Ahhhhh...

Well gents, another fantastic lunch (and the rest).  It was good to see so many of you on such good form.

10/10 for Llewellyn for turning up after work - not to mention the Railway Bell calendar (I know what Toria is getting for Xmas). 

Great showing from the out-of-towners, especially Weymouth who managed to bring his traveling salesmen kit with him and surprise all but Rupe.

Two resolutions passed:

• Thursdays seem better and will be tried again next year;
• We're back at the G&V despite Jos's proposal of Hanover Square next year (where is his new office????)

No shows on the day owe me £10 (Boo, Hedge, Felts and Davy Littler).

Well done....you've all done very well! 

Potter/Dolly/Nick

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening...

Gents

They are not sleigh bells, they are the gentle sound of destiny.  Yes we approach that time when we enter the winter wonderland that is the Jam Pot and then head over to roast our chestnuts at the George & Vulture.  You lucky people!

As always we have had a couple of fallers, Stevie Gray - forced to a pitch in Munich and Crackers our time-honoured long distance traveller for once can't leave the shores of the US.  But just as always we have a couple of later entries - James "Will he, Won't he" Audsley will,  and Phil "The Phoenix" Coles rises from the ashes for a miraculous appearance.

So - the details:
Stevie Carr and I are meeting at the Jamaica Inn at 12:00ish expecting to move to the George & Vulture between 1 and 1:30.  G&V address is below, the Jamaica Inn is right opposite.

It's so close - you can almost taste it!

Nick/Potter/Dolly

3 Castle Ct
London
EC3V 9DL
Tel: 0207 6269710

Who	Starter	Main	Dessert
Barrie Moore	Salmon	Beef	Rarebit
Dave Littler	Mushroom	Sea Bass	Stilton
Hugh Gardner	Scampi	S&K	Hot
James Audsley	Shrimp	Sea Bass	Rarebit
John Daly	Scampi	S&K	Hot
Jonathan Brown	Salmon	S&K	Hot
Jonathan Short	Shrimp	Steak	Hot
Mark Cole	Salmon	S&K	Hot
Nick Palmer	Mushroom	S&K	Rarebit
Nigel Felton	Salmon	Beef	Hot
Paul Deane	Scampi	S&K	Hot
Phil Coles	Shrimp	Sea Bass	Stilton
Richard Heslop	Salmon	S&K	Hot
Rupert Hunter	Shrimp	S&K	Rarebit
Steven Carr	Shrimp	Beef	Hot
Vaughn Wheeler	Scampi	Steak	Hot

City Boys...Gentlemen Start Your Engines...

OK, so we have now arrived at d-day...yes you now have to make a decision about what you want to eat in a month's time.  Truth is that I could leave it a couple of weeks, but it makes no difference - you still won't have a clue - so just do it now. 

The menu is attached.

Clearly those who are not coming don't need to choose a meal, however if you would like to we will send you a picture of what you would have eaten if you could have made it.  We may also send you a commemorative soiled napkin stained with the food of your choice. 

The current state of play (as far as I am aware - and let me know if I am wrong!):
Barrie Moore    Yes
Bruce Wheeler    No
Chris McColl    Probably
Darrell Mercer    Yes
Dave Littler    Yes
Dave Llewellyn    No 
Dave Nisbet    Unlikely
Hugh Gardner    Yes
James Audsley    Unlikely
John Daly    Yes
Jonathan Brown    Yes
Jonathan Short    Yes
Marc Chaumeton    Unlikely
Mark Cole    Yes
Mark Davies    Probably 
Mark Hancock    No
Neil Cracknell    Unlikely
Nick Palmer    Yes
Nigel Felton    Yes
Paul Deane    Yes
Richard Heslop    Yes
Rupert Hunter    Yes
Steve Gray    Yes
Steven Carr    Yes
Vaughn Wheeler    Yes 

You are indeed a venerable bunch and I look forward to an afternoon of fun and frolics.

Nick/Potter/Dolly etc.

...destiny awaits

Gentlemen

In little more than a month it will be upon us.  That wonderful moment when you realise that another year has slipped by, and you haven't spoken to each other for 12 months.

Just a reminder, my sock drawer is tidy, we're in flannelette at this time of year and the venue is the G&V.  Our date is Thursday the 13th, and the robust and varied menu will be released shortly. 

To date we have had one faller (Herbie - off skiing, Aviemore I think) and one that's limping a little (Crackers, some feeble excuse about a 5,500 mile commute).  We also have a few people that haven't answered yet (of course some of them will have told me verbally, but at my age that's a little naive): 

Bruce Wheeler
Dave Llewellyn
David Nisbet
James Audsley
John Daly
Marc Chaumeton
Mark Davies
Steve Gray
Steven Carr

Gents - if you can hear me give us a sign!  I need to give Georges our numbers. 

Anyway - expect to have to do the difficult job soon, and pick your meal.

Loads of love

Potter/Dolly/Nick

Having recently re-sorted my underwear draw

Having recently re-sorted my underwear draw to bring the flannelette ones to the front, I was grasped by a feeling of "something left undone".  At our time of life this can clearly involve walking into the bright light of day with the old man hanging out, but not this time.  No indeed after fumbling round my memory for a good 15 minutes I remembered that I had put the kettle on.  During my journey downstairs I also remembered that it was high time I sent out the call to arms for the 2007 City-West End shindig. 

So here it is!  The official announcement of this year's revelry.

Having polled people at last year's festivities I received a fairly clear message, typical feedback was:
"I know how to get to this place" (most people) 
"It doesn't serve poncey grub - so it's got my vote" (D. Llewellyn)
"I love the waitress" (SJB Carr)
"The Jam Pot is across the path" (D. Llewellyn)
"I love the waitress" (SJB Carr) 
"It has a lovely little area that I can land my helicopter" (JO Short)
"Where's that waitress?" (SJB Carr)
"Steve, your head is resting on my stomach" (RD Hunter)
"Your not the waitress" (SJB Carr) 

Anyway - you get the picture.  So this year we are going to grace Georges at the George and Vulture with our presence once again.

However!  There will be one subtle change...this year the event will take place on a THURSDAY!!!  We have gone for Thursday 13th December to try and avoid the school events that constantly befall our brave group.  Now I know there will be some that say "I never heard the like!", and "We've never, ever had CBWEB on anything but a Friday" but we have to move with the times.  So chin-up, braces on and let's get down at the G&V for a Christmas Cracker. 

Put it in your diary and let me know - and woe betide anyone that waits for a better offer...it just won't come!

Potter/Dolly/Nick etc