[Joinee Parkin]

OK here's the plan folks: [edit: Map is ready, should be on the sticky below.)

Saturday morning:

I will meet people off the Megabus at 11 a.m., then go to Starbucks on Colmore Row. (A short walk from the Megabus stop.) Anyone else who is around at that time - come along!

NB THERE ARE 2 STARBUCKS ON COLMORE ROW. THE ONE WE'LL GO TO IS THE ONE CLOSEST TO SNOW HILL, NOT THE ONE NEAR VICTORIA SQUARE.

Simon Bishop is meeting people at New St Station, and the Cooleys will be at the National express Coach Station in Digbeth (Check out the "Welcoming Committees" thread for more info)

Then we'll mooch around for a bit, going where the fancy takes us.

12.30-1.00: Gather at the Bull statue, which is just outside the Bullring Shopping Centre, next to the Rotunda. If you want a location reference to get an online map, it's near Next in the Bullring.

[Edit:] Your instructions for the first team challenge (the FOTOFEST) will be given here.

Can I suggest that for this and for the quiz later, established joinees buddy up with new joinees so we get a nice balance.

1.00 ish - off to various places for lunch/drinks/shopping/RAOKing, whatever. You can start your FOTOFEST as aoon as you like!

2.30: Duck Race
Meet at the "Floozie in the Jacuzzi" fountain, Victoria Square.

3.00: Continue with RAOK challenge [edit: FOTOFEST]

5:00 onwards: meet at the Old Joint Stock, Temple Row. We've got the function room upstairs.

NB: You could go to the Old Joint Stock at any time, but we don't have the function room til 5.00.

The evening's entertainment: We'll kick off with a quiz. As some of the questions are specifically Joinee-related, we'll need a good mix of established and new joinees in each team.

Hopefully we'll be able to look at your photos from the day on a projector. I'll even bring my printer.

After closing time: SNOBS nightclub

Sunday:

Football match. Cannon Hill Park in Moseley, opposite Edgbaston Cricket Ground. There is a bar and a cafe here as well.
Time TBC - depends on what time folk a) get up and B) are going home.


Rach

[Lethal Biddle]

SRJ Parkin said:

I will meet people off the Megabus at 11 a.m., then go to Starbucks on Colmore Row. (A short walk from the Megabus stop.) Anyone else who is around at that time - come along!

Yes! Score!
*slips into consumer whore mode*
Starbucks gingerbread latte here I come!

[Pud]

you like them? I thought it sounded nice so tried one and thought it was horrible.

[Joinee Parkin]

I'm in a dilemma about Starbucks. I mean I like their coffe and cakes and stuff, and they do fair trade stuff, but they're just another global chain aren't they? And a big part of me doesn't like that. So apologies to anyone who's not a fan, but I'm not mad on them either. It's just as easy place to meet.

Unfortunately, the city centre is sadly lacking in nice little independent places with a hint of character; it's all Starbucks and Costa and Pret. There *is* a lovely little cafe by the canal, called rather imaginitively the Canalside cafe, which is a rare find in the city centre, but it's a fair trek if you don't know your way around.

maybe if folk want to go on the wheel at some point, you could check out the cafe later. It'd be a nice mid-afternoon stop for tea and cakes. They are licenced too!

[Pud]

I like starbucks, just don't like the gingerbread latte. Before starbucks and places like that all there was round her was horrible greasy spoons with plastic chairs and non too hygenic looking kitchens.

[joinee coolio]

Hmm, you raise an interesting point there Rach. Personally, I don't mind Starbucks. I like the fact that it does FairTrade products, despite the fact that with its purchasing power it could probably negotiate much cheaper deals. I also applaud its success. After all, it presumably started off as one cafe somewhere!

I agree it's a shame that there aren't more independent coffee shops, but Starbucks seems to be hated because of its success rather than because of its working practices. And that in itself is a problem because it increases the cynicism of others about Fairtrade, and dilutes the message that it is important for big corporations to take social resposibility for the produce it sells.

[Silver Joinee Gatesy]

I'm awaiting the additon of:

5pm - go and watch Fulham whoop Man Utd on the telly somewhere.

[joinee mhunter]

Silver Joinee Gatesy said:

I'm awaiting the additon of:

5pm - go and watch Fulham whoop Man Utd on the telly somewhere.

you'll be on yer own mate...you could take some cardboard cut outs of us, to keep you company..

