Dinner Meet 2009!

After uncertainty on whether or not we could stay in the hall this year I have the pleasure in announcing that yes, the dinner meet will be happening at the usual location – The Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore (near Aviemore in the Cairngorms)!

The dinner meet is to happen the weekend 30th January to 1st February.

What it costs:
£20 for the dinner and evening in the hotel (Ceilidh band!)
£10 for transport
£10 for hall (transport and hall are as standard for any weekend meet)
£10 refundable deposit…
So, £50 total (£10 are refundable or redeemable against a future weekend trip)

If you want a real bed…
The hotel have given us a cheap rate on a limited number of hotel rooms. These are priced at £10 (£15 inc. breakfast) per person per night. You will need to phone the Highlander Hotel, Newtonmore on 01540 673341 to book these rooms on the nights you want. You will have to pay the money upon checking out of hotel Sunday.

WHY A £10 DEPOSIT?
We don’t usually ask for this, however, we had a hell of a time trying to secure the hall accommodation for this year. It came close to us almost having to call off the dinner meet due to the committee of the hall (unsurprisingly) refusing to allow us to stay there due to past damage (last year a cheque for £400 was written from club funds to cover unnecessary damage.) In order to convince the committee this year that we were serious about not causing any bother again, we voluntarily wrote a £500 DEPOSIT cheque as a club guarantee. Should they have to cash this cheque as a result of any damage on our part, the club will take a massive hit. This £10 deposit is simply to help fund this deposit. YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY BACK IF YOU CAUSE NO DAMAGE! The deal we agreed in the committee meeting the other day was basically, if someone is caught damaging the hall or anything in it in any way, they will be asked individually to pay for the costs on top of their deposit. Everyone else’s deposits WILL NOT be used to pay it!

How do I signup?
Anyone is welcome and you can sign up in the pub next Tuesday (the usual pre-meet signup procedure applies). Alternatively, if you definitely cannot make it to the pub you can email me directly to reserve you places (this is mainly for old members) – I obviously need to know numbers well in advance. If you email me, please ensure you get a confirmation reply from me that I have put you on the list! (I can also be called on 07917 898301)

For people that have not been on our annual dinner meet before…
Basically, the dinner meet weekend is just like any other. Except - there will be a lot more people (the vast majority of people currently in the club as well as many old members turn up) and on Saturday evening we all get together for a proper ‘5’ course meal. There’s plenty of banter and beers and a proper ceilidh until about midnight in the hotel. The hotel itself is a 5 minute walk from the hall. After the ceilidh everyone will end up here for an evening of craziness. Most people stay in the hall but with the cheap option for hotel accommodation many will stay in a real bed (me included!) Sunday is usually a chill-out day with some sledding and snow fighting (hopefully if there is some snow!)

I am working out a normal and vegetarian option for the dinner menu as we speak. If you have any special dietary requirements then please let me know immediately so I can get in touch with the hotel.