Carlisle Christmas Gathering Sat 5th Dec. 2015

To all those that usually attend, you know what to do (book your hotel, save some money and look forward to a nice meal and good night out)

To those that haven't been before, then we basically travel to Carlisle, meet up at the Ibis hotel, have a few drinks, have a lovely Italian meal at Rob's place , go out drinking around Carlisle, collapse into our hotel beds, meet up for breakfast, go home

Coupes are welcome, but will be tucked away at various hotel sites as not needed, so arrive how you please, you won't be banished

Names below please:

1. Theresa

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle

Me and better half

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle
4. Rosso + mrs rosso

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle
4. Rosso + mrs rosso
5. mattB

Wont be letting work get in the way this year.

Good

Attention:

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle
4. Rosso + mrs rosso
5. mattB


I've been in contact with Rob and the 12th is going to be a problem and so is any other date except for the 5th December.

Is the 5th ok with everyone above?

5th is ok for us

Brilliant, thanks Rosso

Cool with us.

I wonder what the driving time to Carlisle is from Edinburgh...

I'd have my kids at the weekend, but if I don't take 'em Saturday night- I could drive down for the meal and then drive back up afterwards.

What time do we do the meal..?


I keep missing this and it would be nice to make it. Maybe I could get the train...

Thanks Neil

Dante, the meal will be approx. 8.30-9pm. sparkyman used to get the train, so might be worth looking into, as Carlisle train station is pretty much opposite where we have our meal.

I'm sure others will be able to confirm better than me as to whether it would be worth you taking the train or not.

Would be good if you could make it and nice to meet you

Thanks for that- likewise

Looks like an hour and a quarter on the train- I'm sure I can make this: put me down, please...

Whatever date should be fine with me T.

I'll add you to the list Dante, if you can't make it, no worries, but if you can, that will be great

Cheers Matt

Hopefully, Edinburgh and co can make it on the 5th too so everyone on the list is sorted and I'll change the forum title date to show the 5th

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate ?
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle
4. Rosso + mrs rosso
5. mattB
6. dante giacosa

Just seen this, ok with me but checking with the groundlings

You didn't do it so that it changes the header on all posts.......

It wasn't me that changed it.

All agreed and rooms reserved at the Corner House, so rock on

1. Theresa
2. Edinburgh + Ben + mate
3. Barnacle + mrs barnacle
4. Rosso + mrs rosso
5. mattB
6. dante giacosa

Simon mmm excuse my ignorance... whats the Corner House?

'Tis a hotel

http://www.cornerhousehotelcarlisle.co.uk/

Ah thanks Matt

We've used it for several years, quite a bit cheaper than the County in the centre. No nonsense and welcoming with a good breakfast less than 5 mins walk from the town.

Yes, I agree with Simon, although it feels a bit more than 5 mins walk when I'm sober

I've used the Corner House for the last 3 or 4 years now too, with no complaints, especially for the price compared to The County Hotel and the Ibis.

Rosso and Dante and any others that haven't done this before, we usually all meet up for breakfast and/or a chat in the pub across the road from the Ibis hotel in the morning, so bear that in mind as the breakfast there is a lot nicer than what the Ibis offer.

Sounds great to me... Looking forward to it

I'd recommend reserving sooner rather than later if you're considering the Corner House.

It's a simple pay-on-arrival system with a courtesy let-them-know-asap if you have to cancel for any reason.

According to the Corner House's booking system, they're fully booked from now till forever... but I rang them and have a double reserved for Saturday night.

Yep, think this the way they work, so ring away

How's parking around there? I recall an expensive park behind Rob's.

Ah so it's not just me that noticed that it's booked til julember 2032

Park outside t'Corner House. They dish out a wee permit when you check in to cover you for the odd hours early Sat evg till around 8 p.m. ish.

Ta.

I was speaking to Angelo who misses a good drive on a meet.How about a coupe Christmas meet which includes a drive? Any one interested? I'll happily lead the group on some great roads/locations locally?

Dave

Tentatively interested - if the weather is halfway reasonable we'll be bringing the coupe up on Saturday.

I'll see if my two passengers are up for it....Ben will have a significantly expectant better half waiting for him back home so he has the call

Last year we took a solo trip out on the Sunday to inspect the Roman Wall. Needs some renovation.

