Arachne and I are hosting a get-together at the Vine Inn, 42-46 Kennedy St, Manchester, M2 4BQ, from 12.00 on Saturday 4 May. This is a final call to all fellow travellers to email me ( evans.geoff@talk21.com ) to confirm their attendance (or send their apologies if they have received a better offer for the day). We are expecting around 40 to turn up. There will be a charge of £7.50 to cover costs, including food – a buffet will be provided.
Among the setters attending the gathering will be: Anax/Loroso, Arachne/Anarche, Donk, Enigmatist/Nimrod/Io, Kruger, Rorschach, Tramp/Jambazi and Tyrus.
We look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.
Gervase
Thanks, Gervase and Arachne, for organising this. Highly recommended for anyone who hasn’t attended one of these before – those who have need no encouragement!
I’ll repeat a comment I made before the first ‘Derby Day’:
‘It might be nice if you could indicate here, too, if you’re hoping to come, so that people have an idea what / whom to expect!’
[I’ll be there! 😉 ]
Are you ‘Admin’ Gervase? nFifteensquared has an Admin Dept??
Hi Rowly
I am ‘Admin’. I posted the announcement on Gervase’s behalf.
Ah, sorry. I was confused.
As confirmed by email, I’m on for this. Fingers crossed I’ll even have that gorgeous daughter of mine with me.
Looking forward to it. Thanks to Gervase for organising it. Be nice to see some new faces as well.
I (don’t know how to put a heart symbol in) Sloggers and Betters gatherings. Will do my best to be there.
Thanks organizers.
I’ll see if I can get there but as I live South of London, it’s a bit of a long-haul.
Thanks for this, Gervase and Arachne. I shall aim to be there. It’ll be good to see lots of people again.
Umm, Reading beer festival same day damnit, mind you will probably be quicker to go to Manchester to get a beer knowing the queues. So I’ll see you there!
I will hopefully be there, health permitting.
A bit of a busy weekend but I might be able to fit it in – will let you know nearer the time.
Tickets booked, look forward to seeing you
sorry, I typed my e-mail address wrong. Should be a good event, see you there
May the fourth (I’ll) be with you
It’s not exactly my neck of the woods, but I have some family and work connections in the area so will do my best to be there.
I’ll be there
I lived in Manchester for many years and have enjoyed the odd drink in the Vines, though I’d be found more often in the City Arms right next door. Unfortunately I’ll be in Iceland that day! Being a one-time regular blogger hereabouts I really will try to make it to one of these one day. Have fun!
Colin
Would love to be there and meet fellow poster/bloggers and setters but I will be in Umbria for a few weeks then.
Gaufrid, did you hear from RCW?
Giovanna x
Hi Giovanna
“Gaufrid, did you hear from RCW?”
Unfortunately not.
Thanks to Arachne and Geoff for organising – I’m looking forward to heading up for this. See you there!
Hi Gervase and Arachne
Would have loved to come and meet some of you who are still just names as well as old friends. I grew up in Manchester (to the extent that I did so at all) and it would be nice to revisit, but can’t make it I’m afraid.
Best wishes to you all.
Whilst working in Manchester (1962-1984) the Vine became my local, so an added incentive for me to attend the get-together.
Thanks Gervase and Arachne – you can count us in as well!
I will be there too (with or without my PinC).
Through these events I have met quite a few highly respected setters (and co-bloggers and others who like a glass of wine :)). It would indeed be nice to add Everyman to that list!
For those who are still hesitating: our torturers are just people like you and me. Well, more or less.
Gaufrid, I really hope that you can make it this time. You’re the heart and soul of this incredible community called Fifteensquared.
And Robi, don’t be put off by the “long-haul destination”. It is certainly not as far as 10ac in yesterday’s Mudd.
Looking forward to it.
Who knows what Nimrod/Enigmatist has in mind this time …
I only hope we all fit in, in The Vine I mean.
Like Sil, Everyman is a setter I’d really like to meet and have a chat to, so I hope he can make it. And Gaufrid too.
Will do my best to be there, work permitting.
Sorry, I can’t make it either as I’ll be in Copenhagen that weekend. I’d have liked to have met Everyman, it’s the crossword that sparked my interest in 1969 ! Scary thinking about that long ago now.
I’ll be there Cruciverbati!
Looking forwards to.
Sorry to ask here but does this site provide help for the Mordred puzzles in the “I” ?
Hi Doktorb
You asked a similar question a couple of days ago and flashing gave you the answer. For help with the ‘I’ visit http://idothei.wordpress.com/ where you will find, if applicable, a link to the 15² blog of the puzzle when it was originally published in the Indy and any clues missing from the blog explained.
I would love to come – it’s my birthday, so my treat to myself!
Cheers for the response, I didn’t notice the answer. Sorry!
Going to try and join you all. Will confirm one way or the other ASAP
Would really love this but is a bit too far. How about September???
Enjoyed Derby – looking forward to meeting old and new friends at Manchester
Neil Robinson
I replied earlier via email, with thanks to Eileen for the nudge, but can confirm my attendance here too.
I will be a new face having only just retired, taken up regular Guardian cryptic solving and discovered the wonderful community here. I have lots to learn and look forward to meeting you all.
I’ll try and make it
Carrie
As a longstanding viewer of, but not a contributor to the site I am looking forward, albeit with a little apprehension, to attending on May 4th.
Norman, that makes two of us. See you all on Saturday.
Norman and Eccles, having organised the first Midlands S&B a few years ago now, I can tell you that there is no need to be apprehensive (leave that to the organisers). It’s a very welcoming environment (and we don’t just talk about crosswords …)
Look forward to meeting everyone, old faces and new, on Saturday. I’ll second K’s D@41 – I was a bit nervous before the first Derby S&B but I now know that there will be lots of fun to be had.
Train booked! Looking forward to seeing you all again.
I had to make a decision last week which sadly means I shall not be able to attend. My doctor sent me to Dudley NHS eye clinic last October where the consultant spent seconds examining my eyes before leaning back and saying “Which one do you want doing first?”. Unbeknownst to me, they both had cataracts.
I had my left eye done in January and there is a long waiting list. Then I received a call saying someone had dropped out and offering me the chance to have the op. on my right eye.
I had forgotten that my wife and daughter had arranged a week-end in Venice for this coming week-end. Tamsin is a enterologist in Liverpool hoping shortly to become a consultant, and has been on call for the last two weeks and desperate for a break and sleep.
I had the operation but I am still on medication and not yet allowed to drive and I shall need new spectacles for when my eyes settle down.
The good news is that my left eye is already providing excellent long sight, and I shall probably only need glasses for close-up work.
I very much enjoyed the previous Derby meetings and would have liked to attend. I shall miss you all!
Nice to get your looks fixed on the NHS!
All the best with your recovery. Mum, Dad, aunties, uncles, they all had it done, and could afterwards see a molecule at 500 yards, much to my annoyance. I continue to fumble for one pair of glasses so I can see where I’ve so cleverly concealed the second.
We shall miss you, too, Rufus!