Ship of Fools: Possible Edinburgh ship-meet 3rd/4th February

Thread: Possible Edinburgh ship-meet 3rd/4th February Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

I'm going to be in Edinburgh for a couple of days en route to Orkney on Tuesday-Wednesday 3rd-4th February, and generally mooching about with not much to do (I'll be staying at my sister's in Balerno and she'll be at work during the day).

Would any form of ship-meet be feasible? I've never been to one*, let alone organised one, so advice would be appreciated.

* We'd thought of going to the London Pete-meet one year, but RL got in the way.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

I'd recommend choosing a place and time and telling folks to be there or be square - you can then be flexible without, and even without, those parameters but it gives a starting point.

I won't be joining you but have fun.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

I should certainly be around on the Wednesday. Possibly also Tuesday.

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I have a meeting in Glasgow on 2 Feb, so could stay over with the North East Loon and be in Edinburgh on the 3rd. Or I could have two nights with the Loon and come through on the 4th. Count me in!

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Rats, I think I'm in Pavia then.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

I will be in the Burgh on 3rd Feb. I have a lecture from 5.30-6.30pm, but would be free beforehand or afterwards. Will also be there on 4th, available any time.

[ 09. January 2015, 08:55: Message edited by: Cottontail ]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Sorry I'll miss you, Firenze. [Frown]

Could I suggest lunch on Wednesday 4th?

Although they're not awfully adventurous, I have huge soft spots for
Pierre Victoire and Cafe Rouge; there's really nothing like either of them over here. However, if anywhere else of a similar ilk springs to anyone's mind, I'm certainly open to suggestions. Or, for that matter, pubs with good food - we haven't really got anything like that over here either.

I note that the Café Rouge is in Frederick Street, which I think even I* would be able to find, assuming that buses from Balerno will deposit me in Princes Street.

* I share a sense of direction with Captain Slow from Top Gear, and could get lost in a village with one street. [Hot and Hormonal]

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

I should be in Edinburgh on Wed 4th, but only have an hour for lunch, and it would be a 20 min walk there from where I work (and 20 min walk back too, obviously!) so I would struggle to make that work. But if it was around the George IV Bridge area (off the Royal Mile - just up the hill from St Giles Cathedral) then I would be much more able to make it.

BUT, see who else is going - if either of those places you mentioned suits everyone else then don't put yourself out on my account... I do sometimes have to take leave last minute if the Elf Lass is unwell, so I would make your plans and then I will join in if I can.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

I'm sure I could get myself to wherever is most convenient for everyone - as I said, if anyone has other suggestions for venues, I'll be delighted to hear them.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

As JtL suggested places near the Royal Mile, do any of these look feasible?

I'm not made of money, so the really up-market ones are probably a bit beyond me, but if anyone has experience of any of the more realistic places (The Hub looked vaguely promising) I'd be interested to know what you think.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Surely Piglet, you must want to go to a restaurant called Oink?

As a general thing, I would tend to favour slightly off-Mile locations like Vjctoria St, George IV Bridge (eg The Elephant House) or Forrest Road (Namaste Kathmandu, The Doctors) - particularly for a lunchtime.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

I've been to three places on George IV Bridge for meets, at The Elephant House, Vittoria's and The Outsider (IIRC). Of them, I was least impressed by the Elephant House; however, the other two are proper restaurants so if we're looking for a cafe lunch Elephant House might be the most appropriate. There are cafes and restaurants on the other side of the road also: I think I'd prefer Caffe Lucano to the Elephant House, although it is smaller and gets busy.

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :

I am watching this with interest - if you choose a day, i might be able to swing time off and come and join in

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Surely Piglet, you must want to go to a restaurant called Oink?

I certainly had a look at their web-site, but as the specialise in hog-roasts, I was kind of put off - I'm not wild about pork, and certainly not if it still looks like a piglet ... [Eek!]

I'll have a look at the web-sites of the places you've mentioned, and try and make a decision (I'm not very good at decisions!).

WK, it would be great if you can come - I'm thinking Wednesday 4th February looks the most likely.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Surely Piglet, you must want to go to a restaurant called Oink?

I certainly had a look at their web-site, but as the specialise in hog-roasts, I was kind of put off - I'm not wild about pork, and certainly not if it still looks like a piglet ...

