I'll be with you in the 'don't have a clue section' too Barri - I'm looking forward to the day but reading this thread sometomes makes it sound hard.

Also I'm a wimp - so no big bells for me please or I'll wear out

The little ones require more effort to get a noise, the big ones are heavier, the middle ones have most notes so they're all pretty even really.

It's really not that hard. If I could manage it when I was about 8, it can't be that hard. Everyone who's coming is more than capable, honest.

It'll be fun. Even with me ringing in the wrong place/late etc.

Ours are quite flat, so probably wouldn't blend. We have a diatonic twelve in F with a few semitones. They do have newish handles, though, so are good for novices.

I think ours are tuned to a bit of an interesting pitch too, although I can't remember which way. If it's not too much trouble, bring yours along and we can take our pick on the day. I expect yours are much prettier than our lot lol.

As my forum time tomorrow will be minimal, a few final bits of logistics info.

Nearest train station is West Byfleet. There are very minor changes to London bound train times this Saturday, but nothing too significant.

There is plenty of car parking.

Venue is open at 11am, we'll probably start ringing about 15-20 minutes later, once we've met and had a little introduction session. The event is over at 4pm, after which we'll retire to the restaurant, which is booked for 4:45pm.

There is ample car parking in the area.

Do bring a packed lunch, if you want one. There'll be a decent lunch break, and I'll provide tea/coffee/biscuits, but nothing more substantial than that.

See you all there!

Do I have to get there before 11, Clari-Barry?

I'm arriving at West Byfleet station at 10:20-ish, then heading for the supermarket for a spot of tea and coffee shopping. And something herbal tea-like for pianocelloflute! Then I'm aiming to arrive at the church at about 10:45-10:50am-ish : that'd be a good time for you to aim for Sarah

Oki doki, will aim for about half past ten then as my dad only does late and later lol.

Cool, I'll text you when I arrive at the station Sarah

AAAAAAARRRRGGH!!!!!

Why do things always go wrong at the worst possible time?!?!?

The car's starter motor or something is broken and isn't going to be fixed by tomorrow. We hopefully will be able to get a hire car or something, but it's not certain. If we can't get a car I should be able to get to West Byfleet on the train without too much trouble but wouldn't, realistically, be able to bring the bells with me as the box weighs about a tonne and they probably wouldn't be covered by insurance if anything happened to them on the train.

Hang on... no...apparently we will have a car of some description, so we should be ok.

*wonders what else can go wrong*

That's life in general, I'm afraid, get used to it

Fingers crossed all will be OK!

If no-one else is using the church facilities then there should be plenty of parking (free), regarding on-street parking that will depend on whether there is football training going on at the rec next to the church. Please observe parking signs because the parking wardens frequently pay us a visit

Looking forward to a great day and if it's the Italian restaurant, in the village that I think it is then that's great

Leaving in about an hour...see you all later!

Any final enquiries : drop me a text!

See you later.

Thank you for a lovely, fun day.
Especially thanks to Barry, Sarah and Ros for organising it all and bringing the bells.

Really, really good day

Thanks to everyone who came, especially our musical directors sarah123 and andante_in_c! Loved your arrangements Sarah!

We were thinking that a reprise next year sometime would be a good thing, such was the success of today!

Thanks for a great day, Sarah, Barry and Andante!

Lovely to meet some new faces...and always a pleasure to see old friends too.

Agreed, the arrangements were great, nice job, Rara!

Thanks to all involved in arranging it, that was great fun!

Good to see you're home Sarah. A special thank you to your Mum for transporting you and the bells - what would we have done without her?!

Many thanks to all for a lovely day. Super arrangements for the bells, and it was lovely to share a meal afterwards.

If we have a reprise, maybe it should be nearer Cambridge. It was a long way for Sarah to have to bring the bells today.

Yes...it'd catch a few different people too : East Anglia has had a very raw deal when it comes to forum events so far...

Isn't East Angular abroad?

Seriously, up there would be fine by me, easy drive too

It's better that one car has to drive slightly further than almost everyone has to travel further though, which would probably be the case if we had something nearer Cambridge. Our journey wasn't too bad, honest.

Yes : your timing was impeccable Sarah

I think if I had to describe Sarah in 2 words, they would be:

"Fashionably late"

(fashionably could be interchangeable with "always", but I'll play nicely!)

*runs*

*confused*

You arrived just in time that you didn't have to wait for the hall to be opened and we could get a-ringing!

I wasn't that late. It was looking like we were going to be a lot later at quarter to nine this morning.

Really enjoyed today, my first Forum event and it was good to meet everyone

Thank you so much Barry, Sarah, Andante_in_C, and everyone else

Good to meet you : glad you had fun

Thanks to everyone who organised, helped organise, brought bells, gave lifts, brought tea, conducted or counted for us.

I had a fantastic day and really enjoyed my first go at bell ringing.

It's also really nice to meet other forumites.

Glad you had fun : see you at another musical event soon!

Thank you very much everyone, especially Sarah and Adndante_in_C and K!!

I had a great day and would like to try again. When is the next?
(Even tempeted to have handbell set - but how much cost??)
I will post photos in FB later!

And for some of them, see you tonight!

I'm sure I can lean on Sarah for a reprise next year sometime...



Indeed, see you in a bit!

Hrm I'm toying with driving up early and going to play with all the musical toys in Turnkey/Rose Morris for a bit

You'll have to just be content with Rose Morris, Turnkey's gone...

What! Did they move or close down?

When I went down Charing Cross Road recently, during shopping time, the shutters were down. I guess they could've moved, it wasn't a music shop I frequented very often...

Hum their website was still working last time I checked, I wonder if they have gone online only? Their contact details don't work on the webpage

I used to love playing with the synths in there...

Aww, there's still plenty of places round that area to play instruments and things. And buy sheet music!

Not sure who asked, but handbell's don't come cheap unfortunately, I've looked into buying some for doing method ringing on, but they are in the thousands.
http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/hbprice.htm

*faints*

lol! As we all know instruments are expensive.

So the burning question is.... when's the next one?

Very, very early days yet, but I can work with Sarah to perhaps reprise it in Summer 2010?...

I'll definitely be up for future ding-dongs

It will possibly be more difficult for me to organise what with being at the other end of the country from the bells and the people in charge of them for much of the year, but in principle, a repeat next summer is very doable.

Hopefully h_c can make it next time to dazzle us all with his bell-ringing brilliance...