Early notice - EuroGathering 2005

Subject: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 08:06 AM

Dear Mudcat Friends,

This is an early alert thread for those who may be interested in coming to next year's Mudcat EuroGathering.

As has become the tradition for the EuroGatherings, the next one will also take place on the first weekend in May as this is a common bank holiday period for many European countries. More specifically, it will be from Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May 2005 (with possibly some straggling into Monday 2 May. Apologies in advance to those who may wish to attend other events on at the same time...it is always difficult to choose a date that doesn't conflict with various festivals and this one allows the best possibility for 'Catters in different European countries to attend which is the overall aim of the weekend.

As some may know from the Barrow/Hull9 EuroGathering this year, we had some discussion about having the next one in France and so it shall be. Some good friends of mine have offered the use of their nice country farmhouse (this will be a truly rural MudGathering!) which is based in the Marais Poitevin-Venise Verte region of Western France (Vendee). The nearest large town is Niort which has a fast TGV link to Paris and the area is also easily reachable by road (the actual local environs will necessitate me posting a rather detailed map and directions!) with a motorway passing near by. I'll post further travel details later.

The closest small towns and villages are Damvix which has a small and inexpensive hotel, and Le Mazeau and St Sigismond which have B&B and gite accomodation. Coulon is also not far away.

The farmhouse itself has plenty of space for camping and an outdoor open but roofed barn with electricity that will make a fine performing and jamming area. Some limited indoor camping space will also be possible. An outdoor barbeque will be available to all. The neighbouring farmhouse dwellers are alerted and sound as if they are keen to join the festivities. I'll post details concerning the nearby accomodation separately.

I'll be looking into the possibility also of hiring a local hall or space for a "concert evening" as per Brussels and Barrow if people want it.

The "cultural tour" that has become a regular EuroGathering feature will most likely be a couple of hours punt trip on the famous "Venise Verte" canals (see here for an example but bigger "barques" are available for jolly singing 'Catters!) provided that the weather permits. Failing that we might arrange a trip to the rather nice and famous city of La Rochelle.

For those who are interested, mark the dates in your diaries! I'll be posting up further information in due course.

Peace and all best wishes,

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 08:08 AM

Whoops...sorry!

Venise Verte

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 08:18 AM

Where can I book floorspace?

Looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 08:21 AM

First come...first served! You are booked into (onto?) floorspace at the farmhouse Andy (it is quite a long farmhouse)!

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 08:33 AM

Ok, now I only have to find out how to get there... ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wolfgang
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:38 AM

Dusting off my French now.
I hope the local French is not that far from what I have learned some decades ago.
I remember how surprised I was in Brussels by 'nonante cinq' when 'quatre vint quince' was meant.

Richard, you have been speaking much too nice about me in the 'facts' thread. There are days when I can be really mean. I enjoyed it nevertheless, my friend.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 12:09 PM

Mais Oui! Or should that be May We?

I'm hoping to have the lard options market cornered by then, and award myself a couple of days off. I'd like to bring the Peugeot back to its ancestral home, so I'll try and get there by ferry.

Count me in as a definite God willing definite.

Couldn't you organise it on the 21st May in Upton on Severn? I think more people would be able to make that.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 02:42 AM

Hi Richard - Second come and served: Book me in for a floorspace, too, please. And my best regards to the Lady.

For all the travellers in train: shouldn't we agree on a convenient TGV from Paris to Niort, and so prolong the gathering a little bit? Wine is not prohibited in French trains, and a small cultivated rolling session could be considered.

And a hint to all newcomers: The date of the gathering is fixed since times immemorial: Always the first weekend in May. It will not be changed. Don't discuss like in this year's thread, please.

Cheers
Wilfried

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:10 AM

I am at this moment in time looking on German web sites with a view to purchasing a used camper van [they're cheaper there] So assuming I shall be fully equiped by then, I will make my euro gathering debut en France; to the sound of thunderous apathy no doubt.

Giok
'quatre vint quince' Andy?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:32 AM

Apathy John? No...we can't be bothered with that!

