Wonderland Convention - Anyone interested?

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 12:41 am

I kind of mentioned this idea over in the Picture Me Results forum (And The Winner is...), and so far the only one who commented was Davimad. So, I thought maybe I should bring this out into the light.

The Picture Me contest was enjoyed by the 19 or so members that participated, and for those of you who were too shy to post, this would be a great way to meet real people, as opposed to just reading the posts.

I know to many of our "non-posters" that we must seem pretty intimidating, but actually we are just more vocal than the rest.

It could be fun! Not only do we get to meet the "Wonderland Family" but the others who are addicted to Wonderland, too but are too shy to chat.

If there is enough interest generated, (I'm thinking at least 100 respondents would make this worth while) then perhaps sometime next year there will be a chance for a Wonderland Convention.

The first thing that needs to be decided, would be WHERE. I suggested to Davimad that perhaps we could hold it in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...it's fairly close for the USAers, and it is Patrick's hometown. It would be easy for Ukers and the Scandinavians to get to as well. I only really proposed it because that's where M/S is based. Post a city that you want considered.

All ideas will be considered carefully.

We need to think of:

1) Ease of travel,
2) Hotel accomodations (reasonably priced, of course) and/or campgounds (depending on the weather),
3) A hall big enough to hold a large number or people (100+ players and their families)
4) Lots of restaurants, and
4) Tourists spots that we can visit easily, either as individual family groups or as a large group.

If the idea of spending lots of money and traveling very long distances are too much to consider, then I'll drop the idea

. But, I think we should sound this out.

If you are too shy to post on the forum, please PM me. I will respond within a day or two.

popo · Post by **popo** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:25 am

My husband and I (

I sound like the Queen) are hoping to go on a Caribbean cruise next year and I think this will be the only time we get anywhere near you. As the boat only spends a day or so at each port, the location would have to be close by. It will probably be in March.

I would consider making a special trip if the cost wasn't prohibitive, but I'm not sure my husband would be bothered - he thinks people who go to conventions are 'anoraks'

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 8:47 am

... how about Moree, Australia.

It fits all 5 criteria

1) I don't have to travel far

2) Most of the accommodation in town is in our area (within 2-3 blocks) & we have plenty of space in the backyard for you to put up a tent
3) We have a good open plan area probably large enough for 100+ players & their families (providing you don't bring your computers as well)
4) There's a couple of good Thai & Chinese restaurants just down the road + some good takeaway shops
5) Spa baths just across the road - people come from all over Australia just to visit our natural hot spring baths!

If everyone is interested please let me know, I'd have to give my wife at least a couple of days notice...

Bring it on

Robbie

popo · Post by **popo** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 10:46 am

Robbie, I'd love to come to Australia, and I'm sure my husband would be up for it too.

If you could just build us a chalet (we don't like tents) in your back yard it would be perfect.

We might have to wait till we win the Lottery to come, though

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 10:32 pm

I'd love to go to Australia!

But you are renowned for your big poisonous hairy spiders, and a couple of really bad snakes too....my valium only takes care of so many phobias!

Popo, when you say you are planning a cruise, what ports are you visiting, and how much time would you have before you have to get back to the ship?

OldPete · Post by **OldPete** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:15 pm

My turn to win the lottery Pauline, sorry

Re: the convention as things stand at the moment I plan my only trip abroad next year will be two weeks in Ohio.

If any Brits want a British meet this summer i would love to attend

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 11:58 pm

Popo wrote:

If you could just build us a chalet (we don't like tents) in your back yard it would be perfect.

Would that be with 8 or 9 bathrooms your majesty

... I'll see what I can do.

Jersey wrote:

I'd love to go to Australia! But you are renowned for your big poisonous hairy spiders, and a couple of really bad snakes too....my valium only takes care of so many phobias!

and don't forget the giant kangaroos that jump out in front of your car (remember drive on the left...

), drop-bears, cold beer (for all you in the UK, Ireland), loo-frogs & pit toilets >>>>> as a wise girl once wrote

for everything else, there's chocolate

Robbie

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 1:17 am

Robbie wrote: and don't forget the giant kangaroos that jump out in front of your car (remember drive on the left... ),

Smarty pants! We nearly hit a black bear yesterday!

