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Post by lorna on Jan 6, 2017 10:44:36 GMT -1
Are we going to have another meet-up this year?
If so I thought April worked well last year. We met on the 2nd last time. I can't do that early this year as I'm busy with poetry events but could do Saturday 15th April, Sunday 16th April, Saturday 22nd April or Sunday 23rd of April. I think the last week (29th & 30th) would be too close to Beltane as folk may have commitments to camps, groves, covens etc. What do you think?
In terms of location perhaps if we could have a list of people coming and where they live we could find a location in the middle?
Do you think we should make it open to everybody or just members of the forum? It could be open to everyone but a small concession would be joining the forum, saying hello and registering attendance?
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Post by Lee on Jan 7, 2017 12:33:17 GMT -1
Both those weekend are free with me at the moment so I am definitely up for meeting  |
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Post by Heron on Jan 8, 2017 16:31:22 GMT -1
... could do Saturday 15th April, Sunday 16th April, Saturday 22nd April or Sunday 23rd of April. [...] What do you think? The first of these weekends is Easter, which might enable people to organise themselves for travel with more free days, but venues/places to stay would be busier then. If we are just talking about two days then perhaps the 22/23 is better? In terms of location perhaps if we could have a list of people coming and where they live we could find a location in the middle? We considered Lydney last year. Might this be an option again? Other than this, my best line of travel from Mid Wales is into the West Midlands. Do you think we should make it open to everybody or just members of the forum? It could be open to everyone but a small concession would be joining the forum, saying hello and registering attendance? I see no reason why we shouldn't open it up, and those terms seem quite reasonable. Would we also announce it on the blog or just here ? The only thing about announcing it more publicly is that people might expect some sort of organised event rather than an informal get-together. |
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Post by Lee on Jan 8, 2017 19:37:31 GMT -1
I think the Lydney temple itself will be closed at that time of year, but as far as locations go it works for me. even hanging out by the severn would make for a nice time. I think the most public it should get should be on here rather than the blog or website - maybe in the future some sort of small conference could be planned whihc is much more open |
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Post by lorna on Jan 9, 2017 17:20:30 GMT -1
I've had look at the opening times for Lydney www.lydneyparkestate.co.uk/opening-times/ and it's open Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holiday Mondays from Sunday 9th April to Sunday 11th June 2017 Opening times: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm Tea rooms open: 11.00 am to 5.00 pm So we could do Lydney Park on Sun 16th or Sun 23rd April. Maybe with business on Saturday. It looks like Lydney Park is about 1.5 miles from Lydney town centre. I can only see one B&B, which is Dean Motel and around £49. I think it's probably wiser to avoid Easter as things will be busier and costs higher. My train fare is quite steep at £80.50 but may be affordable as I've not got much else planned this year. However, one thing that might mean that Lydney isn't great for me as someone with IBS is that there are quite long distances between the train station and toilets at the B&B and the B&B and Lydney Park and there actually aren't any at all on Lydney train station. It has been better since I got diagnosed last summer, but I haven't been out for more than a day or traveled far from home or stayed away since, all of which are stress factors that trigger it... So it's possible that a single day somewhere, maybe in the West Midlands, with a Brythonic connection and toilets nearby might be best for me at this point in life! I agree it may be better just advertising the meet-up here and keeping it informal this year, but with the possibility of organising something more organised in the future on the agenda? |
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Post by lorna on Jan 10, 2017 7:34:39 GMT -1
A couple of other options on the main train lines between Llandre/Borth station, London and Preston for a one day meetup. These are for return tickets and are looking much more affordable than Lydney. We'd just need to find a Brythonic connection or at least a park where we can connect with the spirits of place. Any other ideas welcome!
