June EDF Drinks - This Saturday 6th June at The Herne

[Michael Palaeologus]

Good fun at the 2nd shift - where were all you light-weights?

[HAL9000]

Another great evening - lots of lively conversation and added a few more forumites to my list of acquaintances.

[Sue]

Hello from Sue and FlapJackDavey aka Nyge - great to meet you too Hal9000 :)

Can I make a plea for a return to Friday - great idea to have a separate parents/kids meetup but can we keep it separate??

Smallest number of forumites I've ever seen at a drinks night but maybe you were all there in the afternoon???

:)-D

[Michael Palaeologus]

Might be worth concidering. Friday night for the full drinks and then Saturday PM for the families. No extra work would be involved as the saturday PM event wouldnt need to be booked, people would just turn up.

[Asset]

why so separatist? I think it goes against the spirit to start having splinter groups.

[HAL9000]

As far as I am aware, there was no overlap between the afternoon and evening sessions on Saturday at The Hearn and no one (or maybe just one person) attended both. It looks like the new arrangement caused the event to split into two groups naturally.

[charliecharlie]

I think the Friday eve EDF drinks start the weekend off with a bang (no clever comments needed here guys, as no innuendo intended) and it seems a good time for the those with (and without kids) to let their hair down. It is also a great opportunity to meet some new 'adults' that live in the area.

I prefer Friday eves... People often seem to be busy on Sat eves and are nipping about doing shopping and stuff in the day time.

I am sure that a monthly family event would be popular, but it would be a shame for one to undermine the other. The Friday drinks has had such a good turn out and atmosphere and, though I love kids, a more kiddie friendly day time event would have a whole different feel to it.

I have had an absolute blast when I have been to the evening drinks... and was really sorry to miss this one.

Have put 4th July in the dairy...

Keep up the good work Georgia...

xxcc

[Michael Palaeologus]

HAL9000 Wrote:

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> As far as I am aware, there was no overlap between

> the afternoon and evening sessions on Saturday at

> The Hearn and no one (or maybe just one person)

> attended both. It looks like the new arrangement

> caused the event to split into two groups

> naturally.

Agreed. I went along in the evening and nobody from the afternoon session was around, so the group was split anyway. So a shift to Friday evening and Saturday afternoons would make no difference and some people may wish to attend both.

[Keef]

I agree with Asset that it is a bit seperatist, and also feel I should point out that there have been a couple of Friday evening ones with terrible turn outs, especially in summer.

Also, there might be those who don't have kids, but would like to see those who do, this is less likel y if it is turned in to a completely seperate "family session".

At the end of the day, the idea to do Saturdays was nothing to do with families in the first place, it was just to enjoy some sunshine with a beer.

[HAL9000]

It may have been the intention to have a beer in the sun but it appears to have turned into a day out with the kids.

Personally,

I would never take my kids to a pub.

I would never introduce my kids to strangers I'd met on an internet forum.

I would never introduce my kids to complete strangers who may not even be genuine forum members.

I sometimes wonder what planet some of you are living on.

[Moos]

Personally I would not go to a 'family only' session. I go to see other forumites I know and meet others but by any means not only ones with children. It's nice to be able to bring my other half and the offspring, but basically, it's about meeting ones friends and making new ones.

[Keef]

What Moos said, although I find your post a bit weird Hal, not to mention insulting. I take it you don't take your kids to the park, playground, cafes or basically out of the house, being that there are strangers in all these places. Don't try playing that card, because a family friendly pub is surely every bit as safe as any of the above.

[HAL9000]

Keef

No personal insult intended. I don't drink when I'm with my kids and would not contemplate taking them along to a drinking spree where they would inevitably meet and interact with comparative strangers in a setting that requires me to be non-selective about who they see me socialising with. In any event, I don't think a pub is the right place for kids.

There are obvious issues here that, if one cannot perceive them, would make one concerned about their kids' safety.

[citizenED]

I think we are jumping in rather quickly without giving the new format a chance. We've only had one session - not exactly anything to go by. Let's see how it goes in July before making any judgement.

Hal - what an odd comment. For a start, the afternoon drinks session at the Herne was definitely not a day out with the kids. Most people there did not have kids. Second, do you ask all your friends to get CRB checked before they meet your kids or can you use your own judgement?

[HAL9000]

citizenED Wrote:

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> do you ask

> all your friends to get CRB checked before they

> meet your kids or can you use your own judgement?

How can one apply judgement when anyone can turn up claiming to be a forumite?

Not that there aren't enough overt weirdoes on the forum, but who knows what is lurking in the shadows?

[georgia]

The afternoon session wasn't just parents and kids and that was never the intention. However it was great that some people who have kids could come along as they can't always come to evening drinks.

It wasn't meant to be a split session but I personally couldn't make the evening due to other committments so it was nice to be able to go during the day and meet up with some people.

Why don't we see how the July drinks go and then maybe go back to a Friday in August? I think summer drinks are often less-well attended as people are away more.

But one thing I know is that we will never be able to please everyone...

[bigbadwolf]

I went along to this one, not many people but what are you gonna do eh. I had a good time to boot.

Georgia goes out of her way to organize these events so I think that some of you should be a little bit more grateful instead of nit picking at her efforts!

[lozzyloz]

HAL9000, The Herne was designed with families in mind that wanted decent food, beer and a safer pub environment. It has a fairly good playground, soft ground, grassy area and plenty of outside seating. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself and how many families enjoy the pub as an area to socialise in a relaxed, mixed environment, where to be honest people are keeping a look out for other peoples kids as well as their own.

Last Sat was a rare opportunity to introduce partners who're often at home with the kids as well as meet up with other parents, non-parents and let the kids play together and have a relaxed beer over an hour or two.

Personally my young boys prefer Friday nights at the EDT.

It's true Georgia, you'll never please everyone but thanks for what is often a thankless task much appreciated by most.

[HAL9000]

My dearest Georgia,

Please don't take my personal views about mixing kids, pubs and internet forums as in any way a criticism of your valued organisational work on the forum's behalf. I think you do an excellent job for which I am most grateful.

To the group: I respect everyone?s freedom to raise their kids as they see fit - and I'll raise mine as I see fit.

[Michael Palaeologus]

georgia Wrote:

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> The afternoon session wasn't just parents and kids

> and that was never the intention. However it was

> great that some people who have kids could come

> along as they can't always come to evening

> drinks.

>

> It wasn't meant to be a split session but I

> personally couldn't make the evening due to other

> committments so it was nice to be able to go

> during the day and meet up with some people.

>

> Why don't we see how the July drinks go and then

> maybe go back to a Friday in August? I think

> summer drinks are often less-well attended as

> people are away more.

>

> But one thing I know is that we will never be able

> to please everyone...

Well said Georgia. The voice of reason as ever.