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:33 AM

But if Greg greets you with his aerophone it could well be thunderous!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:51 AM

Richard - count me in! I would love some floorspace. Er, "je voudrais une éspace sur le plancher pour une personne". You will all be pleased to hear that I am learning tunes other than polkas on a regular basis these days. I would also be happy to join in a rolling wine-fuelled session on a train or in a camper van (how many musicaners can one fit in a camper van, Giok?).

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 04:55 AM

Wilfied, John and Fibs...you have been duly counted and floorspace allocated sur les planchers. I assume you will be reposing within the campervan John?

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:12 AM

Has the date and the location really been absolutely decided? Couldn't you hold it in Rekyavik on 29th August? Or if that isn't possible, how about having a Mudcat tent at the Zeal Monachorum Dwarf Hurling Festival. That has been going longer, you know, and it's near the centre of Europe.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:31 AM

How much is the train fare from Paris to Niort? 57 pounds or 57 Euros?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:33 AM

That's Niort9, Andy. The nine, as always, is silent.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:35 AM

I am still standing firm on this despite the compelling arguments being proposed by His Lardship. I was almost persuaded by the prospect of bathing in the spa waters of the Blue Lagoon with Her Fibulaciousness. And of course I am fully aware that the Zeal event will include many Mudcatters either as participants or participees.

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:40 AM

True, moo - that Eric one throws a mean dwarf, or so I've heard. Alas, the blue lagoon must wait for another year, although we can probably go for a paddle in those green canals. Are there whelks there, do you know, or must we bring our own?

Letty, Kate-who-is-Katherine, and Shrek - we have to get working on our little "number"!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:50 AM

You're right Fibs! I even hear he's been known to throw a friendly one as well when provoked. Well, a paddle it will have to be this year!

Alas, the canals are freshwater and whelks will not survive therein so we shall have to make do either with the local water snails or their terrestrial equivalents.

I am intrigued by your last aside to our fellow beauties...will this be a listenable or a wearable...?

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:54 AM

a listenable, potentially. However, it's not strictly folk, although horses have not been heard to sing it.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 06:10 AM

I don't mind at all about that Fibs. As you may have seen from the "Which genre is it?" my thoughts on "folk" are considered unconventional at best. I didn't actually say it meant

"...a person of indeterminate gender and age with a patchy beard and battered hat (optional outdoors but mandatory indoors) singing a 37 verse dirge in a monotone with one finger stuck in their ear and the other up their arse...

but that much was rather unfairly implied by some people. Let us say that my definition of the genre is rather catholic (but includes protestants, jews, followers of Islam, hindus, buddhists, shintoists, animists and others as well).

There will be horses available nearby so we can actually test this theory in practice.

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 12:01 PM

Horses eh-things are looking up! Could be more fun than sheep, they run faster! But I'll need a box or something.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 12:50 PM

Shall we be playing cricket then Eric?

Fibs, may be able to take you southwards, but we will be visiting friends in Normandy on the return leg. That's if we have a leg left to return on.

Giok

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 05:01 PM

When I got home from the 2004 gathering, She Who Must Be Obeyed said I could have a weekend pass for a trip to France next year. I checked up today and guess what – it's still valid. Looking forward to seeing everyone already!

Doug C

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 07:26 PM

Could I book some parking space close to the farmhouse if I promise to help with the paddling on the cultural tour? (Provided Richard gets up his maps in time ...)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 10:13 AM

Blimey, them pictures look like stills from 'Southern Comfort'! We'll pretend to be locals by playing Cajun and marrying our aunties, and we might get out of there with our pelts.

Perhaps Lafayette Loosiany might be a better location, and we could hold it during Mardi Gras?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 10 Jul 04 - 06:47 PM

Don't you mean mardy grease?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Letty
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 01:41 PM

Phew, nearly missed this thread again.
Yes, I'd love to come!
Can I still book floor space or is Andy hogging it :) ?
Fibs - I've got the lyrics and the MP3, so prepare yourself for some serious boogie.


Letty - who is really happy with her new dog!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Kate
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 02:55 PM

Count me in pleas Mooman! Floor space or grass to stick a tent on would be extremely welcome if it's still available. How exciting! Might even go off travelling around sounthern France for the week after.

