I mentioned this is in my other recent thread but only got one reply for it. Thought with it in the title i might get a few more willing personages...

I've heard of a few people meeting up in the UK before in Bath and in London and i wanted to get another on the cards. So anyway... i thought that once we had the willing people and a date set out we might decide on a location which is good for this time of year... probably countryside with all the colours coming out. I'm thinking within the next month or so is a reasonable timescale to have this sorted by.

Anyway, i'm generally free (i'm unemployed - technically) any day and am in Stratford/Midlands. Put your name down if you are interested and we'll take it from there.

Sure I can meet up .. And would be interested I could suggest Westonbirt, The National Arboretum as a possible location for the lovely autumnal colours Tetbury Glos

In principal yes - it depends upon date and venue .

Definitely interested - but only if not too far South.

I'm in central Cheshire, so Shropshire / Staffordshire ideal:

The Roaches
Rudyard lake
Moreton Corbett castle
Stiperstones / Devil's Chair
Hawkstone Park & Follies

Just a few suggestions  :-)

Alternatively, any others in this general area - no shortage of excellent locations around here.

definitly count me in dude. i live between london & essex and am always free on saturday so pls notify me when its time.

Sounds good to me I work weekdays but free at weekends

I don't have a lot of free time at the moment, but I may be able to jiggle things around a bit. Would just depend on when and where. So that's a definate maybe for me then, lol.

I looked at the National Arboretum website, and the mere fact that they bump the prices up for autumn got me excited ;)

If we can all decide on a venue that would be great, but that means we all need to put down our position and travel limit so that a mean point can be reached, and possibly a preference of venue. For instance living in Norfolk isnt going to make for a good meet down near Bristol when a 3-4 hour journey is needed to get there.  Also, i know i suggested the meet but i dont want to be the dictator of events

The Roaches - Leek, Staffordshire
Rudyard Lake - Leek, Staffordshire
Morton Corbett Castle - Shawbury, Shropshire
Devil's Chair - Shropshire - looks pretty neat but only a one or two shot opportunity i think.
Hawkestone Park - Shrewsbury, Shropshire  - Probably my favourite option out of all of those.

I have no ideas for places around the immediate vicinity of stratford which i have been to, although there are a few parks and things around... if it were a different time of year the town itself is a nice photogenic place anyway. Maybe one for the books next summer.

Anyone else for venue suggestions? i'm on around a 2 hour train/bus journey as a limit (i havent got a car yet)

You know you can count me in Rich - any weekend should be fine but I can't do weekdays as I work full time.

Travelling distance is no object either so I will go with the majority here.

I'll keep an eye on the thread as and when I can get online.

Cheers

Chrissy xx

Perhaps this will help:
 
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/HCOU-4ZLK35

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-features-story1.htm

I'm interested but availability is low for me it's a where and when, the arboretum is not far for me though (I live just outside Bristol)

Thanks for the links :)

Danny's first suggestion is actually still my favourite, no place better to see autumn colours than a place dedicated to trees i suppose :) and it is fairly close to where i am. However:

Winkworth Arboretum Sounds like a good place to go too, and if Westonbirt is too much on the west side of the south then is a good option.

Anyone got any more suggestions? Opinions?

@BernieStafford - I'm ok travelling up to the Stafford area, but i know that akpe/ultimate male is in london and i'm fairly sure there are others (eg. Gog) who live further south than myself (i'm more of a "northern" southerner ;) )

I could do Winkworth Arboretum.  Plus it's not far from me, If you want I could put you up.  Makes a weekend of it.

I'n back in Nov so if it's in Nov Gimme a shout or if no one likes me I'll look in the thread and just 'show' up...

I know 'certain' people expressed that I who just be a bitch to have around...

Well having personally met you Vera, I know you're not a bitch and I think you're great fun and an asset to any get-together!!

I'm more than happy to meet up with you and anyone else from around here - it's a laugh and a great way to share our knowledge (OK, not mine cos I have none, but yours hee hee!!)

Chrissy xx

Now now you have always been pleasurable company when we have met Vera, and I'll bring along a saucer of milk for anyone who says otherwise

Or of course, there is nothing preventing us from having more than one meet, if it's not possible to get everybody together in one location.   :biggrin:   

Ok, so it seems no more suggestions are forthcoming. So how about we have a vote on location and then we can decide on a date?

The Roaches - Leek, Staffordshire
Rudyard Lake - Leek, Staffordshire
Morton Corbett Castle - Shawbury, Shropshire
Devil's Chair - Shropshire
Hawkestone Park - Shrewsbury, Shropshire 
Winkworth Arboretum - South of Guilford, London Area
Westonbirt Arboretum - Between Swindon and Bristol, Glos.

