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Tom has kindly agreed to organise the Christmas offline again, which will be at The Bell in Wenden's Ambo the White Horse in Newport. The nearest train station to the pub is Audley End Newport (Essex), which is a 10 minute walk from the Bell White Horse. Those staying overnight usually stay at the Saffron Hotel in Saffron Walden, a 10 minute car journey from the Bell White Horse, at the Tollhouse B&B in Newport or at the Cricketer's Arms in Rickling Green (a 7 minute drive).

The theme will be the usual, that is The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends

Space in the private room at the Bell has been extremely tight so numbers attending have to be limited to 10. Normal practice is to offer those who attended the previous year first refusal. The industry guest will be Dirk Niepoort.

1 - Uncle Tom
2 - EDN
3 - Axel Probst
4 - AHB
5 - DM
6 - CMAG
7 - WS1
8 - DJ
9 - RLC
10 - IDJ

RESERVES
JDAW


Because of last minute drop-outs one place was not filled in 2014, MPM was the first person to volunteer and so gets first refusal for that last spot. If you'd like to go on the reserves list then please post here. There are usually one or two people who can't make it at the last minute each year so being on the reserve list gives you a decent chance to attend.


Edit by jdaw1, by permission of AHB: current draft of the stickies and TN pages.

Please sir, may I?

The date is in my diary.

Could I please be a reserve?

flash_uk wrote:Could I please be a reserve?

No. Last year I withdrew, and should be penalised for that. MPM in; JDAW reserve.

jdaw1 wrote:

flash_uk wrote:Could I please be a reserve?

No. Last year I withdrew, and should be penalised for that. MPM in; JDAW reserve.

Flash is in, JDAW is reserve.

I have every reason to expect at least one of the current named participants to be unavailable so I would recommend to JDAW that he plans on being at the Bell.

jdaw1 wrote:

flash_uk wrote:Could I please be a reserve?

No. Last year I withdrew, and should be penalised for that. MPM in; JDAW reserve.

Very kind [doff of hat]. Thank you.

Already booked the flight as I would not want to miss this for the world.

Axel

Could I be put down on the reserve list please? I should be able supply something appropriate for such an event.

I will ask Dirk. I will probably see him in the Douro in June.

Axel

Can I ask, after last year's shenanigans, where do we plan on staying? Was a satisfactory response received from the Saffron?

EDN has put it into his diary and want to attend. I booked similar to last year the Toll House since conveniently located close to Tom's pub and Newport rail station.

regards

WS1

djewesbury wrote:Can I ask, after last year's shenanigans, where do we plan on staying? Was a satisfactory response received from the Saffron?

I received no response from the Saffron so have followed Wolfgang's advice and have booked into the Toll House.

Just as a heads up ...For those either booked or looking to book The Toll House in Newport it has been put on the market...it is possible that, if sold, the new owners may not plan to offer B&B.

Whilst here may I make a suggestion...even though The Bell has been a wonderful venue for this annual event should we consider moving to The White Horse (Tom's Pub)....I am assured the steaks will be as good if not cheaper....I mean..better and can accommodate the reserve list...thoughts please.

The move to the White Horse was mooted at a recent tasting and given that I'm one of those who would benefit from this move I'm happy to give this suggestion my tacit approval!

Cookie wrote:Just as a heads up ...For those either booked or looking to book The Toll House in Newport it has been put on the market...it is possible that, if sold, the new owners may not plan to offer B&B.

Whilst here may I make a suggestion...even though The Bell has been a wonderful venue for this annual event should we consider moving to The White Horse (Tom's Pub)....I am assured the steaks will be as good if not cheaper....I mean..better and can accommodate the reserve list...thoughts please.

Does this mean my booking with the Toll House is void? I have already paid!

Cookie wrote:Just as a heads up ...For those either booked or looking to book The Toll House in Newport it has been put on the market...it is possible that, if sold, the new owners may not plan to offer B&B.

If you hear of a sale going through, please let us know so we can contact the new owners and find out whether they bought a B&B business or a new family home. If I need to change accommodation I will head for the Cricketer's Arms in Rickling Green where I was well looked after last time I stayed.

Cookie wrote:Whilst here may I make a suggestion...even though The Bell has been a wonderful venue for this annual event should we consider moving to The White Horse (Tom's Pub)....I am assured the steaks will be as good if not cheaper....I mean..better and can accommodate the reserve list...thoughts please.

