FMUKCON Manchester - Saturday 5th April 2014

[baty]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you Mr G but Big Thanks if you can manage a folding chair.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you Mr G but Big Thanks if you can manage a folding chair.

I have become quite the master backpacker so I can manage a folding chair for you :) though some have commented that I am more the mad backpacker rather than master!

Thanks MsThrifty for a brilliant article. Can't believe it's just 3 weeks today that all the fun starts - managed to get an hour flexi off work so now finishing at 3.30pm on the Friday Sorry that you can't come MsThrifty

PXC+OH and I will arrive at 2:48pm. I will be going straight to cottage to dump my luggage including telescope stuff and should be back at station by 3:15pm. Around 7:15pm I will depart the group for an hour to get the telescope from the cottage and setup it all up at the Manor Park and then you guys can meet me there at 8:15pm?

Last train to to Manchester is 22:38, the second last train is 21:38. I personally never like relying on a last train, so I will assume most of you will go for a 21:38 train. Its a 10-15 min walk from Manor Park to the station so aim to abandon me and me telescope at 9:15pm (assuming you aiming to catch the second to last train) to give yourself enough leeway. So say we have an hour on my telescope, hence my suggestion to meet at 8:15pm. And if anyone needs to leave early can always skip my telescope tour as its the last activity of our day/evening in Glossop :)

If every single one of you, however, is game to take the last train at 22:38 then we can have more time together in the town and exploring the lovely manor park in the earlier daytime hours but only if all of you are game to take the last train at 22:38.

Of course if weather is crap then we have extended time at the pub

Lets use MsThrifty's excellent article as a Glossop tour guide. Diane, I'm not as savvy as many of you are in finding value for money deals on places to eat etc but I will try my best but if you or PXC find good recommendations, I'll just follow you! I'm just just the nerdy spaceman doing his best but your guidance still rules :)

Really looking forward to the whole trip!

[Diane65]

Sounds just perfect MrGlass and if you have too much to carry I can always but a fold up chair to bring for Baty as I need one anyway as I intend to go to an outdoor theatre this summer. Of course I'll get researching the best deals for meals - if we all intend to go to the pub I could always see if they can put on a good deal for us or if you have time you could always prepare a gourmet meal for us all at the B and B as I know that you are a whizz in the kitchen

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Sounds just perfect MrGlass and if you have too much to carry I can always but a fold up chair to bring for Baty as I need one anyway as I intend to go to an outdoor theatre this summer. Of course I'll get researching the best deals for meals - if we all intend to go to the pub I could always see if they can put on a good deal for us or if you have time you could always prepare a gourmet meal for us all at the B and B as I know that you are a whizz in the kitchen

'Sniff' alright, laugh it up...I'm sure someone might like my mixed nuts, raisins and seeds dish!

If you are b*ying a fold up chair for yourself, you might like to consider this one from Cotswold:

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/vango-ma ... 23?loc=sub

Its the one I use and will bring for baty. Its superb, even has a coffee cup holder. Its comfortable, has arm rests and is relatively light. It unfolds in one movement like an umbrella. Although, I had b*ght it for £20 a year ago, I see they raised the price by £5. But I think its still great value and good quality. Also, it folds into a more manageable compact cylindrical shape.



Regards to things we do in Glossop...I'm having a another train of thought. Since most people are only going to have 3-4 hours stay in Glossop, perhaps we shouldnt actually spend too much time in restaurant or pub (perhaps half hour in total?) so we can take advantage of the short scenic walks Glossop have to offer (as well manor park and market town)? Maybe treat ourselves to Glossop special fast food stuff....so eat healthy during the week! lol. The sun actually sets when you all join me at Manor Park at 8:15 so its bright for walks up to then.

Of course not everyone can manage very long walks. So we start with a circular scenic Roman heritage walk outwards from town and back. have a meal back in town (perhaps more people will have joined us at that point), explore town, then another different shorter circular scenic walk, including Manor Park and Howard Park for exploration/relaxing...end the day with my telescope tour. Just some thoughts. We'll have different alternate plans for how we feel on the day :)

[baty]

At last, OH has made the leap and b*ght the train tickets. He was weighing up car verses train and finally gone for the train. Of course, after seeing all his fancy calculations I pointed out - the two can travel card PLUS the redspottedhankey codes I had squirrelled away in a new email account for him and that nearly halved the amount to p*y.

I'm on the case of getting the Glossop tickets now, with the codes ready for use I shouldn't have to use any 'real' cash at all

I feel like a kid waiting for the school outing, hope the weather will be good but really don't care, just glad to be out and about, even if ti will be hobbling.

