GSIAD VII (Stag on wheels)

Fair enough :)

I have to bail from my own stag on wheels.

I'm basically a mess this week, but the key reasons:

• Our cooker (and hob) broke 10 days ago and after fighting to find parts and an electrician to fix it before Christmas, the only time slot we could get it fixed is this Saturday 8am-5pm
  
• The venue for our informal drinks reception for our wedding - Hilton Park Lane - yesterday informed us that we can't do what we planned as it breaks health and safety. As of this moment we appear to have no reception venue and are £2k down on a non-refundable booking that cannot now be used for the purpose intended
  
  

So unless I stay home Saturday and am on the phone, we'll have neither the means to cook over Christmas nor a reception venue.

This last couple of weeks has been hell, and I was looking forward to just forgetting about stuff for a day and enjoying myself. But I can't... I've got to sort out all this stuff.

Not sure if people still want a GSIAD, if so someone should step up as the ride leader.

not so sooooooon

Oh no that is awful David. Why has the reception problem emerged so late in the day?!

Best of luck finding an alternative.

Fuck. Tough times. ..

Why has the reception problem emerged so late in the day?!

Although we originally shared our plans in full before booking, it appears that this information was mislaid/forgotten. So when I emailed them to ask for enough champagne flutes, plates and forks for the cake, etc... they suddenly freaked out that the plans were incompatible with fire safety numbers, health and safety, etc.

Basically telling us that we could not have a drinks reception in the suite we'd booked.

I believe we've just sorted the venue though... the Hilton has upgraded us.

We now have the Presidential Suite which can accommodate the numbers we intend (20-30).

We have to accept a waiter for all drinks, a corkage fee (exceeds most bottle costs) on any bottles brought in, and to sign health and safety forms for any food brought in.

But those things are either fine, or allow us to negotiate and work out alternatives (we might cancel the Majestic wine order and just buy the wine from the hotel).

Phew, one thing solved.

Still have to get the cooker fixed so we can eat food over Christmas and New Year, but this enormous source of stress looks like it may be resolved.

fuck it. i am gonna do it anyway.

david - will sacrifice some liver and some rubber in your honour.

We now have the Presidential Suite which can accommodate the numbers we intend (20-30).

Wow, the Hilton freaked out before realising that they could and should just put you in a room that would Make Everything Okay? (more or less). Customer service fail.

Congratulations on impending weddedness, hope everything works out better than expected and there is no more surprise stress...

We now have the Presidential Suite

Incredible that they ever thought anything less would do. :)

Shame you can't make it, David, although I'm still hoping that the cooker problem somehow won't need your attendance.

I'm still in, too.

I'm in for the C&H if you still are, VB...

I will see Schick and Jonny and any others that arrive at the Flask, N6 at 1530ish.

and yes Swain's is open.

Come on, Arvy, you know you want to be at the C&H at noon. :)

See everybody in a bit.

12:30 arrival for me

Going to try to get up the hill for 3.30...

crazy times here at Souths

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got really wild at SEs

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totally off the hook at norths

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Jonny, off the chain.

the members of the ride were few, but of the highest quality, nice to see you jonny, oliver and cynthia, long time no see
we got to the coach and horses at spot on 12 but pub remained firmly shut for myself and oliver ... eventually the bar staff rocked up and we got in and quoshed the first pint

south easts then norths

picked up a 5th from norths

then headed east, where the night drew to a close as far as the 4 starters were concerned

great day, cold, sunny and perfect bar the absence of our glorious leader ... a few pints were raised in you and lady stardusts honour

these reprebates are probably still out there drinking at way past 8pm tsk tsk

And the two of us, space invader, thomas, probably the last. Still in the pub, not the ine you planned but a big thought and best wishes for your wedding!!!

Lovely little pub crawl yesterday, great company. Toasts were raised to David and Felicity. We called it a day after the Jolly Butcher's.

When you see it, you'll shit bricks.

Hahaha^

Glad you managed to scrape a grand slam together :)