THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: Barmymoo on 10 Oct 2009, 12:29
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As many of you will doubtless be aware, Scotland likes to party at the turn of the year.
There has been talk about going to Glasgow to partake in these festivities.
Once again as many of you will doubtless be aware, it is now October. Very soon there will be nowhere left to stay in Glasgow (le gasp!).
I'm reluctant to take on the responsibility of finding a place to stay for anyone who wants to go, because for one thing I have never been to Glasgow and for another I'm probably a bit too busy to keep on top of it.
So if you're interested in doing this, and particularly if you're in Glasgow or know it well, please make some suggestions about where and how long for. Previous meets have shown that it's more fun if we're all in one place but at this point we may have to settle for a variety of hostels and hotels.
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Well, I dunno what everyone else is going to do but a couple of us already have plans. I mean we will be in the city, particularly those that live there anyway, but it was never really an official "meetup" before, so if it is becoming one that is cool.
I think the best idea is for everyone to show up at Oli's and knock on the door and yell "surprise! hai can you put us up! kthx!"
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Yeah, I'm sure Oli will appreciate you typing that into a public forum.
Oh, hey Oli. 'Sup?
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Man why do you think I didn't put in his address.
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Because you get off on being withholding.
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I'll drop by during the day but probably head back to Edinburgh for the actual New Years.
I think.
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So I head out on the 21st of December, but if anyone's up for doing anything beforehand, I'm all ears!
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Yes, we do like to party on Hogmanay. :-D
The George Square street party seems a wee bit over-rated though - same as the one through in Edinburgh actually.
But I'd imagine anywhere in the city centre would be good for a party. I'm personally hoping for a big bash at the Queen Margaret Union (£1 beers and vodka mixes :-o).
And if you're looking for somewhere cheap to stay, I'd imagine the Eurohostel wouldn't be too heavily booked by now.
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I was kinda hoping for a nice, quiet, casual meetup with a few drinks. Way more inviting than a party.
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I want to come I want to come
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Yeah I don't think it was going to be a big meetup party thing, but since Jens is flying in for it I figured it would be sensible to figure out what was going on.
If you guys already have plans then I'll look for somewhere for Jens and I to stay and we can maybe meet up at some point.
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I am going to a ceilidh.
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I am going to a ceilidh.
Doing it right.
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Actually I just found out that said ceilidh might not have a venue.
STREET CEILIDH
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Best kind.
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Actually I just found out that said ceilidh might not have a venue.
STREET CEILIDH
Doing it even better.
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Oh I feel it prudent to point out that people coming to Scotland may not realise that while Scottish shops and things are generally open on Boxing Day while the rest of the UK is still asleep from Christmas celebrations, they are shut New Year's Day and the day after. Plan accordingly.
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What's transport like? I've got over a week to make it back down south but Jens needs to figure out his flight dates.
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I would dearly love to attend, but am skinter than a pocketless compulsive philanthropist.
Is there any possibility of kipping on a floor (oli seems remarkably absent from all of the "yah, okay"ing, are we sure he's in for the shebang?) or perhaps sharing a room in a hostel to drive down the costs? I will be hitchhiking up most certainly so there's no cost on that part. Oh, and I will most likely be wearing a frilly shirt, dicky bow, and braces... that is appropriate hogmanay wear, I feel?
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Completely appropriate.
Glasgow does have an airport, but if Edinburgh is cheaper then the train from Edinbugger is only about 45 minutes to Glasgae and not too expensive.
If you really must, the train from Manchester takes hours but is lovely, although I don't remember how much it was because when I did that my mummy paid.
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The train from Manchester is also 52 pounds as I painfully discovered this weekend. You're probably better off catching a cheap Ryanair flight into Prestwick, which gives you a discount on train travel.
The train from Edinburgh to Glasgow is 10.30 pounds single, but the citylink bus (which runs half hourly but a lot later) is 6 pounds one way and 9 pounds return. I don't know whether that is one day or not though.
Megabus for long distance between cities is okay (I got tickets between Manchester and Glasgow for 10 pounds), I mean, the British countryside is actually pretty okay (really).
Once your in Glasgow everything is within walking distance. I'm sure you can also get hostels for about 12 pounds a month (there might be a yha hostel, which is usually pretty cheap and of fairly good quality).
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I think Jens is planning on flying out of Glasgow but I don't remember the details. I was just concerned about getting to the airport in the aftermath of Hogmanay; do they have limited service on the day after New Year's Day?
