FMUKCON Manchester - Saturday 5th April 2014

[steve]

I've booked my train tickets - I'll be with you in Manchester at 10.20am.

Look foreward to seeing you again.

[Diane65]

I've booked my train tickets - I'll be with you in Manchester at 10.20am.

Look foreward to seeing you again.

It's party time 9 weeks to go

[prettyxcool]

It's party time 9 weeks to go

Woo! Woo!

[the fox]

Woo hoo - the prices have come down, i was beginning to think they had forgotten

How bizarre What is wrong with 5th April? It is a perfectly nice Saturday

So I emailed East Midland Trains as I was thinking there must be an explanation as to why the Saturday’s either side of the 5th April were reduced and not the 5th.

This is what they said ………………………..

Thank you for your email of 29 January 2014 regarding booking tickets for the 5 April 2014.

I regret that the Advance tickets for this journey are yet to go on sale, as we are awaiting confirmation from Network rail on some proposed timetable changes (as a result of the Grand National). As soon as this is confirmed (hopefully by the end of the week) all tickets we be on sale.

I do hope this helps.

………………….. at least we know why now.

[Diane65]

Woo hoo - the prices have come down, i was beginning to think they had forgotten

How bizarre What is wrong with 5th April? It is a perfectly nice Saturday

So I emailed East Midland Trains as I was thinking there must be an explanation as to why the Saturday’s either side of the 5th April were reduced and not the 5th.

This is what they said ………………………..

Thank you for your email of 29 January 2014 regarding booking tickets for the 5 April 2014.

I regret that the Advance tickets for this journey are yet to go on sale, as we are awaiting confirmation from Network rail on some proposed timetable changes (as a result of the Grand National). As soon as this is confirmed (hopefully by the end of the week) all tickets we be on sale.

I do hope this helps.

………………….. at least we know why now.

Thank goodness for that I have been checking every morning before work and the first day I didn't it happens

What time does everyone get in so we can sort out the meeters and greeters for everyone who wants one?

[Diane65]

Please don't be put off by my suggested itinerary as these are purely first thoughts as I do need to be pulled in a bit with my organising as otherwise you will feel like you're on a military expedition rather than a fun day out. Also don't feel like you have to join in any of this apart from the Manchester gang

This is the message that I have sent to the Manchester gang so you know that we are planning ahead.

Hi Everyone
How much time does everyone have to spare on the day as not everyone will be arriving at the same time plus quite a few have never been to Manchester before?
Does anyone know of any real ale pubs in Manchester? Is the one in Shambles Square one of them?
I know that I'll probably end up doing a few things the same as last time but these are my suggestions but really do say if they are rubbish and I won't be offended at all
9.30 meet everyone
10:00 - 12:00 noon Manchester Art Gallery or John Rylands Library or possibly the Cathedral as that opens first whereas everything else opens at 10:00
They is a piano concert at the Cathedral at 11:00 which would be lovely to listen to but its the logistics of sneaking out to get to the meet up for 12noon.
The football museum is also an option for the pre meet up tour which is almost opposite the cathedral so maybe even have a split group for that part plus a walk through the Printworks so they can see where we watch our films.
It would be lovely to walk past or maybe even through the Town Hall on our way to the meet up and if no events are on see if we can have a look around the place. And around Albert Square.
I know that everyone would be half dead if we did the lot but as most things close at 5pm we only have until 12:00
12:00 - 15:00 Meet up
15:00 - 18:00 head over to the Lowry and Media City where we can show everyone Media City, The Lowry they can view the paintings if they like then possibly walk over to the Imperial War Museum where you can go up the the Air Shard viewing gallery and get stunning views across Manchester for about £1 and have a sneaky look onto Coronation Street set (not as good as the real thing)
Get the tram back to Castlefield and have a wonder around that area seeing the Roman wall and possibly stopping for a drink or for those who are on the earlier trains go straight back to Piccadilly on the Metro.
Anyone there for the evening we could either go to like the Shambles Square area for a drink or go out for a meal with our Tesco vouchers or China Town or maybe even Wetherspoons in The Printworks so its not mad money or anywhere anyone can think of.

Please let me know what you think and once we know what time everyone is arriving, how much free time you all have to spare etc we can get planning the day properly. These are just ideas in my head so if I'm missing something really obvious or not so obvious like of just thought of The Royal Exchange theatre and The Hidden Gem but I'm getting carried away with what we can do in 2 and a 1/2 hours

Speak soon

Diane

[Diane65]

Fabulous suggestions from yogi and akh43:
The Old Wellington at Shambles Square serves a selection of real ale, Sinclairs serves Samuel Smiths and is one of the cheapest places for a pint in Manchester. There's a few other good pubs around, but probably none as good for meeting/visitors.
Real Ale is Britons Protection, its quite an old pub. Its not far from where we are all meeting, its only a couple of minutes walk away, 50 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE.

Steve is a keen football fan so happy to do the guided tour around there. We don't mind doing a bit of splitting up so that everyone gets what they want from the day.

Suggested another swap shop type thing at the meet up. Any other suggestions as just 7 weeks to go

[baty]

Thanks for all the suggestions Diane65, looks like Manchester has a lot to offer and I feel spoilt for choice.
I know OH would be interested in the real ale and china town, not so much with footie (runs for cover from steve, haha).

Unsure about our arrival time, just some time on the friday. So looking forward to go out!

[Diane65]

Hi Everyone TheyCallMeMrGlass is supposed to be posting this but he is taking his time

I have written this as though I am MrGlass:
I'll be arriving in Glossop on the Friday afternoon armed with my telescope so thought that it would be a fabulous opportunity if anyone is free to arrange an early evening picnic in Manor Park (I will confirm this location but not too far away from the train station wherever we go) while it is still light then we can go star gazing after dusk and on a good night we can even see jupiter. If any of you have already met me you'll know what good company I am - handsome and good fun what more can anyone else ask for? plus I have already arranged to meet up with the delightful prettyxcool plus OH, the fabulous akh43, the vivacious steve plus OH and sadly the dreaded Diane65 and DD (let's hope she isn't busy bossing us all around ) and hopefully some more of the Manchester gang if they are free. As I don't want to you to miss out on a fabulous train deal (this price is on at the moment) I will be posting shortly with what sort of times I'm thinking of as the train fare is a bargain price of £4.20 return from Manchester Piccadilly (less than 30 minutes away) so if you have got some redspottedhanky codes it could be free. Plus anyone who doesn't fancy eating in a park there are some traditional pubs around with wholesome food. It is a beautiful market town on the edge of the peak district so if anyone has the afternoon free it would be nice for a wonder around the town itself.

[prettyxcool]

but I'm getting carried away with what we can do in 2 and a 1/2 hours

Just catching up! That made me

We need to factor in the distance between each place too, how long does it take to walk from one to the other (although Diane65 and I are fairly quick!), and I am sure the meet up is not set in stone and we can get there before 12.30, that gives us an extra 15 mins to half an hour leeway, what do you think? On the other hand, those that are already in Manchester already, I am happy to meet up at 9am to give us a good 3 hours? Although, it depends on what is open.

It all does sounds really good though, Diane65, really looking forward to it, and the side trip to Glossop - Thanks MrG!

x