London Party II: The Babbage Expedition August 22nd / 23rd 2009

[Skinner]

...Bump?

[Engineer]

Well spotted Capt. Skinner. I'm going to see if I can get a room at the Hoxton too.

[Skinner]

I canneh take credit, Mr Engineer. It's all The Governess's doin'.

[The Governess]

...and I hope your endeavours have borne fruit?

[Skinner]

Nope. Dates I needed were sold out within two minutes.

[The Governess]

Ah... a shame, it was such a good deal, on the face of it. I'll keep a sharp lookout for anything else.

[Engineer]

Nope. Dates I needed were sold out within two minutes.

Ditto, likewise 

[Engineer]

I guess its time to do some serious Googling to find suitable hotels. As a start, this is what TripAdvisor came up with for budget hotels in Central London:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HACSearch?geo=186338&q=London%2C%20United%20Kingdom&inDay=22&inMonth=08%2F2009&checkIn=22%2F8%2F2009&outDay=23&outMonth=08%2F2009&checkOut=23%2F8%2F2009&adults=1&geo=186338&refineForm=true&hs=bak08a.tripadvisor.com%3A10023&sortOrder=bv_popHigh&availability=0&zfn_4=4&zfn_6=6&zfn_7=7&zfn_9=9&zfn_11=11&zfn_14=14&unear=&snear=&l1price=0%2C75&l1rating=0%2C999999&zfc_0=0&zfa_0=0&zfb_0=0&zfb_0=0&nameContains=&t_0=0&cat_1=1&l1currency=2

Not being familiar with staying in Central london, before I book anywhere I could do with advice as to the best area to stay with regards to transport practicalities and easily meeting up with everyone else on the Saturday evening (and getting to the team transport on the Sunday). Anyone got any preferences or already booked to stay in a particular area?

[Sir A Poiselamppe]

`From laterooms... near waterloo but cheap
http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/88912_university-of-westminster-international-house-london.aspx
 or

In Old street. this is a bus ride away from the Euston Road and Kings Cross/Euston Stations

http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/88910_university-of-westminster-alexander-fleming-hall-of-residence-london.aspx

[Engineer]

`From laterooms... near waterloo but cheap
http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/88912_university-of-westminster-international-house-london.aspx
 or

In Old street. this is a bus ride away from the Euston Road and Kings Cross/Euston Stations

http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/88910_university-of-westminster-alexander-fleming-hall-of-residence-london.aspx

Since I will be coming via Victoria coach station I would have to tube it to either of these. I guess the Waterloo one would be most convenient for me, but I'm happy to go for Old Street if others from our group ar intending to stay there - I wonder if we could get enough of us to take over a flat?

[Skinner]

The one at Waterloo seems fine for me! It would be nice if we could all stay at the same hotel, too, you know.

[The Governess]

There is also the easyhotel chain- cheap, clean, but distinctly lacking in glamour. I think the most central one is in Victoria.

[Skinner]

As long as we're vaguely going to the same one, it'll be nice, because if one of us gets lost, we all get lost! It'll become a midnight expedition to the Lost Hotel.

[Engineer]

I'm no good at setting these things up, but how about someone more 'in the know' putting together a poll so we can see who would be up for which location or is planning to stay somewhere else/commute from home or a friend's place? When we have some results in it would allow us to build a concensus of where best to book so that we can stay together as a group.

[Doctor When]

Firstly, my apologies for being "out of the loop" for a few weeks - BrassGoggles is now blocked from my workplace, making posting during the daytime (my usual posting time) tricky. At home, I'm currently so busy I rarely have time to log into my emails, let alone anything else!

What with my old PC crashing (now replaced), a packed "summer season" of burlesque and historical stuff, I'm snowed!

Not being able to log on anywhere near as much makes me the least suitable person to try an organise any trips of this magnitude. Hopefully someone else can "officially" take up the reins for this one.

Secondly, I can't make this particular weekend anyway as I've taken a burlesque compéring job instead (sadly, I get paid for looking at attractive young ladies in lingerie).

I am upset to be missing one of the rare steaming days at Crossness, but it does mean I will be all the keener next year (and I can get a pretty good fix of steamy goodness at the Great Dorset in the meantime).

