[RodeoRanch]

So. So. So.

There. Bryn just had a seizure.


My beloved job ended earlier than usual and I have several months free. Sure, I could get another job but I feel like a bit of tomfoolery. Hence a trip to the Great Britain. I'm invading and there's nothing you can do about it!

I'm still the early stages of planning. However, I am thinking of flying into London sometime in the middle or perhaps late October. The initial one way ticket gives me plenty of time to fool around on the island until I'm bored/out of money/chased out of the country. I've looking in a Brit Rail pass and that seems like a pretty good deal too.

I'd love love love to see any and all Malazan members that I can on my trip. Steal a spot on your floor for a night if possible. I hardly snore at all. And I can pay in tall tales and animal attacks. I don't know what sort of berserk animals are present in Britain but I can almost guarantee I will be attacked by something. That's just science.

Obviously still in the foggy aspect of planning but give me a shout in this thread or a PM or an email if you feel like helping me plan my adventure and/or letting me visit you!


I've never really traveled abroad on my own before. I've toodled around Canada and the northern US before but I had my truck and buddies. This backpacking trip is an entirely new endeavor for me. I'm excited but nervous too.

[bubba]

....and the Crows wept.

[Tiste Simeon]

Can I book you for a trip to Wales? The sheep would LOVE you! If not I'm sure I can get somewhere.

Would be willing to point you in the right direction for all transport planning etc.

This post has been edited by Hetan: 21 September 2009 - 07:09 PM

[Mezla PigDog]

I can help with any rail travel advice, I don't drive so use the trains A LOT. Also, don't be nervous! I'm happy to give you my mobile phone number in case you get into any strife (although you won't). Having been to all 3, the basics of the UK, US and Canada are pretty much identical. I have travelled alone a fair bit and the only advice I would give is to have a relatively decent plan because I always end up wandering about doing nothing useful when I don't have one (and inevitably end up getting boozed up somewhere dodgy as a rule). I don't mean "Go to X at 0900 hours" or anything. I just mean, I am definitely going to see X, Y and Z. Aren't you a bit of a Roman history fan? So Bath, York and Hadrian's Wall would see you well.

I definitely volunteer to take you to the best tourist spots of Manchester! We have some nominal Roman ruins but the best of Manchester is probably Industrial Revolution era stuff. It isn't that interesting if you don't have a vested interest but I think it is a brilliant city. The main pursuits here are football, shopping and boozing! I will happily fill you in on the best things to see in Bristol and Bath since I have lived in both. And depending on when you are here, I haven't had a day trip to York in ages so that could be fun.

Also, I am heading to Paris on the train from London tomorrow. Theoretically you can go on an easy trip there if you are interested! My train tickets has cost about £100.

[Tiste Simeon]

... And as we all know, York is the greatest city in the WORLD! If you were going there, I would happily come as I spent the first 20 years of my life there.

[Adjutant Stormy~]

I hear the wildlife is fairly tame, but you might yet be mauled by an Irishman or a Welshman.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

I'm always about for a drink in London,let me know when you're due here and I'll PM you my mobile number (it's a mobile not a cell, remember) and provide any directions/guided tours round London you require! Provided it's no more than about 500yards south of the river anyway, that's my limit. Dirty south of the riverers. Everything's in north London anyway.

Make sure you go to the British museum, of course. What sort of stuff you looking to see/dp?

EDIT: That last things meant to say "do", but dp is also a good option. I suggest a trip with Jim to Newcastle, he'd be up for it with a local bird.

This post has been edited by Thelomen Toblerone: 21 September 2009 - 06:58 PM

[Hetan]

I've already offered a stay here in Cambridge - we've got room so if you want to come and see the place, feel free

[stone monkey]

Depending on when you're in Manchester, I can help out with the "native guide" duties... I'll second the recommendation for the British Museum... They had difficulty getting me out of there. It is absolutely awesome. At least some good came from the British Empire's looting of the treasures of the world...

This post has been edited by stone monkey: 21 September 2009 - 07:54 PM

[RodeoRanch]

I do have a history degree, so museums and historical sites are high on my to-see list. And pubs. Lots of pubs.

