BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September

Subject: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 01:55 PM

Well I've been a bit of a stranger to Mudcat in the last few months. I've been spending more time on Facebook making new friends and getting to know some old ones a lot better.

I hope I haven't been away from here so long that you will all be saying 'Jenny who?'

Life has taken some interesting twists and turns in the last few months, and I am now planning a trip to the UK and France - in the UK from the 10th to the 29th September and France (at my brother's place in Paris) after that till the 10th October.

A friend and I will be at Bromyard Folk Festival on the weekend of the 12th - 14th, and wondered if any 'Catters will be there. There might also be a chance to catch up with people in London right at the beginning or on the last few days of September.

Now I have a big favour to ask. I was going to bring my fiddle, but the airline has told me that it is classed as a dangerous weapon and will have to travel as luggage, and therefore count as part of the already meagre weight allowance, so I was wondering if there was anybody who has a spare one they could lend me during the UK part of my trip. I promise I would care for it lovingly.

If anyone would like to know more, I am going to try to mend my ways and spend more time here, so I'll be checking this thread and PMs. A couple of you might get PMs from me, in fact. I'm really looking forward to this trip!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 02:00 PM

JennyO-

Best of luck piecing this trip to the UK together.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: SussexCarole
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 03:52 PM

Great that you're coming over here Jenny! Would be great to meet up again...we'll see what we can do.

Carole & Andrew x

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 04:01 PM

Hope that we can get to meet you at a Gather in London while you're over Jenny, or perhaps you could stopover with us for a night or two (Leatherhead) if our diaries coincide! Not sure that we'll be going to Bromyard this year though we normally do. Hope someone will be able to help out with a Fiddle, unfortunately we cant as we only sing. Good luck with your planning!!!
Hil

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 04:25 PM

Jenny - we have a spare fiddle that you may borrow - Limpit is too busy with piano to play it.

We're in east London, and can offer you a bed for a night or two if you need it. We're within fairly easy public transport from Gatwick or Heathrow Airports, but both are some distance away from us. Let me know in a PM and we'll arrange something.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Tig
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 07:11 PM

I've never really thought of a fiddle being a dangerous weapon before - now banjos .........

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 12:32 AM

Wow, thanks Liz! That would be so great! I'll get to meet you too, after all these years of seeing you on Mudcat! On the 10th and 11th I'll be staying in a B and B at Hounslow, which is right near Heathrow, so it should be possible - particularly on the 10th. I'll send you a PM later today and we can hopefully work something out.

MGAS, it would be great to meet you too! I'm also hoping that the last few days in September we'll be back around the London area. Hope you come to Bromyard! I'm just looking at Google maps to see where Leatherhead is. I'm afraid my geography isn't very good.

I don't know when Herga folk club is on, but it would be great to get there if it fits in. If there are any other folk sessions or gatherings towards the end of September, that wsuld be great to hear about.

Carole and Andrew, I'll be sending you a PM soon, but I have to go out now. Ooh, this is getting exciting!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Anne Lister
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 05:32 AM

If you're coming west to meet Carole and Andrew, think of us too - we're midway between Bromyard and Carole and Andrew (well, approximately) and we have guest rooms a-plenty.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM

Leatherhead is about midway between Heathrow & Gatwick & if we're not away at a festival we'd be happy to assist in any way. Am working through most of September covering for people's holiday so probably won't get to Bromyard I'm afraid.

Last weekend in September is a Song & Ale you might be interested in. If you're not already sorted for that weekend please PM me & I'll give you details. It's camping but we can lend tent & airbed etc. Am certain that you'd love it!