Fibs - Not preactised yet but am indeed up for that musical treat and I'm sure Sarah will as well. I'll try and get the words for you. Letty are you up for it as well? (Mooman - the aim is to make it listenable - whether everyone else thinks so is another matter!).

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:12 PM

Sadly, this is looking a bit difficult for us Northern workers. I've checked flight schedules for Easy jet, Jet 2 and Ryan air. They either leave well before I can get there or arrive too late to get the trains from Paris. (Yes, I've checked them as well) I'll keep working on this though.Anyone got any very good ideas?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:27 PM

Dear Letty and Kate,

Yes I'm sure we can find some floorspace for you both! Alternatively, there's stacks of space for a tent right next to the farmhouse if you'd prefer Kate.

Dear Susanne,

There will be plenty of parking space right next to the farmhouse.

Dear Doug,

Glad you've got the nod to come.

Dear Eric,

Fret thee not my friend....where there's a will there's a way! If the times don't fit for plane and train maybe we'll be able to find someone coming down from Paris by car.

It's shaping up to be another good turnout and it will be great to see everyone again. Andy's good at keeping a tally of attendees so perhaps I'll ask him nicely if he'd do the honours on that!

All the best!

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Oaklet
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:28 PM

I tried but all I came up with was tunnelling to the farmhouse (we'd hit the pliable Weald clay measures in January), chartering an airship and posting ourselves in individual FedEx guaranteed a m delivery bags with holes punched in to breath and that. But I think that they might not be very good ideas at all and might make Eric the Viking quite cross.

What about Stourport-on-Severn in June?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 05:47 PM

Oaklet, it will only make me cross if you don't punch air holes in MY bag!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 06:29 PM

Will people PLEASE stop arguing about the date and the location!!!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 02:58 PM

Will people please stop arguing about the arguing!!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 03:03 PM

Will people please argue about stopping?!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 04:43 PM

57 pounds!!!! That's a rip off!!!! I can't believe you'd charge 57 pounds for me to turn up in sunny France when I could be washing my face in the English rain dew on May morning and dancing naked round a maypole, etc. 57 pounds!!!! I could just sit at home and stare at the damp for half that price. !!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:08 PM

Maybe we can organize a Maypole for you to dance nakedly around? ;-)

If not - I as the (probably) tallest offer to play the Maypole ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:10 PM

Andy, you are so generous! However, I must decline as you are not a Pole, you're a Bavarian.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 05:15 PM

So you are discriminating against Bavarians?
















;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 07:13 AM

Bavarian Slices are lovely.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 08:43 AM

I will not allow you to cut me into slices!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 08:49 AM

Fibs - Even for the chance of seeing you dance nekkid I have this 'orrible feeling I will not be able to make it in 2005 . Is the Portaferry going to happen in February though ?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 09:06 AM

Listen you lot, I'm forsaking the nuddie dancing - I don't think it's warm enough even in France at that time of the year.
As for Portaferry, well, I don't see why not, since we have already had a number of enquiries! I'll start a thread for it soon. Bring your own whelks.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 09:14 AM

Fibs, we could replace the Maypole with a big camp fire! ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 11:08 AM

Camp? Fibs is definitely not camp!

Andy, I'm leaving the compilation of "the list" to you as you're the tallest.

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 11:42 AM

compilation of a list?
A list of who is bringing how many logs for the fire? ;-)

Ok, here we go - in order of appearance in thread:

1. mooman a/k/a Richard
2. Pat a/k/a Lady McMoo
3. MudGuard a/k/a myself
4. Wolfgang a/k/a Wolfgang
5. Greg a/k/a Skipjack K8
6. Wilfried a/k/a Schaum
7. John McKenzie a/k/a Giok
8. Kate a/k/a Fibula the nekkid campfire and maypole dancer Mattock
9. Eric a/k/a the Viking
10. Doug a/k/a Chadwick
11. Susanne a/k/a skw
12. Letty a/k/a Letty
13. Kate a/k/a Kate
14. Sarah a/k/a Shrek
15. Oaklet a/k/a Oakley