[Diane65]

At last, OH has made the leap and b*ght the train tickets. He was weighing up car verses train and finally gone for the train. Of course, after seeing all his fancy calculations I pointed out - the two can travel card PLUS the redspottedhankey codes I had squirrelled away in a new email account for him and that nearly halved the amount to p*y.

I'm on the case of getting the Glossop tickets now, with the codes ready for use I shouldn't have to use any 'real' cash at all

I feel like a kid waiting for the school outing, hope the weather will be good but really don't care, just glad to be out and about, even if ti will be hobbling.

I'm so excited too
Sounds just perfect MrGlass I don't mind keep on walking back to the train station to meet up with the new arrivals.
The Manchester gang are having a meet up next weekend to finalise our plans (we'll let you know what train we will be on) - What started off as a couple of hours meet up will be a weekend extravaganza I'm so pleased that Andrews alerted me to this site as I have met some brilliant people on here

[Diane65]

Hi Everyone
The Manchester Gang are having our meet up today at John Lewis for our free coffee and cakes to finalise the plans for the day (fine tune all this). I. Can anyone spot any obvious mistakes on here as this is the proposed agenda?
FMUKcon 2014
08:36 The Fox arrives
08:45 WeLiveandBreathWords arrives
09:00 Baty and OH, Prettyxcool and OH, Chelle1973 and Mum, TheyCallMeMrGlass arrive and Jordsmum at 09:09Get the Metro shuttle 1 to St Marys gate so can walk through the Printworks to the Cathedral then walk down to John Rylands library for a quick look around (some may want to go into the football museum instead) then can walk through St Anne’s square to have a look in the Royal Exchange theatre followed by a quick look in the Little Gem then onto Central Library at 11:00am where Steve can give us a guided tour. Need 2 volunteers as may need to split up with the football people versus the John Ryland library.
10:20 Andrews arrives takes Metro 3 (to save time) for a quick look at Manchester Art Gallery (her request ) then onto Central Library. Need a volunteer.
10:50 Jeanelle and OH and Vealster arrive –Jeanelle and OH will need to check into hotel. Get Metro bus 3 to Central Library to save time. Need a volunteer.
11:00 Central Library and Manchester Town Hall
11:45 Start walking to Deansgate locks
11:51 Steve9872 arrives at Deansgate so will walk across to Fmukcon at Deansgate locks
12:00 until 15:00 Deansgate Locks RickyRaj is just coming for the meet up. Yogi and Steve in control of this. Suggestions for anything at the event
15:00 Tram to Media City, Lowry and Imperial War museum just for the viewing gallery as Jeanelles OH loves photography and a few want to see Manchester from above
16:00 need to make sure TheFox is on the metro as she is on the 16:43 train from Piccadilly
17:00 or there about get the Metro back to either Castlefield for a quick mooch and then get back onto the tram for a trip to Sinclairs and around Shambles square as a few want to sample the real ale. A few will have to head off then (we can take them to the metro) but Baty and OH would quite like to go for dinner in China town. If anyone wants to go clubbing after that we need a volunteer to take them, I haven’t got any disco clothes.
These are purely ideas so please feel free to change things around.
Still waiting to hear from Preston1990 re time he arrives.

I have highlighted 3 parts as we will need to set off at different times as we have a 2 and a half time difference between the first and last lot for the guided tour arriving but all meet up at 11ish at either the town hall or central library.


We will also have a chat re the Glossop trip and where MrGlass wants us to meet etc plus I need to get my act together and research the fine ale pubs that do quick meals (MrGlass has a lot planned for us but those who have done long journeys may want to spend a bit longer in the pub to recover).

We have had a few last minute changes of heart hence the list has suddenly gone down but we will still have a brilliant time.

[baty]

WOW That is one full day.
Question, Getting from Sports city to Manchester 'central'...... Any clues as to the best way, also not too fast on crutches but I do get there in the end. Do appreciate everything you Mancunians are doing.

[Diane65]

WOW That is one full day.
Question, Getting from Sports city to Manchester 'central'...... Any clues as to the best way, also not too fast on crutches but I do get there in the end. Do appreciate everything you Mancunians are doing.

If the Manchester gang are happy to do the first greeting people and as we have about 30 mins between the first and last lot arriving on the first phase(08:36 until 09:09) and as I will be leaving my car in the city after I have dropped off the FMUKers at the station just before 08:30 then I could come and collect yourself plus OH plus Chelle1973 and her Mum at about 08:40 leaving you all at the Metrolink bus stop while I go and park as only a 5 minute walk for me. Will get back to you after the meet up today. I have a lot of as's in here and for some reason this isn't flowing but I hope it makes sense.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Wow what a precise itenary, Diane! Thank you for all the effort.

Did you guys talk about the when the rest of you all arrive at Glossop then and anything else, desires for Friday evening?