UK Meetup, Northampton, 12pm 5th Feb 2012

[Arun Nagrath]

Seasonal greetings everyone! I hope you have all had a great Xmas.

I have been really busy in my new Hospital job in Northampton but I hope to post lots in the next few days. Also, for anyone who emailed me in the last 3 weeks but haven't received a reply, I am attacking my email mountain and you should hear from me over the next couple of days!

I have just got the date and venue for our next UK Meetup:-

It will be held at 12pm on Sunday 5th February 2012 at a massive Chinese restaurant (it's more like a hall) called Aroma in Northampton.

www.thearoma.co.uk/where/index.html#northamton

The address of the restaurant is Sol Central, Mairfair, Northampton NN1 1SR and is about 0.5km from Northampton Rail Station.

If you feel hungry, try their absolutely enormous buffet at £8.80/person, which is great value.

The restaurant closes at 4pm and, for whoever is interested, we will then go to a pub in the town centre (location to be decided at lunch).

If you are interested in attending, please email me first on [e-mail] or text/call me on my mobile [phone]

The Meetup is a great way of interacting with other sufferers and learning about how others cope with their condition and what products they use.

For anyone wishing to join our Skype Group (currently 20 members), please add my Skype Name (which is ArunNagrath) to your Skype Contacts. The Skype chats are every Saturday at 9pm GMT (1pm PST), although I won't be participating on New Years Eve.

Have a fantastic New Year everyone! Forget your problems for just one night and let your hair down!
Arun

[dolittle]

I'm going. My first meet up. Thanks arun for organising this

btw..."aroma" irony? lol

[adrianmcc]

Hey Arun I will be attending I will be staying in a hotel. I will list hotels as i find them, at the minute I have found a few i have listed them below with the links.

The Ibis hotel in Northampton city centre is £39 for the 5th. I have been to northampton before to meet Arun and the Ibis centre is right in the centre of the city. This could be an option.
www.bookingbuddy.co.uk/destinations/Northampton-England-United+Kingdom-travel-information.html?arrival_city=Northampton%2C+England%2C+United+Kingdom&city=120630&tid=186349&source=google_bbuk_hotel_xml_hotels_northampton&searchtype=Cheap+Hotels&taparam=EBBGoogleUK_K142585_A1346628999_NS&mcid=14555&supai=8310781119

Campanile hotel £29 for th 5th. this is just of the M1 on the outskirts.
webbooking.louvre-hotels.fr/CA/default.aspx?t=d7362b9c66ffc&s=CA&l=en-GB#

I think £29 pounds is as cheap as you can get really. I will probably go for this option. The parking is very cheap in northampton so it would be cheaper to stay here and drive into the centre later on.

If anyone else is going to stay at campanile let me know. Look forward to seeing you all at the meet up.

[Arun Nagrath]

Hey Adrian,
The Northampton Central Travelodge is only100-200 metres from the Aroma restaurant and right in the heart of town. The Saver rate is only £25 if you book now.

What did you think about the riverside pub we went to nearby?
Arun

[Arun Nagrath]

Hey Doc Dolittle,
It was great chatting to you over Skype the other day. So glad you can make the Meetup.

I have organised over 20 Meetups in London in the past and am now eager to arrange Meetups elsewhere so that other members can also come.

Since Northampton is between London and the Midlands I am hoping to meet new members, especially in the Midlands.
Arun

[adrianmcc]

Good call Arun, I have just checked the travel lodge hotel site and they have a winter sale on rooms at the Northampton central travel lodge are £12 pounds for sunday the 5th of febuary. I have stayed in a travel lodge recently, however it was in liverpool but it was fine the bathroom was great good powerful shower nice size room etc...

[Arun Nagrath]

Hey that's wonderful Adrian, £12 is amazing value and I will let others know. This Travelodge is very centrally located and handy for the restaurant.
Arun

[adrianmcc]

Hey just booked the hotel in northampton for feb the 5th, It is the travel lodge central rooms are only £15 at the minute. Best to book early to get this saver rate there is an insurance you can by for £1.50 if you think you might have to cancel.

Arun I booked early checkin which is for 12pm although others may not want to pay the extra £10 for early check in. Would it be possible to make the meetup slightly later. Maybe 2-3pm?

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the meetup.

[Arun Nagrath]

Hi Adrian,
You've booked for Sunday 5th February? Aren't you at Uni on the Monday? I thought you would be booking for 4th Feb. It doesn't matter anyway, we could make the Meetup 2pm but can't leave it too late as the restaurant closes at 4pm I think.

However, I have just noticed something strange. Aroma Northampton has just disappeared from the Aroma website! Furthermore, nobody is answering the phone at the restaurant (the number is 01604 602 112). What do you make of this dude?
Arun

[Arun Nagrath]

Guys, the venue has changed as the Aroma restaurant closed down at the start of the month since their 10 year lease expired.

Instead, we will meet at 2pm at Northampton General Hospital and spend the whole afternoon in the kitchen/lounge area of the doctors quarters. We will drink coffee/tea and soft drinks and get pizza (or other takeaway) delivered. At 6pm we will visit a pub near the hospital (exact location to be decided).

If coming by car, please park in the Midsummer Meadow Public Car Park (free on Sundays) and make your way to the Billing Road Entrance (see link).

www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Downloads/NGHmapOct11.pdf

There are chairs at the Billing Road Entrance so take a seat when you arrive and give me a call on my mobile [phone]. The doctors quarters are nearby and I will come down and meet you.

Looking forward to seeing you.
Arun

[adrianmcc]

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the meetup, at the minute there is 5 of us going. Would be great if we could get another couple. I am staying at the travel lodge in northampton central on sunday night. There is a local free car park on sunday and the travel lodge rooms are still only about £20 a night for sunday the 5th.