Surrey Vegetarians and Vegans

West Midlands Vegan Festival

October 27, 2012 · 11:00 AM
Wolves Civic

You can find this event (click on pic for more info) listed on the London Vegan (some of them will be staying overnight), Leicester Veg*n (Leicester Veggies have a mini bus going) and Surrey Meetup groups, plus Volentia, etc.

Some of us will be visiting Veggie World restaurant and shop on the way back.

London Midland trains had a 'Great Escape' all day £15 ticket offer (you need to print out and take a, limited availability, voucher to the station). See comments below for more info.

For general train times, see the National Rail Enquiries website.

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Richard Ⓥ Molyneux

I've confirmed by 'phone that Veggie World (store and restaurant), in Bletchley (just south of Milton Keynes) IS open tomorrow, and Napak and I hope to get there between 8pm and 8:30pm (they close at 10pm) for dinner and shopping. Do join us if you can.

Will use London Midland from Wolverhampton (WVH) at 17:57 (platform 3) or 18:19(5) or 18:28(3) to Birmingham (BHM) arriving 17:55(3B)/18:44(4A)/18:47(4C), then 18:13(3A)/18:53(3A) to Bletchley (BLY) arriving 19:51/20:20. It's about a 10-15 minute walk to Veggie World if you cut through the pedestrianised shopping area.

Click on the store photo for more info, reviews, map (I've notified Google that the marker is slightly too far west), etc.

0 · October 26
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  London Midland services back to London Euston (EUS) from Bletchley (BLY) are 21:39(4)/22:26(4) arriving 22:37/23:27.
  
  0 · October 26
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Oops, that should have read 'Will use London Midland from Wolverhampton (WVH) at 17:37 (platform 3)' not '17:57'.
  
  0 · October 27
Maggie Bailey

Well, that's good news! When did that happen, was it recently? I hadn't heard. Lucky you, not much chance of me getting back together with my errant husband!

0 · October 26
- View all 3 replies
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Hope you get well soon, Maggie and you car is sorted. Shame you can't join us. Yes, long story but we're back together recently, we haven't told anyone. xx
  
  0 · October 27
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  We've always stayed in touch, and have been working on making things, err, work... better :-)
  
  0 · October 27
- Napak
  
  That first reply was me! xx ( Richard didn't log out when using my laptop :/)
  
  0 · October 27
Maggie Bailey

I have changed my RSVP, can't come after all, apologies. Shame, as it sounds like a great day out, but circumstances have conspired to prevent me, as so often happens! I am still suffering from this bug, and I have to take my car to the garage tomorrow for some repairs, which is likely to be pricey, eeek! I gather London Midland has now sold out of the £15 tickets as well, it has now gone up to £30, so when you factor in food, etc, it is not a cheap day out. Another time, sigh....Just being nosy, but are you and Napak back together again now Richard?

0 · October 26
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  LOL Yes :-)
  
  0 · October 26
Richard Ⓥ Molyneux

Napak and I are using the London Midland voucher for Euston 8:46 (platform 11) to Stafford 10:53 (5), then 11:10 (4) to Wolverhampton 11:27 (3). We will be helping on the Vegan Society's stand from 3pm-4pm, do say "Hi".

1 · October 24
- View all 3 replies
- Maggie Bailey
  
  I am still vacillating over this Richard, but it's looking unlikely I will be able to come, sorry. I have caught some bug which has been dragging on, has quite knocked me out, and there is no knowing if I will be over it by Saturday. Bleaaargh.....!!
  
  0 · October 24
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  No problem, hope you get well soon.
  
  0 · October 24
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Looks like that Euston 8:46 (platform 11) splits into two trains, one heading to Crewe (via Stafford) and the other to Birmingham New Street (arriving 11:01 on platform 3A). Catching the Birmingham 11:05 (3B) to Wolverhampton 11:24 (1) shaves 3 minutes off the time.
  
  0 · October 26
Richard Ⓥ Molyneux

Maggie, Meetup used to have a 'Maybe' button but, as with all things Meetup, they 'improved' the user experience by dropping it!

0 · October 13
- View all 15 replies
- Maggie Bailey
  
  Ah really Richard? I thought you had done something to the Maybe button, LOL! I couldn't imagine why though. Yes, great "improvement", isn't it?! It now just puts people under more pressure to give a definite Yes or No! I'll have to look into transport more first; I have contacted the festival organisers, I hoped they might be organising a mini-bus or some such, but they are not. Never mind. It is not just the expense of getting to London from Aldershot (although that is not inconsiderable) it is also the time, it takes forever! I will have a think about the options.
  