He wasn't very big, and sure could move quickly! I couldn't believe it, a real live bear in broad daylight, on a public highway. The only other bears I saw were gizzly bears feeding at a local dump in northern Ontario years ago...it was an actual tourist sight.

drop-bears, cold beer (for all you in the UK, Ireland), loo-frogs & pit toilets
Robbie

And about the cold beer? We Canucks prefer ours frosty.

BTW - What's a drop-bear and a loo-frog???

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 1:22 am

*sigh*

Ted just told me that Australia is out for a trip...too expensive...*sigh*

He said that once he starts building the house, we'll be lucky if we can afford to go to Truro (35 minutes from us) for a day trip!

And I was going to play tag with the 'Roos!

popo · Post by **popo** » Fri Jun 04, 2004 8:42 am

Jersey, I don't know exactly which ports we'll be visiting but it would be just the Caribbean islands. St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Caymen Islands, Jamaica etc. I wouldn't know the itinerary until we booked it.

When we did a Mediterranean cruise last year we had between 6 and 10 hours in each port, and you have to be back before they pull up the gangway or you're stuck.

I've just mentioned it to my husband and he said he'd love to come to Canada

Pete, when will you be going to Ohio?

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 4:44 pm

popo wrote:Pete, when will you be going to Ohio?

Oh yeah - we COULD hold it in Ohio when Pete's there!!!

Personally, I've ALWAYS wanted to visit Australia. But maybe we could have it where NOone is from - so we'd all be visiting someplace other than home. How about Egypt???

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 5:03 pm

Good idea majic1! What about Russia????????????????

China?

Africa?

When ARE you going to Ohio Pete?

Popo, which cruiseline are you using?

WHY DON'T WE ALL GO TO SCOTLAND?

WE COULD LOOK FOR THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!!!!!!!

AH! THE SKIRL O' THE PIPES, THE SWIRL O' THE KILTS AND WEE NESSIE!
WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?

M.A.D.

WB1.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 5:12 pm

Davimad wrote:
WHY DON'T WE ALL GO TO SCOTLAND?

WE COULD LOOK FOR THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!!!!!!!

Now THAT would be fun!

I'm already packing up my scuba gear!:lol:

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 5:57 pm

Right, that's two for Scotland! WTG.

Anyone else???????????

C'mon, we need more takers................... More suggestions...........

More fun............... More, more, more.

M.A.D.

WB1.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 8:08 pm

We could camp out at the lake.

After we find the Loch Ness monster, we'll all do a jig. Guess I'll have to bring my kilts, too.

ol'gramma · Post by **ol'gramma** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 5:47 am

I have been gone all day, I come home late , go to the forum to see what's new, and......... Holy Cow...there's a line for Scotland!!!

Hang on, I have to go too.......I have the only CLOSE-UP picture of Nessie and you will need to see it so you know for sure...It's HIM/HER!

ol'gramma
Carolyn

popo · Post by **popo** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:25 am

Davimad wrote:Popo, which cruiseline are you using?

It'll either be My Travel or Ocean Village. Why? Do you want to come too?

Davimad wrote:WHY DON'T WE ALL GO TO SCOTLAND?

It would be a lot cheaper...for me anyway

majic1 wrote:We could camp out at the lake.

Oh, no, no, no. I need a bit more luxury, and a fixed toilet

not to mention somewhere to plug my hairdryer - can't live without my hairdryer

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 11:38 am

popo wrote:
Davimad wrote:Popo, which cruiseline are you using?
It'll either be My Travel or Ocean Village. Why? Do you want to come too? quote]

I would go on another cruise at the drop of a hat!

We used Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises.

They were brilliant, very expensive though!

By the time you tip everybody (compulsory) and buy all the wonderful things on the Virgin Islands and Mexico, it's a costly holiday.

It cost us over five thousand pounds, not the sort of money you could afford every year!

WE WOULD BE CHEAPER GOING TO SCOTLAND!

O'lgramma, I would like to see that picture of Nessie. We need it to identify her!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far we have four for Scotland....... Anyone else?

M.A.D.
WB1.

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 12:51 pm

Me mememememememememememememememe!!!!!!!!

5 for Scotland!

