Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

[Uncle Ethan]

Hi all,

As part of our European odyssey I will be in London for the evenings of January 8 and 9.

It being the holiday season and the weekend, it might be a struggle but I would love to try and catch up with a few OTFers even if only for an hour so after work on the Friday.

We are staying in Earls Court/Kensington (yes, yes, I know) so somewhere nearish to that would be great but I think I can still navigate the tube well enough to get anywhere.

[EIM]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I'm game. But in order to get an evening pass from the missus you might have to pretend to be my real Uncle Ethan, who is actually my Dad's Uncle, who I haven't seen since 1991.

My Dad doesn't really have an Uncle Ethan, of course, but there's now way my missus knows this. I'm dead guarded about my family for situations just like this.

[Purves Grundy]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Yeah, I'm up for this. We can talk about March. That'll be nice.

[Wyatt Earp]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I work in Kensington-yes-I-know, but you did say "weekend". Still, I'll be there.

[Uncle Ethan]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Just bumping this up to seek a venue suggestion and a time for the Friday night.

I also need a little advice on late(ish) night travel in London. Are mini cabs still the best bet as in cheaper than black cabs and safer after about 11pm than tube/bus for a family that screams tourist?

We need to get back from a theatre near Charing Cross to our hotel on the Saturday night.

Oh and EIM I will happily lie on a stat dec if that helps.

[Uncle Ethan]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Just bumping this up as we leave in a couple of days and I am not sure what our interent access will be. Are there many free access wifi cafes and the like?

If anyone can make it early Friday for an hour or so let me know a suggested venue.

This is conditional on us not freezing to death. 103 fahrenheit yesterday and heading to minus three according to the UK papers.

Now that's an interesting change of scene.

[EIM]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I'll still be up for this.

[Cavalry Trouser Tips]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Uncle Ethan wrote:

Are there many free access wifi cafes and the like?

Most Starbucks and McDonalds offer free wifi.

Just get an orange juice or something...

[Uncle Ethan]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Thanks guys. Still need a venue. One nearish to a cinema would be good so the others can do something for a couple of hours.

[EIM]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

The pub I work in is nice. And near a cinema on the Fulham Road. Not too far from Earls Court either.

[Uncle Ethan]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

That'll do for me. I love the idea of staff discount too.

[Gangster Octopus]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

So, what's it going to be then, eh?

[Ginger Yellow]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I'm there if we decide where and when. Oh and don't worry about safety on the tube.

[EIM]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Tomorrow night would be perfect for me. I finish work at 8, and it's generally quiet on Saturday nights. But it's not all about me.

[hobbes]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Yeah, count me in too. Be good to see everyone.
In addition to which, I'm bored senseless of post Xmas funk and skintness.

[hobbes]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

So what's the venue?

[Sam]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

hobbes wrote:

I'm bored senseless of post Xmas funk

Hobbesian wrongness... the two best new year's eves of my life were spent at funk nights. You should give it a chance.

[Guest]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Is there drinks? It is confusing because the op says friday.

[EIM]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

Yeah. But he didn't get back to us. The scoundrel.

[hobbes]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

We could have drinks anyway and hope UE sees this later?

[Guest]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

It says he's going to the theatre tonight presumably on the strand. maybe he would be able to pop into *you choose a covent garden pub,i wouldn't dare* for a bit. Frankly I'd be happy to start drinking right now. It's that kind of week.

[hobbes]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I'm off lager as I'm thinning, so as long as the house red isn't toe-curling I don't care where we go.

[Guest]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I am loath to suggest the coal hole, but it is findable on the strand. or the lyceum thingy.

Anyway I am going out to the park now for my daily dose of snow therapy. I expect someone to have decided something by the time I return.

[Ginger Yellow]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

If it's going to be Covent Garden, I vote for the Lamb & Flag.

[hobbes]

Russian Orthodox Christmas OTFathon

I reckon we should keep the strand in mind, but if we don't hear from Ethan by about 6.30 choose somewhere easy to get home from for all of us. I think I have everyone's numbers, so I'll pm mine to Uncle Ethan as I'm off out now for awhile. If I hear from him I'll post here or text Lyra, GY and Eim with details.
How's that?