Meetup - LONDON 14 JUNE

[traiskin]

Well, hello and welcome

Natasha

Thanks for the welcome, though I've been here since 2006.. just a little too silent since I moved back to the U.S.

Next time you have this Japan thing I will just have to fly out to London to meet up. And one of you will have to show me where David lives to round out the Japan-trip. No worries.. not a stalker....yet.

[anortherncod]

Well, I did notice you'd been here a while - just very quiet...

I'll hold you to that, flying over next time we have an event!

Natasha

[Steerpike]

OK - seriously folks I've been looking into the restaurant situation and the reviews I've seen for the Japancentre are not good at all. General consenus is that it's very overpriced and they now have a 12.5% service charge too. Average price for diiner for 2 was about 60 pounds! Ryo also gets the thumbs down as it was considered "dirty" they don't accept credit/debit cards, and you have to decide what you want and pay for it before you sit down - not terribly convenient for a large group, so I think we should scrap those 2. Since we want to stay in the area of Piccadilly tube/Tottenham Ct Rd how about one of these:

http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/restaurant/1o42p8p/centre-point-sushi-cafe
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/7175.htm
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3077.htm

BTW: Bookings not accepted at some of these places. Just a case of turning up ...

I like the look of Ten Ten Tei.

[anortherncod]

I don't see why not... about a choice of where to meet, I mean; what does everyone else think?

Natasha

[Astronaut]

Ha! Ha! Ten Ten Tei was my favourite! Good idea to 'stagger' the meet up arrangements so if some people would prefer to meet up at about 2pm that's fine by me. Not a problem at all. Here's a link to a map of the area showing location of Ten Ten Tei. So I will see you at either Kings X at 1pm or Ten Ten Tei at 2pm on the 14th!

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=print&pc=W1F%209TJ&place=&width=600&height=500

Astronaut

[camphorvan]

Hi all

Top Ten Tei Tip Top Top Cat seems to be a winner so I concur. Not even sure if I'll eat though, because never having eaten Japanese food before (I am short and inexperienced) I don't know if there will be anything there that will tickle my fancy. Particularly since I think seafood is devil sick.

I wonder if they do happy meals....

C

[Astronaut]

Errr, Camphorvan what has being short got to do with anything? WTF?

Anyway, we have a reservation booked for 2pm on 14th. That is the good news. The slightly less than good news is that the manager (who I spoke to tonight) insists that we have to turn up together, en-mass as it were, no one is to drift in 5 minutes late and all that malarky! No, we have to arrive as a complete group or he wont 'accommodate' us. Also if we are more than 15 minutes late he wont keep the reservation for us.

I have to call him back next week to ensure that we ARE DEFINITELY going to be there. I booked for 14 people. More welcome, but, if anyone has a last minute change of heart LET ME KNOW so can inform Top Ten Top Cat OK? Thanks. Let me know by Tuesday evening (10th June).

So, I think if more people could try to arrive at the earlier time of 1.00 pm at Kings X it would be better.

Astronaut x.

[anortherncod]

Thanks for that Astronaut. I will be posting about the necessity to arrive at the same time and on time elsewhere in the virtual world later on today...

Natasha

[camphorvan]

Yup 1pm Kings X. Count me in you krazy kats you!

C

[Melaszka]

Sorry, guys, but I definitely won't be able to make it - I'm drowning in work. This is such a bummer, as I really wanted to see you all.

Please, please have another meet-up very soon, so I can come to that.

Hope you all have a wonderful time and that the angry-sounding restaurant man actually lets you have your table (How odd - is it really busy on Saturdays, or does he just not want customers?)

[anortherncod]

What a shame, Mel Work really is a four-letter word, isn't it...?

Don't see any reason why we can't have another one soon though... I'll make the first suggestion: September! (Only because every, I mean EVERY Saturday from today until 5 September I have something to do, so I'm just being selfish really!)

Natasha

[Astronaut]

Ah! September!

The sun shines high above
The sounds of laughter
The birds swoop down upon
The crosses of old grey churches
We say that we're in love
While secretly wishing for rain
Sipping coke and playing games
September's here again
September's here again.

*sigh* Brilliant! Yes, I could do September (at the moment) but lets see what happens next Saturday first - shall we? We might HATE each other!!! OK not likely but ... ...

[anortherncod]

This is HOPEFULLY not going to be a problem, but...

On page 10 of today's Mirror:

"Train services look set to be plunged into chaos next weekend as 12,000 rail workers strike over pay and conditions. Staff will walk out on 14 June in a 30-hour dispute."

I suggest that those of us who travel by train regularly try and keep others updated on the situation - I will be on Thursday and Friday of next week. If the worst happens I'll try and get coach tickets. I hope it won't come to that but I think it's something we should all be aware of. Fingers crossed!

Natasha