Those of you who need to reach me are best doing so on my home email when (at) doctorwhen (dot) co (dot) uk

[Skinner]

It's a shame to see this fall to pot, but I don't blame you good Doctor. Life tends to snap away lovely oppertunities like these.

In any case, I do hope someone can salvage this one, or perhaps organize another trip somewhere to compensate.

[Cabletwitch]

Yikes, so whats the plan now, people? I'm still very much up for this and I imagine quite a few others could still be, so where do we go from here? It'd be a shame to cancel it now, so have we any contenders for Top-Level-Organiser(tm) anywhere? I wouldnt do it myself, I can barely organise myself getting up on time for work, but surely theres someone out there with the brainpower and skills to get this event wrapped up and rolling?

Bizarre_Chicken, fancy the top job? 

[Llrael]

Unfortunately I can't do the Sunday, so I won't be much use for organising. That said, if nothing else, I'm sure we can do the Science Museum part fairly easily, all we need is a time (10? 11?) and a place (outside?).
Thoughts?

[Skinner]

I don't know; Does Herr Doktor take commission? 

I think that's a good idea, Llrael. But...

Can I suggest 12:30ish, or thereabouts? Within the Noon Hour? It takes me two hours usually to get to London, and to do that I usually have to get up at 7am to get ready.

[bizarre_chicken]

Yikes, so whats the plan now, people? I'm still very much up for this and I imagine quite a few others could still be, so where do we go from here? It'd be a shame to cancel it now, so have we any contenders for Top-Level-Organiser(tm) anywhere? I wouldnt do it myself, I can barely organise myself getting up on time for work, but surely theres someone out there with the brainpower and skills to get this event wrapped up and rolling?

Bizarre_Chicken, fancy the top job? 

Jesus Christ on a bicycle, that'd be a lot of commitment.

Yes, it can be done, yes, I could organise it. I think, though there's not much organising to be done. Plans are pretty much set in motion.

If Dr. When agrees, then I would.

The fact you've the faith in me to organise anything at all is amazing, since I could barely organise a piss-up in a brewery, but I shall be attending at the very least, and if I can help with this then I will.

I would not want to take over planning but if no-one else could, then I would, if only to make sure there is another steampunk meet sometime soon.

[Llrael]

Skinner makes a good point! It'll take us a while to get up there too. So, any objections to meeting around noon-ish?

Don't sweat, B_C, I'm sure you'll make an admirable organiser!

[JennyWren]

Im still planning to go to the steaming on the sunday, and happy to meet at the museum on saturday, may have a plus one

[Ancient Design]

Do we have any idea if there's been a change on ability of us to see the engine actually working?

[JennyWren]

Still planning on making it there on public transport, any one care to join me

Myself and possibly a plus one will be making the trip by public transport


Charing Cross to Abby Wood station

then on the free minibus they supply on steaming days to the station,
http://www.crossness.org.uk/ (visit page)

"Please note that a minibus service will operate between Abbey Wood BR station and our site on all steaming days, at 30 minute intervals. The first minibus will leave from Abbey Wood Station at approx. 10.20 am.

Location:
The Old Works
Crossness S.T.W.
Belvedere Road
Abbey Wood
London SE2 9AQ

Tel - 020 8311 3711 (rang them and confirmed there should be a minibus on the 23rd aug and that its free)
E-mail - crossness@btconnect.com

Admission:
Adults:£4.00 for regular visiting days and
£5.00 for Steaming days
Children under 16: free - minimum age 8

Facilities:
Light Refreshments/Museum Shop/Large Car Park

Depending on where the pub meet, we may join you

[Engineer]

Do we have any idea if there's been a change on ability of us to see the engine actually working?

Sunday 23rd August is a 'public steaming' day, when the Prince COnsort beam engine will be working. Quote from the Crossness website:

"In addition to the above regular visiting days, we will hold three Public Steaming Days in 2009 for the "Prince Consort" beam engine. No booking is required for these days when visitors can visit the site at will between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm - Admission will be £5.00. Please note that a minibus service will operate between Abbey Wood BR station and our site on all steaming days, at 30 minute intervals. The first minibus will leave from Abbey Wood Station at approx. 10.20 am."

EDIT : They also have a large carpark on site.