ThePortForum.com

Posted: **19:17 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

Jdaw1, Chris Doty, possibly DRT, and hopefully you (!) are having lunch at Simpson's in the Strand (as below) from 1:30pm on Sunday the 15th.

Don't find yourself on www.ballerregrets.com

Venue: Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, 100 Strand London WC2R 0EW, +44 20 7836 9112 (streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing.com).

Current draft of the placemats.

Posted: **19:49 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

Won't be able to make lunch sadly - I will be skiing.

Posted: **20:08 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

flash_uk wrote:Won't be able to make lunch sadly - I will be skiing.

Sorry to hear that Flash, would have been great to catch up on your side of the pond.

Hope the slopes treat you well. Could have had some good runs in Central Park today by the looks of things!

some other time soon

cheers
chris

Posted: **20:34 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

Chris Doty wrote: some other time soon

Indeed, that would be wonderful. And perhaps I'll be across the pond sometime soon. Was your Mumbai sign-off a temporary visit or have you moved??

Posted: **20:47 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

Sunday lunch, eh? Not our usual time.

Perhaps we could try Simpson’s-in-the-Strand? I have just spoken to ‘Andrew’ there, who seemed keen to have our business. Normally corkage is £30 per bottle (!!), but he said that we would be charged for one bottle however many we bring, especially for a ‘later’ reservation (he saying ≥2:30pm, but we could probably snoove that back to 2pm).

Sunday lunch is the à la carte menu including the likes of roast lamb and roast beef.

Thoughts?

Posted: **20:53 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

flash_uk wrote: Indeed, that would be wonderful. And perhaps I'll be across the pond sometime soon. Was your Mumbai sign-off a temporary visit or have you moved??

Mumbai is where my friends are, but Bangalore is where I am currently setting my sights on a more permanent basis. Sadly, you'll need to attend lunch to discover more!

woo woo

Posted: **20:56 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

jdaw1 wrote:Sunday lunch, eh? Not our usual time.

Perhaps we could try Simpson’s-in-the-Strand? I have just spoken to ‘Andrew’ there, who seemed keen to have our business. Normally corkage is £30 per bottle (!!), but he said that we would be charged for one bottle however many we bring, especially for a ‘later’ reservation (he saying ≥2:30pm, but we could probably snoove that back to 2pm).

Sunday lunch is the à la carte menu including the likes of roast lamb and roast beef.

Thoughts?

Excellent leadership as always, Jdaw!

Andrew should connect me with his dealer. For the honor of hosting our gathering, I think a flat corkage fee of 20quid is perfectly reasonable. I am happy with / prefer a later start time, so 2pm + sounds fabulous. I also insist on a la carte menus, being American and all.

Excited to catch up!

woo woo

- you thinking bring a bottle blind? should we try to have some sort of theme? since it's the afternoon, maybe magnums? I'm open minded...

Posted: **21:45 Tue 27 Jan 2015**

Chris Doty wrote:- you thinking bring a bottle blind? should we try to have some sort of theme? since it's the afternoon

And, of course, we wouldn’t have a theme if it were the evening.

Chris Doty wrote:maybe magnums? I'm open minded...

He was quite surprised at the idea that two of us would drink three bottles. “I guess you would just taste the Port. You wouldn’t drink much of it.” “We’re members of a Port-drinking club: we’ll finish it.” Magnums are, well, a quarter of a decent size.

When we have a better handle on numbers I’ll reserve.

Posted: **08:02 Wed 28 Jan 2015**

No chance for me to join you on this one I'm afraid, as it's the start of half term here and we are consequently already busy.

Posted: **13:37 Fri 30 Jan 2015**

In my next life I have to move to London...

Enjoy whatevery you are having besides good company.

Axel

Posted: **11:16 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

By PM, WS1 wrote:Thank you of thinking of me; would have come if I were in London that day. But since I am in Austria that day I cannot.

Posted: **19:58 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

Unfortunately, with a one year old whom I rarely see in the week, weekends are pretty much out for me - a pity as this promises to be a raucous affair!

Posted: **20:22 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

idj123 wrote:Unfortunately, with a one year old whom I rarely see in the week, weekends are pretty much out for me - a pity as this promises to be a raucous affair!

Hmm: two attendees, CSD and JDAW. Total raucousness is low. Don’t ask about the average raucousness.