I believe Tom was minded to make this change but wanted to check on a few details first. If you see him in his pub then give him a gentle reminder from me please.

I believe Tom was minded to make this change but wanted to check on a few details first. If you see him in his pub then give him a gentle reminder from me please.

The White Horse could expand the number of possible attendees slightly and also afford a significant saving on food and corkage.

14oz Aberdeen Angus fillets + usual trimmings + corkage can be arranged for £30pp, with exclusive use of the saloon bar for the evening.

If people would like to make the switch, then please advise..

uncle tom wrote:The White Horse could expand the number of possible attendees slightly and also afford a significant saving on food and corkage.

14oz Aberdeen Angus fillets + usual trimmings + corkage can be arranged for £30pp, with exclusive use of the saloon bar for the evening.

If people would like to make the switch, then please advise..

Yes please! It would be nice to accommodate a few more people.

If driving, where is the best place to park in Newport?

If driving, where is the best place to park in Newport?

We have a small secret car park just 100 yards from the White Horse - Look up Gaces Acre, Newport on Google maps and you'll see it nestling in the south eastern corner - an alleyway from the car park emerges opposite the pub.

AHB wrote:

uncle tom wrote:The White Horse could expand the number of possible attendees slightly and also afford a significant saving on food and corkage.
...
If people would like to make the switch, then please advise..

Yes please! It would be nice to accommodate a few more people.

Also fine by me.

Is this move to The White Horse now being taken as read ie as second reserve and thus benefiting from the relocation should I be looking to book accommodation now?

idj123 wrote:Is this move to The White Horse now being taken as read ie as second reserve and thus benefiting from the relocation should I be looking to book accommodation now?

Probably best to check with Tom tomorrow

What time do the Christmas bashes tend to finish? I was pondering getting a cab back home, as it might not be much different cost than a hotel stay plus train fare in the morning.

flash_uk wrote:What time do the Christmas bashes tend to finish? I was pondering getting a cab back home, as it might not be much different cost than a hotel stay plus train fare in the morning.

I think you're adventurous to try and get a cab from Saffron at that time of night, whatever that time is. Traditionally it isn't too late but if we're in the White Horse it may be later. Ray or Tom will advise but you might as well stay over.

flash_uk wrote:What time do the Christmas bashes tend to finish? I was pondering getting a cab back home, as it might not be much different cost than a hotel stay plus train fare in the morning.

Tom and Ray know a very nice lady named Jan who is very experienced at taking tired and emotional people home in her cab after port tastings. Perhaps they can assist with the booking?

When at the Bell and in accordance with the landlord's wishes, we wound up pretty close to midnight. At the White Horse it is likely to be later, perhaps much later. However I cannot be much later since I have to be in London for a meeting the following morning at 11am so I will likely retire no later than 00.30.

To where were you thinking of returning?

AHB wrote:To where were you thinking of returning?

Muswell Hill, N10.

idj123 wrote:Is this move to The White Horse now being taken as read ie as second reserve and thus benefiting from the relocation should I be looking to book accommodation now?

Tom - are you able to confirm that we will be able to use the White Horse for the TPF Xmas bash this year?

Tom - are you able to confirm that we will be able to use the White Horse for the TPF Xmas bash this year?

Yes - I will try juggling the tables to see how many places we can comfortably accommodate and report back..

Sigh. Sadly I am now unable to make the TPF Christmas Bash. Bitterly disappointed, as I have yet to manage to attend one. Hopefully this is sufficient notice for a stand-by to be able to attend.

I realise I haven't booked any accommodation. After last year I need a new recommendation - please?

djewesbury wrote:I realise I haven't booked any accommodation. After last year I need a new recommendation - please?

I forgot to pay my deposit at the Toll House and so got bumped and they are now full. Irritating, but nobody's fault except my own.

I'm currently trying to decide whether to stay at the Cricketer's Arms in Rickling Green (stayed there before - it's a pub with rooms and worked out well for me), a short taxi ride from Newport, or whether to catch an Uber back into London while the roads are quiet around midnight and stay in London. I have to be at a meeting in the City by 10.30 so can't be too late.

If either of those options appeals to you then I'd be happy to share the cost of the cab if that would work.

First post has been updated to show Flash can no longer make it. That makes JDAW the occupant of seat number 10 and IDJ the occupant of first reserve.