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Zodrich, if we can't find a floor, I'll try to have enough money to split cost with you in a hostel or something. I'm getting a lot more hours at work, I should be able to save a good few hundo for Hogmanay with ease. Especially if I hitchhike like you.
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I was just concerned about getting to the airport in the aftermath of Hogmanay; do they have limited service on the day after New Year's Day?
"The Real Frequent Flyer With services up to every 10mins, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, your waiting time will reduce and your journey become hassle free."
Sunday service, which will be the most likely service pattern on the New Years Day/2nd January Public Holidays, has services every half hour or more frequently during the day.
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You're probably better off catching a cheap Ryanair flight into Prestwick, which gives you a discount on train travel.
Train from Prestwick Airport to Glasgow Central is £6.40 one-way, but with your airline ticket booking confirmation type thing you get 50% off so a paltry £3.20.
Trains will most likely be every hour on New Years Day/2nd January, they're every half-hour on normal Mon-Sat.
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Roddy, darryl, khar, and myself in a hostel? Sounds like a money-saving plan.
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And way more fun than crashing on Oli's floor.
Oli, you're welcome to join us on the floor of the hostel if you like.
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IT'S OK JENS WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE NOT WANTED
WE WILL FIND SOMEWHERE TO STAY DO NOT FEAR
I WILL FIND US SOMEWHERE AWESOME AND WE DO NOT NEED TO ASSOCIATE WITH THESE PEASANTS
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What have I done :(
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Some rapid and simple googling has led me to this (http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/scotland/glasgow/) which may be very useful. Who would be interested in getting a hostel, at least for the night of the 31st and the night of the 1st? It depends what kind of quality we're looking for but I'd be happy with just a standard hostel with bunks. For example this one (http://www.hostelbookers.com/property/index.cfm?fuseaction=accommodation.search&strsearchby=Destination&intpeople=1&straccommodationtype=hostels&strdestination=Glasgow%2C+Scotland&intpropertyid=31779&strtab=overview&intdestinationid=1022&availType=Book&languageid=1&dteArrival=31%2F12%2F2009&intNights=2) seems fine if we got six people.
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I am definitely up for that - maybe we could get a mock-up of the cost per person sorted (spending cash included) so that we all have a target to work to? I warn that I won't be able to book it as I won't have the requisite all-over "dolla" until closer to the time.
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I'm happy to book providing that I am certain how many people are going, and subject of course to collateral such as your most prized possession, your kidney, other valuable item. It isn't that I think you'll all be scamming me but I'm on a limited budget so I need to know I won't be left paying for three people who don't show or whatever. The one I linked actually asks for a deposit and then you pay the rest on arrival which is great.
As for other costs, the six-people hostel is self-catered so a little bit of planning could keep that really cheap, and some of the others offer breakfast. It depends what we're planning on doing really. I definitely want to go ice skating as much as possible because frankly I need the practice, but beyond that I have no requirements at all :) I'm envisaging a chilled out kind of deal with no major plans, and something fun for new year. There's the obvious of George Square but frankly it doesn't look worth the money. Let's see what happens I guess.
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Deposit+Arrival is the best idea, I think. It'll be easier to recover if somebody ducks out late on that way, too, right?
I only deal in cash now because of some very foolish money decisions over the past few years and paranoia regarding identity fraud, so I intend to pay for everything upon arrival.
I like the idea of the self-catering hostel. Groceries are fairly cheap and I wouldn't mind sharing at all. Sandwich making contest!
Of course, six of us in a hostel would require some degree of synchronisation in our travel plans.
For me, it's still kinda early to tell. I could either head up with May and Jens, find my own way, or ride on Zachrick's shoulders while he hitch hikes. Dan, Khar, what're your travel plans?
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(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1876/doublefacepalmrr.jpg)
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Jens you just made me laugh, and I have been crying all evening. Keep doing what you're doing.
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May tell me when you are going ice skating because I want to go too.
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I will be christmassing here in bath (it is a family tradition type doohicky) but am free to be slotted into anyone's plans for heading up between then and the very manay of the hog itself. Basically I can hitchhike up whenever you want me. Also May, please PM me your address as it is quite warm in here and I think the kidney I just removed from myself to send as collateral has gone ... funny.
(On a serious note, you want we should send an ipod or some such? I am cool with that and think it is a very good idea to make people commit to this project.)
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May apparently there is a sort of tiny rink in Georges Square that is kept up until January 7. It may or may not be full of chavs.
