Wednesday 2nd October in London

[TLW]

Will be in London with the wife, and thought it would be nice to meet a member or three or five of TPF at the Bunghole (I will be staying over at Portman Square). I am travelling light, and not sure what I might be able to bring, but will take a look around. Might the Bunghole have a bottle I can buy, or is there one I can adopt from somebody. If not, will just see what I can find in the shops.

Am open to all suggestions.

Cheers

TLW

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'll also be in London on October 2 and would be happy to have dinner at the Bunghole.

Can I suggest that you call the Bunghole and book a table or one of the private rooms?

While you can certainly buy a bottle from the short port list at the Bunghole (choice of Smith Woodhouse 1983, Dow 1994, Offley 1977, Taylor 1980), it's also worth you taking a look at the Davy off-sales list. That has a much wider choice of ports. Provided you buy from the off-sales list at least a week before you want the bottle, you can have the bottle delivered to the Bunghole ready to be opened and drunk on October 2nd.

[TLW]

I'll also be in London on October 2 and would be happy to have dinner at the Bunghole.

Can I suggest that you call the Bunghole and book a table or one of the private rooms?

While you can certainly buy a bottle from the short port list at the Bunghole (choice of Smith Woodhouse 1983, Dow 1994, Offley 1977, Taylor 1980), it's also worth you taking a look at the Davy off-sales list. That has a much wider choice of ports. Provided you buy from the off-sales list at least a week before you want the bottle, you can have the bottle delivered to the Bunghole ready to be opened and drunk on October 2nd.

Many thanks for the suggestions. I will probably just go for the 94 Dow from their list.

I have booked a table, initially for six, but can probably increase or decrease as needed.

[jdaw1]

For the moment please may I be a tentative acceptance.

[TLW]

For the moment please may I be a tentative acceptance.

Sounds excellent. Hope to see you there.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Are there any other likely attendees next Wednesday?

[TLW]

Thus far it looks like four of us, and I will amend the reservation accordingly.

Looking forward to finally meeting you gentlemen.

[RAYC]

Potentially am now available, and if so would love to come.

However, i will need to confirm tomorrow - is that ok?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Thus far it looks like four of us, and I will amend the reservation accordingly.

I would suggest that you leave the reservation as being for 6 people. If one or two extra people turn up then we have space for them. If we end up being 4 at a table for 6 there will be plenty of room to write notes.

When you made the reservation did you mention that it was for the Port Forum? Also did you mention that we would need up to 36 glasses?

Potentially am now available, and if so would love to come.

However, i will need to confirm tomorrow - is that ok?

That's absolutely fine by me.

Have I said what I am bringing? If not, does anyone want to know? (NB - DRT who cannot attend might be given a different answer to TLW, who is attending.)

[DRT]

does anyone want to know? (NB - DRT who cannot attend might be given a different answer to TLW, who is attending.)

Please only tell me if it won't make me want to cry.

[Alex Bridgeman]

does anyone want to know? (NB - DRT who cannot attend might be given a different answer to TLW, who is attending.)

Please only tell me if it won't make me want to cry.

Since you asked so nicely I will tell you only if you promise not to tell anyone else. <<whispers "Royal Oporto 1985" in his ear>>

There, does that make you feel better?

[DRT]

I promise not to tell anyone. {snigger}

[Alex Bridgeman]

I promise not to tell anyone. {snigger}

And I have a backup plan in case I can't find a bottle of RO85. I like to be prepared.

[WS1]

Hi,

I cannot make it since I will be flying back from Frankfurt that evening. A horrible one day return business trip...

regards

WS1

[TLW]

I very much look forward to meeting everyone tomorrow evening, and will leave the reservation for six.

Whilst I did mention in the reservation that this is with The Port Forum, I did not mention that we might need up to 36 glasses (questionable as to whether my wife will drink much or will simply look at me with a profoundly bemused expression......).

Thus, I will let them know that we may need quite a few glasses.

Until tomorrow.

Cheers

TLW

[jdaw1]

questionable as to whether my wife will drink much or will simply look at me with a profoundly bemused expression

!or both.

Thus, I will let them know that we may need quite a few glasses.

We sometimes request 40ish, and sometimes 300ish. They’ll be able to cope.

[uncle tom]

I'm game.

I will probably just go for the 94 Dow from their list.

If you haven't already done so, I could supply a Dow '66 from my cellar for the same money..

[RAYC]

I can also confirm attendance

[jdaw1]

Placemats: blind or sighted?

[RAYC]

I will bring mine in tinfoil.

If space permits, i would bring a friend.

[jdaw1]

I will bring mine in tinfoil.

If space permits, i would bring a friend.

Does friend have known initials? And presumed right-handed unless otherwise specified.

[RAYC]

I will bring mine in tinfoil.

If space permits, i would bring a friend.

Does friend have known initials? And presumed right-handed unless otherwise specified.

KZZM - right handed - thanks

[djewesbury]

I will bring mine in tinfoil.

If space permits, i would bring a friend.

Does friend have known initials? And presumed right-handed unless otherwise specified.

KZZM - right handed - thanks

Quite excellent initials.

[jdaw1]

KZZM - right handed - thanks

Presumably an office colleague, whose ‟KM” initials had already been bagsied by somebody more senior.

[djewesbury]

KZZM - right handed - thanks

Presumably an office colleague, whose ‟KM” initials had already been bagsied by somebody more senior.

In the absence of a pre-existing, more senior KM in the Bung Hole, I prefer to imagine that the middle names both begin with Z.