PA Meetup [UK] - Birmingham, October 24th and 25th 2009. We Survived!

Mojo_Jojo · October 2009

Johannen wrote: »

Then the train from Bristol is about £6 to Birmingham if you go that way.

Maybe the magic moon train is, but they don't run very often. It's why I drive, it's much cheaper than getting the train. And I make the damn rules about when is time to spend most of an hour driving around Birmingham hunting for a hotel which may not exist.

BobCesca · October 2009

Mojo_Jojo wrote: »

Johannen wrote: »

Then the train from Bristol is about £6 to Birmingham if you go that way.

Maybe the magic moon train is, but they don't run very often. It's why I drive, it's much cheaper than getting the train. And I make the damn rules about when is time to spend most of an hour driving around Birmingham hunting for a hotel which may not exist.

You can get the train from Bristol to Birmingham for about £35 but it involves buying multiple tickets (even though you stay on the same train).

Johannen · October 2009

BobCesca wrote: »

Mojo_Jojo wrote: »

Johannen wrote: »

Then the train from Bristol is about £6 to Birmingham if you go that way.

Maybe the magic moon train is, but they don't run very often. It's why I drive, it's much cheaper than getting the train. And I make the damn rules about when is time to spend most of an hour driving around Birmingham hunting for a hotel which may not exist.

You can get the train from Bristol to Birmingham for about £35 but it involves buying multiple tickets (even though you stay on the same train).

Really? The 45 minute train to Bristol from Cardiff is £4. I thought you could get one to Birmingham from there for about £6. I just looked and the off peak return is £40 though... wowza.

japan · October 2009

An advance single Birmingham->Bristol is £11, change at Gloucester, two and a bit hours. The return journey is the same. The usual advance restrictions apply, though. I think it's a Cross-Country train.

Johannen · October 2009

I have no idea why I am looking at Cardiff trains, I have a car.

japan · October 2009

Birmingham->Cardiff (I was assuming that Cardiff Central is the station to aim for) is £11 or £11.50 advance.

Haphazard · October 2009

Are the trains at least on time?

japan · October 2009

The trains aren't actually bad. Most of the time trains that are delayed are rush-hour commuter trains. I think I've only encountered delays on a long-distance train once.

Haphazard · October 2009

Mhh, for that kind of money I'd be pretty pissed off if I lost a few minutes. No, not really.

Johannen · October 2009

Haphazard wrote: »

Mhh, for that kind of money I'd be pretty pissed off if I lost a few minutes. No, not really.

Aren't you in Germany? Why don't you just fly straight in to Birmingham with bmibaby or something?

Also, have you seen my sig?

Haphazard · October 2009

Why yes, that'd be the most sensible thing to do. But who am I? Cpt. Sensible? I think not!
Well, ok, I'll probably do just that. But anyway...

Yes, I've seen your sig. I'm greatful there'll be one less person licking me. That way I can save myself for kakos, should we ever meet.

Johannen · October 2009

Haphazard wrote: »

Why yes, that'd be the most sensible thing to do. But who am I? Cpt. Sensible? I think not!
Well, ok, I'll probably do just that. But anyway...

Yes, I've seen your sig. I'm greatful there'll be one less person licking me. That way I can save myself for kakos, should we ever meet.

You... cheating.. WHORE!

Haphazard · October 2009

He's my brother from another mother! It stays in the family!

japan · October 2009

You could theoretically get the train to Brussels or Paris, then Eurostar to London, and then get the train to wherever from there.

That would be slightly mad, though.

Haphazard · October 2009

For a holiday maybe. With stops in those cities. But for a weekend trip? Slightly mad, yes.

Johannen · October 2009

Haps, where in Germany do you live? Near Frankfurt or?

Haphazard · October 2009

Johannen wrote: »

Haps, where in Germany do you live? Near Frankfurt or?

Way, way down the rabbit hole... err... south. Near Stuttgart.

Johannen · October 2009

From Stuttgart to Birmingham return is €206 I found on the Stuttgart airport site.

Haphazard · October 2009

You could probably find less expensive options.

Edit: No, that was not meant as encouragment!

Johannen · October 2009

Haphazard wrote: »

You could probably find less expensive options.

Edit: No, that was not meant as encouragment!

You would not like me to find you a cheap way of meeting us in my boredom, therefore doing any necessary work for you? Fair enough.

Haphazard · October 2009

No, I just don't want you to have to do it twice. Now and once it actually matters.

Who knows how the fuel market will look in a few months.

Johannen · October 2009

Haphazard wrote: »

No, I just don't want you to have to do it twice. Now and once it actually matters.
Who knows how the fuel market will look in a few months.

:lol: nicely done..... delegate when it matters.

Haphazard · October 2009

That's one thing I learned at work.

Kalkino · October 2009

I have arrived home safely and can report back the following interesting thing learned in Birmingham:

1. I managed to find and visit the Museum of Pens. It should be more correctly called "The Museum of mainly Steel Nibbed Pens, with associated other stuff"
2. I have also managed to find the home of Rip van Winkle's author

Spoiler:

4. Plum wine is nice

Also, I have some photos but there appears to be a snafu of some kind related to their uploading, so will have to try again tomorrow