CANCELLED West London Area, Monthly Pub Gathering 2nd February 2009

A quick reminder of the monthly pub meeting for the West London area.

We didn’t seem to do much 2009 planning in January so we’d better do some this month instead!

Our meetings take place on the first Monday of the month at The Dysart Arms (a bar/restaurant) which is situated on the A307 Petersham Road, between Richmond and Ham (right by the 20mph sign and new pelican crossing). We meet after work, so generally people start arriving from 7.30pm onwards.

The Dysart does a decent range of food, which although not cheap (£12+ for a main course) is usually of a good quality. Some people have a meal, while others just come along for a drink. Following our recent comments about the meal prices, the management have offered to ensure that there is at least one main meal option around the £10 mark on the nights we visit (as they did for the first time in December) and they also seem to be offering a fixed price menu e.g. 2 courses for £14.50 including tea or coffee. [Y]. So we’ll see how that goes for a couple of months and then reassess whether we stick with the Dysart or else look to move on elsewhere [*-)].

The car park is large (it carries on behind the pub), so not normally a problem parking. More details and map can be found at the West London website.

Hope to see plenty of you there [:D]

Bob

 Do you not mean the 2nd February?    4th is a wednesday?  [:S]

Thanks Sue - I was looking at last year’s calendar [:$] 

Bob

 It’s easily done!!!   [;)]

 I intend to be there, now that I’ve got my ‘5! I live near Kingston so getting there shouldn’t be too difficult. Looking forward to meeting some more fellow owners! Also looking forward to seeing the car park heaving with the cars!
A bit disappointed I missed the Brighton Run, but oh well… There’ll be more, I hope! And it was my fault for being busy anyway.
Oh, what’s the policy on non-members turning up? I do intend to join the Owners’ Club at some point, but it’s languishing on the to do list at the moment.

I should be there, unless something crops up.

OneCruelBagel - no problem with not being a member, we don’t turn you away or insist that you join up.  Everyone is welcome!

Great! I’ll see you all there then. Just out of curiosity, what sort of turnout do these monthly meetings generally get?

A very good question - and the vague answer is anywhere between 6 and 20 people!  Can never work out the logic behind the numbers from one month to the next [*-)]

We’ll keep an eye out for you [:D]

Sorry you missed Brighton, next driving event is in February - Valentines Drive.

Bob

 Maybe it depends on what else is happening that night… Some people might not have the same priorities as others! I’m not sure whether I should hope for a small turnout so I can get to know people, or a big one so I can meet as many as possible! I guess that means it doesn’t matter - it’ll be good either way!
 Yeah, I’ll be there. I’ll be the one in the MX-5. Oh wait… [8-)]
With hindsight, I think the Brighton run might well have been more fun than the party, but oh well, I think I’d’ve offended a few people if I’d dropped out! Never mind, as you say, there’ll be another, but the other half might have … alternative plans for that weekend… Still, I’ll be there at the pub gathering!

 And the forecast is drifting between snow and sleet! Could make getting there fun! Still, I’m sure the roads’ll probably be pretty clear… Anyway, it’ll take more than a little winter weather to stop me getting there!

That’s the spirit! [Y]

 I shall make every effort to be there.  But seriously, if the weather and roads are too hazardous then I’m not going to put a ‘black mark’ against anyone who decides not to come along [;)]

 We’ve got some planning for the year still to do - so looking forward to some ideas from you folks.  Don’t all turn up like this… [:#]

Bob

It’s only about 5 miles for me, so I think I shouldn’t have any trouble making it! Looks quite nice out there - snow’s actually starting to settle! Going to be interesting driving tomorrow - first time with RWD and snow!
I shall keep thinking about ideas for the year, got one or two at least, need to see if they’re practical!

With the weather looking a bit dodgy I might be working from home tomorrow so if that’s the case I won’t be going to the meet.  I don’t mind driving in the snow but I have a painful shoulder at the moment which is making driving difficult as it is.

Sorry to hear about the shoulder Helen [:(]

Onecruelbagel - look forward to hearing your ideas [:D] 

As for the weather and driving conditions, based on my personal experience this evening, I would describe them as tricky to treacherous [:O]

I had been visiting family near Crowborough and the return trip took me into Kent and then (having dropped my mum off) through central London.  I had a brief ‘moment’ on the A21 dual carriageway in blizzard conditions on snowy/slushy/icy surface when dropping down from 6th to 5th at around 40mph and took it even more carefully after that.  Struggled for any kind of traction turning onto my mum’s snow covered drive and had a similar experience turning at the end of my (untreated) road.  But as usual, using 2nd gear and low revs, eventually progress was made!  Can’t say I particularly enjoyed the experience this evening, so not really looking forward to more of the same tomorrow [^o)]

Oh well, let’s just see what tomorrow brings us - might be stuck on a tube and unable to get home! 

Bob

I won’t be there tonight - no way am I driving in all that snow.   I HATE snow and fog.   [::(]

As predicted, I’m working from home today so unfortunately I won’t be out tonight boys and girls.

Drive safely those of you who are still going, see you next month.

 I’m playing a game of wait and see at the moment, I think… There is rather more snow than I was expecting! Made it in to work, eventually, but I think I’ll have to see what it’s like this evening. Had a few hairy moments on the way in - rear end was sliding out whenever I gave it any power at all… Crawled the whole way in at about 10mph. Still, got some nice pictures of it in the snow! I’ll post them in a few moments.
I’m sort of expecting it to be a bit clearer by the evening from cars driving over it, but I’m going to see what it’s like at about half six and then make my decision.
If nobody’s going to be able to make it, is it worth postponing it until next Monday? Roads might be a bit easier then!

Full marks (for craziness at least) to anyone who drove their 5 today!

I’m in Leatherhead and we have 10-12 inches of snow so definately won’t be attending tonight!

If any of you do take care on those roads xxx

 I’m going to be heading home in the next half hour or so, I think. I’ll see what the roads are like then and make a decision, but I’m thinking it probably makes sense to postpone it until next week, given how many people have said they’re not going to make it tonight.
Who’s the organiser? It’s probably their call really!