I never made it that far the last time I was in the UK. Or Wales, or Ireland...Ted would like to check out the UK, so he'd be all for it if we planned it for 2006. We plan to get the house started by the end of this month, IF we can stop arguing about which plot of land to purchase.

We haven't even started talking about siding, paint colors, flooring, or lighting choices yet and already the relationship is getting tense!

Rob, how did you do it?????

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 3:42 pm

Jersey,

Leave Ted to sort the house out, you can go to Scotland and the rest of the UK!

By the time you have visited everywhere, the house will be finished.

We can stay with Popo in England, Old Pete in Wales, me in N. Ireland, my family in Scotland (Not related to Nessie!)

and friends in S. Ireland.

How about that then?

Any other takers???????????????

M.A.D.

WB1.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 3:48 pm

Davimad wrote: We can stay with Popo in England, Old Pete in Wales, me in N. Ireland, my family in Scotland (Not related to Nessie!) and friends in S. Ireland.

And then we can jet off to Australia, then on to Egypt.

ol'gramma · Post by **ol'gramma** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 4:58 pm

And then we can jet off to Australia, then on to Egypt

Camel races?

How do you say 'Smarty Jones' in Egyptian?

For those who do not know about US horse racing, 'Smarty Jones' won the KY Derby, and Preakness, but lost the Belmont; the 3rd race in the Triple Crown.
I know this much.. 0.. about horse racing.

I'm just your info Babe.

ol'gramma
Carolyn

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 5:41 pm

Hi Info Babe,

I suppose Smarty Jones would be Sphinxy Jones in Egypt!

So far we have the UK, Australia and Egypt......Where else?

Visit Malc and Jan in Spain?

M.A.D.

WB1.

majic1 · Post by **majic1** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:07 pm

Yes - SPAIN. Then we're going to have to visit the U.S. - maybe the Grand Canyon. OH - and HOW about a Safari in Africa??????

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:18 pm

SAFARI?

YES, YES.

The year we went on the cruise was a toss up, the safari would have won
only, my health wasn't up to par then!

Do you think I could bring all the animals home with me?

Then we will travel to the US, a week with you and a week with ol'gramma.

Anyone else offering board and lodgings?????????

M.A.D.

WB1.

popo · Post by **popo** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:28 am

I'm going to see Malc and Jan in August, if I can track them down

Maureen, I think you chose wisely going on the cruise instead of the safari We went to Tunisia a couple of years ago and hated every minute, the place stank of prawns!!! Everyone on the plane on the way back felt the same. We spoke to some people who had been on a safari and they said it was one of those things you either loved or hated, and they hated it.

malcdelsol · Post by **malcdelsol** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 11:09 am

Hi Wonderlanders,

Yep - you can all visit Jan & I here in Spain.

As you can imagine there are plenty of cheap hotels on the Costa-del-Sol,
loads of places to visit and lots of SUN, SEA and ....... STINKY

Hey popo - we would like to meet up - when are you out here on holiday

You can't miss me - I'll be wearing my blue bobble-hat and trainers with white gloves (and the sun-glasses of course

)

Malcdelsol

popo · Post by **popo** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 12:32 pm

We fly out on 29 August for 2 weeks, we're staying at Las Piramides Hotel.

Last time we were there we stayed in Rhonda 4 apartments in Los Boliches and used to go on Paco's beach. The sunbeds are really comfy, lovely thick mattresses, just right for falling asleep and getting burned

Jersey · Post by **Jersey** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 8:02 pm

Davimad wrote:Jersey,

Leave Ted to sort the house out, you can go to Scotland and the rest of the UK!

By the time you have visited everywhere, the house will be finished.

We can stay with Popo in England, Old Pete in Wales, me in N. Ireland, my family in Scotland (Not related to Nessie!) and friends in S. Ireland.

How about that then?

Any other takers???????????????

M.A.D.

WB1.

Yeah right!! Like Ted would let me leave the city without him, never mind leaving the country!

The man would starve to death with out me to buy his Burger King Meal Deal!

I'll sneak out next week when he's not looking!

shhhhhhh

OldPete · Post by **OldPete** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:57 pm

i hope to be in ohio nexy may.
why wales i am welsh but live in england - gloucestershire