What time do you have to be at the Tower? This might be the occasion for a riverside pub walk, though I wouldn't be surprised if you know all these already: Captain Kidd or Town of Ramsgate, Prospect of Whitby, Grapes (Limehouse), or in the reverse direction. Not sure about allowing time for food, though, especially on a Sunday.

Would love to but that is the first may long weekend and we are heading to the Netherlands to hopefully catch some tulip fields! We are back on Tuesday morning...any chance we could catch up Tues - Thurs night?

Patrick- that would be great. I've been to all those except the Captain Kidd. Town of Ramsgate during the infamous '6 ladies trip', and the PoW several times but YEARS ago. Would be great to meet up at one or more of those. We don't have to be at the Tower til 9:30 (sharp)

jamikins- I knew that was the long weekend so figured it would probably be iffy. Tues. is out completely (tea @ the Ritz and the Audience . . . our posh day) But Wed or Thurs are possible.

janis...

I would love to meet you after so many years following your posts and threads.

With a little bit of prior notice I can take time off work, and as I usually have Thursdays off anyway, the Wednesday evening would work really well for me - and it would be great to meet up again with Jamie and Scott, and Patrick too.

Maybe flanner will see this and decide to join us! Hopefully RM67 (Rose), ssachida, BKP and others will see this and be able to come along as well.

Despite being a holiday weekend, the Sunday wouldn't be best for me due to family commitments.Hopefully we can all work something out for the Wednesday evening, otherwise I can be around that afternoon or on Thursday.

Looking forward to meeting you and your cousin!

I'm not 100% sure I can do it.

But I'm sure I'd prefer it not to be that Sunday evening. Surely you all realise it's Rogation Sunday, when rural fogeys walk the boundaries of their parish, beating them and any small boys who happen to be in the way?

Thursday is marginally preferable to Wed, but all the weekdays look sort of OK at present.

Thurs or Wed should work for us!

(I can't go. I just wanted to say that I'm jealous, both of janisj going back to London and anyone who gets to be in a room with all of you. Carry on.)

I too would like to meet you janis. Unfortunately I fly into London on 10th; doesn't look good

Either Wed of Thurs can work. We want to have a semi-posh-ish 'last London dinner' one of those nights but haven't booked anything so both evenings are a clean slate right now.

flanner - the question is - can flannerpooch join us?

"can flannerpooch join us?"

Sadly, he is no more. Which explains why we've not had his unique insights into travelling lately - though I'm currently editing what turned out to be his last trip report and might be able to publish it before early May (his pawwriting can be challenging).

We've provisionally identified his successor, though she won't be joining us before June. Mrs F's otherwise engaged both nights, so it'll just be me.

Oh flanner sorry to here about flannerpooch! His insights will be greatly missed! I look forward to the last trip report and new insights from flannerpoochess!

Oh - I'm so sorry

His profile photo always made me smile. Handsome fellow.

This sounds like fun! I should be able to make either Wednesday or Thursday so whatever works best for most of you is fine with me.

Watching with interest or perhaps just envy. Not sure I can make it down, but I'd like too. (Big) If I could make it, Wed would be better than Thu for me.

If you can hang out until late September, we'll join you.

Maitai: >>If you can hang out until late September, we'll join you.<<

If you can postpone til Oct -- I'm going to the Niner game at Wembley.

Another colourful London GTG -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/20/bruce-reynolds-funeral-ronnie-biggs

julia_t: ooh - somehow I didn't see your post (the site was slow/fusty for me all day yesterday and I may have just scrolled down and missed it)

Wednesday is looking promising. Patrick - the Sunday pub walk (crawl/stagger) is still doable for sure - but how does Wed. work for you?

Wed 7 May is fine for me. I'm retired, so pretty flexible. The pub thing is a suggestion - if someone's got a better idea, I won't be offended!

Wed will work for is as well!!

Wed is fine. I'd strongly argue for a pub, rather than sit down meal: our last train still leaves ridiculously early.

We are always up for a pub (just for something different)

>>just for something different<<

I'll believe you........

It's good to try new things - who knows, we may even enjoy it?

Ok you guys . . . You have exactly one month to change the crappy weather!!

We're doing our best to get rid of the worst before you get here! Enough snow here today to cancel a rugby tournament and cause a run on bread at Waitrose, but not enough for a even a tiny snowman.

Omg it's still snowing here...enough already!!!

Only the merest sprinkling in the south Cotswolds, and that only on higher ground.

Compare this year's temperatures with those of last year...
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/401303_477437068978825_1690162801_n.png

Mind you, I can remember snow in late April more than once in the last 20 years or so!

OK - I've checked w/ my cousin just to make sure and Wed looks good for us. So it sounds like early evening at a pub?

Fine by me - where would suit? Somewhere central?

We are in! And pubs should be less busy than Thursday. Hmmm...I think you said you are staying near st Katherine's dock...what about dickens inn?

Yes - we have a flat in the Marina (my, doesn't that sound posh? - it isn't)

The Dickens Inn is OK but honestly wouldn't be my first choice - not really many comfortable places to sit. The flower baskets are really pretty though.

"The Dickens Inn is OK but honestly wouldn't be my first choice"

I surmise you don't have Great Expectations for that Bleak House.

Haha not great but the pizza is good...I have never had a problem finding a seat...it's a big pub! Anyways I really am easy...will show up wherever you tell us to be!!

