APUG UK Autumn 2007 Gathering

[BarryWilkinson]

Its clear that its going to be very difficult to arrange a weekend for 20+ people without some being disappointed? Another poll of dates seems the most fair way of doing this?

Perhaps it would be sensible to have an annual poll of places and dates for both gatherings early in each year? We could then decide on the best venue's for the Spring sunshine (!) and Autumn colours?

Barry

 

[Mark Burley]

Annual polls...

As you say Barry - no way of pleasing all... Why not do the poll thing as Frank did in terms of venues, but this time dates too...

Yup I would be miffed f I miss out - but then again, a poll is straight forward, tricky to argue with and isn't this in the spirit of APUG anyway!

- Mark

 

[FrankB]

Barry - A technique that's worked in the past has been to ask people what dates they definitely can't do. Give us ten days or so to get a good selection of answers. Put these into a spreadsheet and the row with the most "can make it" entries is the winner.

However, I'd suggest waiting for the location poll to be decided. That will firm up the people who are interested in attending and make the submitted dates more relevant. Some people may be interested in Northumberland only, or Devon/Cornwall only, etc.

I'd also advise this be done on a Gathering by Gathering basis rather than at the start of the year. Whilst we do need to give people warning to fix dates in their diaries, we usually have a 25% to 50% drop out rate as it is when people's lives throw them an unexpected curve. Sometimes the proportion of last minute "Can I come too?!" people exceeds the ones who originally chose the date and venue!

My 2p!

All the best,

Frank

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Frank,

I had forgotten about the spreadsheet method used in the past, and I also take your point about some only prepared to go to particular venues. So lets wait until the venue poll has run its course before deciding the dates.


Barry

 

[Bob F.]

There are a number of people who's diaries are already filling, so if everyone interested would like to make their way along to the locations thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists) and make their selection(s) for the where, we can get the when sorted....

So far we have:

Sept 7-9 : 1 vote
Sept 14-16 : 2 votes
Sept 21-23 : 2 votes
Sept 28-30 : 2 votes
Oct 5-7 : 6 votes
Oct 12-14 : 5 votes
Oct 19-21 : 5 votes
Oct 26-28 : 6 votes

(unfortunately, Sean has disabled font changes in the editor so I can't paste from a spreadsheet using a non-proportional font - it won't line up).

Cheers, Bob.

 

[pyrometol]

Well, everything seems to be divided fairly equally in terms of both dates and meeting place. May I throw in my two-pennyworth? If North Devon is chosen, The accommodation is as follows: The w/end of 12/13th Oct is already fully booked; w/end 19/20th they have 14 beds available; w/end 26/27th they have 11 beds available. Cost? £35 single; £70 double. These are B&B prices, but they have an excellent pub/restaurant for the evening and no doubt once numbers were definitely known an evening meal could be arranged. Now the second factor is tides. The w/end of the 12/13th is ideal - high tide in the morning @7AMish; the 19/20th is high tide at mid day (not good!), the 19/20th is again 7 AMish (very good). In this part of the world bookings have to be pretty early otherwise, the've gone. There is accommodation in the village of Hartland (about 1-2 miles from the coast, but other than a farmhouse that I know near Welcombe Bay (south of Hartland by a couple of miles or so) I know nothing of them. I am prepared to visit the area and squirrel out more facts if you so wish. I hope it doesn't look as though I am dragooning you into North Devon but I think a few facts have to be known so that members can make an informed judgement. I shan't be at all offended if you tell me to jump on my tripod! John Stredwick (pyrometol)

 

[FrankB]

I shan't be at all offended if you tell me to jump on my tripod!

Which end?


Speaking for myself, John, I do very much appreciate your local knowledge and the research you're putting in, and I don't feel at all dragooned!

Ta muchly!

 

[Mark Burley]

Dates - votes...

I would be happy to go to Devon or Canterbury. as for dates - my preference for what its worth is either 19-21 Oct or 26-28 Oct.

