I would like to announce confirmation of the times and dates of the Ultimate Empeg Meet 2011. This is preliminary information about the event. Please visit this thread regularly for updates in the next few weeks.

PLEASE NOTE that although the program order and content of events may change, the DATES and LOCATION of the event are confirmed and will NOT change. Please spread the word to fellow empeggers, and those you know who don't visit the board very often these days.



You are cordially invited to the Ultimate Empeg meet, 2011. New and old 'peggers are all welcome!

The location for the event is the family-friendly Springfield Country Hotel & Spa in Wareham, Dorset, UK. If you wish to begin booking for the event, then special two-night rates are available for rooms, which are economically priced for doubles and twins. All hotel facilities will be available over the weekend, including:

• Sports facilities
  
• Swimming pool
  
• Sauna
  
• Machine room
  
• Restaurant, bar, and cafe
  
• A superb location in the countryside with walks and local attractions
  
• Children's facilities (TBC)

Please contact the hotel directly to make your bookings: mention Schofield Party, 9 July as a reference when booking.

The event is based around the hotel and takes place across four days, Friday 8th July to Monday 11th July, 2011 (inclusive).

There are 5 (yes, FIVE) main events over the weekend for your pleasure, based on the tried and tested formula established at empeg events in the past, but with a few twists thrown in, namely:

FREE FOOD AND DRINK! (Yaaaay!) *

So, what's on?

Friday, 8th July

Rob's Film Night

Location: The REX Cinema, Wareham
Time: 17:00 - Late (trust me, VERY late )

An eccentric collection of films and TV shows that have amused and entertained me over the years - I hope they will amuse you too. Given my preference for Science Fiction, this might give you an idea of the content that has been lined up - be surprised on the night!

• Souvenir program to take away!
• Popcorn and Ice cream!
• Old fashioned adverts matching the program, plus a few surprises!
• Films and shorts from 18:00 to 23:00
• Late bar (private party)
• FREE pin of local Real Ale (Have a Piddle )
• FREE Wine and soft drinks
• FREE local scrumpy (TBC!!!!!)
• FREE Buffet with Veggie options (the Salt Pig )
• Mini-bus between hotel and venue (TBC)
• Child-friendly content until 21:00
• much, much, more!

Saturday, 9th July

Empeg Meet, 2011

Location: Springfield County hotel (Lakeside conference room), Wareham
Time: 10:00 - 14:00

All your usual empeg meet favourites, including:

• Special Announcements!
• Demonstrations!
• Car-park competitions!
• FREE lunch buffet and drinks!
• Distance competition!
• Shiny cars!
• Grubby cars!
• empeg installs!
• PRIZES!!!!
• Empeg Mugs and Tee-shirts!
• much, much, more!

Catch up with all your empeg buddies, and meet some of the hallowed people who developed your favourite consumer product

Be there, or Be Square! **

And now, for your continued gratification:

Rob's 50th birthday party/Empeg BBQ!!!

Location: Springfield County hotel (Lakeside conference room), Wareham
Time: 17:00 - Fall over/Bar drunk dry ***

The not to be missed, once-in-a-lifetime, blow-out party of the decade! Wherever you are in the world, the place to be is here!

Featuring:

