The British Live & Active Bash '99

Welcome to Olde London Towne

From simple remarks made in various chat programs I think a lot of you would like to see London. Here are some ideas of things to do over a long weekend, or an even longer two weeks if finances will allow.

This is a preliminary idea and no arrangements have yet been made. This page is intended to put forward my first suggestions for an itinerary of things that we might like to get involved with.

I realise that because of the problems with finances, getting time off work, the distance involved and so on, there are likely to be a lot more British, Dutch, Finnish and other local Europeans here than Americans and Canadians, but I am really hoping that as many of my wonderful New World friends can make it over.

Because of that, I am hoping that rather than just go for a one-night-stand in a bar where we all get as much 'falling-down-juice' down our necks as possible, it would be nice to show you all a bit of London Town. A city of which I am very proud and which has a lot to offer the visitor.

Please make as many suggestions as you want to because we all need to enjoy ourselves and this being a democracy (lol) we will go with the majority decision. My initial suggestions are as follows.

Everyone will meet at the hotel we decide on as out base of operations. I have spoken to a Holiday Inn and a Welcome Lodge Motel today and I have an idea of the rates. I may be able to get some discounts when I have some better idea of exact numbers of 'Bashers' and the number of rooms required.

My New World friends will fly in either to Gatwick or Heathrow airports and I will arrange for a coach to pick them up. (Friends who drive coaches for a living)

As a daytime thing you might all like to take a tour of London in an open top, double-deck London bus. (Friend who is a director of the Big Bus Sightseeing Company)

Evening time we can either take another open top, double-deck London bus, this time with CD-music which gives us a night time tour as well as admittance to four different London Night Clubs, or we can go on a boat ride on the River Thames (Thamesis Fluvius). This will be a restaurant boat with a late night bar and on-board disco. Or we could take part in a mock-medieval banquet of either Elizabethan or Shakespearean format. These are great fun, (especially the Elizabethan where it is all taken seriously and the Man is Master and the wife, or Wench is a mere serving girl. Well, maybe not that seriously). LOTS of buxom serving girls here boys who love nothing better that having banknotes pushed gently between those creamy, heaving mounds at the end of the evening.

Another suggestion is to take in a show and perhaps a meal in a restaurant in the bright, glittering centre of town. This is known as 'Going Up West'. Lots to see in London and lots to do.

Near to the Holiday Inn are several traditional English pubs. Near to the famous Tower of London is a fantastic pub called The Dickens Inn. Now this one I thoroughly recommend. I do not know if Charles Dickens ever drank here or indeed, if it existed in his day, but this beautiful, half-timbered old building in St Catherine's marina is just superb. It too, has a restaurant. Next door to this is the London Tower Hotel. Here there are two restaurants. A very high class one with a traditional, calm atmosphere and the other a 'Carvery'. Here, for a set, and very modest sum, you can have as much meat and vegetables as you could possibly wish for. There is a choice of freshly roasted lamb, beef, pork and salmon. All roasted freshly in front of you and all cut to your desires either by professional chefs or by yourselves. And as much of it as you want. Lots of salad and LOTS of wine and beer. They also cater for vegetarians so there are nor worries on that score. There is a magnificent view of the Thames and the Tower Bridge from here too.

To whet your appetite, check these pics out:-

The Tower of London

The Houses of Parliament

Tower Bridge

'Big Ben'

So now you have an idea of what I think we want to do. It is up to everyone to decide, who, how many and if. We already know the when.

By the way, I felt it only right to have this bash by invitation only, so..

You are ALL invited!

All calls with suggestions, requests for information, positive bookings etc, contact VindicatorIII

You all know where to find me.

Let's make the first British Live & Active Bash something to remember!