Hi all, have looked at getting to Carlisle and on paper sounds easy. Fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh from Kirkwall then train to Carlisle. However, getting off our island is a problem at the moment, ferries cancelled most days, so don't think we can risk booking flights when we might not make it to the first airport. Bit breezy up here, poultry cowering in the hen house, cats all corralled in the house, we sitting with stiff gin and tonics as the double glazing moves in and out with the 70+ mph gusts. Thank goodness for freezers as food deliveries a bit hit and miss, apart from all of that, it is still very beautiful, lots of rainbows, and the sea and waves are spectacular. Most importantly, she is snug and safe in the garage

Hope it's not Mr. driley writing this

Ha ha, ROFL...

So do I - my grandfather was Denis Riley, and he's been dead twenty years or so...

Ha ha, ROFL

Dianne, you might want to book a room if you're thinking of coming - which would be great, if only to improve the standard of humour

A load of us have reserved at the Corner House which is cheap and cheerful with a reasonable breakfast included. If you go for this option it's better to phone rather than take any notice of the website.....

Less than two weeks away for this now

Any more want to come along? I'll be giving Rob the final numbers soon.

We went to the Moo bar last year, great pub with fantastic selection of craft ales.

5 Devonshire St, same distance from Rob's place as Ibis.

We'll be there by 5.30/6.00

Sounds like a winner to me. I'm on the train this year, so will be arriving in Carlisle about mid afternoon and staying at the Ibis.

T, what time you getting there? We going to Rob's for a coffee (and when I say coffee, I mean beer......).

I should be there by about 4pm ish Matt.

I try not to get there too early or I end up starting on the coffees too early

I'll text you and let you know when I'm there and then yes, we'll meet for coffee

If any of the people that haven't been before (Dante, Rosso), want my mobile number, just pm me

What's the usual itinary for the gathering?

The meal at Robs is usually 8-8.30pm.

Up until then, we usually pop to Robs for a drink when we arrive and then meet up at the Ibis hotel later on, as that's where most people used to stay over.

Not as many people stay at the Ibis now and also like to go exploring places such as Moo bars

Shall I suggest a meet time of 7.30pm at the Ibis? (usually the tables by the window). That way anyone who hasn't found any of us will definitely know we'll be at the Ibis at 7.30pm. The Ibis is only a 2 minute walk to Robs.

sorry everyone

I've messed this up and have made no contingency for not taking my kids this weekend. I'm not going to make this.

I've just realised that it's THIS weekend. For some reason I had it in my mind from months ago that it was the 18th?

what a fool- apologies for any inconveience caused...

Ah, too bad DG - we'll keep a better eye on you for next time

So how many will be arriving by coupe?

I will, and I guess T will, but the rest of you? Own up!

I'm trying too its either that or Swedish Wardrobe if i dont get all my own way

If you're passing J13 on M74 at around 4 Brian keep your eyes open

Sorry not to make it this year...we've moved from Cumbria to Holmfirth (cue last of the summer wine music) and move from rented to bought ( well mortgaged) house this w/e.....would otherwise have been good to have caught up with you.....perhaps next year.

Main upside is my daily commute is now in the coupe so it is getting plenty of use after being garaged for the best part of a year.

P.S. Angelo...saw you in your new n/a in Carlsle the other week.....looks good!

Sorry to read you can't make it now dante

Hopefully, you and richandnic can make it next year instead

Yep, I'll be in the Coupe, always am. It gives it a good run ready for all the battery draining items that are on over the winter.

Hmm. The weather is looking a bit grim for the weekend...

Not fab for tomorrow but sunny on Sunday - red-hot in La MezzaLuna

Snow tyres on

Hey are you trying to frighten us off!

Mind you there's Beattock....

Okay winter tyres then if that helps

I haven't seen anything for snow, but there is an amber alert from the Met Office regarding heavy rain and a yellow alert for wind.

I don't know what the motorway is like coming from Scotland way but it's horrible from my side, as it seems to hold all the water on it and doesn't drain away

Still fine here but the issue is - the bravo has winter tyres, but the coupe has newer tyres...

Have a good one guys , wish I could have made it this year and safe journey home everyone .