• FREE BBQ (with ribs!)
• FREE drink (within certain limits - TBC)
• Photo booth
• Kids Punch and Judy show (non-rude version)
• Mums and Dads Punch and Judy show (complete with rude political and non-PC content - NO KIDS ALLOWED, so there )
• Goody bags (with sweeties!) for everyone attending
• Champagne toasts for all
• Silly party games for all
• The World-Famous FEELY BAG GAME (Now with EXTRA ADDED FUN!!!)
• FREE drinks (did I say that already?)
• Late bar. Yes, I do mean late. In fact, the bar will be open as long as you are. If you know what I mean. No, really. Well, if you don't believe me, come to the party.
• Real ales
• Local wines
• Rob's choice of music
• Comedy Jazz band ( The WORLD FAMOUS Bob Kerr and his WHOOPEE Band) Bring your silly party hats!
• FREE drinks
• Open-air Laser tag
• PRIZES!!!!
• Firework show (Oooo! Aaaah!)
• Marshmallows toasted on an open fire ****
• Robots and other technological marvels! (Oooo! Aaaah!)
• Rocket launcher (TBC)
• Gas cannons firing dead chickens! (TBC)
• Fire-breather, complete with beautiful assistant!
• Fire extinguishers and other equipment for your safety!
• Lots of FREE drinks (did I mention that?)
• Ambulances standing by
• Easy walking distance to your room when you give up hope
• Disco (featuring my choice of music, GROAN) (TBC) *****
• Amazing Sound and Light!
• James Clark's AMAZING Late Night Cocktail Mixing Session (fire extinguishers provided. WARNING: Your nose hairs are at risk if you stay for this part of the evening. This time they might even be real cocktails. Yes, honestly.
• FREE Terrifying hangover next morning.
• much, much, more!

Sunday, 10th July

Special Events Day

Location: Wareham Quayside, Wareham + other Locations
Time: 10:00 - 22:00

Nurse your hangovers with a full English breakfast and coffee in the sunshine at the riverside. Today features various chill-out activities to help you recover from the night before.

• Coffee and Breakfast at The Quay, Wareham (indoor and outdoor seating)
• River Booze Cruise to secret destination - bring your Pirate eye patches!
• Day Trip to Bovington Tank Museum featuring tank rides for the foolhardy! (the Tiger Tank is not guaranteed to be in running order unforch)
• Tank battle at 11:00, with REAL tanks! (TBC)
• Steam train rides to Swanage. Toot toot!
• Corfe Castle (also by train - buy an open return for best value)
• The Sea side! (complete with nudists)
• Walks around historic Wareham (complete with Silly Sword)
• Treasure hunt (TBC)
• Boat and Canoe hire
• Ducks
• Pooh sticks competition (complete with risky death-defying main road sprint crossing)
• Ice cream
• Model aircraft flying
• Traditional, specially arranged End-of-Event empeg Chinese meal (venue and menu TBC)
• much, much, more!

Monday, 11th July

Breakfast and Goodbyes

Location: The Salt Pig cafe, Wareham
Time: 9:00 (TBC)

The sad end to a wonderful weekend - but what a way to finish!

• FREE Top-quality full English breakfast
• FREE coffee and tea (Mmmmmm.... come in and smell the coffee....)
• That's all, Folks!

So there you have it, folks!

Although some details are to be confirmed, that's the way it's looking at the moment. It's going to be a big friendly crowd at the party, so come along and have the time of my life! I'm looking forward to welcoming you all for the weekend, and trust me....

THIS time, I intend to get Plastered



Still to come:

• Location details and travel
• List of nearest airports
• Booking form for the event so I know how many are coming

Watch this space!



* Standard disclaimer: at some (well, most) of the events you attend - pay for the rest yourself!

** Errrr... don't forget to come in your cars, of course....

*** Whichever comes first, depending on your circumstances. I expect Roger to be Last Man Standing, for which there will be a special award

**** Well, toasted on a Jet Engine, actually. No, honestly.

**** Well, come on, it IS my party after all, and I'll cry if I want to. Yes, really.

Rob S urgently needs numbers for the various elements of the 2011 meet so please visit the sign up page and fill in your details:

http://empeg.sl.cm/initialreg.php

Don't worry, you can go back and change your registration, but please do complete the form as soon as possible so everyone can be catered for.

Cheers!

Rob

I am aware that some of you have had trouble booking rooms at the venue, for which I'd like to apologise.

