APUG UK Spring 2007 Gathering

[Dave Miller]

Hi there
Another newbie interested in attending the spring gathering... but I'm not new to Dave's views on digital, having often had his concidered opinion on some of my monochromatic 'digital daubings'. We are both member's at Abington CC you see!

If I promise only to bring FP4, can I come?

Welcome to the forum Richard; you are one of the two people I know that can ruin a perfectly good photograph by putting it through an inkjet paint sprayer. The other being my wife. One day I will get you in front of an enlarger, and then there will be no slipping back into bad habits.

 

[Martin Berry LRPS]

I am also a new user and this all sounds very interesting. I would prefer Ross as it is easy to acces on the motorways etc. What was the format and schedule for previous meetings.

 

[Dave Miller]

In the past the format has been to meet on the Friday evening in a selected venue to make and renew acquaintances, and a chin-wag over food and drinks. Saturday is given over to photography; hopefully with someone with local knowledge to lead. Saturday evening – more chatter with print viewing. Sunday morning more picture taking and goodbyes around noon.

 

[Dave Miller]

And I should have also said - Welcome Martin.

 

[Terrick E. Meakin]

Spring gathering

Ross on Wye definately gets my vote, midway between Glocester and Hereford plus lots of other interesting and photographic places what more do you want?

 

[Dave Miller]

Ross on Wye definately gets my vote, midway between Glocester and Hereford plus lots of other interesting and photographic places what more do you want?

In a nutshell Terrick? Someone with local knowledge to, firstly recommend a venue, and secondly to suggest a few photogenic venues that would be worth visiting. We may then get to meet a few others from the Crown Monochrome Group?

 

[BarryWilkinson]

It appears that this may be a large gathering? It may be difficult to find a venue large enough to take us all. I guess if we stay near to town we could spread out a little? Anyone know the area well enough to recommend a venue or two?

A few sites are listed here: http://www.wyenot.com/historic.html

Barry

 

[Matt5791]

I would be interested in Ross-on-Wye. I love Herefordshire and the countryside around.

What might be a thought is if is is going to be a large gathering maybe it would be more advisable to meet in Hereford itself.

Being a city (albeit a small one) there is plenty of (reasonably priced) accomodation, plus the opportunity for architectual photography, and it is in easy reach of the surounding countryside.

Just an idea - I would be happy to go with the flow though.

 

[Terrick E. Meakin]

Spring gathering

Ross on Wye gets my vote, it's about halfway between Glocester and Hereford where there are lovely cathedrals plus all the other places already mentioned.

 

[FrankB]

One APUGger, one vote Terrick!

Okay, it looks like Ross on Wye has the consensus. Anyone know any good B&B's / hotels in the town / surrounding area, or shall we pick from the web again?

Suitable venues should be -

• Not too expensive (£40 per night or less seems to have worked for most people in the past)
• Reasonably comfortable
• Enough rooms for most attendees (10+ by preference, en suite favoured)
• Good ale, preferably onsite but definitely within wobbling distance
• Good food onsite in the evenings
• A seating area where we can natter and pass round prints (smoke free strongly preferred in the past)
• Sufficient car parking

Have I missed anything out?

Personal recommendations would be an advantage, but if not then we'll just have to root around and see what we can find.

 

[wiseowl]

Ross on Wye it is then, I'm hoping to be able to make this one.

Cheers

Martin

 

[smudge]

Ross gets my vote as I've been there before and it's a nice part of the world. The Cathedral is great to photograph but they sting you £1.50 for a permit to use your camera, which I didn't think was a bad deal even for a scotsman, so you southeners sould have no problem coughing up.

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Here's a starter...

http://www.thegreenmaninn.co.uk/index.htm
ps They have 20 bedrooms
or...

Dead Link Removed
10 Bedrooms

Barry

 

[Andy K]

There are many photogenic locations around Ross. One lesser known, and therefore free of interruption, is Skenfrith Castle. It is on the old road between Ross and Abergavenny.

 

[FrankB]

Andy - Thanks for that. I'll look it up.

Barry - Outstanding work, sir! I had a possible in mind but either of yours knocks it into a cocked hat! The Green Man is possibly a nose ahead IMO given the higher capacity, but both look excellent!

 

[Dave Miller]

Here's a starter...

http://www.thegreenmaninn.co.uk/index.htm
ps They have 20 bedrooms
or...

Dead Link Removed
10 Bedrooms

Barry

Well done Barry. I agree with Frank, the Green Man looks the better bet, they also have converence facilities, which means that we may be able to hire a smoke free meeting room.

So the questions must be, does this venue suit most of us or has anyone else an idea of a better venue. When do we go, and is anyone prepared to take the lead in talking to them to sort our rates etc?

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Andy - Thanks for that. I'll look it up.

Barry - Outstanding work, sir! I had a possible in mind but either of yours knocks it into a cocked hat! The Green Man is possibly a nose ahead IMO given the higher capacity, but both look excellent!

Thanks Frank, I agree The Green Man looks most promising. They also have 'Cookie Smash Cheesecake', but I think 'we' are off it currently

Are there any apugers living close enough to check them out?

Regards

Barry

 

[BarryWilkinson]

Well done Barry. I agree with Frank, the Green Man looks the better bet, they also have converence facilities, which means that we may be able to hire a smoke free meeting room.

So the questions must be, does this venue suit most of us or has anyone else an idea of a better venue. When do we go, and is anyone prepared to take the lead in talking to them to sort our rates etc?

Hello Dave,

We were both posting at the same time!

It would be great to narrow down the dates as I'm going to book a trip to France in the spring and I would not like to miss the meet.

Regards

Barry

 

[Leon]

green man sounds great to me.

 

[pyrometol]

Who is taking the initiative to bookdate(s) for Ross-on-Wye and meeting place? We shall need to know soon. pyrometol

 

[Bob F.]

Barry: you were obviously not there when "someone" discovered that one of the three available cheesecakes at Norfolk were off the menu - you'd have thought Ilford had gone bust again from the look of desolation and loss...

Smudge: did that permit allow the use of a tripod?


Available dates around April look something like this:

March
23-25 : OK
30-1 : Start of Easter School Hols

April
6-8 : Easter
13-15 : End of Easter School Hols
20-22 : OK
27-29 : OK

May
4-6 : May Day Bank Holiday
11-13 : OK
25-27 : Spring Bank Holiday

As usual. we probably want to avoid school and other holidays. The start and ending weekends of the Easter school break are probably OK too, but I though I'd mention them just in case anyone has memories that still require occasional therapy sessions...

If people want to give dates that they can/can't do then we can find a consensus date. For starters, I can probably do any.


Cheers, Bob.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Personally, I can only make after Easter.

 

[FrankB]

Last time we went for around the back end of April and it worked out quite nicely.

I'm fine for any of Bob's "Ok" dates.

 

[Dave Miller]

I think the 20-22 April would be my prefered dates with the following weekend as second choice.

Did someone mention cheesecake?

 

[Leon]

I cant do may at all, but the 1st 3 weeks in april should be ok