Glad to see the back of you

I would love to be there, absent, depending on the date you choose. I go on holiday on 25th April. (Fingers crossed emoticon).

Hi..just seeing if the get together is open to anyone or just those who have met up before in NE ?

I often visit a pal in York and a trip to Darlington could be tied in with a trip. Also Darlington was my Mam's home town and I went to boarding school there ..so always nice to re-vist. Fully understand if it is more of a get together of people who already know each other.

nanaej No, no, no – if you would like to join me, I should be delighted to see you. Revisiting Darlington could be interesting for you.

Marelli That's why I've started posting a bit in advance. So – before 25 April.

Oh that's so good of you, absent! Please don't let it affect anyone else's plans though, if a heap of folk can only make the 26th or something!!

@Absent* I'd love to come? go? too but 25th April is DGD2's birthday so it is a no-no for me too Marelli. I notice that 23rd is St. George's day - perhaps a good day for a cross border foray?

Me please, I really want to come along. Are you thinking weekend or weekday? I work Monday to Friday but could possibly arrange time off.

Not that we want to see the back of absent but it would be lovely to see everyone.

I would love to come, I'm away 6th -13th April and 19th April.
Hope you can find a date that's ok for everyone absent, will understand if it has to be when I'm away.

I would love to be part of your farewell tour Absent if you will have me?

gilly we had already added you in.

Would love to come absent . Not sure of movements so will have to see which date is chosen and try to fit in.

Hope you'll have me too absent? But like Gally will try to fit in with your date of choice (Easter hols = some grandma duties on certain days of the week!)

Thanks.. will look out for dates

Sounds fun. GD's childminder is on holiday 15th April to 1st May and will mean some babysitting for me. If date fits, I would love to come.

Oh I would so love to come, but am afraid that from North Devon it would be a bit too far! Feeling quite and a bit but every good wish to those that will be there.

Oh, I do wish I could come, absent! But, as Phoenix says, we are a long way away. Maybe the Devon lot could meet to raise a glass? Skype? At mine?

yes I would like to come too, but I will be still in Australia, or just landed.

When you off to Oz Jess? I leave on 27th Feb and back early April.

I'm off to NZ on the 8th april and then on to OZ 10 days later. DS1 has managed to move the whole shebang over to Perth (back to perth) where housing is a lot cheaper. Things seem to be falling into place for them. Seems strange that I will probably never go go lovely Manly again - it was a great place to visit - and to entertain the kids during holidays with beaches etc so handy and even a free bus. Housing was terribly expensive though - even for a shabby, cramped, damp rental.
When they were in Perth area before it was amazingly hot - too hot to go out in the day. But by the time i get there it will be cooler and kids are bigger now. Its a milestone when there are no more buggies isnt it?
You must be looking forward to it now? Just over a week.

It's going to be a bit of a juggle trying to find a date that suits the maximum number of people who would like to come. I am relatively easy about any day in the second half of April. What do people feel about a weekend rather than a weekday? Public transport tends to be a bit unreliable on Sundays, but a Saturday or Sunday would be fine with me.

I would love to join you absent to raise a glass and wish you every happiness in this new adventure, but sadly 'tis too far and too expensive.

It'll be a grand day, and will look forward to hearing ALL about it.

It looks to me as if we're probably talking either the weekend of 20–21 April or the following Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. It doesn't have to be then – could be earlier. However, please let me know whether that particular set of days works for those who'd like to come.

The Sunday, Monday or Tuesday would be good for me.

20,21, 22 are good for me - so far........