(DJ - I am now booked into the Cricketer's Arms in Rickling Green @ £79 per night.)

AHB wrote:First post has been updated to show Flash can no longer make it. That makes JDAW the occupant of seat number 10 and IDJ the occupant of first reserve.

No: IDJ is in; please keep me at first reserve for the moment.

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:First post has been updated to show Flash can no longer make it. That makes JDAW the occupant of seat number 10 and IDJ the occupant of first reserve.

No: IDJ is in; please keep me at first reserve for the moment.

Done.

CMAG added to the reserves.

AHB wrote:First post has been updated to show Flash can no longer make it. That makes JDAW the occupant of seat number 10 and IDJ the occupant of first reserve.

(DJ - I am now booked into the Cricketer's Arms in Rickling Green @ £79 per night.)

I am also now booked in (though my room was only £69!) - I'll possibly be driving to/from London so could offer a few people a lift either or both ways. Will confirm if this is the case very soon.

I will unfortunately no longer be able to join you for the Xmas offline, but hopefully one of the reserves will now be able to attend.

PhilW wrote:I will unfortunately no longer be able to join you for the Xmas offline, but hopefully one of the reserves will now be able to attend.

That's a shame and hopefully we'll see you again soon at an offline.

CMAG is bumped up to the status of an attendee.

Tom has suggested he will be able to squeeze and extra one in, and Julian has kindly allowed me to jump in, thus it would be great to join you all for this

Since Julian usually spills his plans to me to attend a port tasting only a couple days prior to an event, I'm being proactive and doing some organisation. Can I confirm that Julian is attending? Or not?

Thank you,
MaryAnne AKA SCP-DFF

I'll handle this.

All is as it should be and order is restored.

Just in case it helps anyone decide what to bring or when / how to open their bottles, I plan to bring along a pair of port tongs and Tom has promised a blazing coal fire. If anyone wants to open their bottle(s) with port tongs you would be welcome to borrow the tongs (I'll make sure I also have funnels and filter paper to catch all those little shards of glass).

when will we start? I may need to get back to London that evening; are there any attendees pooling for a cab?

regards

WS1

Anyone seen Tom anywhere? Wondering what the situation is with adoptions.

WS1 wrote:when will we start? I may need to get back to London that evening; are there any attendees pooling for a cab?

regards

WS1

I'm presuming we start when everyone arrives. I'm aiming to be there around 6.30.

Sorry. My cab is only going as far as Rickling Green.

I've made a pork (and game) pie. Sorry, forgot to photograph it and now I've packed it. And a slice needs to be saved for a visit to Derbyshire the following day.

AHB wrote:Just in case it helps anyone decide what to bring or when / how to open their bottles, I plan to bring along a pair of port tongs and Tom has promised a blazing coal fire. If anyone wants to open their bottle(s) with port tongs you would be welcome to borrow the tongs (I'll make sure I also have funnels and filter paper to catch all those little shards of glass).

Alex, I may take you up on this offer although I will need to ensure that the undecanted bottle doesn't get too shaken up in the car on the way up.

Incidentally, am also staying at the pub at Rickling Green and so what time are we intending cabbing it up to Tom's pub?

idj123 wrote:

AHB wrote:Just in case it helps anyone decide what to bring or when / how to open their bottles, I plan to bring along a pair of port tongs and Tom has promised a blazing coal fire. If anyone wants to open their bottle(s) with port tongs you would be welcome to borrow the tongs (I'll make sure I also have funnels and filter paper to catch all those little shards of glass).

Alex, I may take you up on this offer although I will need to ensure that the undecanted bottle doesn't get too shaken up in the car on the way up.

Incidentally, am also staying at the pub at Rickling Green and so what time are we intending cabbing it up to Tom's pub?

Anyone staying in the pub is welcome to share my taxi for any of the journeys it is booked for. Current booking is:
• Pick up at Newport Railway Station to meet the train from Liverpool Street due in to Newport at 16.57
• Drop off at Cricketer's Arms approx. 17.10

• Pick up from Cricketer's Arms at 17.20
• Drop off at White Horse, Newport approx. 17.30

• Pick up from White Horse at 00.20
• Drop off at Cricketer's Arms approx. 00.30

• Pick up from Cricketer's Arms at 08.30
• Drop off at Stansted Airport approx. 08.45

If anyone wants to share the cab (and cost) for any of these journeys then please let me know.