Posted: **20:23 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

Chris: do you have Port in London? Or should I bring enough for two thirsty chaps?

And may I edit the first post to add placemats to it?

Posted: **22:34 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

jdaw1 wrote:
idj123 wrote:Unfortunately, with a one year old whom I rarely see in the week, weekends are pretty much out for me - a pity as this promises to be a raucous affair!
Hmm: two attendees, CSD and JDAW. Total raucousness is low. Don’t ask about the average raucousness.

Sundays are not ideal for me but I have not given up on the possibility that someone will need me in London very early on Monday morning, thereby requiring a Sunday departure from home. I might not know until a few days before but it looks like there might be a seat available if I can make it.

Posted: **22:36 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

Warning: Apostrophe Crime pre-trial notification.

Posted: **22:40 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

djewesbury wrote:Warning: Apostrophe Crime pre-trial notification.

Nothing to see here, Officer. Move along please.

Posted: **22:41 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

And that's how justice works.

Posted: **23:07 Sat 31 Jan 2015**

DRT wrote:Sundays are not ideal for me but I have not given up on the possibility that someone will need me in London very early on Monday morning, thereby requiring a Sunday departure from home. I might not know until a few days before but it looks like there might be a seat available if I can make it.

If CSD has nothing accessible, presumably we each bring 2 × 75cl?

Doty + Turnbull + Wiseman: what could go wrong?

Posted: **10:27 Sun 01 Feb 2015**

Sounds like a civilised Sunday afternoon to me.

Posted: **10:47 Sun 01 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote:Sounds like a civilised Sunday afternoon to me.

Do not forget the emergency back up bts.....

regards

WS1

Posted: **21:26 Mon 02 Feb 2015**

The placemats and booking information added to the first post.

Posted: **06:28 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

jdaw1 wrote:The placemats and booking information added to the first post.

All seems well. One issue is that my sister (the bride to be) has bought the family tickets to see an Arsenal fixture this same afternoon (kicking off at 4pm). I understand it is fairly easy to get to the venue via the tube, and I don't need to be there exactly at kickoff (a little girlfootball goes a long way), but if possible, I would prefer to move up the start of this lunch so as to maximize our socializing. Possible?

Also, sorry to hear that WS and RAYC are unavailable for this event. And what has become of AHB, Jacob, etc?! Still, the three of us should hopefully provide a nice demonstration of how gentlemen lunch, and I am very much looking forward to it! Quality vintage port is as scarce as crosswalks here in Bangalore.

woo woo

Posted: **09:00 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

Is it really wise to be attempting to be admitted to a football ground after a bottle or more of port? English football fans used to have, ahem, a reputation, since when policing at football grounds has become more, ahem, overt.

Are you sure that you will be admitted to the grounds? Is this a good plan?

Posted: **09:09 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

He's not going to be stumbling and slurring. Policing at the Emirates doesn't include breathalysing everyone going in. Bear in mind that the rest of the crowd will have had a swift five or six before the game.

Chris: ignore Nanny JDAW.

Posted: **09:16 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

Fine. I defer to expertise.

Posted: **21:31 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

djewesbury wrote:He's not going to be stumbling and slurring. Policing at the Emirates doesn't include breathalysing everyone going in. Bear in mind that the rest of the crowd will have had a swift five or six before the game.

Chris: ignore Nanny JDAW.

jdaw1 wrote:Fine. I defer to expertise.

I agree with JDAW, mainly because Daniel has neglected an important fact.

A semi-drunk or drunk CSD is louder and capable of more expletives than everyone else in the Emirates Stadium combined. Drawing attention to oneself when trying to enter a football stadium is rarely a good idea.

This is not the best plan I have ever heard.

Unfortunately, my attendance is now looking very unlikely.

Posted: **21:44 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

But the police at football matches are not looking for people who've had a few drinks. They're looking for maniacs.
Oh, right... I see what you mean..

Posted: **21:50 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote: A semi-drunk or drunk CSD is louder and capable of more expletives than everyone else in the Emirates Stadium combined.

Haha. I was thinking just the same thing. I have this image in my head of CSD stumbling in late, bustling past a row of people to get to his seat, and then drawing attention to himself with a tirade of abuse delivered in a plum American accent. And none of this being received well at all by the gooners.

