Be Excellent To Each Other

If this whole thing is about meeting and getting to know people, then can I suggest not loud and no naked ladies.

Sorry, single types.

I think it's the marrieds you need to apologise to there, matey.

Can I also re-suggest, given our numbers, that someone looks at the possibility of booking some space somewhere? If we've got 30-odd people trailing around Manchester desperately trying to find somewhere where there's room for us, it'll be dreadful.

Did we have a consensus over which pub to go to? If so, I'll ring both them and the Fab Cafe and see if we can book tables.

Bik's house.

We should definitely try to book a big area somewhere (in the usual names, one would hope).

If we find somewhere we like, that doesn't play exceedingly loud music and stays open late, we may as well stay there all night. If such places close at midnight or before, and people want to continue onwards, then we may have to move to somewhere with musics.

It'd be a boring meet if everyone squeezed in there and spent hours desperately trying to maneuver around the furniture I doubt I'll be arsed locating properly.

Man I ache.

To save me reading 36 pages...who is booking into the hotel?

Me.

Late comers are staying at The Bik Motel.

I have managed to book off the Friday/Saturday/Sunday.

Fuckin' A!

Sounds good..... Hailing Mr Bik

He won't come and pick you up, you have to make your own way there.

Now that is mean

It's probably quicker getting the tram from Piccadilly to mine near Dane Road than me driving, unless it's less than a couple of hours before kick off on match day. Especially because I'm bloody useless at city driving.

I'm running out of beddage now - currently Grim...'s bringing an airbed, Kissyfur is on mine*, and Kovacs is on the big sofa, pending a check of his loft. So there's a small sofa and still a reasonable amount of carpet.

* AIRBED.

You're doing a football meet as well now? Fair enough, it's still ages until the official best ever meet of all time, I suppose...

God I hope not - it's just that the trams are rammed to the gills with pissed fans making their way to Old Trafford for a few hours around kick off.

Woot...

Also: fuck, 3 people now - I'd better get cracking on pizza dough and sauce.

I am trying to decide between two courses of action, given that I won't be arriving until 3ish and so won't have time to get the tram up to Bik-land and dump my stuff before Bik and Grim... leave for beer -

(a) getting the train, and going straight to the centre of Manchester and dumping my bag in Craster's hotel room, and then hopefully remembering to pick it up before we head back to Chez Bik at the end of the night; or

(b) driving instead, and parking up outside Bik's place, leave bag in boot, and then walk/tram into town by self.

Route B has the downside of a three and a half hour drive home with a hangover.

As i am not reading 36 pages.... lol

What time do I have to be at yours Bik..

Parking is, it turns out, at something of a premium. And requires a permit during the day, even on a Saturday. If you decide on b), remind me to post you a visitor's pass beforehand. Walking would be silly, but the tram stop is literally "walk to the end of the road, turn right, and it's on your right."

Whenever you like Kovacs. I can post you a permit too. Assuming I've got them by then. I think I'll be aiming to get into town about 2-ish, which means leaving the house around 1.30.

Not a great choice, considering Mrs Craster will be in there asleep at the time.

Why not get pissed up on the train miss your stop get leathered some more in Glasgow and fall asleep in a Govan piss alley with your beer jacket on?

You'll have to go in there anyway to go to bed, so you can go in, and then chuck my bag out the door at me.

I have already chosen 'b'

OK. My plans as of right now(1).

MrsP and I will be heading into Manchester on Saturday morning via coach and doing a bit of shopping(2). I will then text a designated bezzie(3) to find out your whereabouts and join you horrible lot wherever. We will then be returning home on the airport coach from Paddington at either 1am or 2am. Aye, that sounds fine.

(1) Plans are subject to change, obv.
(2) MrsP will be dragging me around many shops and probably not buying a damn thing. Then lunch
(3) Myp? I need a number to text

I'll be (3)! Me me me me!

Cool, PM me your number, Grimothy.

I thought you were planning on arriving earlier, though. Fair enough.

The b)s of you, remind me to post visitor permits in the week before.

Can I have B too

Unfortunately I'm unlikely to be able to afford to attend. Which is quite disappointing. Next time eh?

Around midday? Do I not need a permit for that, too?

Hang on, why don't I just get the permit from you when I arrive? Or do you live a long way from the parking space, or something?

Not long to go now.

Bik! Could I park at your place if I drive up? It'd be from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.

Ramsea and I are seriously considering this as a possibility, pending babysitters and if I can actually persuade him to part with the required amount of cash to get us there.

Is something being booked for Saturday evening, food wise? When are definite numbers required by? Ooh it's exciting isn't it!?

Hng. That's what I said - I thought you were arriving while I'd still be there, so you could get a permit off me then. People who are arriving later will need me to post them one.

Permits are required before 5pm on a Saturday so yes, you'll need one.

I think I'll be dumping at least 2 cars round at my dad's, chances of getting five spots on the street are minimal. Probably mine and yours if you're coming up on the Friday. No permit needed there.

Ah, excellent. You're idea of what you said is somewhat different to mine, though

It usually is. Strange order of words I do choose. And I tend to rely on pre-existing context a bit too heavily. Such as us already having discussed your arrival time.

So I have to be there for midday really?

Not an issue as I am only down the M6..

I imagine that on the Saturday we'll just be sat in a pub that does food, and will eat pub food.

I can't really foresee anywhere else letting us in.

Where's this Paddington place?

Garg. I mean mustard station. Or is it ketchup? No, Piccalilli.

Well, Bik, any unofficial park-n-ride would be welcomed. I want to bring the car because t'other half wants to to go Liverpool on Saturday day and see the Beatles museum.

God. Do you ever shut up about her?

Fanny Stupid this! Fanny Stupid that!

Craig - the new Mr Chris?

Not even on a coach and stay at Bik's?

No, because he didn't wibble on for 10 pages about his plans to come and how exciting it would be to finally come to one of the meets and he definitely wouldn't drop out this time before he said he couldn't come. I would think of him as the first Craig.

He'll need to significantly up his wrongitude before he can steal that title away from me!



Ooooh, that's a vile accuracy, that is.

Still, this time I'm coming.

We're all going to Bruges, now.