Somehow we made it all intact I think - five lots so far.

As an example of the conditions: no-one overtook me in a hundred miles south of Carlisle - and I was doing the grand speed of around sixty. Lorry on its side at Shap.

I hope everyone has a great time and that all get home afterwards safely.

First-class evening starting off with eye-watering ale selection at the Moo Bar then customary delicious fare at Rob's along with great craic in eventually an unusually quiet Mezzaluna, there having been nearly 100 cancellations that evening - only sobering part was Angelo hurrying off earlier than usual as his house was in imminent danger of flooding

Well, so much for a quick look at the lakes on the way home; that's not going to happen with at least a dozen roads closed around Ambleside and Windemere. The M6 looks passable though, apart from a couple of lorries on their side slowing things severely.

Big chunks of Carlisle are underwater, too, but I think we can get out south. We should be meeting at Rob's after breakfast so may have more news then.

Unfortunately we won't be meeting at Rob's as the poor chap is under about 4 foot of water and nowhere able to get into town

He says it's worse than last time it happened, and while the family are ok and farmed out to various places further away....well what can one say, our thoughts are with him - it's frustrating there's nothing one can do to help

Everybody made it home OK?

Yep, and deposited Matt at Haymarket for the Aberdeen train

Lovely run back actually but plenty of standing water on the Biggar Road.

This is some of the stuff Angelo is putting up with:




...and as he remarked, someone in this street seemed to have a premonition...

I'm home ok and hope everyone else is too or will be.

Thanks to everyone for coming along

It was an horrendous journey up there and there were a few moments when I didn't think me or the car were going to make it, but we all made it there.

Gutted for Rob, Angelo, friends and staff who are all affected by the flooding

Saw some of the damage on the news this morning, but it's not until you go and look for yourself do you realise the reality of it all.

Indeed, Rob and Angelo are not having a good weekend.

Brian and Pauline home?

I made it - needn't have worried about missing the train Simon, it didn't roll up until an hour after it was supposed to. Thanks again for the lift back and the refreshments!

Thanks to everyone else who came along and to Rob for hosting us. Hope he's at least back with some electricity by now and that it didn't get any worse/waters get any higher.

Yes home safely and couple of detours on the way.

We both had a great time but I cant help but think about what Rob and Angelo are going to go through now... I only wish that there was something that I could do to help.

The flooding pictures on the news look very bad.
My thoughts are with anyone adversely effected.

Gutted to have missed another one of these, working this year and really quite upset to see Carlisle under so much water again

Bummer, I should have dropped you at Waverley after all

Here are some shifty folk apparently queueing up for shelter

Definitely look like some dodgy people hanging around there




I text him earlier and no, they still don't have power. He said everyone's phones are almost flat, so I've said I won't text him for a few days so he can try and keep some battery life on his phone.

Rob has got about 4 ft of water in his house and his Mum has more Angelo can't get out of his estate

Sounds pretty grim, but Rob has said that the water has now peaked so should start receding.

Best wishes to Rob and family, as well as his staff and friends and of course, everyone in Carlisle and the surrounding areas who's affected by this.

Just checked in to see how this went! One of the first things I thought when I saw the news was "wonder how the coop meet went" Glad you all made it home ok, absolute shame for anyone effected by the floods, they look terrible! I was in the Lake about three weeks ago. it rained non stop and I don't think it's stopped raining since.

PS your coop looks nice in that picture T.

Yes, no photoshopping either

It doesn't show the smart centre console refurb in silver either

Come along to the next one!

Thanks Chris, although that photo makes it look immaculate

As Simon says, would be good to see you at the next one

Cheers Simon, didn't realise you'd had a look inside the car too
The silver console was there last year and the year before though, so I reckon you were just looking to see if I had yellow things in there you could steal

I was quite disappointed. But it looked so high-tech in there I was intimidated.

And on the subject of colour themes your burglar alarm warning light is blue so ease off the slagging

Haha, yes, I think I paid an extra £10 or £20 to have that particular alarm fitted, just because it had the blue led flashing light

But you could save yourself the money if you just peeked into someone else's car to see if you could steal it

There you go, T, yours for 18p.

See that Barnacle, ever after a fast buck

Cheers Neil