Vera - when exactly are you back? because we might be able to organise it for the start of Nov...

Well I'll have to research them, but you can count me in wherever or whenever you go and that goes for Carl (rockstrider) too.

Hugs

Chrissy xx

I saw a program on westonbirt and it looks like a GREAT location. I think thou that begin Nov would be too late for that...

I'm back on the 28 Oct and will be 'accessable' from the following weekend!

I'm happy to go anywhere. It would be really nice to go to a place that those who wanted to could have a'camp' over to get the sunrise, or stay late enough to get the sunset (which isn't really that late).

P.S. Thanx Chrissy and Rich. Rich it's actually a bone that you need to brign along, hee hee

I'm off back home now!!! Yippee!!! SUN!!! The weather has been so crap this week!

Urm - ok, so no-one really put forward a preference, so i think i am going to do this a different way so we can get this thing off the ground.  Mainly because my preference is Westonbirt both for place and actually getting there, i thought i might make an executive decision as democracy didnt seem to be working - now that was a megolomaniac comment if there ever was one! ;)

So who can/wants to make it to westonbirt on the 27th/28th? or is the weekend after more preferable (3rd/4th)?
Plus did anyone want to find a B&B so we can get an early start?

Or has anyone got any inside info on conditions and know that theat might be too late for the "show" and thus we should organise it for next weekend??

Hi, Yes I  can make it any date and time if there is enough interest..  I  went down during the week to check it out there is plenty of time  at present but best not leave it too late before it starts to fall over... It  was not as nice as I had hoped and the area is large.. So I  was not able to get around to see it all...   I had a nice sunny day but I  can imagine it would be a wash out if the weather was not too good.. But there are good possible fallback plans if need be A butterfly house and a great Bird of Prey centre... I am a member of both and can arrange for a special price if we have enough people..

Soz for not chipping in sooner - been away from the PC for a few days.  :bored:

My vote (not surprisingly) would be for the Roaches - but I fully understand if that's too far North for most folks.

Enjoy Westonbirt!!  :biggrin:  

I'm sorry I can't make do this I will be woking.
 
I'll keep a look out for the pics and hope everyone has a great time.

27th/28th is sort of do able well 28 anyway, 3rd / 4th is much better.

I'm up for any date so will go with the majority. Carl has agreed too and we'll probably stay overnight down there and try and grab a few sunset / sunrise shots as Vera suggested.

Am following thread with interest.

Hugs

Chrissy xx

Sorry to be late replying to this, although I know Chrisy has already included me. Either weekend is still good for us, but we really need to decide on a date soon for those that need to book overnight accomodation.

So are we all decided on the weekend 3rd / 4th November if that is the most preferable for everyone??? 

3rd / 4th I may be able to make it, first weekend is out.

3rd 4th is good for me, are we all going to try to stay in the same place, werever that might be?  please let me/us know, we may be able to get a discount for a block booking.

I suggest http://www.lovettfarm.co.uk/about.htm It is close by

Double and Twin Room with en-suite shower... £55.00 to £65.00 per room per night Single occupancy per room per night... £35.00 to £45.00

Hey this is inshaala (couldnt be bothered to log back in on Rachel's computer).

3/4th is better for me too, but which day is best for everyone?  A few people i remember said that the saturday is more convenient.  I'm fine with both days, but the first person to decide that one day is certainly more preferable than the other speak up and decide for the group which day is best so that we can get it sorted so that the most people can show up.

I might be interested in staying the night, it depends how i can work things as Rachel lives in Bristol which is closer than Stratford to Westonbirt. But dont count me in if you want to go ahead and book a room.  Also, i might have taken the lead in deciding on the place to go but this is a group excursion so if anyone wants to take the lead on the date please do so - i havent got ready internet access for the next 2 days.

oh and for those wanting to catch the sunrise - i would check the opening times, i have a feeling they only open at 9am so the sunrise shots would have to be taken somewhere else ;)

Ok so here it is... no-one wants to stick their neck out. so i am... The meet will be on the Saturday - that is the 3rd of November.  So if you want to book a hostel for the friday night then go ahead.  As for meeting times, i suppose we will be coming in dribs and drabs i would recommend we swap a few phone numbers just in case we dont all manage to arrive at the same time.  But as for the meeting place, Danny informs me there is a large tea rooms at the start of some of the trails within the arboretum, probably an easy place to find and thus a good meeting place - if you own a rendo beanie/hat/t-shirt... might be an idea to wear it, although i'm sure i'll recognise a few people from avatar/profile pics etc anyway :)

I'll message those who are fairly certain with my mobile and i would urge everyone else to do the same. So far the "confirmed but waiting for a set date" people are:

danob / Danny
BibbyBear / Chrissy
Rockstrider / Carl
Fred255 / David
inshaala / Rich
ultimatemale / Akpe
PeeWee05 / Vera
Gog / sorry, dont know your real name :-)

So i'm messaging right after i post this with my number and would suggest everyone else do the same and also post on here when they will probably be able to get to the arboretum so we can arrange to meet up properly.

