The Port Forum Christmas Offline

Post by **DRT** » 23:44 Fri 24 Aug 2007

I am usually the last person who would want to organise a Christmas party but, given the problems finding convenient dates for some of our members, I think we should begin this process now.

All I will say at this point is that:

I am willing to travel and find reasonably priced accommodation
Friday's are bad for me
I would like it to be a blind tasting

Ideas please?

Derek

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » 03:10 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote::
I am willing to travel and find reasonably priced accommodation
Ideas please?

Derek

How about travelling to .... Canada

You'd probably only have to pay your plane ticket. Free breakfast with peanut butter toasts!

Post by **DRT** » 11:08 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Not quite what I had in mind, Fred, but let's not rule anything out yet

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 14:56 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Wow !! peanut butter on toasts . . . what a Noval idea . . .
Derek , need I remind you that one never , I cannot over emphasis this point , one never adds peanut butter on toasts and VP . The addition of bread , being neutral in taste , will also act as a buffer to tannins of a young VP negating the effects of a youthful VP !!

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 15:25 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Luc,

Why have you got a picture of a bloke sitting on the toilet, eating his fingers???

I wouldn't rule Canada out either. But I cant afford the big family Do, as well as my other jaunts. If we got a cheap ticket, and a few of us took the plunge, how quick could you do a turn around, without it being torture? Two nights, three? Then accomodation, plus Port. Could get too expensive, but worth giving a glance.

Alan

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 15:51 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Alan ,

That does paint an odd picture , doesn't It ?

Seat sales are a dime a dozen over here .
However , my favorite Lawyer has her heart set on Paris . She's a Taurus to boot !!
I've been working on convinÃƒ§ing her to give me the O.K. to buy a wine cellar were I could store approx. 70 bottles .
She hasn't said no ... Ya never know .

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 16:19 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Getting back on topic - I'm sure The Bell would welcome us back..

Tom

Post by **DRT** » 18:39 Mon 27 Aug 2007

OK, guys. The above post confirms that Tom is willing to travel a considerable distance to attend the Christmas Offline. I travelled this very route yesterday and can confirm that it is somewhere between 2 and 3 miles from Tom's house

- please bear in mind that this also means that it is between 2 and 3 miles from Tom's cellar

Joking aside, The Bell did prove to be a very good venue for a similar event I attended with Tom last December. It would certainly do the trick for me if this turns out to be the venue again this year.

...but I'm not ruling out a Peanut Butter and Port night with Canadian Mounties standing in as dancing girls

Derek

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:56 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:to travel a considerable distance to attend the … Offline.

Me too!

Luc · Post by **Luc** » 19:02 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:OK, guys. The above post confirms that Tom is willing to travel a considerable distance to attend the Christmas Offline. I travelled this very route yesterday and can confirm that it is somewhere between 2 and 3 miles from Tom's house - please bear in mind that this also means that it is between 2 and 3 miles from Tom's cellar

Joking aside, The Bell did prove to be a very good venue for a similar event I attended with Tom last December. It would certainly do the trick for me if this turns out to be the venue again this year.

...but I'm not ruling out a Peanut Butter and Port night with Canadian Mounties standing in as dancing girls

Derek

I'll pass on the R.C.M.P. dancing girls

IN la belle province It would be La Sureté du Québec

Post by **DRT** » 19:04 Mon 27 Aug 2007

jdaw1 wrote:
Derek T. wrote:to travel a considerable distance to attend the … Offline.
Me too!

Is that a reference to Offline #2 or Offline #3 (Christmas 2007)?

Subject to you not being commited to the St Helens Mental Asylum for becoming overwhelmed with excitement at the Fonseca Vertical, or going insane at the use of non-Eff-Tee-Pee-Type picture upload technology, you would be most welcome to join or Pagan festival which happens to coincide with an annual celebration linked to a once popular religon.

Derek

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 21:34 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Can't promise anything yet, but I must say that I'm definitely interested in such a Christmas event!

Post by **DRT** » 21:48 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Ronnie (and LadyR & Stevie),

The Bell is within close range of Stanstead and Luton airports. I could also pass East Midlands airport en route. I would be happy to collect and return you to the airport if it helps logistics.