I guess that I might even drag the other half with me this time too... As I know that I won't get away with a weekend in either place without her this time!

Two weeks in the South of F though - cor, I would love to concentrate on my food and wine doon there too! as for 35mm Barry, won't you be missing the big 5x4 beastie? You know as well as I do, the minute you go for a wander you'll be wishing you had it with you...

Mark

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Two weeks in the South of F though - cor, I would love to concentrate on my food and wine doon there too! as for 35mm Barry, won't you be missing the big 5x4 beastie? You know as well as I do, the minute you go for a wander you'll be wishing you had it with you...

Mark

Mark,

I'm sure I'll miss it but there's always a limit to what you can carry. Perhaps I'll find a good venue for an UK apug week in the Dordogne/Correze/Lot?


Barry

 

[Dave Miller]

My vote must be for the w/e 5th and 7th October.

 

[A.C.]

Second half of Sept. is OK for me if you do Cornwall, otherwise 7th to 9th Sept, or 26th to 28th Oct...
Cheers
Aynsley

 

[Brian Jeffery]

Any weekend in October is fine by me.


Brian

 

[Mark Burley]

7-9th of Oct would be OK for me too, as well as the latter part of the month as said before...

Mark

 

[Bob F.]

After the latest round of dates we have:

Sept 7-9 : 1 vote
Sept 14-16 : 2 votes
Sept 21-23 : 2 votes
Sept 28-30 : 2 votes
Oct 5-7 : 8 votes
Oct 12-14 : 6 votes
Oct 19-21 : 6 votes
Oct 26-28 : 7 votes

I've not counted Aynsley until we know if we are going to Cornwall or not.

Bob.

 

[A.C.]

I've not counted Aynsley until we know if we are going to Cornwall or not.

Perhaps I should clarify this if it assists the voting - for the second half of Sept. I will actually already be down in Kernow, so I can visit you all should you choose there!

Otherwise, the 26th to 28th October is best for me.

 

[midlife crisis]

Dates

I'll be able to make 5-7 october or 26-28 october. If we do the latter someone better make a cake cos its my birthday weekend.

Regards
N

 

[Leon]

I'll be able to make 5-7 october or 26-28 october. If we do the latter someone better make a cake cos its my birthday weekend.

Regards
N

better make it a big (cheese)cake 'cos it's mine too

 

[Brook Hill]

APUG Autumn meet

5th-7th October would suit me best.
Tony

 

[Bob F.]

And now we are at:

Sept 7-9 : 1 vote
Sept 14-16 : 2 votes
Sept 21-23 : 2 votes
Sept 28-30 : 2 votes
Oct 5-7 : 10 votes
Oct 12-14 : 6 votes
Oct 19-21 : 6 votes
Oct 26-28 : 8 votes

With 11 runners so far declared, the October stable is doing well.

We have 5-7 starting to move in to the lead now with 26-28 coming up on the rails and 12-14 and 10-21 neck to neck competing for third. The rest of the field trailing badly at the moment as we come up to Beecher's for the first time...


Cheers, Bob.

 

[Mark Burley]

Having lost the plot as usual I see I voted for the 7-9 of Oct... Of course I mean't 5-7th Oct or 19-21/26-28.

As I guess it would be difficult to cvount my vote in the first place!

 

[Sandeha Lynch]

I'm watching the race with interest, but not betting at this time ... I usually wait and put my money on the winner.

 

[Black Dog]

5th-7th october would be fine for me after all

 

[Rob Archer]

I can do pretty much any date depending on location, but eary Oct would be better than late.

rob

 

[FrankB]

I'm watching the race with interest, but not betting at this time ... I usually wait and put my money on the winner.

Sandeha - Have you noticed that, by a quirk of geography, Canterbury is about an hour up the road from Crowborough? Don't let me influence you...

 

[Dave Miller]

Sandeha - Have you noticed that, by a quirk of geography, Canterbury is about an hour up the road from Crowborough? Don't let me influence you...

That's fine, but what size film do they take?:confused: