This is the official thread for the TOM WEDDING/LONDON ILX MEGAFAP OCTOBER 2003 (as well as me visiting Dublin!)

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So okay! Tom's getting married, three cheers! I'm coming over for the big party in October, three embarassed wails. I have just e-mailed Alex T for exact date info and had my e-mail denied, so somebody send me his current e-mail so I can bother him for that. Once I've got that, I'll post it here.

Right now, I am operating under the assumption that it will be either Friday October 17 or Saturday October 18 based on what info I have, so my current plan is this:

Fly in on October 11 during the day into Heathrow. Recuperate by way of copious alcohol consumption and take advantage of Martin Skidmore's generosity in providing a place to crash (thanks!).

On Monday October 13, fly to Dublin with whoever else wants to go there as well and bother the good people there.

Sometime over the next couple of days, do a day (maybe? perhaps it'll have to be an overnighter? chime in with yer thoughts) trip from Dublin and act the part of the dumb-ass American tourist pretending to search for roots and all that in the town of Ballyragget in County Kilkenny. See? Right there in the north of the place!

http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/gif/kilkmap2.gif

Currently investigating Irish Rail options but if anyone has any other suggestions let me know.

On Thursday, October 16, fly back to London, hopefully with some combination of the Dublin crew with me for the celebrations.

Friday October 17 onward, celebrate. Loudly.

Sunday October 19 or Monday October 20, stumble on the plane and wake up in LA earlier that day, hopefully.

All corrections, changes and mocking laughter directed at any of the above ideas welcomed. Right now I'm looking at $600 or so roundtrip from LA to Heathrow and back, $140 for Heathrow/Dublin connections, so any suggestions on cheaper fares definitely welcomed.

So post similar travel ideas and plans, notes of related events, talk about the BIG DAY(s) itself or whatever here. Hurrah!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

And to add that for Dublin I plaintively ask if anyone wouldn't mind putting up with me for a couple of days? :-) Carey, Donut Bitch and more can all vouch for me as needed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

we're still going to Wimpy right?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Well yeah.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 04:23 (twenty-two years ago)

so any suggestions on cheaper fares definitely welcomed.

If you travelled Ryanair see http://www.ryanair.com/) from Stansted (easy train ride from Liverpool Street, see http://www.stanstedexpress.com/) you would pay just under £53 now. If you were prepared to travel either very early in the morning or in the evening you could reduce that fare further still.

Ryanair are a no frills airline with all that involves, but you did say you would like cheaper.

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)

and easyjet from Luton are good. I got there quicker the other day than it takes me to get to Stansted without using the car.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The big all-welcome party will be on the 17th.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Getting from Heathrow to either Luton or Stansted is no joke, mind, and liable to cost you somewhere between £20 and £40 depending on the price / misery balance you choose.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

he has got two days to do it though tim...

HURRAH for big party :)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Aside from the big party might I suggest a NedFAP on the Thursday evening (16th). Cos there are going to be a lot of people around on the Friday and it would be a shame if I didn't get to chat properly with the Americans who are so kindly coming over!

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

B-b-but Ned is travelling from Martin's to/from departure point for/arrival from Dublin, so presumably cheaper trip than from LHR?

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Euston to Luton = tenner (5.70 if you have a worldwide travelcard like me)

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Cabbage said "and easyjet from Luton are good", which is true, but not for Ned, as they don't fly to Dublin from there.

Or in fact, from anywhere.

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

d'oh, I didn't realise, I thought they did. Sorry.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Euston to Luton? Are you MAD? St Pancras or Kings X Thameslink mebbe, but Euston to Luton does not work.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Ryanair fly from Luton to Dublin as well, but at a lower frequency & it seems at a higher price for those particular dates, so I stand by my original recommendation!

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned, I'd suggest a seperate thread for you visiting Dublin.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

looking forward to seeing you, obv.

there will be FAPs.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

How can you people expect to give useful answers when you actually read the question?

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm having a mare of a day, of course it's Kingsx thameslink, my head is scrambled by rodent today.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

send tom and mrs. ewing my kind regards :-)

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen people be surprised by how no-frills Ryanair are: like cancelling the 6.00pm flight from Luton at 6.05, shipping everyone to Stansted for the 10.00pm flight, no restitution.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Some people are so picky.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Also yes I have couch!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't treat Daddino like Dre.

― Larcole (Nicole), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen people be surprised by how no-frills Ryanair are: like cancelling the 6.00pm flight from Luton at 6.05, shipping everyone to Stansted for the 10.00pm flight, no restitution.

Admittedly it can be a bit of a gamble, but I think with good odds. Its possible to buy Ned's return flight for less than £30: if it runs smoothly, fantastic! & if it doesn't, you shouldn't really complain.

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, the ticket you buy still represents a contract at any price. People have stuck it to Ryanair for compensation and had joy, but the guy who owns it seems to delight in assholism about not giving refunds or making arrangements for travellers who are stranded or delayed.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 09:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Ryanarse also go to Dublin from Gatwick - and there are coach connections between LHR and LGW. However be prepared to fly standing up / in the overhead locker / strapped to the wing whilst fierce women in too much make-up snarl at you (these are the hostesses).