  0 · October 13
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Sadly another 'improvement' was removing member access to venue details and reviews. Yes, it's a long train journey up north.
  
  0 · October 13
- Lesley Dove
  
  I think for some events like meals out at a restaurant where you have to book a table it is essential that ppl are decisive, and it's quite rude for them not to be decisive and to be no shows, but for a lot of events it is not so important and we should be able to decide whether or not to allow a maybe button on those events.
  
  1 · October 14
- Maggie Bailey
  
  Exactly Lesley, it is for us to decide. I agree that sometimes you need to be definite, if, for example, you are going to a meal where they have to book a table, but for a lot of events a Maybe suffices. I don't feel bad about giving a Maybe response and then not going to something, whereas I do feel bad if I say Yes, then have to pull out. It is often very hard to say ahead of time whether or not you will be able to do something, with the best will in the world, so I prefer to leave it open. I just feel I am being put under pressure when I have to give a definite Yes or No, and that I am letting people down if I say Yes, then have to change it to No. I assume you are not going to this Festival, as you haven't responded? It would be great if you did, maybe we could travel up there together then! One thing that puts me off is having to do such a long journey by myself.
  
  0 · October 14
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  You can read the reasoning for dropping 'Maybe' at http://meetupblog.mee... If I ruled the Meetup world I'd have simply given 'Maybe' as an option available to organizers/hosts to include on their event :-)
  
  1 · October 14
- Maggie Bailey
  
  Thanks Richard, I have just read that. Their reasoning still does not convince me though!
  
  0 · October 14
- Lesley Dove
  
  Their reasoning is a bit convincing mainly because I am so fed up of flakiness when it comes to booked meals but then you still get some ppl who reply Yes then do a no show anyway, AND are too rude to even explain themselves, so I do not think anything will stop those ppl being flaky, they will just have to have it on their record that they've been no shows, which is prob better than allowing them to be maybes! No, we're not going all the way to Wolverhampton, it is much too far for us, and we usually attend the Animal Aid Xmas Fair event here in London anyway, much more convenient, on 2nd December this year.
  
  0 · October 15
- Lesley Dove
  
  I take it Richard that you will be getting your Why Project photo done at this event? I have almost given up on that ever happening for me as it seems to me that the organiser is not very serious about coming to London to do it, he has had ample time by now to arrange something if he had really wanted to, I feel we've been messed about a bit there. I wanted to take part in that Why Project but am not going all the way to Wolverhampton, anyway it is the day after my birthday and would rather not have the stress of a long tiring day with a long journey, we might do something nice for my b'day that day instead of the Friday night anyway, and I prefer to keep flexible for now about that.
  
  0 · October 15
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Thanks for pointing out that Richard and his "Why?" Project will be at Wolverhampton Lesley, I didn't know. Annoyingly, he was a no-show at London Vegan Fete, perhaps he should have said he'd be a maybe ;-)
  
  0 · October 15
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Having only Yes/No RSVPs means people are forced to use 'Yes' who'd otherwise have used 'Maybe'. With waiting lists, it would've been great to have Maybes bumped down onto the list whilst Yeses would get bumped up.
  
  0 · October 15
- Lesley Dove
  
  Yes I had heard he had been a no show at the fete - and it was nobody elses's fault that he hadn't read the messages properly on his own event page - but did you not see the messages on the Why project page later where he explained and apologised that he had simply got mixed up about which event was being discussed? He thought Napak was asking about this Wolverhampton event apparently, which is where he will definitely be! It was clear enough I thought, that she was asking about the London Vegan fete and you put up a link for him to that event, so I was not sure how he could get so confused about which event was being discussed, but anyway he did confuse the two events somehow. I'd suggest checking the facebook page, all the messages are on there. Best double check he will still be at the event. I hope I have got this right!
  
  0 · October 15
- Lesley Dove
  
  Turns out he'd never even planned to be at the fete for a photoshoot there, which I thought was a real missed opportunity, with so many veggies and vegans at one event. I couldn't make it to that event but I am sure a lot of ppl there would have been happy to take part in his project. I also asked him if he could do a photo shoot in Brighton either before or after the Farm Animals Demo (again lots of us in one place) but yet again he said no even though I asked a while ago with lots of notice! I think to be honest his only priority is the midlands area, but I will eat my words if he does come to London after all..
  
  0 · October 15
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  Richard IS going to Wolverhampton, I'm on his Facebook event. I did specifically say London when commenting to him before the Summer Fete.
  