Hil

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 10:34 PM

Sounds like a lot of fun and Welcome Back, JennyO!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 04:19 PM

PM sent !!!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 03:28 PM

I've just sent PMs to a few people, and I have a few to send out yet. Some of you will know more about my trip now, I'll send a few more out tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm really looking forward to this trip!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: GUEST,Nessie
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 05:13 PM

Hi JennyO, we'd love to see you at Herga if you can make NW London on a Monday, come and stay too if you can.
Vanessa

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 10:26 PM

Oh goodie, two more of my favourite people! Hi Nessie I'd love to see you and George if it's at all possible. I'll send you a PM soon!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 12:27 AM

Just bringing this to the top for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. I still have some PMs to send out. Thank you to everyone who has responded with helpful info and encouragement. Less than a month to go now, and I can't wait!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: SussexCarole
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 02:48 AM

We're hoping to meet up wih you at Bromyard Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 08:39 AM

That's great, Carole. We'll be there with bells on - maybe even Morris bells ;-) Getting there on Friday night and staying at a nearby B&B.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: bubblyrat
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 11:11 AM

I think Karen has already contacted you ,Jenny.---obviously, we will try and get to see you if we can, if only for a game of REAL Scrabble ( no time for you to look those fiendish words up !! )   Roger.....XX

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 11:54 AM

I can lend you several sets of morris bells too if you like.... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 12:47 PM

You mean you actually have a REAL scrabble board, Roger? You guys have some pretty fiendish words too! And no chance for you to start 12 games and play all of them at the same time, either :-)

Yes, Karen has contacted me, and I've replied to her a couple of times now. The best chance to see you would be towards the end of the UK part of the trip - when we'll be back in or near London for a few days till the 29th September.

We'll stay in contact and see what we can work out.

Love and Wombats,

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 12:50 PM

I can lend you several sets of morris bells too if you like.... :D

I'm sure you can, Liz ;-) On the other hand, you never know......

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 06:10 AM

Are you likely to be around Lincolnshire Jenny? Would be good to see you at Faldingworth Live.
http://www.faldingworthlive.co.uk/

Les Worrall

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 06:33 AM

I see Nessie got there first again (said he proudly). Our hovel at your disposal, Jenny. I will be away on the 13th September (gig in the North) but Vanessa will be home. And on the 22nd we will have Dan McKinnon staying with us. But there's pleanty of room now that our daughter's room has been turned into a guest room also. Just let Nessie know.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Morticia
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 08:20 AM

Plenty of room here if you are in the Bath area at any point

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 08:24 AM

JennyO come to our session in Leicestershire on Sept 18th! We've had other visiting Catters in the past and it would be great to add another to the list.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 11:38 AM

Lynne, I'm not sure where we'll be on some of those dates, but I do know that on the 18th and for a few days after, we'll be up in Aberdeen - just not sure how many days before we start to work our way back towards London.

George and Nessie, I'll send you a PM soon.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 12:01 AM

Refresh! it's getting closer! I'd like to get some contact details from the people we're hoping to meet.

Still haven't sent out all the PMs I meant to. I need a Round Tuit :-)

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: quantock
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 12:20 AM

Well, in case any of you were wondering, I am the mysterious "friend" who will be spending two and a half weeks travelling around the UK with JennyO. Jenny and I have been in constant communication for the best part of a year now via Skype, IM and Facebook and can't wait to actually meet each other in person. As well as going to Bromyard, we will be travelling to the Isle of Man where my daughter lives and North to Aberdeen to visit my sister and my mum. Looking forward to meeting as many Mudcatters as possible on our travels too.

I'll be bringing my new Castagnari Mory melodeon to show off, even though I can't play much on it yet.

Best wishes,
Rob Williams

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 06:32 PM

Do they give you an audition to ascertain whether your fiddle is dangerous or not?

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Aug 08 - 10:11 PM

Hello lox, long time no see! No audition for the fiddle - they just seemed to know ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: SussexCarole
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 03:23 AM

Great news Rob - we look forward to seeing you both at Bromyard

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:08 AM

Don't worry, I can confirm that either of our working fiddles is just as dangerous as any you might have brought with you... and the not-working ones are even worse!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Hrothgar
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 06:21 PM

Want someone to carry your bag, Jen?

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Joybell
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 08:16 PM

Have a wonderful time, Jenny. Just wanted to send my best wishes and happiest thoughts.
With and from Joy

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Aug 08 - 10:42 PM

Thank you for your well wishes and thoughts, Joy. It will be nice to have some friendly Oz vibes with me.

What a thoughtful offer, Roger ;-) Unfortunately for you I already have a bag carrier. Couldn't even let you stow away in one - 20kg weight limit you know.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Rasener
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 03:15 PM

Don't bring your scrabble board. please please please :-)

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 04:40 PM

I might be able to lend you a Travel Scrabble set, if Limpit ever tidys that corner of the room...