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Chavs on skates is basically all you get at public rinks, it's terrifying! But hopefully by that point I'll be good enough that they won't scare me (especially if I can find the money to go to the training camp in Finland!) and maybe I can even beat them up and pretend I was practising for hockey.
I don't really need collaterol since I think if someone didn't show we'd probably just not have to pay for that bed (providing of course we're all going for the hostel idea) but I do need to know how many people are wanting to do this.
Me
Jens
Zach
Darrly
Dan?
Khar (is your name Simon? I think it is Simon. Even if it isn't it now is)?
If more people want to come then this hostel has more beds! I'd prefer only to deal with the one booking though.
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If that's the six of us, we all know each other reasonably well and we've all met at least one other of us on multiple occasions. I think six is just about a manageable number, nine plus Katie, Oli and Pickle. There's several other people I can think of in the area who haven't said anything yet, but nine is already a very intimidating number for me.
If anybody else wants to make themselves known, do that NOW so I can have time to mentally adjust. NOW!
NOW NOW NOW!
POST NOW! DO IT NOW
DON'T WAIT! ACT NOW!
What you are you waiting for? ACT NOW!
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Uh, Pickle, Oli and I are not staying in the hostel. Also chances are we will never all be in the same place at once.
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Uh, Pickle, Oli and I are not staying in the hostel. Also chances are we will never all be in the same place at once.
Yeah, I know. S'why I listed you three seperately. Nine people is a lot of people to divide time between over two or three days. I'm selfish, I know, but I want quality time with everybody and I'm very quiet in a large group dynamic. The absence of a large group of people is a huge draw for me and one of the main reasons I'm making real plans this time instead of saying "oh, sure, yeah, maybe".
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I'm (possibly wrongly) assuming that this is turning into some form of forum meet in Glasgow then?
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You assume correctly.
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Uh, Pickle, Oli and I are not staying in the hostel. Also chances are we will never all be in the same place at once.
That is because we are all the same person.
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I'm (possibly wrongly) assuming that this is turning into some form of forum meet in Glasgow then?
I just want to hang out with some of my friends during Hogmanay, I have absolutely no interest in meeting anybody I'm not familiar with. If that's what it turns into, I'll probably call it off and end up using the money to visit the southerners later in January instead.
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It's not meant to sound insulting but there was never a plan for this to be a big meetup like the ones that take place in the US and Canada. For my part I am going because Jens is visiting and it's a good chance for him to see lots of Britain, and the rest of us have all (or nearly all) met at least once before. There will be a big UK meetup at some point, I'm determined about that, but this won't be it. We're only planning on being in the same place for a couple of days and it won't be too coordinated.
Where are you from? Are you from the West End? You're pretty close to me in that case, or at least closer than London, so if at some point you'd like to meet up in London I'd go for that! There are a few of us in the south at the moment.
ETA: having looked at your profile I guess you are from the West End of Glasgow. So London isn't convenient. I'll see what Jens thinks but we could maybe meet up for coffee and you could tell us about awesome places? I have no idea about a schedule yet.
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I don't want to sound like a dick, but if that was the case, why make it a thread on a public forum?
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Although this is a public forum it is also where all of the people referred to in this thread congregate so it is the most logical place to have this discussion.
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Well it was already a thing, but not a big thing. Also it is fairly easy to coordinate in a thread but not so easy to do it through PMs when there are six or seven people involved. When I started the thread I had sort of hoped we could make it into a bigger meetup but since the others had already planned it and I was joining their party, as it were, I respect that they want to keep it small.
I'm quite happy to meet up with new people, I love meeting new people, but I don't want anyone to think it will be a UK version of Chicagocon because there aren't really any plans to do lots of stuff together. I tried to word my reply carefully to give both messages at once; maybe I didn't manage too well. WestEnder I would like to meet up with you! Are there any awesome places in Glasgow that we'd probably not find on our own?
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If you want to keep it small then that's totally cool. Wouldn't feel comfortable barging in on something anyway. :-)
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Cool enough, for some reason I got the impression that it was turning into a meet up.
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The problem is always that a lot of the regulars (specifically meebo and Infinite Pony Debates regulars) know each other outside the forums as well. We talk regularly, know each others actual names, a couple of us have lived together for a while. This is basically where we come to hang out while not actually physically capable of hanging out. It's cool that there are new people and that they want to be a part of it but if you've just joined the boards and no one knows anything about you it's a little weird to suddenly pop up to a "meet-up" which, in actuality, is just some friends who happen to frequent the same board (it is more complex than this but you get the point yeah?).