1) Shrewsbury -
Borth to Shrewsbury - 1hr30 £19
London to Shrewsbury - 2hr 40 £25.50
Preston to Shrewsbury - 1hr30 £39.90
2) Birmingham -
Borth to Birmingham - 2hr45 £31.60
London to Birmingham - 1hr25 £11.00
Preston to Birmingham - 1hr 40 £26.50
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Post by Heron on Jan 10, 2017 11:01:46 GMT -1
A couple of other options on the main train lines between Llandre/Borth station, London and Preston for a one day meetup. These are for return tickets and are looking much more affordable than Lydney. We'd just need to find a Brythonic connection or at least a park where we can connect with the spirits of place. Any other ideas welcome! ----- Shrewsbury would be a good place for a one day get-together. There are plenty of places for lunch and it's possible to walk along the banks of the River Severn through a park area. Gerald of Wales said it was the site of Pengwern as mentioned in the Canu Heledd poetry of the lost sagas. Others have disputed this and think that it was the site of the Roman town of Viriconium (Wroxeter): VIRICONIUMor the Berth Iron Age hill fort near Baschurch: BERTHThe latter would be my best guess but it is on private land and would be difficult to access. The Roman town could be visited from Shrewsbury by bus, though for a single day meeting perhaps just Shrewsbury itself is a better option. I could bring some of the Canu Heledd poems if we wanted to remember the last days of what was probably the remnants of the Cornovii of eastern Powys before it was annexed by Mercia. |
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Post by Lee on Jan 10, 2017 11:54:38 GMT -1
Shrewsbury would be nice! within a loop of the Severn!
We could walk along the river and up onto Haughmond Hill though some forestry commission woodland as a mini land walking pilgrimage thing.
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Post by Lee on Jan 10, 2017 11:58:44 GMT -1
Just to add, the earliest I could get there from London is 10:30ish. Not a problem, if we had a full day of chatting, walking and discussion i can happily leave later in the evening.
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Post by lorna on Jan 10, 2017 15:29:03 GMT -1
Shrewsbury with a walk along the river Severn through the park sounds good to me I didn't know about the Pengwern link. It's a great idea to read the Canu Heledd poems in an area where they might be set. On a Saturday morning trains are on the hour from 6.17. The 9.17 would get me in at 10.36 and the 10.17 at 11.37. My evening trains are 16.55, 17.52, 18.56 and 19.52. On a Sunday morning trains are 9.00 for 11.01 and 10.17 for 11.41. Evening - 16.53, 17.30, 17.54, 18.20, 18.54, 19.42. Loads! I guess it's busy. So maybe aim to meet between 10.30 and 11.30 and depart between 17.00 and 19.00? That should give us plenty of time for chatting, walking and discussion. How does that fit with your trains, Heron? Which day would you both prefer? |
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Post by Heron on Jan 11, 2017 14:25:00 GMT -1
[....] On a Saturday morning trains are on the hour from 6.17. The 9.17 would get me in at 10.36 and the 10.17 at 11.37. My evening trains are 16.55, 17.52, 18.56 and 19.52. On a Sunday morning trains are 9.00 for 11.01 and 10.17 for 11.41. Evening - 16.53, 17.30, 17.54, 18.20, 18.54, 19.42. Loads! I guess it's busy. So maybe aim to meet between 10.30 and 11.30 and depart between 17.00 and 19.00? That should give us plenty of time for chatting, walking and discussion. How does that fit with your trains, Heron? Which day would you both prefer? Sunday would be quieter as a lot of people go to Shrewsbury for the shops on saturdays. But trains seem to be a problem. I notice you don't have one until 9.00 to arrive at 11.01 on Sunday. My first train on Sunday would be 9.30 for arrival at 11.20. If we want to start earlier it looks like it will have to be Saturday. Saturday and Sunday evening trains are OK up until 9.00 pm for me if we wanted to extend it into an evening meal before returning home. |
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Post by Lee on Jan 11, 2017 16:44:47 GMT -1
Personally I would prefer Saturday. it might be busier in town - but we can keep out of the centre a bit.
Staying later inot the evening would be good, but it would mean getting home quite late, which i would prefer not to do on a sunday as i will have work the next morning.