Michael

[Joinee Parkin]

Once again, Ms Coolio, you speak words with such eloquent wisdom that I am forced to retract my statement. I guess it's better to have a big company that embraces fair trade and works in an ethical manner, than a small one that works in an exploitative way.

And they do have lovely comfy sofas.

[Silver Joinee Gatesy]

joinee mhunter said:

you'll be on yer own mate...you could take some cardboard cut outs of us, to keep you company..  

And after we did you a favour at the weekend too!

[Joinee Parkin]

Oh and Gatesey, I think the Old Joint Stock have a big screen for sports, but not in the function room, so you'll have to go in the main bar with the rest of the oiks.

[Silver Joinee Gatesy]

YAY!!

I imagine you'll be able to hear in anyway.

[joinee mhunter]

Silver Joinee Gatesy said:

joinee mhunter said:

you'll be on yer own mate...you could take some cardboard cut outs of us, to keep you company..  

And after we did you a favour at the weekend too!

yes thanks for putting one over the maggies, but all doom and gloom, so even that didnt raise a smile...i even had to resort to getting stoned on the Amsterdam ferry to cheer my self up(football wise)

M

[joinee coolio]

Map of Birmingham City Centre - may be helpful

http://capture.bhm.l...8_CC_map_04.pdf

EDIT: I realise the link doesn't work, I'm working on this!

[Stephy]

Sj Yorkshirepud said:

you like them?  I thought it sounded nice so tried one and thought it was horrible.

I had a cream fight last time I was in Starbucks!

[PJ Hannah B-R]

joinee coolio said:

I agree it's a shame that there aren't more independent coffee shops, but Starbucks seems to be hated because of its success rather than because of its working practices.

Starbucks buy supremacy in US shopping malls so that noone else can sell coffee there.

My Godfather's husband's lovely coffee shop with its traditional bean selling and yummy yummy coffee (from someone who hates it) and various roasts and flavours each day was FORCED to give up their lease despite having it "guaranteed" for the next 4 years.

Meaning Jay had about 6 months to find a new property, which didn't have the bonuses of permanent mall shoppers, in which to sell the lovely coffee.

THAT'S why I hate starbucks.

[Leg End Joinee Edwards]

I'm presuming they'll be a ticket for me for the West Ham match but I'd really love to come to the Birmingham Meet. I guess I'll have to organise somewhere to stay etc but i'm tempted.

[tea joinee kate]

Is it usall for people to come to things like this by themselfs, I know its not very safe.

Could you mabey set up a buddy type system for the new joinees?

Kate

[Pud]

Kate, lots of people go on their own but going to your first meet is scarey. I am a 35 year old woman who will be there with my 3 kids so hopefully that will make me seem less scarey (unless the kids are in on the kidnap plot. So let me know what you look like and I will introduce myself and you can stick with us until you feel more confident.

[Ska Joinee Matticus]

I have deuced an excellent buddy type system, we'll have a big group of people, we'll call them...joinees, and they have to look out for other people called erm...joinees. how does that sound?

If in doubt, look for the long-haired hippy chap with what southerners would refer to as a northern accent and stick with him (thats me) I think i'll wear the star beanie so everyone can recognise me...

[Joinee Jo English Bint]

SRJ Parkin said:

[
I'll post maps etc with the key meeting points and info about eateries and pubs/bars etc. That's if I can work out how to create and upload a PDF file somewhere.

Rach

Send anything you want to me at: jpitt (AT) jpitt (DOT) com and I'll make them avaliable on my webpage and will post the link up!!!

[Joinee Parkin]

Thanks Jo, it's been done - there's a thread somewhere in this muddle!

[Silver Joinee Gatesy]

Duck race?!

Prepare for a whopping boys and girls.

[Pud]

I've just been editing the video from the last brum meet as I got my fixed camcorder back today. Brought back memories and made me look forward to this weekend (I really really hope I'm better in time). Rachel you are still the star of my favorite bit of that video and no I haven't edited it out

anyway back to the point of this post. Rachel what time do I need to be at your house to make sure I get there before you leave saturday morning?

[Joinee Parkin]

I'll be leaving about 10.00. I've got to drop off some stuff at the pub and meet people at 11.00

[Pud]

ok if I'm going with you I'll be there by then. Out of interest people keep saying how expensive it would be to park in the center... how much are we talking? I mean I'm saving over £100 by going home same day. If i did decide to park in the centre which car park should I go to?