Personally, I'd pay a bit extra and go with BMI or somebody...

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 10:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll be there! Wimpy is U&K. And it has to be a West London Wimpy, nothing else will do.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Good heavens, a lot of info already. ;-) DV, I will start ye separate Dublin thread for you, thus.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

And thank ya for the offer, Andrew! These plane stories make me think I should stick with Aer Lingus, clearly an airline designed solely for Mr. Perry's joy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:20 (twenty-two years ago)

The hostesses are all called Connie, it's true...

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Aer Lingus always makes me think of inappropriate uses of trampolines.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

mmm, Connie Lingus

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Watch out for her brother Enol!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Wimpy FAP!!!

― Mandee, Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Aside from the big party might I suggest a NedFAP on the Thursday evening (16th).

Aw, too kind. Well, I figure we can also do things on the weekend of the 11th/12th as needed, but yes, let's call the 16th a FAP for the American attendees and all. Besides the redoubtable Suzy, here's who I know will be there at or around that time:

Tracer Hand
Mandee
Geeta
Jody Beth Rosen
Mike Daddino
yers truly

Anyone else?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i will be in america. maybe

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, well, I might visit london.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

so are you only allowed to come to this FAP if you bring an american?

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

this is actually around the same time i wanted to go to the States too but i just don't know if that's gonna happen yet

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

To heck with the States, let's ponder Ireland. THEN you can visit the States.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i must think on this further (*lunges at piggy bank with sledgehammer*)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm bringing CC DeVille.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I was going to say that Vic will be in NYC, but that's a week or so later.

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Also yes I have couch!

ME ME ME ME ME ME!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Hurrah, Mike can visit Dublin too! :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

well shit, if RJG is going, maybe I'll come too! who gonna gimme some money though. how much were tickets from nyc/london? would someone want to take a day-trip to colchester to visit the temple to Clau-Clau-Claudius?

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Dublin in October? Tis a brave idea: the rolling green hills, the talking sheep, the whipping chilly winds.....;> Still, Tom's wedding will be "the place to be seen", if a good section of we ILXors end up going.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, will Mike and I have to fight for the Dublin couch now? COUCH WARS.

Phil should definitely come along. :-) A Colchester trip? We could sacrifice black pullets and summon the Demon Albarn.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 163 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

They're not pink!! The creatures on the TV series must have been Snorks.

(NB I am a Moomins rockist)

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i led a crusade against the Snorks, annhiliating their civilisation and wiping every trace of their existence off the face of the...sea - they were THAT annoying.

i got no beef with the Moomins

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/moomin_troll/moominfamily.gif
Pastel colours then, I am sure one of them is pink here!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:57 (twenty-two years ago)

TS: derailing threads with MST3K vs. derailing threads with Moomins

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The one with the fringe can turn pink when she's embarrassed!

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

They are all different colours in the k-rub Japanese animation series.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

With a fringe like that you would imagine she was permenantly pink.

I know at least five central curry houses worth the time of day.

What do Americans do between work and bouze then?

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I bet they go home and freshen up - the lightweights

― chris (chris), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

So you're saying that current London entertainment consists of Moomin curry served early so everyone can get home.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't freshening up a euphemism for having a piss? Do they not have toilets in American bars? This is one of those washing machine things, isn't?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

moomins must be non-white bcz they turn "pale with anger"

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

however:

http://www.moominshop.com/bookaboutmoominlarge.jpg

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

aha here we go:

"Don't you really know what a Snork is?" said Snufkin in amazement. "They must be the same family as you I should think, because they look the same, except that they aren't often white. They can be any colour in the world (like an Easter egg), and they change colour when they get upset."

Moomintroll looked quite angry. "Well!" he said. "I've never heard of that branch of the family. A real Moomintroll is always white. Chnaging colour indeed! What an idea!"

"Well, these Snorks were very much like you anyway," said Snufkin calmly. "One was pale green and the other was mauve. I met them the time I escaped from prison..."

This is from Comet, Moomintroll is being rockist himself here (or worse), hence Snufkin's somewhat sardonic dryness. (Later of course Moomintroll saves the Snork Maiden from a Poisonous Bush and falls in love with her, so all's well that ends well.)

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i meant the other Snorks or what it's worth

Curry served by Moomins tho, enduring image

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Curry served by Moomins tho, enduring image

I'm definitely coming to that fap!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The poor old Snork gets a bit of a raw deal I think - he is presented as a bit of a geek and vanishes from the books quite early.

― Tom (Groke), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't Moomintroll start asking for further details of the Snork Maiden before he sees her, thus proving that he's up for a bit of the non-white meat himself?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:16 (twenty-two years ago)

There are some good Indian restaurants in Ealing ;)

I'm convinced that Moominland Midwinter is the pinnacle of the Moomin-saga,

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 12 September 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Moomins in white supremacist shocker!!!!

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 12 September 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

'But later that night he dreamt about a little Snork Maiden who looked like him, and he had given her a rose to put behind her ear.

