Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

I hope that you guys don't mind that I'm setting up a new topic here. Since so many of us take part in different meetings (GRL, UK Meet, Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up, etc.) I think we desperately need a topic where we can do some detailed planning for those get-togethers without taking over the General News topic entirely. Nor is it very practical to email back and forth with ten group members about these things — in fact that's probably the opposite of practical... says a girl who's been there and done that. ;-)

Great idea. I'll be in Bristol, but won't be able to make GRL - there's just no money. :(

Aaanyway, what I’m suggesting here is that since many of us attending to the UK Meet in Bristol this summer are going to participate to the Saturday gala dinner and some of us have also already booked the Friday dinner event, why don’t we Fanyons have our own little meet before the Friday dinner?

That way we'll get to meet and greet before the big, noisy event and if we’ll arrive to the dinner together we might be able to get to sit near each other. What do you say? Shall we meet in the Meet hotel lobby sometime before the Friday dinner event?

Aleksandr wrote: "Great idea. I'll be in Bristol, but won't be able to make GRL - there's just no money. :("

Hey there, Aleks! I remember that you didn't take part in the main dinners last summer, because those tend to be such crowded, hot (LOL), noisy events. Hj told me that the organizers have been checking to make sure that the places we go to this year are large enough so that we don't have a repeat of that very crowded hot place we had last year.

Anyway, when is everyone going to arrive Bristol?

Great idea, Johanna! :-) I wish i could be at both the UK Meet and GRL, but this year it'll be GRL. And next year, most likely UK, yay! Anyway.

Johanna wrote: "What do you say? Shall we meet in the Meet hotel lobby sometime before the Friday dinner event? "

I'd like that. Good idea and thanks for setting up the topic, J! :-)

Calathea wrote: "Johanna wrote: "What do you say? Shall we meet in the Meet hotel lobby sometime before the Friday dinner event? "

I'd like that. Good idea and thanks for setting up the topic, J! :-)"

No problem, C. ;-)

And KC, I would love to be able to attend GRL, but I don't think it's going to happen this year. *sigh*

Calathea wrote: "Johanna wrote: "What do you say? Shall we meet in the Meet hotel lobby sometime before the Friday dinner event? "

I'd like that. Good idea and thanks for setting up the topic, J! :-)"

Me too! I can be there at whatever time suits everybody else. I'm not staying at the hotel because I live only about an hour away, but I've booked both Fri and Sat evening events.

I believe I'm arriving in Bristol in the early morning, so I'll be free most of the day! Just pick a time and we can probably do something. Anyone up for lunch?

I know a bunch of us are going to London on that following Monday, or will be there at some point that week. If anyone wants to pick a day to get together for dinner, or lunch, let's figure out when and where to meet up. I'll be in the area around Earls Court as a guideline for where to meet.

Jordan wrote: "I know a bunch of us are going to London on that following Monday, or will be there at some point that week. If anyone wants to pick a day to get together for dinner, or lunch, let's figure out whe..."

There's plenty of places to eat around Earl's C ourt or South Ken which is two stops away if anyone fancies a trip to the V&A. I have Monday 9th June reserved in my diary.

Jordan wrote: "I believe I'm arriving in Bristol in the early morning, so I'll be free most of the day! Just pick a time and we can probably do something. Anyone up for lunch?"

We (hubby and me) will arrive Heathrow at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon and after taking a train or a bus to Bristol we'll arrive there sometime early evening.

So if any of you are there already on Thursday evening it would be nice to have dinner together. Anyone?

I've promised Charlie Cochrane that I'll help on the welcome desk sometime on Friday afternoon, but otherwise I don't have any specific plans for Friday. So, yeah, lunch together sounds good. :-)

Jordan wrote: "I know a bunch of us are going to London on that following Monday, or will be there at some point that week. If anyone wants to pick a day to get together for dinner, or lunch, let's figure out whe..."

And I'd love to meet for lunch or dinner in London, too. :-)

Hi, Johanna!

Thank you for setting up the topic. The funny thing is that I wanted to suggest it, and then I didn't because I thought, you do already so much...

I am coming some time on Friday, will land in London fairly early I think, and then go by train. I will check the times and come back to you. I am definitely in favour of meeting my fellow Lanyons before the event on Friday :).

Johanna, it is so good of you to organise this. I so do look forward to meeting all you lovely people, but I am terribly nervous too, this will help a lot.

