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FIRST STEPS FOR THE BIG MEET - with an update post from me
hi everybody, i've spent a wee while today jotting down lots of notes and thinking about our big meet. It's great that you're all happy for me to arrange it, and I'm grateful for the offers of help which J
One thing that I MUST say (I apologize if it in anyway sounds blunt) is that this event will be pretty large and quite tricky to organize given the numbers, and the fact we are dotted all over the place. What I aim to do is come up with a date, a time, a location.... And on the whole, an event which will be good and practical for the majority.
Please understand I won't be able to cater for every bodies individual wants and needs, and in some way, we will probably all have to put in some effort or make sacrifices if we are wanting to come along. A lot of us will have to travel, dates might be a bit dodgy for some, each baby has a routine which could easily get out of sync if traveling to come to a big meet - so we really need to try and stay open minded and tolerant of ideas which may not suit us individually to a T. If it's going to happen everybody needs to try and be flexible.
What I've got in my head is a really fun, exciting day, loads of kids having a great time, us ladies having a big gossip and a great time playing with the kids.... and of course the OH's looking rather overwhelmed and flustered by the kids/baggage/traveling! Lol. I hope that I can arrange this in real life for us.
As part of my notes, I've come up with a list of steps I need to take, the first two steps are the following
* GATHER NUMBERS
This is going to be vital for all of my planning to come
*COST
None of this can be arranged without money - where is this money going to come from?
So girls, what would really be fantastic, is if you can hit the reply button and tell me (hypothetically as of yet) if you DID come.... Who would you be bringing... just a number of persons (lets keep this simple) just to give me a rough idea to begin. Also.... What are your suggestions about cost... I've been toying with the following ideas that have been suggested but I'm sure we can come up with more....
*we each buy a ???????family ticket??????? - I have no idea what it would cost... but the idea being, these tickets will cover the cost of everything - so technically the cost is split equally between every member that wants to come
*we make it a charity even and get some sort of funding/sponsorship to cover costs such as the venue, and then we buy a ticket - for which the proceeds will go to a chosen charity.
So hit your reply buttons now with a number and ANY cost suggestions what so ever (cost is a biggy!)
Love linzi XX
[Modified by: linziMc on 03 February 2009 19:41:08 ]
One thing that I MUST say (I apologize if it in anyway sounds blunt) is that this event will be pretty large and quite tricky to organize given the numbers, and the fact we are dotted all over the place. What I aim to do is come up with a date, a time, a location.... And on the whole, an event which will be good and practical for the majority.
Please understand I won't be able to cater for every bodies individual wants and needs, and in some way, we will probably all have to put in some effort or make sacrifices if we are wanting to come along. A lot of us will have to travel, dates might be a bit dodgy for some, each baby has a routine which could easily get out of sync if traveling to come to a big meet - so we really need to try and stay open minded and tolerant of ideas which may not suit us individually to a T. If it's going to happen everybody needs to try and be flexible.
What I've got in my head is a really fun, exciting day, loads of kids having a great time, us ladies having a big gossip and a great time playing with the kids.... and of course the OH's looking rather overwhelmed and flustered by the kids/baggage/traveling! Lol. I hope that I can arrange this in real life for us.
As part of my notes, I've come up with a list of steps I need to take, the first two steps are the following
* GATHER NUMBERS
This is going to be vital for all of my planning to come
*COST
None of this can be arranged without money - where is this money going to come from?
So girls, what would really be fantastic, is if you can hit the reply button and tell me (hypothetically as of yet) if you DID come.... Who would you be bringing... just a number of persons (lets keep this simple) just to give me a rough idea to begin. Also.... What are your suggestions about cost... I've been toying with the following ideas that have been suggested but I'm sure we can come up with more....
*we each buy a ???????family ticket??????? - I have no idea what it would cost... but the idea being, these tickets will cover the cost of everything - so technically the cost is split equally between every member that wants to come
*we make it a charity even and get some sort of funding/sponsorship to cover costs such as the venue, and then we buy a ticket - for which the proceeds will go to a chosen charity.
So hit your reply buttons now with a number and ANY cost suggestions what so ever (cost is a biggy!)
Love linzi XX
[Modified by: linziMc on 03 February 2009 19:41:08 ]
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Replies
Money isn't really a problem, everyone is in a differenct finacial situation so what might be a lot for someone may not be to much for others.
How much is this family ticket? Would it be the same cost if it was just 2 people going i.e 1 LO and 1 mummy, or different if more people go?
xx
This is gonna be very tricky to organise!
This is gonna be very tricky to organise!
Otherwise could we approach somewhere LIKE alton towers to see if they could accomodate us.
Alternatively to keep costs down could we arrange to meet in say Hyde Park for a picnic so everyone caters for themselves and cost of bouncy castle etc could be met by Prima baby????
I'd probably try and come with 2 kids and oh if poss.
Maybe we could send an email to Prma and suggest to them, the pinic suggestion sounds good, i could do some research if you want, you never know it could be a feature in their magazine, cost yeah it depends but charity event is the way to go.
Don't mind paying but I'd MUCH rather the proceeds went to charity.
xx
I'm bribing my OH by offering to go and see HIS family!
The "event" is going to have to be long enough and entertaining enough and also "different" enough, for people to arse themselves to travel from all over the country - so i was thinking of making a lot more of it than just a play area type thing,.... as it could well be a one off meet, a once in a blue moon oppertunity for everybody to get together.
BUT, this is the reason i really would just like a number from you all to start. if i'm going to do it it needs to be done in steps and kept as simple as poss, we can't really think about venue's etc until we know numbers.
What i meant by cost, wasn't individual travel expenses or what have you, i was thinking more along the lines of booking an indoor venue, some type of function room, having some sort of entertainment for the kids, whether it be hiring a bouncy castle or a magician for older ones, having some sort of buffet/spread on for the grown ups - that's the expense that i'm thinking we need to cover. I obviously can't go and book things up using my own bank account - not knowing if i'll get it back from somewhere..... get me?
I personally would love to meet you all, really. BUT... i don't want to sit on a train for 3hours or so and drag my OH along, if it's not going to be a fantastic event i'm going to! i hope you agree.
So anyway, i'm waffling - but please just a number, and if you have any ideas about cost then chuck those in too
XXX
costs... personally wouldnt want to have to pay too much as i can see the travel etc costs being quite high for us/me....
xx
As for money - I'm clueless!
Some venues will offer complementary/reduced rates for bookings if they are in aid of charity so the charity benefits more. Obviously i know we need to decide costs to determine a venue, and a venue to determine costs, so a bit of a viscious circle really, but this could be worth bearing in mind when contacting places x
So for me it would be me george who is 6 months and bella who is 2! Money is not a problem.
I will also suggest not just for selfish reason because tue, wed and thurs are best for me but also travelling wise I know mondays and fridays are a bit of a nightmare.
We could look into a community halls and places like that as sometimes they rent out halls for a smaller fee. xxxxxxxx
Firstly you are fab at this hey!!
I would love to come we do live in Germany though as hubby is in the army so he may or may not be able to make it. We do come back to the uk now and again to stay I am here at the moment till I pass my diving test eeeek!!
I think doing it for a charity is great, prob best to come up with a location first then look at the venues in that area??
So numbers - 3 if hubby's isn't away anywhere stupid
2 If he is xxx my little one is 20 weeks xxx
some really good suggestions everybody... really thinking a charity event is the way to go but we'll wait and see....
please trust me, theres a method to my madness
Are happy to pay to come. What about somewhere like a leisure centre or town hall - somewhere with a big space?
LinziMc - looks like you're doing a fab job so far! xx