Nice firm hand on the tiller there Tim. Ta for your efforts so far. Couldn't get their website-menu-pulldown to work on this phone but searching for Russell Arms menu and Christmas brought up the two separate pages ok - assume we can choose from both menus. Guess we could Bacs u a tenner, not fair u pay all our deposits .

I'll adjust the route and send to you. Pls cld u PM me the exact location of Sam's?

On its way.

This is all sounding a bit complicated. I assume I still get to turn up, ride for a bit, sleep, then leave at some point right?

TheBrownDog wrote: we're going here:

http://therussellarms.co.uk/

TheBrownDog wrote: check out the menu and let me know their choices.

Is this from the Christmas menu, with crackers and stuff?

Do we get the "Prosecco reception"?

If so, then mine is:

Starter: - Oak Smoked Salmon, Pickled Mussels, Horseradish Cream, Rocket Leaves

Main: - Braised Lamb Shoulder, Jerusalem Artichoke, Roasted Root Vegetables

Dessert: - ‘Christmas Pudding’ Parfait, Clementine, Ginger Crumble Guinness & Vanilla Ice Cream

Jesus... should I bring a tux? Oh... and I guess I might as well pick:

Starter: Goats Cheese Mousse, Golden Beetroot & Pomegranate Salad, Spiced Walnuts
Main: Braised Lamb Shoulder, Jerusalem Artichoke, Roasted Root Vegetables
Dessert: ‘Christmas Pudding’ Parfait, Clementine, Ginger Crumble Guinness & Vanilla Ice Cream



(If you post a paypal.me link or whatever then I'll be happy to send over the dinero)

Not taking orders just yet. Will do a group message later. (Im with Richard though - exact same choice)

Zippy, presume the likelihood that you're coming has moved up to 100%, yes? Sweet. That makes a very round 15 of us.

(What hammock are you using BTW and do you need any bits n pieces? Heaps of places to swing in Sam's field and Id do the same except he's put a wood burner into the round house and Ive dibbs'ed a spot on the floor in there so not bring a shelter.

Richard thanks for the offer, but I will just pay the deposit once we're closer to the date and we know exactly who is genuinely turning up, and collect £10 from everyone in cold hard folding on the day. Anyone who doesn't pay up will be hunted down.

This is starting to make me wonder whether the Welsh contingent should have a whip-round for a packet of rich tea to pass round?

Bearbonesnorm wrote:This is starting to make me wonder whether the Welsh contingent should have a whip-round for a packet of rich tea to pass round?

One thing's certain... I've made the right choice.

Deciding between the lamb and the turkey is about as much suffering as I'm willing to put up with on bikepacking lately.

Oh dear, it’s looking like bringing a knife to a gun fight

https://m.youtube.com/watch?ebc=ANyPxKr ... zzE6XLbC8M

Have they been disturbing you?
No. It's just that--
Well, frankly, they're offensive-smelling.
I mean, they smell bad.
Excuse me. I'll see if I can locate another table for you.

I'm in a benevolent mood this morning, so hopefully you've sorted out a new public house and remember ..............

So what time are you all planning on setting out on the Saturday? I'm hoping not crazy early.

Richard G wrote:So what time are you all planning on setting out on the Saturday? I'm hoping not crazy early.

Was about lunchtime last year. There were two meetings points too so you have two options

That'll work. I just didn't want to have to get a B&B / whatever nearby on the night before.

Richard G wrote:That'll work. I just didn't want to have to get a B&B / whatever nearby on the night before.

We had an earlier meeting point in Berkhamsted, about 3 or 4 of us met there. We had a nice little ride via the Ashridge Estate to meet the others in Tring about 2 hours later. Definitely won't need a B&B, although I'd probably leave as early as you can face it on Saturday as the traffic can be quite variable on any of the roads you might choose to get there on

Tim's asked me to send round the GPX. Please can people PM me yer email address. As he says it's important not to advertise the destination (the spot, not the pub) so please don't describe it on here.

Yep, we met at Tring railway station at 1pm last year. Probably done by 1pm Sunday. There's loads of bailout points anyway if you need to. There's at least three caffs on the way round, and plenty of route shortening/lengthening options depending on how the time goes. Dinner served at 8.30 (that's past my bedtime, but pub stipulation Tim says). If we get to the pub early that just means more time for cocktails .

Tim had a whatsapp group last time which was handy so might be worth having that again, so presumably we need to PM him our mobile #s. I suppose this thread is effectively a whatsapp group anyway .

Can't think of owt else for moment. Oh, apart from "thanks Tim for pulling it all together".

"Reg"/ChrisS

Reg, do you want my email again? You should have it already... happy to send again if you don't

It was me that set up the whatsapp group, there are still 6 members on the group from last year, but we have different attendees

I have my spreadsheet from last year with everyone's email and phone number, do you want me to ping that to you?

Ben can you pop that spreadsheet over to me too? I've got another one going for dinner orders which I will call for next week.

Thanks
Tim

I'm trying so, so very hard to ignore the fact you've got a spreadsheet ... but I can't help myself, sorry.

Spreadsheet on it's way to you both, including details of all the orders from last year for sentimental value

Let me know if you need a hand arranging anything

"I'm trying so, so very hard to ignore the fact you've got a spreadsheet" .

You haven't seen the Powerpoint presentation yet!!

It's true, it's quite sad, but I'm a proper nerd really. And my job is quite spreadsheet heavy so it's a very comforting place to operate in!

My kit spreadsheet is particularly worrying, I daren't even show it to people for fear of the level of ridicule that would take place

Sorry Ben, no offence meant at all, it's just a different world to the one I come from where a 5 second sketch or scribbled list on the back of an old envelope, provides all the info required in any situation or for any task.

Different worlds - which is one of the things that makes This Place so interesting .

I dabbled around in IT for 30 years or more and NEVER touched a spreadsheet, which must be some sort of record. One of (many) reasons I dislike them is they start off nice and simple but can rapidly spiral into unintelligibility/unmaintainability. But like you Stu, I've got a recycling bin full of old envelopes with lots of scribbling on . Once the back of envelope (oh alright, fag packet too ) is full then you've done too much planning.

I dabbled around in IT for 30 years or more and NEVER touched a spreadsheet

That's because you gave it up 20 years ago Reg, spreadsheets still hadn't been invented

Arf! True. I was still submitting work on punched cards when I left .