Nothing personal, new peeps. It's just that for all we know you could be crazed, mutant, libertarian zombies with hooks for hands.
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There is a way into this kind of thing, though. We've all heard the horror stories about meeting people off the internet which is probably why there's a level of caution but I met up with Darrly, Luke C and Will one day which was sort of my ticket to being accepted at one of the bigger meets. I guess it's the same as anything; people don't just hear that a stranger is having a party and decide to crash it, but if they get to know a couple of the people going through more informal meetings then the next time, they'll probably be invited.
It's a good point about the public forum thing though; I guess it depends on the situation? Also on the people going.
So yeah. I've basically reiterated everyone else's points: let's move onto the business of finding out what there is to do in Glasgow!
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Get in fights?
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Don't let us stop you guys from holidaying in Glasgae. It is a great place for New Year's celebrations! The point is that there will probably not be concerted efforts to all be in the same place for long periods of time. If you are going to be in town, we might be able to end up at the same place, maybe! Who knows?
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Hey guys guess what I saw while just walking around in Glasgow:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/TehLetterM/PA219722.jpg)
I wonder who that could be
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What the hell, that girl gets everywhere! How did this happen?
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She is also internet famous in t shirts! It is like an attractive plague.
So as far as I am aware, we have four committed hostelers and two people I haven't heard from.
Jens, Darrly, Zach and I are definitely hosteling it up (right? correct me if I'm wrong). Dan and Simon, please come in! I would like to book fairly soon so that we don't leave it too late.
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I am a definite, yes- I hope dan and simon can make it definite too (I completely missed out on their hangouts when jodie stopped over).
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I'll be working on new year's eve so I'm not sure how practical this would be. Does anyone know what travel is like on new year's day? Also what dates are people planning to stay?
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Jens - those dates work for me. Liverpool is best to fly into as it's reasonably close and there's an extremely high chance that my mum will be able to drive and fetch you (I haven't asked her about that specific day but she is happy to do so in theory). I'll start working out finer details and making arrangements to try and avoid massive expense.
Dan - We were talking about the 31st and 1st, I think, in terms of the hostel. Travelling on New Year's Day is feasible, I've done it before, but New Year's Eve you have to make sure that the trains etc don't stop running too early.
So four definite, one maybe?
ETA: the hostel would be £13.33 the night of the 31st and £12 the night of the 1st. If we added an extra night it would be £13.33 for the 30th and £12 for the 2nd.
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Did you get my PM, Jens?
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Splendid :)
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OK then, Ceilidh options:
Laurie's Bar £25 including buffet, 21:00 to 01:00 (http://www.lauriesacousticmusicbar.co.uk/SpecialEvents.htm)
Sloan's £40 including champagne reception and 3 course meal, 20:00 to 02:00 (http://www.sloansglasgow.com/events)
So cheaper and a bit more down to earth, or posh it up in your finest frockery!
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I need to book the hostel in the next couple of days I think, so final numbers are four, yes?
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Well, I know I will be all tarted up either way. Which is a better place? As in, which will be more likely to have a bunch of stupid pissdrunk fucks all in my way, and which might not?
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I'll see if I can get the 31st off and get back to you asap. Can you make a deposit on the place and cancel it later?
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Well, I know I will be all tarted up either way. Which is a better place?
I've not yet been to either place.
As in, which will be more likely to have a bunch of stupid pissdrunk fucks all in my way, and which might not?
All the stupid pissdrunk fucks all in your way will most likely be at The Ferry. That is why The Ferry was not included in the options.
Another reason to avoid The Ferry is that when we bought tickets for it a few years back, our evening was sprung into disarray when the event was cancelled because the gangplank blew away.
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Guests can cancel their reservation free of charge up to 2 days before arrival. Deposits paid are non refundable.
I'm fairly sure, although I could be wrong, that that means that we would lose the deposit on a bed which went unused. However, the deposit is 10% of the total charge so if we stayed for two nights and you could not come, we would only lose a couple of pounds.
So book for five people? I will leave it until the end of the week and then book, so there are a few days to finalise.
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Go for it, I can pay for any charges or anything.
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OK I'll book on Saturday (which is in the next week for my budget spreadsheet; I am trying to spread out my expenditure and have already spent a fortune this week (see Halloween horror story)).