Posted: **22:18 Fri 06 Feb 2015**

Work is rather brutal at the moment and non-work time extremely precious. Sadly, I'm highly unlikely to be able to make it to join you for dinner on the 15th - family commitments are going to get in the way.

Posted: **02:54 Sun 08 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote:
A semi-drunk or drunk CSD is louder and capable of more expletives than everyone else in the Emirates Stadium combined.

aww....that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me!

Posted: **02:56 Sun 08 Feb 2015**

AHB wrote: Sadly, I'm highly unlikely to be able to make it to join you for dinner on the 15th - family commitments are going to get in the way.

Would it sweeten the pot if I told you we are planning on meeting for lunch, rather than dinner? Since when am I not sufficiently precious?!

Posted: **02:57 Sun 08 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote:
Unfortunately, my attendance is now looking very unlikely.

wtf!? be a man.

Posted: **13:35 Fri 13 Feb 2015**

I have spoken with the lovely-voiced Gael, who has changed our reservation to two people at 1:30. She will be on duty and will come by for a quality-control sip.

Chris: two of us, Sunday lunch. One bottle (with supplements acquired in situ) or two?

No placemats.

Posted: **04:07 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

I am bringing 3 (maaaybe 3.5).

Do as you wish

Posted: **08:34 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

jdaw1 wrote:Chris: two of us, Sunday lunch. One bottle (with supplements acquired in situ) or two?

Chris Doty wrote:I am bringing 3 (maaaybe 3.5).

Do as you wish

What could go wrong?

Posted: **11:10 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

Mr Doty,

You are a fabulous chap. Most of all, fabulously insane. The modern world much underrates insanity as an imaginative force, for good and for bad. And yours is all good.

But three bottles between two people ought to be enough at Sunday lunch. Indeed, some duller folks of softer appetites and minds might think, or attempt to think, that there could be leftovers taken to chez JDAW — instead of being taken to the Emirates Stadium. So rather than bringing another bottle, S-i-t-S lunch is on me.

— JDAW.

Posted: **11:11 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:Chris: two of us, Sunday lunch. One bottle (with supplements acquired in situ) or two?
Chris Doty wrote:I am bringing 3 (maaaybe 3.5).

Do as you wish
What could go wrong?

Indeed, what could go wrong?

Posted: **11:14 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

I hope the adjacent diners realise how privileged they are.

Posted: **15:30 Sat 14 Feb 2015**

jdaw1 wrote:No placemats.

Chris Doty wrote:I am bringing 3 (maaaybe 3.5).

Change of mind: updated draft of the placemats.

New event header;
–DRT.

I’ll print.

Posted: **13:25 Sun 15 Feb 2015**

Being early I've started with an IPA. Then Chris arrives, with five bottles. Lunch for two: what could go wrong?

Posted: **17:46 Sun 15 Feb 2015**

Hello?

Is anybody there?

Should we send a search party?

Posted: **09:16 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

Hope all is well in Wiseman-Doty land; Awaiting fabulous tales.

Posted: **18:21 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

Almost 30 hours have passed since the last sighting. The Coast Guard are considering calling off the search.

We shall remember them fondly. True heroes.

Posted: **19:56 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

They went down without a whimper. No headllines in the Metro, no chatter amongst the bellboys of the Strand. No candles were lit in the Savoy. All rather disappointing.

Posted: **22:18 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

It is always the same when Special Forces go M.I.A. No publicity allowed to protect national security.

Posted: **22:26 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

DRT wrote:It is always the same when Special Forces go M.I.A. No publicity allowed to protect national security.

Speaking of which, your minutes in the Paras seem to overlap with your years breeding horses. Was it the Equine Parachute Regiment? The Cavalry Paratroopers? Such a waste of a good horse, but they look wonderful when they're going down.

Posted: **22:40 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

Report from the front, Sir!

Posted: **22:50 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

djewesbury wrote:your decades in the Paras

Hush! I might be needed at any time. Anonymity might be crucial to the outcome.

As you were.

Posted: **22:52 Mon 16 Feb 2015**

Derek, thanks for drawing my attention to the error in my post above - I've corrected it now.

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Feb 15 Lunch: Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, 13:30

Feb 15 Lunch: Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, 13:30

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