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Post by lorna on Jan 11, 2017 17:52:38 GMT -1
Ok, so shall we go for either Saturday 15th April or Saturday 22nd April then? I'm guessing Saturday 15th may be less busy if it's not Easter?
If Lee can get to Shewsbury for 10.30, I can get there for 10.36 (this is the time for Jan - it doesn't go all the way into April). An evening meal would be good but I wouldn't want to stay later than the 18.56 train as I don't want to worry about the 19.52 not showing up if it's the last one. After that it's a bus and long distance bus rides aren't good for me (IBS and lack of toilets again!).
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Post by Heron on Jan 12, 2017 15:40:26 GMT -1
Personally I would prefer Saturday. it might be busier in town - but we can keep out of the centre a bit. Staying later inot the evening would be good, but it would mean getting home quite late, which i would prefer not to do on a sunday as i will have work the next morning. Ok, so shall we go for either Saturday 15th April or Saturday 22nd April then? I'm guessing Saturday 15th may be less busy if it's not Easter? If Lee can get to Shewsbury for 10.30, I can get there for 10.36 (this is the time for Jan - it doesn't go all the way into April). An evening meal would be good but I wouldn't want to stay later than the 18.56 train as I don't want to worry about the 19.52 not showing up if it's the last one. After that it's a bus and long distance bus rides aren't good for me (IBS and lack of toilets again!). Saturday the 15th is Easter. To synch with the above I would arrive at 10.20. Does anyone else want to join us? And if so would the easter weekend or the one following be better? |
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Post by lorna on Jan 16, 2017 18:10:28 GMT -1
Apologies for the mix-up with the dates. I'm guessing the Easter Saturday on the 15th may be more busy so would prefer the 22nd, but it isn't a big deal. Either is fine. Maybe we'd get more response from others if we start a new thread outlining the plans.
How does the following sound - on either Sat 15th or Sat 22nd April meet for @10.30 at Shrewsbury train station. Then walk into town and find a cafe where we can have lunch and do business 10.30 - 1.30pm. This will be followed by a walk along the Severn through the park where we will find somewhere to connect with the spirits of place, read some poems from the Canu Heledd cycle and spend time in reflection on Heledd and Cynddylan and the last days of the remnants of the Cornovii of eastern Powys before it was annexed by Mercia. Is tea at 5.30 and departure times from 6.30 too early? If do, I don't mind walking back into town to get the 6.56 train alone if others would prefer to stay later. What do you think?
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Post by Heron on Feb 3, 2017 10:04:13 GMT -1
Apologies for the mix-up with the dates. I'm guessing the Easter Saturday on the 15th may be more busy so would prefer the 22nd, but it isn't a big deal. Either is fine. Maybe we'd get more response from others if we start a new thread outlining the plans. How does the following sound - on either Sat 15th or Sat 22nd April meet for @10.30 at Shrewsbury train station. Then walk into town and find a cafe where we can have lunch and do business 10.30 - 1.30pm. This will be followed by a walk along the Severn through the park where we will find somewhere to connect with the spirits of place, read some poems from the Canu Heledd cycle and spend time in reflection on Heledd and Cynddylan and the last days of the remnants of the Cornovii of eastern Powys before it was annexed by Mercia. Is tea at 5.30 and departure times from 6.30 too early? If do, I don't mind walking back into town to get the 6.56 train alone if others would prefer to stay later. What do you think? OK it looks like the 22nd it is. That itinerary looks fine to me. I could then get the 7.30 train home. |
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Post by lorna on Feb 3, 2017 11:37:52 GMT -1
Thanks for you reply, Heron. Is 22nd April ok with you, Lee?
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Post by Lee on Feb 4, 2017 17:37:55 GMT -1
Thanks for you reply, Heron. Is 22nd April ok with you, Lee? yep indeedy |
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Post by lorna on Feb 6, 2017 13:22:44 GMT -1
Thanks for your reply, Lee. Will put up a definite post about the meet-up and invitation to others.
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