APUG UK Autumn 2006

[Dave Miller]

I'm on holiday, and completly overdosed on cheesecake.

 

[FrankB]

<bump> Warning - Dates in calendar are closer than they appear!

Any more thoughts?

The stumbling block on this one seems to be finding a base point which -

a) is fairly affordable
b) is reasonably comfortable
c) has good food and ale on site (a photographer marches on his/her stomach (I keep tripping over mine...!))
d) has an area (preferably reasonably quiet and smoke-free) where we can sit around and chat / show prints in the evenings before staggering off and falling into bed.
e) can fit most of us in
f) is a brisk walk / drive from some photogenic locations
g) serves cheesecake...

It's not that we're picky. In the past we've braved extreme weather, ferocious ducks and thronging bikers! Is there such a place in all of Norfolk or should we (reluctantly!) look elsewhere?

What about some of these?

9 rooms £35-£65 http://www.yaxhammill.com/
8 rooms £60-£80 Dead Link Removed
11 rooms £25-£60 http://www.theaa.com/hotels/103699.html

The top one looks promising...

 

[Dave Miller]

<bump> Warning - Dates in calendar are closer than they appear!

Any more thoughts?

The stumbling block on this one seems to be finding a base point which -

a) is fairly affordable
b) is reasonably comfortable
c) has good food and ale on site (a photographer marches on his/her stomach (I keep tripping over mine...!))
d) has an area (preferably reasonably quiet and smoke-free) where we can sit around and chat / show prints in the evenings before staggering off and falling into bed.
e) can fit most of us in
f) is a brisk walk / drive from some photogenic locations
g) serves cheesecake...

It's not that we're picky. In the past we've braved extreme weather, ferocious ducks and thronging bikers! Is there such a place in all of Norfolk or should we (reluctantly!) look elsewhere?

What about some of these?

9 rooms £35-£65 http://www.yaxhammill.com/
8 rooms £60-£80 Dead Link Removed
11 rooms £25-£60 http://www.theaa.com/hotels/103699.html

The top one looks promising...

As you say Frank, time is marching. Any local knowledge on these venues?

 

[Rob Archer]

What about some of these?

9 rooms £35-£65 http://www.yaxhammill.com/
8 rooms £60-£80 Dead Link Removed
11 rooms £25-£60 http://www.theaa.com/hotels/103699.html

The top one looks promising...

I had a ride out to Dereham today and had lunch at the Yaxham Mill. It's really nice - several separate rooms in the bar/restaurant, good ,reasonably priced food (although I didn't see cheesecake on the menu!) and excellent beer. Accomodation prices are a bit more than we paid in Yorkshire, but we may be able to negotiate a discount. The rooms look very nice including the option of staying at the top of the old windmill (for a few more bucks I expect!). It's in the middle of open countryside about 30 minutes drive from the best bits of the coast. I also had a look into the one in Shipdham on the way back. It's OK but not quite as pleasant as The Mill. Do we want to go with this and start looking at dates or shall I continue the 'research'?

Rob

 

[Dave Miller]

Thanks for the effort Rob.

Some questions. Has the Yaxham Mill got a function room that we can hire? If so it looks like it will suit our needs. The Pound Green Hotel, SHIPDHAM does have a function room, and seems a little cheaper, and has more rooms. I agree that it doesn't look so nice, but that may not be so important, especially if they do reasonable food. Does anyone else have local knowledge of this one to add to the debate?

 

[Rob Archer]

Thanks for the effort Rob.

Some questions. Has the Yaxham Mill got a function room that we can hire? If so it looks like it will suit our needs. The Pounds Green Hotel, SHIPDHAM does have a function room, and seems a little cheaper, and has more rooms. I agree that it doesn't look so nice, but that may not be so important, especially if they do reasonable food. Does anyone else have local knowledge of this one to add to the debate?

No, Yaxham Mill doesn't have a funtion room per se. The bar/restaurant are is split into 3 sections. I reckon we could fit about 30 into the back bit at a push - I suppose it depends on how many want to come. I'll get in touch with the Pounds Green hotel and see what the terms for the function room are.

Rob

 

[FrankB]

Good work Rob! It looks like we've got a couple of good options there.

 

[Rob Archer]

I've tried in vain to get hold of the Pound Green Hotel, at Shipdham re their function room.- no-one answers the phone. It also seems to have disappeared from the AA listing! I'll keep trying but I'm away after Thursday this week. I spoke to the guy at Yaxham mill and he said if a group of us booked under the same name (APUG?) he would give us a 10% discount. Although it hasn't got a function room the restaurant is divided into sections. It will probably be a lot quieter than the Green Dragon on the Saturday night - I didn't notice anyone drinking from a cows-horn either! I suppose it depends how many of us want to go - I count 15 interested so far.