Viewing this list is possible, for the amount of £57 per person (reductions of 57 pence for OAPs and children available, also for persons of 99 years age or older if they are accompanied by their parents), payable to me.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Oaklet
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 12:54 PM

Why am I at the bottom? I should be on top of Fibulamatic.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 01:14 PM

Oakley, before I answer your question, I want to have the £57 you owe me for viewing the list ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Oaklet
Date: 28 Jul 04 - 01:21 PM

OK MudGuard, I'll have a chat with me new mate Gudrun from the German band Cara and see what we can sort out.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 11:53 AM

What do we get for £57, and is it payment on arrival? Is there space for my motor home? Question questions
Giok

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 12:07 PM

John,

I understand from the participants that the principle attraction will be the two Kates, Sarah (Shrek) and Letty dancing nekkid round Andy, who will be pretending to be a Maybavarian...

Easily worth £57 or its equivalent in whelks in my book!

Peace

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 12:09 PM

John,

There would definitely be space for your motorhome.

For those who want B&B/cheap hotel, I will post up details of what is available in the vicinity very shortly.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 12:23 PM

I will pay another £57 to see a nekkid Dr Phibs dancing round anything, even Andy!
Giok

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 12:25 PM

How about holding it near Niort9 on the first weekend in May 2005?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 24 Aug 04 - 12:30 PM

Dear Skipjack K8,

You should know by now that we will not change the time/venue. It will be held near Niort9 on the first weekend in May 2005.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 05:44 AM

Ignore his Lardship, he's always holding it-so I've been told!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Letty
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 08:31 AM

I'm saving up already. Well, I'll have to pay tuition fees from it too, but we'll see! With the extra money for the nekkid dancing, I should be alright. You can use PayPal.

Letty

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 08:54 AM

Maypole, not paypal! ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Letty
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 08:58 AM

Ah, but is MayPole secure?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 09:01 AM

Quite secure I believe. But not so high as MayBavarian.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 09:56 AM

Now something for the linguists among you (something in Bavarian English):

It is nice to be a Preiß
but it is higher to be a Bayer!
;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 06:35 PM

It's even finer to be a Holsteiner!

Anyway, I'd consider a MayBavarian a lot less secure than a MayPole (or even a Pay Pal) for nekkid dancing! (BTW, Letty, should I join you? We'd have the place to ourselves in no time! But then, it might not bring in as much as you'll need ...)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 25 Aug 04 - 06:38 PM

As a Holsteiner is a Preiß *), being a Holsteiner can't be finer than being a Bayer.

*) a Preiß is anyone not Bavarian

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wolfgang
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 07:54 AM

Whereas Andy comes from the Southeast corner of our beautiful country, I have lived for a long time in the Southwest. They say roughly the same thing there as the untranslatable:

S'gibt Badische und Unsymbadische.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 07:56 AM

I know it a bit differently:
S'gibt Badische und Symbadische. ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Letty
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 11:38 AM

maar ik verkies een echte Fries!

(but I'd prefer a real Frisian)

No cow jokes please :-)


Letty

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wolfgang
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 11:58 AM

maar ik verkies een echte Fries
so don't tell any cow jokes, please

(just for the rhyme, the BS section is below)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 03:40 AM

I'm a quarter-Frisian as well as a Holsteiner. And whatever Andy's definition: Holsteiners are not Prussians, even though the Prussians occupied our country in 1866! (After ridding us of the Danes who, incidentally, are much more easy-going and therefore lost the fight).

Sorry to everybody for thread-creep. I should have remembered Lord Palmerston's(?) words: "There are only two people in the world who know what the Schleswig-Holstein question is about - and the other one's dead!"

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 07:33 AM

Susanne, I thought there were three - the other was in a lunatic asylum

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 06:45 AM

No new jokes about maypoles? Fine. Let's return to whelking instead.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:01 AM

Wilfried - stop foaming at the mouth! (Nice to hear from you, though...)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 13 Oct 04 - 04:57 AM

To explain Susanne's joke to non German speakers: Schaum is in English foam.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 04:28 AM

Dear EuroCatters,

Time to revive this thread and perhaps start a new one as the fateful day is approaching!