I am going back on Monday via London, so maybe we could travel together on the train before I go to the airport? The more the merrier, is my motto :)

I wont be going for the Friday dinner because it looked a bit like a club. Did I get that wrong? Anyway I hope to get to Bristol in the afternoon and then go strolling. I am happy to meet with everyone before the Friday evening event and then i can go meandering off afterwards and do something else. I will be attending the Saturday gala dinner. I shall be leaving on Sunday but happy to meet with others on Monday at South Ken or Earls Court.

Anne wrote: "I am coming some time on Friday, will land in London fairly early I think, and then go by train. I will check the times and come back to you. I am definitely in favour of meeting my fellow Lanyons ..."

Anne what time will you land in London? If you let me know the train you are booking then i could try to book the same one and we could travel to Bristol together.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Anne wrote: "I am coming some time on Friday, will land in London fairly early I think, and then go by train. I will check the times and come back to you. I am definitely in favour of meeting my fe..."

Good idea, I have the tickets at work, so I will check on Monday and come back to you then. I haven't booked the train yet, it apparently is too early.

Yes, several of us are planning to grab the same train to London on Monday. The more the merrier!

Great. I will be leaving on Sunday, so I will miss the great train journey on Monday but it will be great to have company from London to Bristol.

Anne - I will wait to hear from you :)

I haven't decided exactly when I'll be travelling yet, but I will definitely be in Bristol on Friday afternoon and I'm booked for the evening do. So count me into a Fanyon meetup too. I know there were several from the group at the Manchester event too, but I was rushing about too much on that one to seek out the gang. :D

Antonella wrote: "Hi, Johanna!

Thank you for setting up the topic. The funny thing is that I wanted to suggest it, and then I didn't because I thought, you do already so much..."

Telepathy, telepathy, dear. ;-)

Anne wrote: "I am going back on Monday via London, so maybe we could travel together on the train before I go to the airport? The more the merrier, is my motto :)"

Check out your flight departure time (at work on Monday) and let's see which train should we choose. I was suggesting to Antonella earlier this week that If we don't have to leave Bristol really, really early on Monday morning, it would be nice to have a peaceful, leisured breakfast together in the hotel before we'll leave.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I wont be going for the Friday dinner because it looked a bit like a club. Did I get that wrong?"

No, I think you are right. It looks like the Friday night dinner event in Mauretania Club is more like a club/bar with tapas meal and drinks than an actual dinner-dinner (if that makes any sense).

Caroline wrote: "There's plenty of places to eat around Earl's C ourt or South Ken which is two stops away if anyone fancies a trip to the V&A. I have Monday 9th June reserved in my diary."

It would be lovely to meet you, Caroline! Count me in. :-)

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I shall be leaving on Sunday but happy to meet with others on Monday at South Ken or Earls Court. "

Cool! :-)

Envy! ; )

I won't be going to any of these events, but I think it's exciting that you all get to make plans and meet and have fun together! I think I'm a bit jealous. :)

Johanna wrote: "I was suggesting to Antonella earlier this week that If we don't have to leave Bristol really, really early on Monday morning, it would be nice to have a peaceful, leisured breakfast together in the hotel before we'll leave."

Yes, that would be a good idea. We don't have to rush to London!

BTW: the trains Bristol Temple Meads - London Paddington leave every 30 minutes. Travelling time 1 hour 45 minutes

Alison wrote: "I won't be going to any of these events, but I think it's exciting that you all get to make plans and meet and have fun together! I think I'm a bit jealous. :)"


Same here...I'll be thinking of y'all having fun!

I'm not big on clubs, but figured food is food and if I don't have to hunt it down that would be good. Plus it doesn't take much to fill me.

That being said, we probably could leave early and go somewhere else for a larger meal if we wanted.

I thought I'd already commented in this thread. Sometimes the words don't get from my brain to the page...

I'm up for a Fanyon meetup somewhere... anywhere. It'll be fun. While I'm here, does anyone fancy sharing the cost of a room with me? I'd like to stay at the Meet hotel and a roomie would make it easier on the finances. I'm staying the Friday & Saturday nights.

Hambel - have you asked over on the UK Meet's Goodreads page? There's a thread for accommodation etc. where people have been matching up roommates. So if all the Fanyons are sorted, you could try there.

I will be landing at Heathrow on Friday at 9.25 and will have to get a train around 11 perhaps?