So I think we need to either plump for this one or keep looking but time's getting a bit short - 2 months.

As for dates I can make any one in September except 29/30th and any in October except 21/22nd - after that I think the days may be getting a bit short.

Rob

 

[Leon]

I dont think I'm going to be able to make an autumn meet up now. I may be able to, but best not to count me in for now.

 

[Dave Miller]

I've tried in vain to get hold of the Pound Green Hotel, at Shipdham re their function room.- no-one answers the phone. It also seems to have disappeared from the AA listing! I'll keep trying but I'm away after Thursday this week. I spoke to the guy at Yaxham mill and he said if a group of us booked under the same name (APUG?) he would give us a 10% discount. Although it hasn't got a function room the restaurant is divided into sections. It will probably be a lot quieter than the Green Dragon on the Saturday night - I didn't notice anyone drinking from a cows-horn either! I suppose it depends how many of us want to go - I count 15 interested so far.

So I think we need to either plump for this one or keep looking but time's getting a bit short - 2 months.

As for dates I can make any one in September except 29/30th and any in October except 21/22nd - after that I think the days may be getting a bit short.

Rob

Looks like it's got to be Yaxham Mill then Rob, unless anyone replies with an alternative, as you say time is short.
As for dates I am already booked for the 9/10 Sept, and 14/15 Oct.

 

[FrankB]

I'm happy with Yaxham Mill. Time is wearing on so I reckon we should settle for it and move firmly on to picking dates.

Rob - last time I knocked up an Excel sheet with people's names down the side and weekends across the top, then I just tallied up and went for the weekend that the most people could make. Sounds like overkill, but it got fairly complex fairly quickly last time, and that stopped my eyes from crossing!

7/8 and 14/15 Oct aren't great for me. I should be able to hit pretty much anything else.

Who else can hit when?

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I hope to be able to make it though I don't need accommodation. How about the last weekend in October?

 

[Brook Hill]

APUG Autumn meeting

I would be interested to join the Autumn meeting chaperoned by my wife! Tony Marlow

 

[FrankB]

TONY!!!

Fantastic to hear from you! How are you doing?

Your attendence is, I'm afraid, mandatory! If you're still shy a camera the offer of my F80 still stands.

 

[Rob Archer]

OK then. It seems that Yaxham Mill looks like an OK venue. So who wants to come, and when? Probably the best way is to say what weekends you can, or definately can't make. I'll use your idea of an Excel spreadsheet, Frank! I'm away after Thursday this week for 10 days (Isle of Arran followed by a couple of days in Yorkshire - The Green Dragon again!)

Once I've got a few names I'll post a date by the end of August. I can make pretty much any time except 20th - 22nd Oct - that's half-term anyway and we may find the place booked up. After the end of Oct the days are getting a bit short, although the light in Norfolk can be fantastic!

Look forward to hearing from you all!

Rob

 

[Dave Miller]

Rob, are you going to pick out those of us that have already said they can attend, or would you prefer everyone to re-post?

 

[FrankB]

Probably as well to have everyone repost rather than make assumptions. Rob'll need a list of can/can't dates from everyone anyway.

Come on you lot, shout up! I need to book my holidays!

 

[Dave Miller]

Ok. My can't do dates are: 9/10 Sept, and 14/15 Oct. Other than that we are clear.

 

[FrankB]

7/8 and 14/15 Oct have now gone from "not great" to "flippin' awful" for me. I should be able to do pretty much anything else.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I should be fine for October but might not be available for a weekend in September, don't know yet.

 

[RH Designs]

I'm moving house around that time so I can't arrange anything until I know the definite dates. Might be a last minute thing!

 

[Brook Hill]

TONY!!!

Fantastic to hear from you! How are you doing?

Your attendence is, I'm afraid, mandatory! If you're still shy a camera the offer of my F80 still stands.

Thanks for the welcome Frank, I'm doing OK, told to get back to normal ! I've taken on all the examples of you experts and got a Bronica SQAi, I've got nowhere to hide now. Tony

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Great to have you back Tony.

I would like to attend but my dates are limited...

I cannot make the 9th through to 24th Sept, and 21/22nd October.

Regards to all.

Barry

 

[A.C.]

Good day all - new subscriber calling...I'd be pleased to try and fit either a visit or a stopover in to this, so if you could put me "in the loop" with your final choices...
Thanks
A.C.

 

[Dave Miller]

Good day all - new subscriber calling...I'd be pleased to try and fit either a visit or a stopover in to this, so if you could put me "in the loop" with your final choices...
Thanks
A.C.

Just keep an eye on this thread. We seem to have settled on a venue, now need a date.