[MB]

Three or four of us have expressed an interest in meeting for a drink in Auckland some time between Sat. May 28th and Sat. June 4th.

Anyone else want to join us?
Also, any suggestions for where and when? I'm thinking a good brewpub* or similar, downtown or a close-in neighborhood such as Parnell. And are weekends the best for people?

*=I'm not au fait with rules about bringing children in (though I'll be by myself, big kid though I might be!), which may be a consideration.

:nice1

[AliJax]

Not sure if there are many "Family" friendly indoor venues. Pubs are'nt really for kids and the restaurants & cafes kids get bored so quick (speaking for Lucy here).

If there are any venues someone can suggest please do so.

And count us in.

[foolsgold99]

If we do it the 4th, the missues will be here and she can come as well, and drive so i can have a couple of beers :cheers

[MB]

Foolsgold99 - June 4th suits me, as long as it's a middle-of-day thing as that's the day I fly back. Ali? Jon? Others?
If the 4th seems good for many, but not all people -- and if folks can bear me -- I can always have a beer with someone(s) else earlier in the week, in addition. I do have the whole week 'free', after all.

[jonSE]

Hi MB

4th is good for us. don't mind either lunchtime or evening. If others are meeting duringthe week would probably be up for that also. I'll PM you my mobile No. and Home No.

Can't help on family friendly venues - although as others have observed the pubs aren't as family friendly as some (not all) uk pubs are.

Look forward to meeting up.

Jon

[Kim39]

If the North West crew can get a flight are we invited :laugh :laugh :laugh

[jonSE]

I should think so Kim :cheers

where in the NW?

Jon

[Rammer]

Aw, Wish this was a Welly meet.... I am here till 2nd June :cheers

Ian

[jonSE]

Flights to Akl are cheap, although fogbound at Welli airport is frequent occurence.

Colleagues recently have left the office mid am flown to Welli flown back and back in the office mid pm having been nowhere!

Jon

[Kim39]

JonSE,

I'm afraid we are talking North West ENGLAND. Hey, but if you say flights are cheap am sure we could be up for it. :laugh :laugh

Kim

[MB]

Hi, all! I've been in Auck about 48 hours and am having a great time researching things and looking round. Still good for June 4th? How about a pub on waterfront at about 1pm Sat 4th June? Doolan's, say?
What do you think?

Will check this site later today (it's Auckland Monday at 11am now, will check again late afternoon today).

I might also call some forum folks whose numbers I have.

:nice1

[jonSE]

Hi Matt

In the absence of any other firm suggestions or protestations from others suggest we make it Doolans on Saturday at around 13:00hrs. We'll be the couple (Me balding about 6' and 40 ish, Rhonda about 6' and long hair younger but not much) wearing matching snug jackets with Xtra Djinn embroidered on the front. If I think of anything akin to a red carnation that is more obvious I'll post here.

I'm still up for an evening meet if anyone feels like it.

Cheers

Jon

[MB]

Cheers, Jon. See you there at 1300hrs Sat 4th Doolans, or earlier if I call you in next day or so.
Matt.

[foolsgold99]

it looks like we are going to have to cry off for saturday, it's the dogs first day in the country, and we don't want to leave him alone in a strange house, after the truma of the flight.

[FlyingDutchman]

I wish I could go too, but we're already going to Wellington, to our only family in New Zealand (the rest is still in Holland, why? I have no idea...), so I won't be able to go. I will be there at the next Auckland meet! (I hope :uhoh)

[AliJax]

Well I hope we can all recognise each other - I'll be looking for a big lake, with an island in the distance & Thats about it.

Am I right in thinking there is 3 couples going (us included?).

[jonSE]

"Big lake with an island in the distance"

Took me a while to recognise my own avatar. Thats a small island with a big lake and Auckland in the distance.

See you tommorow

Jon

[jonSE]

Well

we all managed to meet up yesterday despite searching for Bright red hair, lakes and islands, and Americans from England.

Present

Jon and Rhonda; Ali, Linda and Lucy; Nick and Sue; and finally Matt who confused me by being English from Seattle hope you made the flight and are now safe home in Seattle.

Ali has the photo.

Must do it all again in a month or two.

And none of us stayed in doolans long enough to watch the Lions beat BoP.

Jon

[jubjub]

Glad you had fun, hopefully we can make it next time, as I should be over my jetlag by then!

[AliJax]

Heres the Photo as promissed.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/AliJax/copyImg_2613.jpg

If you didnt know, left to right

Jon, Rhonda, Ali, Linda, Lucy, Sue, Nick, Matt.

[Babette & Andy]

Great that you guys managed to meet up, wonderful to see all your faces on the photo :nice1 Looks like you had a good time :cheers

Wow Linda - Lucy has really grown these past 6 months!!

Babette

[Mike & Nicola]

Glad you had a good meet up.

Is that Guinness some of you are drinking? What's it taste like halfway around the world?

Always partial to a pint or two... :mrgreen:

Mike

[MB]

Thanks for posting the photo, guys.

It was terrific to see everyone in Auckland. Thanks for coming, all. :yes We met at Danny-Doolan's, a pub on the waterfront next to the Loaded Hog.

For me it was a great ending to a v.good week. I'll post later with some Auckland observations.

Vera and Winston are really looking forward to meeting the Auckland folks and to seeing NZ for the first time (this was my second short trip to NZ).

Thanks again for coming to the meet! Let's aim to get together in July. :cheers

[jonSE]

Mike,

That was Murphys and it tasted like Murphys does in Eire.

Can't remember if they served Guinness at Doolans (I normally only drink Guinness at Boat Shows in London)

But I have drunk Guiness at the local Irish pub on Waiheke and it tastes like Guiness in Liverpool or Northern Ireland. Better than Guiness in the rest of UK

Jon

[Mike & Nicola]

Cheers Jon,

Always good to know that Irish ale travels well

:cheers

[jonSE]

Have to keep a finger on the quality on the various Ales ehh Mike.

Stella here doesn't taste like it does in the UK. not quite as chemically and addictive somehow.

Jon
Hic