Also, my plane back leaves at 19.25 (7.25) in the evening, so plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast in the morning and a fun train trip via London.

Hj wrote: "Hambel - have you asked over on the UK Meet's Goodreads page? There's a thread for accommodation etc. where people have been matching up roommates. So if all the Fanyons are sorted, you could try..."

No, I haven't yet. I should probably do that. Thanks, Hj :)

Just enjoying reading this. That is all. :-)

Is anyone thinking of going to GRL this year? I would love to meet some fellow Fanyons in Chicago if anyone is interested.

Josh wrote: "Just enjoying reading this. That is all. :-)"

Just look what you started!!

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Just enjoying reading this. That is all. :-)"

Just look what you started!!"

So it has not all been in vain! ;-D

Hey guys, I'm de-lurking! I'll be in Bristol not only in mind but also in person. I look forward to meeting every one :) Ciao ciao!

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Hey guys, I'm de-lurking! I'll be in Bristol not only in mind but also in person. I look forward to meeting every one :) Ciao ciao!"

How nice! I really look forward to that!

Anne wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Hey guys, I'm de-lurking! I'll be in Bristol not only in mind but also in person. I look forward to meeting every one :) Ciao ciao!"

How nice! I really look forward..."

I'll be the one talking with her hands :D

Bluesimplicity wrote: "Is anyone thinking of going to GRL this year? I would love to meet some fellow Fanyons in Chicago if anyone is interested."

I'm going to GRL and i was planning on visiting Chicago (GRL is just outside of, i understand) :-)

Peeking in from my self-imposed online ban to let you guys know I'll be in Bristol as well, and am soo looking forward to it :D

Only thing I need to figure out is how I'm going and with whom, and how many I need to book dinner for... hubby and I wanted to turn it into a holiday, but we have two sons doing their exams and the timing might be a bit off (don't want both of us gone if either of them needs us during that period).

So... I really need to sit down with a planner and see whether I'll be going alone (though Jasper is going again, and you are all going, so I won't be alone, alone), or with hubby.

KC wrote: "I'm going to GRL and i was planning on visiting Chicago (GRL is just outside of, i understand"

Awesome! Like I said before, maybe we can arrange a meet and greet for all us fellow Fanyons at GRL?

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Hey guys, I'm de-lurking! I'll be in Bristol not only in mind but also in person. I look forward to meeting every one :) Ciao ciao!"

Looking forward to it too!

Bluesimplicity wrote: "KC wrote: "I'm going to GRL and i was planning on visiting Chicago (GRL is just outside of, i understand"

Awesome! Like I said before, maybe we can arrange a meet and greet for all us fellow Fanyo..."

That would be really cool! :-)

Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Hey guys, I'm de-lurking! I'll be in Bristol not only in mind but also in person. I look forward to meeting every one :) Ciao ciao!"

Ciao, cara Manu! I miss you and your lively hands. :-)

And I'm really looking forward to meeting you again!

Soooooo... Charlie Cochrane, Hj and me, we have a suggestion for Fanyons attending the UK Meet. We've been talking about maybe having our own Fanyon meeting before or after Friday dinner event and Charlie came up with a perfect solution, IMO.

She has offered us Fanyons to have a side room to ourselves during the Mauretania club dinner event on Friday night. Food (tapas) and entertainment will be in the main room, so we won't be totally isolated, but we'll probably have a better chance to sit together, to communicate with each other and to hear what everyone says this way.

To be honest, at first I thought something like "oh, that sounds great, but we don't want to isolate ourselves from other attendees" but the more I thought about it, the more practical it seems, actually. This would be a perfect way to combine everyone's wishes, right? I know that some of us wish to be able to get to know each other in a smaller group, with online friends that first night and some of us (me included) have already booked the Friday night dinner event in Mauretania club.

How do you guys feel about this? We've promised to let Charlie know if we'll accept her offer and if so, how many of us would be interested in dinning in one of the side rooms.

I'm really looking forward hearing your comments on this. And Hj, dear, correct and add things if I've forgotten to mention something! :-)

Johanna wrote: "Soooooo... Charlie Cochrane, Hj and me, we have a suggestion for Fanyons attending the UK Meet. We've been talking about maybe having our own Fanyon meeting before or after Friday dinner event and ..."

That sounds lovely. And also reminds me I have to book the Friday event :)