'In the morning he sat up muttering "how silly" to himself.'

― mark s (mark s), Saturday, 13 September 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

We can always curry at that old standard Lahore just off commercial road, very good, pretty cheap.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 13 September 2003 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Incidentally, both of the CBS and NBC morning news shows covered David Blaine's stunt within minutes of each other today, suggesting that 1) Blaine's PR dept. is on a American media blitz at the moment and 2) they're working the hatred angle big-time.

I'm realizing that maybe maybe maybe Blaine chose London for this little exercise because he knew so many Britons still remember IRA Maze hunger strikes -- I don't think we Americans have anything comparable in recent history -- and hence he'd get a nice visceral reaction.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and I finally got my tickets in the mail yesterday. Hooray! I was beginning to worry the UPS lost them.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Moominpappa At Sea is currently out of print :(

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 10:53 (twenty-two years ago)

(Why isn't there a Blaine thread?)

― David. (Cozen), Wednesday, 17 September 2003 11:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Semi-revive and more or less back on topic because...me being me, I am very much interested in seeing The Lord of the Rings exhibit at the Science Museum while I am there. Initial scrounging shows that there's spots on Sun. the 12th and Sat. the 18th, but apparently in limited amounts -- however, on Friday the 17th it's cheaper and also has more availability. If a set time for the start of the Night of Ruin has been established, is anyone up for going earlier that day? Dr. C did also mention he might be going record shopping that day and I wished to consider his expertise on things musical and Jamaican...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 02:25 (twenty-two years ago)

The night of ruin won't be kicking off until the Day of Work has been finished i.e. not until about 6ish.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 07:51 (twenty-two years ago)

REVIVE!

So, all you Americans...exactly what do you do, moneywise, when you're in the UK? Can I pretty much expect my bank card to be accepted at any UK ATM? Or do I go the traveller's checks route? (No matter what, obviously I'll have some pocket money when I first arrive.)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 28 September 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I've always had my cards perfectly accepted, both debit and credit. If you've got a card with a big enough bank, you should be fine -- I'd steer clear of traveller's checks, no point in those anymore. Usually I get some cash in Heathrow from an ATM as soon as I'm off the plane.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 September 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I think checks are important.

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 28 September 2003 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I used them regularly when I first visited in 1992 but every time since I never noticed the need. I suppose it might come down to what you need the money for.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 September 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

okay but you have to say 'cheques' not 'checks' once you get here ;)

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 28 September 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I WON'T TAKE YOUR ROYALIST HASH. You forelock-pulling peasant.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 September 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Mmmmmm, royalist hash (Prince Harry to thread!)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 28 September 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Jacobin hash?

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 28 September 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

anything as long it's not corned beef hash

i am tempted to start a proper Fancy A Bowl / Fancy A Ruby thread now that the time draws pants-wettingly near

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 28 September 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

the suggestion for FAR:

date: Thursday 16th October (thus the warm-up for Friday's apocalypse)
location: either Southall (only 12-15 minutes from Paddington) or central London
venue: this restaurant in Southall perhaps, or maybe here in town but plenty of others to choose from
time/meeting: meet at pub by Paddington station around 7/8pm and then head to Southall on train? or just meet at central pub (e.g. Glasshouse) if staying central

i like Ed's Southall idea but am not fussed either way. only problem is so far only he and Ed have expressed enthusiasm for this - time to organise

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 28 September 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

veerswamy is kind of expensive

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 28 September 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon trying to get any number of people all the way over to Southall for a curry on a weeknight is a bit of a non-starter, especially for anyone coming from the east.

Veeraswamy, however, is thirty seconds walk from my workplace - if we go there I demand we get drunk and smash the place in afterwards.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 28 September 2003 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon trying to get any number of people all the way over to Southall for a curry on a weeknight is a bit of a non-starter, especially for anyone coming from the east.

sadly true, but there's always the Saturday (18th), heh - where's your sense of adventure?

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 28 September 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Southall is not such a big deal to get to.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 29 September 2003 10:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Venue for Friday yet?

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 29 September 2003 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Not as far as I know. :(

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 29 September 2003 10:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Somewhere within lurching distance of the Spanish Bar please. Like the Brickies.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 29 September 2003 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The choice of a Friday night makes venue getting slightly more difficult.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 29 September 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps it's a movable feast, hundreds of people stumbling around from pub to pub.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 September 2003 12:24 (twenty-two years ago)

London ILX Wedding Party FAP - Details

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 29 September 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

getting cash out - you'll be fine. if it's similar to the reverse situation (ie UK->US) you'll want to get it out in large amounts, as there's probably a minimum fee (for me the other way it was something like 1% with a min of £1.50, so i had to take out like $250 at a time).

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 30 September 2003 05:16 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

BRick lane is full of touts and tossers, there is one good restaurant left.

Where is this one good restaurant Ed? It is urgent and key that I know before this weekend.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 30 October 2003 16:52 (twenty-one years ago)

BRick lane is full of touts and tossers, there is one good restaurant left.

Where is this one good restaurant Ed? It is urgent and key I know before this weekend.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 30 October 2003 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

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