:D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Rasener
Date: 19 Aug 08 - 04:44 PM

Keep scrabble boards away from Jenny :-)

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 20 Aug 08 - 12:45 AM

i doubt if I'll have a lot of time for scrabble on this trip. It's shaping up to be pretty busy. So you can breathe easy (probably).

Liz, I need to work out when we are going to meet. My brother, who is bringing me over to the UK has been in Montenegro for the last couple of weeks and is due back today. I need to talk to him first before I can say a definite time and place. It would be handy to have your contact details for a start.

If anyone else we might meet would like to send me their contact details, that would be great. Phone numbers when we're there would be very useful. I'm not sure what our phone numbers will be yet as we might have different ones from the usual. Last time I was there I got an Orange card - it was cheaper than International Roaming.

I feel very disorganised as the date gets rapidly closer. Meanwhile, Rob is making a spreadsheet of all the info we'll need. At least one of us is somewhat organised!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 12:41 AM

Bringing this one to the top again. It's slowly coming together - still a few gaps here and there in the spreadsheet, and I keep thinking of things I still have to do.

One thing that is a real nuisance is the new rules about carrying liquids on the plane - can't even carry more than 100 mls of things like shampoo! I was going to bring some duty free wine anyway, but I was also hoping, like last time, to bring a few of my favourite local wines that I can't get from the duty free range. I suppose that is out now :-(. Maybe I can send some on ahead if it's not too late. We do have some awfully good Aussie wines!

Thanks to those of you who've sent me contact details - we'll try to get to see as many of you as possible.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 10:24 PM

Up she goes - it's all coming along nicely - got my International Driver Permit today. The list of Things To Do is starting to whittle down to manageable proportions, and I'm just relaxing for a while before I head into the city to order some duty-free wine and swap over the memory cards I got for my camera which are not compatible, it turns out. Apparently it's too old (3 years) and won't support 4GB SDHC cards. So I'll have to settle for 2GB. As somebody once quoted from their mother "There's always something..."

Anybody else want to give me some contact details? Phone numbers are very handy when things are still being worked out at the last minute. Or does anybody else need more contact details from us? The spreadsheet is spreading!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 01:30 PM

Sounds like great fun!

We want a full report.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: SussexCarole
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 04:14 PM

If it's as hard to get goodies out of Oz as it is to bring them in you've got a job on your hands Jenny.

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 01:46 AM

It seems to be proving really difficult to get wine out anyway. No duty free shops left anywhere except at the airport and their range is limited and expensive. Any other wine I want to bring would have to go in my luggage, and would add to the already small weight allowance, and there is also the risk of breakage. All I wanted to do was take a couple of Oz wines for my brother for his birthday and for Rob to try (I'd be assisting of course ;-)). It doesn't seem like too much to ask, but it's proving well-nigh impossible. GRRRRR!

Still haven't been able to get hold of my brother either. He must have got lost somewhere in Montenegro :-(

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 01:49 AM

BTW, Charlie, you will get a full report - with the possible exception of a few little details I might decide to leave out ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Eye Lander
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 06:17 AM

great expectations!!! Yay

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 02:03 PM

Great expectations indeed! Not long now at all. Still some pieces of the puzzle not together yet, but we're getting there slowly - and time is flying by. In one sense, I can't wait, and in another, I'm running out of time.

If there's anyone out there who still hasn't given me contact details (especially phone numbers) feel free to send me a PM. I'm sending PMs to Liz (who I know is away) and Carole and Andrew.

There are so many people we'd like to catch up with, we're thinking of trying to get a few together at once in a couple of places - some time on the 26th in the Somerset/Dorset border area, and maybe Saturday 27 somewhere in London, for the London catters. Anyone got any ideas - a good pub for a session or something?

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 12:53 AM

Refreshing. Counting down the days!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: JennyO
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 10:41 PM

Re-refresh! One day less!

Subject: RE: BS: JennyO visiting the UK in September
From: Rowan
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 12:31 AM

Bon voyage Jenny. Have a bloody great time!

Cheers, Rowan