All is GO for the Mudcat EuroGathering (otherwise known as the Not the Moor and Coast Festival) at La Garenne farmhouse, St Sigismond, near Niort9 not far from La Rochelle from Friday 29 April to Sunday 1 May 2005 (and maybe into the Monday too!) as previously described above. A venue for Saturday night has been arranged and the traditional "EuroGathering Rrip" will be a couple of hours punting on the Venise Verte canals hopefully with musical and song accompaniment.

In the next few days I'll be posting up accomodation and other links and in the meantime am looking forward to seeing some of you in Portaferry a week on Friday!

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 04:30 AM

P.S. That's in France which is in Europe!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 05:09 AM

Things are not looking good for me re the Eurogathering. I'm supposed to be at a conference in Washington blooming DC that weekend... still trying to find ways out... k xx

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 05:47 AM

Tell them you're a pagan Fibs, and your religion demands that you attend the church of the Blessed Calvados on May Day, there to make offerings which nobody in their right mind would refuse.
Giok ;~)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST,MudGuest ;-)
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:06 AM

Kate, tell them you are a relative of Saddam or Osama - then you won't be allowed into the US ;-)

Andy/MudGuard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:11 AM

Fibs, you feckless beauty, you were meant to keep me awake on the car ride down through that France. Move the DC weekend to 14/17th October and you can take in the Getaway.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST,Skipjack K8
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 09:21 AM

Whoops, that was me, Fibs

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 06:28 PM

Thanks, Richard, for reminding us.

I've wangled a few days off from the office. Checked my map of Europe, too - looks like I'll have to brave the hazards of air travel again if I want to be there (which I do) ... So - is there any floor space in the farmhouse, or a b&b close?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: CET
Date: 19 Feb 05 - 06:28 PM

Charmion has a short gig as a tour guide for a bus tour of Canadian battlefields in Holland (this is the 60th anniversary of the liberation) and it looks like we might be able to get to the Euro Gathering as well. How would you get there by public transport? Do you have to catch a taxi from the nearest town? Also, what's the accomodation situation near the site for people travelling sans car and sans camping equipment?

Also, what's Niort9?

Cheers

Edmund

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 08:49 AM

Dear Edmund,

Hope you can come along.

I've just got to finish some urgent university work today but in the next couple of days (certainly THIS week) I'll post a full set of links and a programme of events and local things. Be assured, there is very affordable local hotel/B&B accomodation within a few minutes of most of the Gathering (the Saturday night will be in the dining room of the hotel itself) and I'll include links to that.

Niort (Niort9 after Hull9) is the closest large town and mainline railway terminal and has excellent high speed links to Paris and Bordeaux and probably other cities. It's about 20 minutes by car from the Gathering and either I or one of the locals could collect you and return you to the station without problem.

Hope it works out!

Peace

moo (Richard)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 08:53 AM

P.S. Your easiest route from Holland would be the ultra-fast Thalys train from one of several Dutch cities to Paris and then the equally ultra-fast French TGV train from Paris to Niort. (We're probably talking about 5-6 hours travelling in total here depending on the connections).

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 01:08 PM

Je voudrais reserve une emplacement pour moi et mon tente pour le weekend Avril 29 a Mai 2, si c'est possible.

J'ai visite la site P et O sur l'internet et ca va etre seulement £80 sur la bateau pour moi et mon voiture!!!

Je joue le bodhran, cest une probleme?

Jez (aka frog lover :0P )

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 01:14 PM

Moi j'aime aussi les grenouille, avec frites. Mais le bodhran quel domage!
Giok ¦¬]

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 01:26 PM

Sorry, I'm a cocky bugger, shall I do that again.......English this time I promise.

I would like to reserve a place for me and my tent for the weekend 29/04/05 to 02/05/05, if it is possible.

I visited the P and O website on the internet and it will be only £80 on the ferry for me and my car!!!

I play the bodhran, is that a problem?


Lol, sorry...jumping at the chance to pop over to france!!! I miss the place terribly.

If anyone does want to join me on the lonely journey it is not a problem. The ferry price may go up a little bit, but not too much hopefully.

