Hey there...bikerscott and I can likely meet up, will confirm tomorrow as I need to check my calendar at work. How about meeting at The George on borough high street?

http://www.pubs.com/main_site/pub_details.php?pub_id=92

We will need to find a way of recognising each other cause it is quite large...

I'll be there, but bear in mind the George is a long narrow pub with lots of different areas, so maybe we need to specify either right at the front or right at the back!

I expect to see photos!

Agreed! I find the front part to be less busy on Friday nights...shall we at least meet there? At least we know each other Patrick so we can find each other

Thanks Jamiekins and Patrick - that sounds like a great idea. I suppose London Bridge would be the best and nearest tube stop ?
Very much looking forward to finally meeting you all after enjoying your posts, comments and trip reports.

Flanner, any chance that you and the missus and the pooch might be in the vicinity or make the trip in from the country to join us ?

Also looking forward to meeting any other Fodorites visiting London around that time.

Yes, London Bridge - take the exit for Borough High St, and turn left - the George is through a narrow courtyard entrance on the left after about fifty yards.

If you come out via the mainline station or the exit on Duke St Hill/Tooley St, walk towards the bridge and the cathedral, and turn left under the railway line to Borough High St.

Looking forward to seeing you this evening !
Bit of an unexpected travel crisis but now sorting it out.
Will need that drink when I see you all.

M.

Sorry I've only just seen this.

Afraid not. Previous engagement here.

Have fun

Sorry that you were not able to make it Flanner, it would have been very nice to meet you, both in connection with your sage advice on this forum, and possibly in the business world as well, where if I've gleaned correctly from the tidbits you've mentioned, we might have common interests. Hopefully the next time, perhaps.

However, enjoyed a very delightful evening with Patrick_London, BikerScott and Jamiekins ! It was a pleasure meeting you all, and sharing so many stories and laughs over sauvignon blancs and pints of... "London's Best/Finest", was it ? (help me Scott and Patrick, I've forgotten the exact name of the beer.)

It was great to chat about all manner of things, especially the interesting history of the George Inn where we met, as well as our own travel stories to common places we'd visited, and then to have further time with Patrick early the next morning exploring the Canary Wharf area that I'd always wanted to see, and at Billingsgate Fish Market.

The latter was quite the sensorial experience (eye and nose), where after marvelling at the piles of assorted fresh and exotic seafood on offer, we engaged yet another sense (mouth this time) where I enjoyed a long awaited traditional 'egg and chips' breakfast at a proper on-site 'caff', complete with a steaming mug of strong boiled tea so perfect for the mid-single digit morning temperatures, while Patrick make his way through a bacon and scallop roll. The first time I'd heard of this traditional food item, which looked and smelled wonderful. (BTW Patrick, I had my fair share of black pudding the next day at another fry-up b'fast.)

After we parted that morning (blown away by the wind would be a more accurate description), I soon found myself back at the fun area we'd been the previous night, this time across the street at Borough Market and the Market Porter where I was meeting a bunch of friends. Such a vibrant and colourful place ! Lots of fun (and food) there too, followed by walks along the South Bank, past the Globe theatre, across the Millennium Bridge and over to St. Pauls where a sung service was in progress, which we enjoyed for about 20 minutes.

Once again, thank you so much for organising and attending the meet up Patrick, Jamie and Scott. It was great to meet you and most enjoyable ! Looking forward to doing it again sometime.

Cheers !

M.

I am quite jealous. I was supposed to be in London this weekend seeing some of the same folks. Instead I am in New York bringing my mother home from the hospital into a hurricane and losing power and finding a hotel room after three days with no heat and wondering whether her home health aide will be able to get gas. She spent two hours on line this morning but they ran out of gas and people were fighting in the line.

I would much rather have been having drinks and dinner with all these folks. Hopefully we will have another opportunity.

So sorry to hear about all those difficulties, Nikki, I hope they all get resolved soon.

Wow, Nikki, so sorry to hear of your troubles! Thinking of you!

Mathieu it was lovely to meet up with you!! Glad you had a great time!

Very sorry to hear of your troubles Nikki. Living so close to New York we hear a lot about the situation there. I know that there is still a lot of recovery yet to me made, but I hope that your mother's situation has improved and that she is recovering in a safe environment.

Thank you all for your concern, and my apologies to Mathieu for hijacking your thread.

My mother's house has power, she is recovering well from her surgery and her aide managed to get gas after trying all day yesterday. So I am driving home to Massachusetts today.

I was originally scheduled to be flying from London to Delhi today.

Stuff happens.

Thinking of you, Nikki, Maybe we can go to the Rendezvous when things settle.

Mathieu, Any photos of the GTG?