If you would like to come to the meet, there is an alternative hotel within reach with good facilities with sufficient rooms available:

Holes Bay Premier Inn, Poole, Dorset

Please make your bookings direct with the hotel. You will get a reduced rate for multiple nights, and if you book on line instead of by telephone.

The rooms are all either double or twin, and family can be accommodated (up to 2 children extra per room).

If you want breakfast, you will need to book this at the time you make the booking (extra cost).

The bar is open until 12PM for residents: food is served until 10PM: breakfast is served 7:30 - 10:30 AM.

I will be arranging for a minibus to bring you to, and from the venue of the party and the meet during the day and over the weekend.

Please email empeg.meet@xs4all.nl if you book into this hotel so that I can judge the numbers using the minibus.

Again, my apologies for the problems you may have had.

The "Mystery Tour" events on Sunday 10th July are planned to be EXCLUSIVE, that is, there will not be sufficient time for you to go on more than one event during the day due to the distances and timings involved.

I'm sorry about this - I should have explained better in the original posting. However - I'm sure that you can imagine if you wish to travel to Swanage on the Steam Train, this will take several hours for the round trip. There simply will not be time for you to get to the Tank Museum the same day. Likewise with the Poole Harbour/Estuary trip.

Also unclear is that whilst I am paying for the coffee and food on Wareham Quayside at the Quay Inn and the minibuses to get you around, the costs of the trips/entry fees to museums etc. are your own.

Could you please revise your selections for the Sunday to just ONE event by revising your registration so I can re-estimate numbers for food and bus places needed? Thanks!

Sorry to put you through the hoops, folks!

... the Punch and Judy show won't happen, sorry folks!

I'm trying to arrange an alternative as you read....

If you would like to attend the traditional end-of-event Chinese meal, can you please email me on chill.day@xs4all.nl indicating how many in your party.

It is likely that there will be a fixed-price two-course menu for GBP 10.00, or three-course for GBP 15:00.

Further details when available.

If you have any questions about aspects of the meet, I have set up a number of contact emails for you to use:

Film night: film.night@xs4all.nl
Empeg meet: empeg.meet@xs4all.nl
Party & BBQ: 50th.party@xs4all.nl
Events day: chill.day@xs4all.nl
Big Breakfast: big.breakfast@xs4all.nl

Accommodation questions to Empeg meet. If you wish to book a hotel for the weekend, use Premier Inn Holes Bay, Poole. A minibus will be running between locations, hotels, and the main venue on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I will try to answer questions quickly, but please be patient if you don't get an immediate reply - my life continues as usual!

For information about airports or directions, please use the empeg meet address. Sorry, but it simply won't be possible to collect and meet everyone arriving at odd times!

Please note that while the weekend is meant to be fun, the event carries certain risks of fire and injury, so please be careful.

Would anyone with first-aider experience please contact me on the empeg meet address.

Anyone in the UK coming to the meet prepared to make a pickup/drop off for an old empegger, possibly from/to Gatwick?

The owner of the Chinese restaurant is opening specially on a Sunday evening for the event, but in order to make it worth his while, he needs a minimum of 20 people for a meal.

At the moment it's looking as if I only have a few people interested which means unless there's a big increase in the number of people going, the meal is off.

Could I please ask those of you who are not decided to try and make a quick decision so I can confirm a booking?

As part of the food arrangements for the night, there will be fresh salted popcorn and special-recipe hotdogs on fresh crusty rolls to order on the night, delivered hot from the deli!

Be there, or be square....

It seems I have chosen exactly the weekend when half the planet has decided they need hotel rooms in this area!

I have just discovered to my absolute fury that the alternate hotel has now also filled up (Holes Bay Premier Inn).

If any of you are on the point of booking, I am now recommending Premier Inn Cabot Lane, North Poole which is nearby. The minibus will include this hotel on it's travels. Please notify me if you use this hotel.


As a general plea to evryone attending, if you are NOT staying at the venue hotel (Springfield) then can you drop me a line on empeg.meet@xs4all.nl to make sure I know where you are staying to arrange for pickups during the weekend.