EtV, you said you were having problems getting there? Jump in with me if you like?

S'up to you anyhoo. I really am definately coming this year. Just booked the time off work!!!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 01:30 PM

JE suis desolee Giok, nous ne sommes pas etres tout parfait!!

Le bodhran viendre avec moi!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.....c'est finale!!!


:0P

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: CET
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 06:21 PM

This is looking good! Does the "9" mean there are 8 other Niorts? And if there are 9 Hulls, which one is home to John from Hull? (Or is Niort9 a typo that's only showing up on my computer?)

Edmund

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 06:34 PM

It's not a typo CET, it was a mick take from Hull nine, which is a postal code for an area of Hull.

Niort is just plain Niort I'm afraid. :(

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 20 Feb 05 - 08:04 PM

Jez,

You're very welcome and it'll be good to see you again! I don't think there are any other bodhran players coming but if there are we can always put you in a punt of your own on Le Canal en Mai trip! (;>)

A place has duly been reserved for you and another one for your tent!

Veuillez continuer ecrire en francais si ca c'est ton plaisir!

Peace

moo (Richard)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 09:02 AM

Merci beaucoup
Mooman, je doit practiquer mon francaise encore pour le petit vacance en france en Avril!

Look forward to seeing you all again, I've missed you all loads!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 09:07 AM

mon francais
la petite - just for la practice

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 10:07 AM

Non, c'est francaise parce que je suis feminine. Je ne suis pas un homme

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 10:32 AM

C'est la (où ma) française parce'que c'est l'abbreviation pour la langue française - langue est feminine!
Il n'est pas important si tu es feminine ...

(digging deep into my brain to find a few rests of my French ...)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 11:59 AM

LOL, thanks mudgaurd.

This is half my problem, I'm fluent speaking but my written is a little rusty at the moment.

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 02:31 PM

Pas de problème!

I mixed up English and French in that post myself (at least I can claim that both are foreign languages ...):
French: "abréviation", English "abbreviation" ...

There might be some ´ and ` and ^ missing in the French part as well ...

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Snuffy
Date: 21 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM

Pourquoi est ce qu' abréviation est un mot très long?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 03:18 AM

Le mot
"abréviation" est un abréviation parce que c'est plus bref que
"abbreviation" ;-)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 03:33 AM

Mais on ne parle pas française, on parle français (mon dictionnaire français-allemand de la Maison Langenscheidt: parler français à q.)

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 03:34 AM

This is Eurogathering thread not French spelling thread!

100! (;>)

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 03:35 AM

Wilfried! You stole my 100!

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 03:37 AM

...and, going againsy myself, you are correct concerning "francais" (excuse the lack of accents on my Anglo-Saxon keyboard)!

Richard

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 04:58 AM

My German keyboard hasn't the çedille either, so I use the Netscape composer inserting the special sign ç, the copy and paste. I'm a tricky one, ain't I?
And I terribly regret having stolen your 100. (In French: Je ne regrette rien ... - fine song)

Paix
Wilfried

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: MudGuard
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 05:03 AM

Shouldn't that be "Je vinaigrette rien"?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 05:42 AM

Quelle fromage.
G

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 22 Feb 05 - 05:44 AM

Sorry....It's my fault for talking frog in the first place, got everyoen going now.....I'll practice by talking to myself at work, they already think I'm wierd anyway so it won't make any difference.

Just waiting for confirmation of my holiday booking off at work!!

Not drove to France all alone before, had company last time, so if anyone wants to join me I'd be grateful of the company..... :0(

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 23 Feb 05 - 02:51 PM

Refresh refresh refresh refresh refresh refresh......


Need lots of people to come!!!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 06:55 AM

Why?

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: CET
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 08:02 PM

Why? Because this looks like being a hell of a good time, and the more people that show up, the better it will be.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 04:54 AM

To the former: Undoubtedly!
To the latter: Not necessarily!

Subject: RE: Early notice - EuroGathering 2005
From: mooman
Date: 02 Mar 05 - 05:25 AM

Dear Friends,

I suggest moving discussion to the new "countdown" thread:

Over here

Peace

Richard