I can make it early'ish Saturday Morning say 10 ~ 10.30am By the Way where am I going to? Only joking.  You will have to get used to that with me.

Yeah I will be there on the 3rd at 10am I have a few phone numbers so if anybody wants to let me have a mobile number via my email I will also send mine to those who will be going in case there are any hiccups or if somebody is liable to arrive late..   There is a large tea room
just inside the main entrance so I would suggest that would be the best place to meet up..
Danny

I am also guessing this will be firework weekend for many, so a good opportunity to take some firework photo's 8~)

Ok - so 10-10:30am at the tea rooms for everyone to meet up whether you are just getting there or have been there a while.  Sounds like a plan, i'll be there :)

Gog, - Real name Graham :), will aim to be there at 10 am on the third.

10 - 10.30am on the 3rd is good for me and Chrissy.

We are still looking at accommodation (David, I've noted your suggestion) and most of the hotels in the area are quite expensive, which is ok but, seeing that we wont be spending much time there due to being out with the cameras, surely all that we need is somewhere clean, comfortable and that does a decent breakfast. Oh, and close enough for some nightlife where we can get evening meals and a few drinks.

We are also considering staying over for the Saturday night as well to make a weekend of it.

I am sure Carl you and Chrissy can make your own evening entertainment *~)

@ David - Cheeky LOL!! :blushing:

I think it would be good though if there are any others staying over that we get together for a few drinks on either the Friday night or Saturday night perhaps, a good chance to chat a bit more socially without it all be “camera” talk!!

With us staying overnight on the Friday, we will be able to make it to the tea room by 10am no problem, so we’ll see you all there.

I’ll IM my mobile to a couple of you shortly (when the boss isn’t looking over my shoulder!!) – Danny and Vera already have it, so as long as a couple of others do too, we should be OK.

Looking forward to meeting you all soon.

I do?!?! Frantically looks into phone - Ah nice new Nokia E65, what a pleasure!!!

No Seriously, I can't do accomodation at more than 20 Quid per night and the 3/4th Nov should be all good. I land back in the country on the 28th and will be SO tired but I'm sure I can manage to get a train ticket. I might have to beg one of y'll to fetch me from the train station however... (any volunteers?)

I'll make sure my UK sim still works when I get back and then will hand my number out. It's working on virgin mobile here thou... Stranger things have happened...

I am really very sad that I cannot make this UK meeting. I would dearly love to be with you all. I wish you all a wonderful time. Take great shots and share them with us all after this great day out. Hugs. Diane. ----------- Horses lend us the wings we lack ~ Pam Brown

Vera's sorted out with a lift now from Carl and me so at least we can guarantee her wonderful presence and I for one will be glad of her valued expertise in photography too!!

Looking forward to seeing you all!!

Hugs

Chrissy xx

Das so sweet Chriss. Thanx I really appreciate the lift and I'm SOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to meeting new people and seeing what we all shoot. Is someone gonna bring a laptop with lightroom on for us to show off our images afterwards?

I wont be bringing my laptop sadly... it goes really slowly and it needs constant power (battery is dead).  I'm sure the galleries on here over the next week or so will show the fruits of the little excursion :)

I simply won't be bringing mine coz it's too heavy! Considering it's a 17" HD Widescreen! It's not exactly portable!

See you all tomorrow!

So do we have a list of all who are coming?

Sorry folks, my boss has just informed that I will be other wise engaged (i.e performing a major software upgrade at work this weekend) :(

It'll have to be next time for me.

That's a shame Graham, hopefully next time your boss wont decide on anything...good luck with the upgrade i suppose!

As for a list, i think everyone on the original list i made is coming, minus Graham:

danob / Danny
BibbyBear / Chrissy
Rockstrider / Carl
Fred255 / David
inshaala / Rich
ultimatemale / Akpe
PeeWee05 / Vera

So will hopefully see you all at the tearooms tomorrow! Looking forward to meeting you all and seeing some autumn colours (if the trees around my house are anything to go by, it is going to be quite a show!!)

Well we're still coming down - we'll be travelling down this evening so will be there prompt in the morning - nice cuppa to start the day off!!

I haven't bothered digging out my Rendo t-shirt or cap, but I still look pretty much like my avatar and some of you already know me anyway!!  Both me and Carl will no doubt be wearing our "Mates" (our big Australian hats!) so should be easy to spot us!!

Looking forward to a great day with you all.

Chrissy xx