  0 · October 16
- Lesley Dove
  
  Yes I know you were very clear, so was Napak, and there was no clear reason for him to get confused.
  I have a white t shirt all ready for if he ever does get to London to do this. I want to talk to Helen and MJ about inviting him to do a photo shoot at a London Vegetarian Drinks which is always a Friday, since I've seen nothing happening about him coming to vegan drinks (and anyway I can't do Thursdays usually). I think both the drinks events attract a lot of ppl at Tibits so it should be worthwhile.
  
  0 · October 16
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  I thought Richard was working with Robb to attend Vegan Drinks at Tibits.
  
  0 · October 16
Maggie Bailey

This sounds really good, I am tempted! Are you both definitely going, Richard and Napak? I might come if some people I know will be there, I also know someone else who is going. How are you travelling there, taking the train? I must look into this further, I won't RSVP just yet (If either of you are not taking the train, and are interested in car-sharing, let me know! I am happy to drive there in my car, if I could get some help with the fuel costs and with navigating!)

1 · October 12
- View all 7 replies
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  I've got a London Midland voucher and we'd intended to take the train, though I need to confirm their service times. I'll have to use Google maps to get an idea of car fuel costs.
  
  0 · October 12
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  You can RSVP as a 'maybe', on here and/or the other Meetup groups that list the event. Would you be up for Veggie World too?
  
  0 · October 12
- Maggie Bailey
  
  I might be. So you are not planning to stay the night then? I presume you have not already booked your train ticket, in that case. Is the voucher you have valid for a certain period? I am thinking I might take the train too, but I still have to get into Central London, to take advantage of this, and that is a long way from where I live. Hmmmm.....It needs more thinking about.
  
  0 · October 12
- Napak
  
  No Maggie, we're not going to stay the night. The Great Escape vouchers are valid between Saturday 20 October – Sunday 4 November 2012. We haven't booked train tickets, but we already downloaded the voucher and will have to bring it when we buy tickets at the station. It's £15 for standard class and you can travel anywhere across the London Midland network on the day. If you want more details, go to http://www.londonmidl...
  
  1 · October 12
- Napak
  
  Maggie, can you use Oyster to get to London from where you live?
  
  0 · October 12
- Maggie Bailey
  
  Thanks for the info Napak, I will check out the link.
  
  0 · October 13
- Richard Ⓥ Molyneux
  
  That link is also at the bottom of the description, under 'Great Escape', along with a bit more info. There appears to be no commitment to buy a ticket when you apply for the voucher, so no harm in trying to get one now.
  
  1 · October 13

2 attended

Richard Ⓥ Molyneux

Organizer and Volentia Representative, Co-Organizer

Event Host
Napak

TWandKTveg

Surrey Research Park, United Kingdom

Founded Sep 8, 2011

About us…

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Contact

Do use Robb's excellent VegEvents calendar, which lists our Meetups and those of other local groups.

This is the Surrey Veg*ns' (vegetarians and vegans) social and campaigning Meetup, in the county of Surrey, UK, and surrounding areas (including the formerly Surrey, now Greater London, region).

Members of 'real world' groups can have their group name added as a title, 'Representatives' are either organisers, or those more actively involved.

You'll find many of us on The London Vegetarian and Vegan Meetup Groups, and on Volentia, which is THE social networking site for veg*ns, with over 15,500 members worldwide. There's also a Weald Meetup group.

We are proud to host events for Twickenham and North Surrey Veg*ns (TWandKTveg), Guildford Vegetarian Society (GVS), and the newly re-formed University of Surrey VegSoc (UniSveg), amongst others.

We have a list of suitable venues for our social events, please do suggest any we've overlooked. We also have a new group on Meetup Everywhere (a FREE Meetup 'lite'), do join us.

Check out our list of member locations, over on Volentia (Meetup doesn't allow enough characters to include all the info on here), which includes location searches for Volentia's members. If you want to update your location on here, read this advice.

You can suggest an event and choose to announce it immediately, no waiting around for approval or 3 RSVPs. Please do not misuse this facility, or I will be forced to remove this benefit.

I hope you enjoy the group, if you do, please tell your friends, if you don't, then please tell me.

Richard (Main Organiser AKA The guy who pays the bills!)

P.S. A big thank you to Darren, who paid for this Meetup from his 'Organizer dues' (which cover up to 3 Meetups), before Robb took over as treasurer (who I'll pay). Do check out Darren's Meetups on his profile.

P.P.S. Meetup requires a postcode for the group's location, so it's not possible to simply put 'Surrey' (although I've seen Surrey, BC!), so I've used GU2 7EF, which is the postcode for the Surrey Research Park :-)