And - at the risk of taking a joke too far - don't think of going to a Portuguese restaurant, at least not one which offers leitao assado on its menu ... [Devil]

(I've lived in Portugal, but I don't think I've ever eaten it).

[ 13. January 2015, 17:09: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Poor little thing. [Frown]

I've had a look at the web-sites Dafyd mentioned, and Vittoria's looks very appealing; I love Italian food, especially the breads, platters and antipasti that are light enough for lunch. Is it the sort of place where we'd have to book (I noticed there's an on-line booking facility on the web-site), or could we just turn up?

Do we need to exchange PMs with names, contact numbers etc.? I don't think I'll have mobile contact: North American mobiles cost a bloody fortune over the pond (our provider actually told us it would be much cheaper to buy a cheapie PAYG mobile when you get there).

Again, all advice/opinions appreciated. [Smile]

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I've been part of a largish group (8, I think) who just turned up at Vittorias, and we were fine, but I think booking would make sense.

Posted by Derf (# 2093) on :

Boo, I'm away those days. Have fun.

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :

Vittoria's on the Bridges has been the location for a couple of previous shipmeets.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

At the Edinburgh meet I went to, we met downstairs in Vittorias at a long table in a quiet corner, that was perfect for a shipmeet, especially as it included children. We were quite out of the way of other diners in the restaurant. The food was gorgeous, so I'd recommend it too.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

I'm happy to go with Vittoria too - it's much more convenient for work. And actually, if we set a deadline for people to say they're coming I can pop in and make a reservation.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

So far we seem to have:

Piglet
Dafyd
Jack the Lass
Cottontail
North East Quine
Wet Kipper (possibly)

If a booking is to be made, would it be easier to be done by a local who'll have a contact number, or would I be OK booking it online from here?

I'm not sure what my transport arrangements will be: I may be able to get a lift into town, but most likely will be bussing it in from Balerno; I'll have to find out where the buses go, and if I need to get a second one once I'm in the city centre, but I can check that with the family.

I take it we can wait a few more days to see if anyone else is interested before making the booking: I'd suggest 12:30 or 1:00 unless anyone has any better ideas.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

Hi Piglet - I would think it would be easier to do the booking locally (not least because if numbers change it is easier to sort out I would have thought, rather than trying to find reference numbers and booking details and all that kind of stuff online). I walk along George IV Bridge on my way to and from work, so it's no bother for me to actually pop in there and speak face to face to a real person [Smile]

It's 3 weeks away, so I think we could leave it another week before needing to give them rough numbers - I can't imagine on a Wednesday lunchtime they will be heaving (from personal experience, the heaving places will be the Elephant House next door and Nandos over the road!).

[ 15. January 2015, 21:20: Message edited by: Jack the Lass ]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

That makes sense; if you don't mind doing the booking that'll be grand. It really looks like my sort of place - I'm getting quite excited.

[Smile]

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :

We went to a Shipmeet at Vittoria last year, and they were great (it won't affect you, but gluten and dairy free was easy there).

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I'll have to leave just after 2pm, to catch a train from Waverley at 2.28.

I'll be lurking round Museums of Scotland before lunch, so if anyone wants a pre-meet museum daunder, I'd be up for that.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

I'd be up for that, NEQ. I'm staying in town overnight from Tues-Weds, so will be hanging around the town centre. I could be at the Museum for about 10.30am.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

If NEQ has to leave by 2, would a 12:00 start make more sense, or would that create problems for the rest of you?

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I'm assuming that Jack the Lass's lunch hour would be over by 2pm anyway, so we couldn't be later than that. When is your lunch hour, Jack?

I'm staying chez the Loon the night before, so 10.30 sounds do-able, but not any earlier. I'll check train times.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

Okay. It can be later if you wish - no problem for me.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

I'm not sure what time I'll make it into town. It will depend on when we get the Dafling out of the house and to nursery, and then how the rest of the morning develops. I'll probably be up for meeting at the Museum by 11.30.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

I don't have a set lunch hour as such, I can take it when I want, although my preference is to be earlier rather than later (there's only so long I can go without food [Big Grin]

). 12.30 should be fine for me though. I would just have to be back for 1.30.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

By the way piglet, I just deleted your email thinking it was a PM and I'd see it when I logged in. Whoops. I do remember your real name though, so will make contact on fb if that's OK! (Jackie K...).

Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :

Sorry, missed this thread, I see you have settled for lunch time. If others are up for it I could do an early tea on the Wednesday. (can be in the centre for about 5pm.) i realise that this is unlikely to work for people but thought I would put it out there.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

SM, I'm afraid 5 o'clock is probably too late; NEQ has a train to catch and it's possible I'll be involved with stuff with my family in the evening - they're all working during the day so it made sense to have the meet when it wouldn't affect anything with them.

I'm sorry about that - it would have been great to meet you. [Frown]

JtL and the rest - I'm on Facebook under my real name, and contact through that will be great.

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

[Waterworks]

I'm really sorry, but I'm going to have to pull out of this meet. My dad phoned today to tell me the arrangements for my aunt's funeral, and it turns out it's the day before, so while you're having a lovely meal in Vittoria, I will be stuck on an East Coast train heading back north and praying that the Elf Lass doesn't do a poo till we get back home and that I can entertain her for several hours.

I'm still happy to make the booking for you though, although I will probably give somebody else's name as it will be a bit silly giving mine!

Sorry again. Baws [Frown]

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

[Waterworks]

What a sad reason for having to cancel, Jack.

(((Jack the Lass)))

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Oh Jack, I'm sorry to hear that. Hope your arrangements go as well as can be expected for the funeral, and again, sorry we'll miss you.

[Waterworks]

I would do the booking online, but I have no UK mobile, and they might need a contact number.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

Sorry to say it looks as though I'm going to have to cancel as well.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

[Waterworks]

Does that leave me, NEQ, Cottontail and Wet Kipper?

Should I go ahead and book Vittoria's over the web, and leave my sister's phone number if they need one?

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

I'm still coming, Piglet! I'm in Edinburgh this Monday as well, so if you'd like, I can pop in to Vittorio's and book a table for 4 in my name. I can then PM you all with said name ... [Smile]

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

I'm looking forward to it!

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :

I'm still up for it.

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :

Smaller shipmeets are the very best. In larger ones I don't always manage to meet people properly. But they are still fun in a different way.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Excellent - Cottontail, that would be very much appreciated.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

Okay - will do so. [Smile]

Shall I make it for 12 noon? It would give NEQ some more time before her train.

[ 23. January 2015, 10:02: Message edited by: Cottontail ]

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :

Fine by me

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

That sounds grand - thanks very much. [Smile]

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

12 noon would be great.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

Vittoria's has been booked - a table for 4 at 12 noon on Weds 4th. See you all there. [Smile]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Cottontail:
Vittoria's has been booked - a table for 4 at 12 noon on Weds 4th. See you all there.

Thanks very much, Cottontail - I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you.

[Smile]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Just to let you know - the piglet has landed! Arrived safely in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon, and now having done quite a lot of sleeping, am beginning to feel like myself again.

God, Lothian Buses and my internal sat-nav willing, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at Vittoria's.

[Smile]

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Just dropping into this thread to say a huge thank-you to Cottontail, NEQ and Wet Kipper for a very enjoyable ship-meet. Good food and good company - what more could you ask?

Thank you all.

[Smile]

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :

And thank you for coming and giving us an excuse to meet.
I had a lovely time, and even managed to bump into another Shipmate on the way home.

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :

Agreed, Piglet - excellent company and excellent food. Lovely to see everyone.

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :

Glad a good time was had. Sorry to have missed you all.

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :

It was excellent. Lovely to meet you, Piglet!

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :

Well, between having lunch with Cottontail at Vittoria last week and bumping into Wet Kipper at Waverley Station yesterday on my way home from down south, I feel that I got as close as I possibly could to attending the shipmeet without actually being there on the day. Piglet will just have to come back and have another shipmeet another time [Smile]

Hope the rest of your trip is fabulous, piglet.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Thanks, JtL - so far, so good. Nice wee trip up to Orkney, and v. enjoyable celebration of Dad's 90th birthday with family. I'm back in Edinburgh now until Tuesday very early morning, then heading home via Heathrow and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Will have to arrange another meet sometime! [Smile]

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