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So Jens and I will be staying at the hostel on the 2nd as well as the 31st and 1st, it seems. Is anyone else in? If not I shall book separately, which is fine.
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I knew I should have booked at the weekend (so sorry guys, I forgot); the hostel I had been looking at is now full. There is an option of 4 beds in a six-bed room at the BlueSky Hostel (http://www.hostelbookers.com/property/index.cfm?fuseaction=accommodation.search&isdynamic=1&strsearchby=destination&straccommodationtype=hostels&intdestinationid=1022&strdestination=glasgow&strdestinationparent=&intnights=2&intpeople=1&dtearrival=31%2f12%2f2009&fromPropertyNameSearch=0&intpropertyid=4075) which is a tiny bit more expensive at £15.00 per night but has free internet access.
They seem to have a lot of spaces left, and all the beds are the same price regardless of how many beds there are, but obviously the longer we leave it the more likely we are to have to be in a room with 10 strangers rather than 2 or possibly even none.
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For those of you looking forward to the ice-skating in George Square, construction is underway (http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/AboutGlasgow/WebCams/)!
You can even follow Glasgow on Ice's Twitter account (http://twitter.com/GlasgowonIce).
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Due to me being indecisive about booking when I hadn't heard from anyone, we are now booked into a room which has 10 beds altogether. Due to me being totally unable to count I booked four people in one transaction and am in the process of either booking one person in a new one or bumping up the bed count for the first one but I'll get it sorted.
So it's £30 per person for two nights, and you have to bring your passports as ID. They make a big point of it being a backpacker hostel so I imagine it will be fairly rowdy and not the kind of place to take posh suitcases.
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Definitely can't make it due to work ):
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noooooo
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:( that is really sad. But on the plus side (for me anyway), I no longer need to book another bed! There is always a silver lining, even if it is around the size of a 5p coin and buried in a hurricane.
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OK then, Ceilidh options:
Laurie's Bar £25 including buffet, 21:00 to 01:00 (http://www.lauriesacousticmusicbar.co.uk/SpecialEvents.htm)
Sloan's £40 including champagne reception and 3 course meal, 20:00 to 02:00 (http://www.sloansglasgow.com/events)
My mates fancied Sloans, but when we actually got round to getting firm answers about who definitely wanted to go... it was sold out.
So we're going to Lauries. I have tickets for myself and Katie. They don't do debit cards, never mind internet tickets so I'm not sure how non-Glasgow folk could get tickets. Phone and ask if they'd let you send a cheque or something?
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you have to bring your passports as ID.
I don't have a passport.
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Do you have any form of photo ID? Driving licence, college card at a pinch? I can't imagine they will refuse to honour the booking because one person has not got a passport and if they do then we will sue them :)
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So I am getting into Queen Street station around 6pm on Monday. I don't know if anyone wants to start planning shit to do, but I know that we were talking about doing something to/for Darryl for his birthday, and since that will be Sunday evening I'd like to recommend drinking and stuff at the Uisge Beatha for live music, etc. Also, I need people to play with me lots and keep me awake that night because I have to be back at Queen Street to catch my train at 3:30am that next morning (the 4th).
Edit: Monday night actually might not see me do anything more than go somewhere for dinner with Pickle, maybe, and sleep lots. That is what I did at Oli's last time. We'll see. :/
This is eating into my savings quite a lot more than I had anticipated due to the fact that Delta Airlines no longer flies to Scotland (apparently) and there are new departure tariffs and things, so everyone will have to do without the presents I was thinking about bringing with me unless (maybe) I can get it from a grocery. Sorry.
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Well if there wasn't a Katie in town, I'd be planning on going to the climbing wall on Tuesday so if Katie's happy to bum about with other folk then I might still do that.
The ladyfriend has just managed to get Saturday/Sunday night shift off and is quite keen to go to the Edinburgh v Glasgow rugby union match. Tickets are £15 (£10 concession) in advance or £20 on the day. Anyone interested in watching some muscle-bound men in tight shirts run into each other?
Other than that don't have any specific plans.
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I guess I could bring a college card and a birth certificate and see if that works.
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I made a resolution to do only one thing during this trip.
"Do not die."
If we can manage this, I'll call it a good trip.
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We only need to take one passport, so don't worry if you don't have or can't find yours. Jens and I will both have ours so we're covered.
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Queen Street Station at 6pm tomorrow, if I can actually get out of the airport. Bah.