So Wednesday 8th it is.

I'll get on and book my train tickets - while they are still only £8 each way.

I don't mind where we meet. I'll be heading to Greenwich afterwards.

What about the Bridge Lounge where we met a couple of years ago?

>>What about the Bridge Lounge where we met a couple of years ago?<<

Yes, that was OK.
http://www.thebridgelounge.co.uk/

Or if janis and her friend are in the centre already and don't want to rush back to St Katharine's, what about the Old Bank of England in Fleet St?
http://oldbankofengland.co.uk/

That sounds interesting Patrick, with the added bonus that it us new to us!

Marginally prefer the Fleet St place.

Am so envious of your GTG. Would love to meet up again with that lovely trio of Patrick, Jamie and Scott, and to finally meet Janisj, juliat and Flanneruk. Wishing you all a wonderful time!

Fleet street would be great. Location won't really matter to us -- we're on holiday after all

We can get to anywhere from anywhere (isn't that what we are always advising folks?)

Great pie menu at the Old Bank of England. CW would approve!

Old Bank of England - check. Wed. - check. What time? (remember, we're on holiday so any time will probably work for us)

I can be there for about 6ish...Bikerscott around 6:45ish...

Looking forward to meeting up!

Fine by me.

Janisj; enjoy 'the Audience'; we loved it, fantastic performance. Funny too.

Thanks Tulips. I was hoping to see Alice and Peter as well but by the time logistics were sorted, it was totally booked.

OK -- 6-ish at the Old Bank of England, really looking forward to meeting everyone. (Do we need to book?)

It probably wouldnt be a bad idea to see if we can get a table...how many of us are there:

Jamie
Scott
Janis
Cousin
Patrick
Flanner
Julia
BKP

Looks like 8 - will see what we can do...

ok - reservations have been made under Fodors fpr 6pm on 8 May.

See you there!

Terrific - thanks!

See you there . . .

How organised! Thanks.

Looking forward to it! Thanks for organizing, jamikins!

Fly out on Sunday morning and get to Edinburgh Monday afternoon - arriving in London on May 3rd.

I'll have my iPad mini (brand new and I LOVE it! - just wifi, no phone service) so I'll be able to check in here if anything comes up between now and then. But we're set for Wed at the Old Bank of England . . .

Bon voyage janis, and I hope you have a wonderful time in Scotland.

Looking forward to meeting you and your cousin on the 8th and hearing all about your travels. Also to catching up with Jamie and Scott, Patrick, BKP and meeting Flanner.

And if you are reading this RM67 - try to join us!

Hey, is the invitation still open?

Yup!

I'm up in Scotland right now and just happened to be on line (we have really wimpy wifi where we are and only checked in for a few mins.)

The booking can probably be upped no problem (Jamikins???)

Great! Definately should be able to get there.

regards Ger

I am sure it's no problem...e can just grab another chairM. The more the merrier!

Topping! I look forward to seeing you guys tomorrow at the Old Bank of England, which is just 10 mins walk from where I work

How will I know you?

Best Ger

I could wear my Fodors orange scarf? But it may be too warm so perhaps not.

I've already met Jamie, Scott, Patrick and BKP, so assuming none of them have radically altered their appearances I expect to recognise them.

Jamie has booked a table, but I'm not sure whether she'd want me to post her full name here, so let's wait for her to chip in.

To be honest, whenever I've met fellow Fodorites I have never had a problem recognising them. Somehow it seems to be instinctive!

So you will have to recognise me Julia!

I am 5'4, with a blonde bob, will be in a business suit, looking confused, and in need of a glass of wine!

Scott and I still look the same (we will be the devilishly handsome couple haha!) I will have Scott confirm the reservation tomorrow under Fodors! Looking forward to it!

Would it be too tactless to point out that there really aren't many tables full of mixed middle-agers in City fringe boozers these days around 1830?

And even fewer where most are American.

I have slight doubts over my ability to extract myself from a neighbour's wake in time to meet you all (if I'm not there by 1930, please accept my apologies and carry on drinking). But none at all about your collective recognisability.

Have a great time all !

Still remember our very nice GTG last November with Patrick and The Devilishly Handsome Couple (they are !...well they're Canadian after all ), and then my walkabout with Patrick at Billingsgate Fish market in the early hours of the next day. Fodorite GTGs are great !

Who are you calling middle-age flanneruk??? Point taken, probably why we never have problems finding each other when we meet up hahaha!

Mathieu - wish you were joining us!

Reservations are confirmed under 'Fodors' looking forward to meeting you all!

Just a quick note right now . . . What a good time we had! Met up at the Old Bank and REALLY enjoyed meeting everyone. More later -

Fantastic to put faces to names...thank you to everyone that came from near and far! Really great night out!!

Argh! I missed another one! I'm sorry I didn't let you all know I wasn't going to make it. I've slipped a disc and apparently large doses of cocodamel knock me out. I'm glad you all had a lovely time. I'll keep my eye out for the next GTG.

Ah, glad everyone had a terrific time.
I thought about you all yesterday and also wished I was there. A couple of you I've long wanted to meet, and three of you I'd love to see again. Ah well, perhaps the next time I'm in London. Looking forward to hearing more.

M

Sorry to hear that, BKP. Get well soon. It was a good night, but good health comes first!