As a follow up: I am trying to arrange for a pickup for Mike Tempsch at Stansted airport, on Friday 8th July to bring him to the empeg meet.

Is anyone able to help? Please PM me or email on empeg.meet@xs4all.nl.

It would be great if anyone could help out - although he is now pretty fit again, don't forget he still has residual problems that make it awkward for him to travel. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Due to problems with the local tides, and a somewhat uncooperative boat company, the Booze Cruise on Sunday 10th to Poole and back will now not take place.

Instead, there are two, 40-minute river cruises along the estuary at 10:30 and later in the afternoon at 16:00.

Sorry about this, folks - however, it should be just as much fun! {8^)

Could you PM me or email me on empeg.meet@xs4all.nl if you are attending with a car installation?

I need this for car-park space and also to work out which competitions to hold on the day.

There will be Trophies!

Another alternative hotel -

Should be opening with 8 new ensuite rooms after full refurb on Monday 4th July:

The Red Lion, West Street, Wareham.

It's a Greene King inn, and it's just been completely done out. Middle of town centre, near REX cinema and Quayside.

Please contact the hotel direct on 01929 550099.

Prices vary between GBP 80 - 125/night.

Please let me know if you book in to this hotel.

Note that it's NOT TOO LATE to sign up for the meet!

There's a number of surprises lined up which may rock your socks - the attendees are going to be gob-smacked!

So if you're dithering over that last-minute decision, make it now

If nothing else, the party is going to swing with more than 70 guests arriving - come and join the fun!

Be there - or be square!

BIG Dreams Snowboarding in Wareham (close to the event) would be prepared to open specially on Sunday 10th July if there was sufficient interest from attendees.

It's a superbly-stocked, reasonably priced snowboard specialists - they do nothing else - and the owner (Ben Smith) will open for an hour on Sunday morning for aficionados.

Email me on chill.day@xs4all.nl if you are interested!

Bicycle hire is available locally from Cycle Experience, Wareham Station . They have adult and children's bikes for hire, with safety equipment, route maps and tow buggies. There are some beautiful forest rides locally available, suitable for families (safe off-road).

Contact them on 01929 556601 for rates and availability. The station is approx. 10 minutes walk from Wareham centre.

As yet, I have only a few people expressing interest in the Chinese meal.

Since the owner is opening the restaurant specially, he needs a minimum of 20 people to make it worthwhile. Please let me know ASAP if you want to attend, or - unforch - I will have to cancel

If there is sufficient interest, I will be able to arrange for paintball at Skirmish Dorset near the Tank Museum.

For this to go ahead, we would need a minimum of 8 people to take part. Event time TBC. From experience with my friends and my own sons (both serious paintball/airsoft players), this is without doubt the best paintball arena I have been to, and is well worthwhile.

If you are interested, then email me on chill.day@xs4all.nl with the number of attendees.

Please note this is PROVISIONAL pending interest!

Arrangements are being made to provide a broadcast of the empeg meet during the day, and if possible, the party during the evening.

Broadcast times are planned between 10:00 - 14:00 BST (GMT + 1 please note!) on Saturday 9th July. Evening times may be a bit random, depending on how pissed we get...

There will be facilities for text chat participation from viewers. All details to be confirmed.

Skype will be available for attendees who wish to call in during the day - we have a few surprise guests lined up!

Please re-visit this thread for more announcements.

Anyone? Pickup needed around 11AM Friday 8th July at Stansted.

Please help an empegger make it to the party!

For those not attending the empeg meet, Wareham Local Market takes place on Saturday, 9th July between 10 AM and 1 PM on Wareham Quayside.

Those wishing to skype in to the meet should look for user empeg2011 during the meet times as advertised. Otherwise, look for user schofiel online during the day.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/empegmeet2011 is also up and running, thanks Rob!