National Meet Up - August 2nd/3rd

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 09 Apr 2008, 22:34

Offer me enough money and I'll rent out my van and sleep in a tent. Not quite up to that standard I'm afraid, but it's got a roof and windows. Don't know if my dog will agree, so you might have to share it with him

.

If anyone can't bring a tent I've got a driveaway awning. It's a tent designed to attach to the van, but is freestanding, so can be put up anywhere. It's got a bedroom, a groundsheet, and you can stand up in it. Got a CampingGaz stove and a blow up mattress as well. I'm well prepared in case of emergency

.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 09 Apr 2008, 23:01

2nd August sounds good to me.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 10 Apr 2008, 03:11

You'd need a draught of about 6 inches and a height of about 3 ft to get up the River Enbourne, Vortex. That's about 50 yards away. The Kennet & Avon Canal is more navigable and is about a mile and a half away.

There are hotels in Newbury, the nearest is the Hilton (south) about half a mile away. There is a B&B at Newtown, also half a mile away.

Probably the cheapest would be the Travelodge at Newbury, Tothill and is fairly convenient for us about a mile and a half - https://www.travelodge.co.uk.

The following are B&Bs from www.yell.com searching for Bed and Breakfast in Newbury. The first, White Cottage, is near us. The rest are less convenient for us.

White Cottage - ??
Newtown, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 9AP
Tel: * 01635 43097*

York Cottage - from ?35 /night
Long Lane,
Newbury,
RG14 2TA

Tel: *0163 541323*
Mobile: *07810 510626

The Old Farm House
Old Farmhouse, Down End Lane, Chieveley, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8TN
Tel: * 01635 248361

Sandra's B & B
19, Kimbers Drive, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1RQ
Tel: * 01635 521571 *

If you want to do Peakspeak here, Transition West Berkshire might be interested in attending/helping/joining in in some way.

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 10 Apr 2008, 08:51

I have been thinking long and hard about PeakSpeak 4, with the trouble being that I cannot see the benefit of it in the format that it has been in (what will it really tell anyone that they won't know by now?). My thinking has been going towards an idea I had a long time ago, which is a party called, "The Party's Over"

So this proposal by Ken is great, and as Chris said, a good evolution of the PowerSwitch meetup.

At the same time I have a lot of affection for PeakSpeak as an event but I think there'd need to be some strong ideas for it to be worthwhile.

26th July or 2nd August are fine as dates for me.

Miss Madam · Post by **Miss Madam** » 10 Apr 2008, 10:08

PowerSwitchJames wrote:My thinking has been going towards an idea I had a long time ago, which is a party called, "The Party's Over" So this proposal by Ken is great, and as Chris said, a good evolution of the PowerSwitch meetup.

Wooo - an end of the world party! Imagine the fancy dress possibilities....

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Apr 2008, 11:48

I think a "Party's Over Party" is an awesome idea!! One which has crossed my mind also . . .

A post-apocalyptic knees-up. What better thing could there be!!

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 10 Apr 2008, 13:30

Hang on! Is this an official 'Powerswitch' thing? Are we going to have to sit and talk about how bad things are or is Kenneal having a party? If it's the latter (beer, food, music and fun), then I'm tempted (veg garden allowing), if the former, I'm not so sure I can spare the time?

I would love to see your house Kenneal. It looks great. I'd also be interest in practical workshops, like cob ovens etc. Not so keen to 'learn' more about PO, reservoir mechanics etc!

I'm also happy to help out while we're there. You don't have a polytunnel to put up or something do you kenneal? I need to learn how to do that!

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Apr 2008, 13:46

I like the idea of a mini-festival type thing, where we can eat, drink and be merry, but also learn skills and learn about sustainable stuff generally, and swap notes on what we have each achieved so far.

We all know about Ghawar crashing or whatever (yeah I know it's debateable), but a bit of community-building - starting with this community - definitely wouldn't go amiss I reckon.

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 10 Apr 2008, 13:49

Yeah, how about a 'Party's just beginning Party'?

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Apr 2008, 13:52

Might not be doomerish enough for some!

I quite like the 'doomer party' concept. It makes me laugh! (is that wrong?)

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Apr 2008, 13:53

How about the 'Powerswitch Infoswap'?

Or some other such twee concept . . .

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 10 Apr 2008, 14:38

Or the 're-connection' party? Reconnecting with the earth and all that. Could do some meditation, tai-chi in the mornings for campers, bit of worshiping the soil (moving compost around), and worshiping the barley god by swilling her finest beer. Man.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Apr 2008, 15:06

SunnyJim wrote:Or the 're-connection' party? Reconnecting with the earth and all that. Could do some meditation, tai-chi in the mornings for campers, bit of worshiping the soil (moving compost around), and worshiping the barley god by swilling her finest beer. Man.

I can dig that.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 10 Apr 2008, 16:45

PowerSwitchJames wrote:At the same time I have a lot of affection for PeakSpeak as an event but I think there'd need to be some strong ideas for it to be worthwhile.

No reason why the "PeakSpeak" "brand" can't still be used.

It could be called: "PeakSpeak4 - the party's over, let's head for the hills". (Although, I'm not sure if there are any hills near Newbury.)

Bandidoz · Post by **Bandidoz** » 10 Apr 2008, 16:49

Some ideas:

"Transition Party Newbury"

"Transition Festival Newbury"

"Energy Descent Fete Newbury"

"Powerswitch Fete Newbury"

"The Party's Over but it's just begun"

"It's lights out from me and it's lights out from him"