Derek

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 22:14 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Collecting people from Stansted is no problem for me, and my front room is available if anyone wants to bring a sleeping bag and borrow the sofa!

Tom

Post by **DRT** » 22:36 Mon 27 Aug 2007

Please note: Tom's sofa is now fully booked

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:32 Thu 30 Aug 2007

I'm mildly interested since it looks like my travel plans for December will be European only. However, weekends are bad for me so I would only really have a chance of being able to make an offline in Cambridgeshire if it were Monday-Thursday night.

Alex

Post by **DRT** » 19:03 Tue 18 Sep 2007

Now that the aftertaste of all those Fonseca's has faded I think it is about time we turned our attention to organising this.

Current suggestion on the table is a weekday evening at The Bell, Cambridgeshire. If this goes anything like last year it will be a semi private room with some good food, lots of interesting ports to drink and some great company.

Any other suggestions or anyone willing to notionally commit to this plan please chirp up here ASAP.

Thanks

Derek

PS: I have booked Tom's couch but am willing to spend the night in his cellar if that allows someone else to have the couch

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 21:07 Tue 18 Sep 2007

We're still interested. It would be good to talk about dates rather sooner than later, because cheap flights tend to fill up quite soon around the christmas days. Any preferences?

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 21:19 Tue 18 Sep 2007

I am easy about dates pre-Christmas - I can clear my diary for any day.

Suggest we work on a budget per capita, and I'll draw stock from my cellar accordingly. Last year's theme was (loosely) 'old and peculiar'

- Theme for this year?

- Budget?

Tom

Post by **DRT** » 21:28 Tue 18 Sep 2007

I can also be flexible on dates but would prefer not to do this on a Thursday night and then have to drive 400 miles to Edinburgh on the Friday

Can I suggest that the Roots look for some cheap flights and give us a date or dates that we can all work to?

Suggested Theme - The Unknown Shipper and his Unusual Friends

Suggested budget - let's not go nuts

My contribution will come in the form of Port rather than cash so happy to leave the numbers to others

Can we at least agree now that it's at The Bell? That way the Roots and others know where to fly to and Tom can secure the venue and tell them they need lots of big juicy steaks

Derek

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 21:43 Tue 18 Sep 2007

I'll second the notion of moderation on budget - somewhere in the £50 - £75 bracket perhaps (per capita) - that will allow for some sound old wine, plus a little indulgence, with a bottle or two of classed growths as a warm up..

Tom

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 23:39 Tue 18 Sep 2007

Maybe a dumb question, but which airport would be closest?

Post by **DRT** » 00:17 Wed 19 Sep 2007

Stanstead is closest but I can also pass East Midlands and Luton en route and could pick you up from any of these 3 airports.

Derek

Jay P · Post by **Jay P** » 06:56 Wed 19 Sep 2007

I would love to attend, and (possibly, but only just) could, but how about an alternative?

How about the lovely San Francisco Bay Area, USA for a venue? I live about 10 miles south of SF in the lovely city of Pacifica, with an ocean view and lots of Port. Not to be compared with Tom's cellar by anymeans, but I will volunteer any four bottles gratis. Mayhap Andy and David Spriggs could be convinced to attend and contribute as well.

Just think of it...winter in the North Pacific, 50 foot waves within walking distance, 4 surfboards, boogyboards, and a sea kayak in the garage for the brave, opera and fine dining in the city for those inclined. No spare bedrooms at my house, but the couch and living room floor are free, and ocean-front hotels within walking distance (downhill, of course)! 13 minute cab ride from SF International airport. Any takers?

Jay

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 13:34 Wed 19 Sep 2007

Now there's an offer!!!

After my Offline, Oporto Vacation, few port purchases, and Christmas with the kids looming, I may need to plant a money tree in the back garden...

If we can keep costs really down, I could definitely target Toms version. Just wish money didn't get in the way!

Alan

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The Port Forum Christmas Offline

The Port Forum Christmas Offline

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to travel a considerable distance to attend the … Offline

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