduncofit in Wales, where they still practise their mouth music.

Steve

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 04:23 AM

...accompanied by the denture castanets...what a sound!
RtS (still got most of me own teeth, yer know)

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 04:25 AM

I've had the terms and conditions for the hire of the hall.

Bob requests an outline for the weekend, in order to negotiate an all-in price.

The terms seem uncontroversial, but require us to secure our own Third Party insurance with minimum cover of £2 million.

Other terms which may be of interest: With the exception of guide dogs, no animals are allowed inside the premises. Also, "at no time shall anybody give displays of hypnotism at York House Centre" (this is real, as it happens, but don't ask me why)

Areas available for hire

• Main hall, 12m x 9m. Fire limit 96 persons. We need this one. Includes the kitchen and 'coffee' bar.
• The 'Space' - self-contained soundproof rehearsal room.
• The Snooker Room - full-size snooker table, capacity 20.
• The Quiet Room - capacity 25.

The license at York House is held by a named individual. This means that the beer I intend to arrange cannot be sold by the pint. We will need to purchase it collectively and distribute it 'free'. I have a friendly brewer who will supply us as lpong as he can bring his kazoo along.

Proposed Schedule for the Weekend

Friday 8th Feb

12:00 Hall open.
Catters arrive all afternoon and evening, so intend to provide vile slop in big pot to scare them away.
Meet and greet generally, presumably lounge around drinking beer and making music.

Saturday 9th Feb

06:00 Kazoo workshop.
Slow acceptance of fact that a new day has dawned. Secure coffee and toast.
12.30-13.00 Repair to pub for lunch.
14.30 Sit around in said pub making music.
At some point we'll be thrown out (I presume) and will return to Y.H. Scratch ceilidh? More beer?
Some ungodly hour - go to bed realising it is now:

Sunday 10th Feb

05:30 Reveille and compulsory clog dancing.
Slow acceptance of fact that a new day has dawned. Secure coffee and toast.
12.30-13.00 Repair to pub for lunchtime session.
15.30 Session finishes. Review damage. Collect belongings and:
16.00 Form several 'special interest groups': those interested in beer and music, those interested in food and music, those interested in going home and music.
York House will need to be clear by 22.30 on Sunday becasue of license restrictions.

If anybody has any comments please can you post them here. I would like to send a sketch schedule to Bob within the next day or two.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST,micca at work
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 04:34 AM

Dai, it looks like the schedule from Llanstock,9and many other events (only the names have been changed to protect the Guilty) and looks like a jolly good w/e to me!!!! BTW re the Musical toothbrush, is it part of the oral Tradition?

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 11:40 AM

Are Guide Hamsters OK?

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 11:44 AM

Note to self - purchase large quantity of gaffer tape for hamster welfare on CockAndBullStock weekend

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Noreen
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 01:02 PM

Guide Hamsters ?! John, what are you like! *LOL* (really!)

Dai, that outline sounds fine.. 'cept we won't be able to hypnotise the hamster to keep it quiet and out of harm's way.

Re. the beer at York House, we could do as was done in the Institute at Llanstock: put a container by the barrel, into which people were free to put the odd pound coin as they were passing (while filling their glasses). This seemed to work ok- assuming the cost of the beer was covered?!

I do like the idea of the early start each day, we have to get the most we can out of a short weekend, don't you agree?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 01:16 PM

Looks spot on Dai. Do we need a whip round for insurance. Cheers Geordie

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: brid widder
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 01:29 PM

will there be enough gaffer tape to repair the pub?

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: lady penelope
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 02:45 PM

Hamster + Gaffa tape = eeeuuuuuugh!

Why is it all the b&b's I phoned up today laughed when I told them when I wanted the room for? And most of them seem to have permanent guests! Although I did have a nice chat with the bloke who runs the Pightle. He seemed quite interested in our weekend.

"I like to rise when the sun she rises......
And a pox on the life of a country boy
who's allergic to the new mown hay"

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 02:49 PM

I used to have public liability insurance to the sum of £1,000,000 when I had my own business, and it was very reasonable. Third party liability should likewise be quite cheap, the only problems is that they may want to impose conditions on us. I'm sure that the many and varied members of Mudcat must include an insurance guru, who can help us out. What we may have to do, is masquerade as responsible adults. *BG* Jock

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Dead Horse
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 07:00 PM

I used to work in a brewery, and my mate Andrew The Brewer might be prevailed upon to donate a polypin of the local nectar for the consumption of you foreign devils, by way of cultural exchange. If only the wife worked in a food hall or tea shoppe........

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Snuffy
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 07:27 PM

Come in Gareth. Aren't you an insurance guru?

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Gareth
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 07:52 PM

Diew - I get out of the Royal Oak, log on and what do I find? More bleeding work !!!

Working - I will PM Dai with and for details.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:10 AM

So that's the Fox and Hounds lounge on Sat lunchtime and Bull Vaults Sun lunchtime? 6am is a bit early for my participation in the kazoo workshop (or is that the cunning plan!).
RtS

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:12 AM

ooops senility attack again! That last post was me!
RtS ("No man need be a failure. He can always serve as an awful warning to others" Kendall Morse)

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Dead Horse
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 02:48 PM

PLAN! PLAN! I aint goin' if'n there's a PLAN!

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 03:01 PM

The last time I was asked to blow into anything that early in the morning, the crystals turned bright green. Jock

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Gareth
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 03:51 PM

Re insurance. Have PM'd Dai but for enquiry does any Catter have details of the EFDS block policy available to members ?

Please PM me.

After "shut tap"

Gareth ( en route to the Royal Oak)

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 05:04 PM

The toothbrush suffered a fatal accident involving a 3 year old child, a toilet and an undisclosed quantity of Loo Bloo.

LTS

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Gareth
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:55 PM

And having read LTS's post above - Well I can ubderstand why a £2 mill Third Paerty Liability Policy is required !!!

Ga reth

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Gareth
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:56 PM

Ooops! Yes it were a good night at the Oak.

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: Noreen
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 07:02 PM

Good one Giok (well not really, but it made me laugh!)

Subject: RE: Stony Stratford Gathering 8/9/10 Feb 2002
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 03:38 AM

Having exercised my famous charm (stop laughing at the back, there!) on the ladies in my life over the weekend, Herself is amenable to me meeting my "little chums" as she puts it and may even transport me so I can be designated drinker, and ma-in-law is happy to put us up for the night so I hope to make the Sat lunchtime session with duct tape firmly round mouth and kazoo locked in bank vault.
RtS