Not big on shopping or anything like that.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Now pubs we can do. Just make sure you bring lots of money for ridiculously priced London beer. £3 a pint is to be expected, less than £2.50 a bargain, and £4+ places you walk out of in disgust, even here. Do you like ale? If so, you're in for a treat. I'll take you to ye olde cheshire cheese, it's a mental little place where Samuel Johnson, Mark Twain, Tennyson and Doyle are all supposed to have been regulars. Darkest pub on earth. Plus it's a Sam Smith pub, so cheapest beer you'll find anywhere in London (under £2 a pint and good stuff).

Iirc there's an Aztec special thing on at the British Museum atm, but that's just an extra and shouldn't distract you from the rest if you're not into aztecs - I particularly recommend the Lindow Man. I won't ruin it for you, but that's one. Make sure it's not the weekend of the 17th you're in London, as that's my birthday and I'll be temporarily indisposed (hopefully in Cornwall).

I recommend the weekend of the 24th Oct, when I shall be free to delight you no end. STd lives right by me now so I'll rope him in too, even if he doesn't drink, the big teetoal jessie. He can ensure I get home alive though. Unfortunately I can't offer you a room as I'm back with parents (grumble grumble), but I'd give Sexually Transmitted Thursday a try, plus everyone else in London, of who I remember no-one at this time.

Within a 20minute walk of my work alone I can take/direct you to the Tower of London, the capital's only Roman amphiteatre, St Pauls, that church with the templars on the floor in the Da Vinci Code, the Golden Hind, and a whole host more, so there's plenty of crap to see. Get researching! If underground travels not included in your train ticket, I'd suggest buying an oyster card, they're only a couple of quid and literally pay for themselves in one journey - you get about 50% off with one. Only foolish tourists pay full whack, and I'll be darned if I'll let TfL rip you off. A Yank perhaps, but not a loyal Canuck.

This post has been edited by Thelomen Toblerone: 21 September 2009 - 08:49 PM

[Giles]

im up in lancaster. its not the most exciting place though Im always up for some drinks though

[Macros]

if you are a good swimmer I'm sure me and DiBs can fit in a pint or two

[Stradivarius]

come to south wales! we have sheep.............................

[Menandore]

Thelomen Toblerone, on 21 September 2009 - 08:48 PM, said:

I recommend the weekend of the 24th Oct, when I shall be free to delight you no end. STd lives right by me now so I'll rope him in too, even if he doesn't drink, the big teetoal jessie. He can ensure I get home alive though. Unfortunately I can't offer you a room as I'm back with parents (grumble grumble), but I'd give Sexually Transmitted Thursday a try, plus everyone else in London, of who I remember no-one at this time.

I'll probably be around but if you just make plans with Toby then he can fill me in and I'll meet you. If he can remember who I am that is.

[Thelomen Toblerone]

Wait, you're still here?!? I thought you'd abandoned us and gone to Finland? I was in fact 100% sure, hence my pronouncement. No chance of forgetting a scottish essex girl, no fear. In that case, there are at least 3 of us in the north London area!

[Cougar]

I'll offer you a pissup, a walk about Manchester and possibly a bed if you come up North.

If you like history the Sciecne and Industry museum in Manchester is worth a look as is the Imperial War Museum North in Manc', the Jorvik in York is great, as are the Royal Armouries at Leeds. I've got a lot of free time so I'd be up for a day trip somewhere. We'll pencil you in for the boozing as a minimum!

Maybe we could grab Mezla and SM and have a little jaunt out somewhere cool, I have a big car and I don't mind driving. I've not been on a day trip for ages.

Let us know the dates when ou do and we'll firm something up. I wouldn't miss the visit of the pantless man for the world.

Also we could give you an interactive history lesson: Mezla could show you how excessive gin consumption in the 18th & 19th century was the ruin of the working classes.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 22 September 2009 - 07:41 PM

[Macros]

not to mention responsible for the boom in the dog grooming business

[Menandore]

Thelomen Toblerone, on 22 September 2009 - 05:53 PM, said:

Wait, you're still here?!? I thought you'd abandoned us and gone to Finland? I was in fact 100% sure, hence my pronouncement. No chance of forgetting a scottish essex girl, no fear. In that case, there are at least 3 of us in the north London area!

Well sadly I'm still here. Finland is still the goal but it's now looking like it'll be early next year till I get get there. So I'll definitely be around in October, just let me know what the plan is.

P.S. Chingford is not in Essex

[Shinrei]

Quote

Obviously still in the foggy aspect of planning

Was this a crack about British weather?