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The Unknown Shipper & His Peculiar Friends

Tom has offered to once again host us at the White Horse Inn for the evening on Thursday 15th December.

As usual, the people attending and waitlisted for the last Christmas tasting will be offered first refusal (this year that's subject to a slight modification using organiser's privileges). If you are offered first refusal, please respond by the end of September. If you don't want your spot (or if you don't reply by the end of September) I'll offer your seat to the next person on the waiting list.

Tom will arrange for steak and chips for everyone attending unless you request otherwise when confirming your seat (but alternatives are very limited so keep things simple!)

First refusal seats are offered to:

1. THRA (confirmed)
2. OJMQ (confirmed)
3. AHB (confirmed)
4. AJM (confirmed)
5. GEAG (confirmed)
6. IDJ (confirmed)
7. MPM (confirmed)
8. WS1 (confirmed)
9. CPR (confirmed)
10. PW (confirmed)

RESERVES

• Ralph (confirmed)
• NAC (confirmed)
• Alex M (confirmed)

Draft of the sticky labels and TN sheets. Two pages of 2×4 stickies; three pages of 5×13.

Confirming; and was very happy with last year's food, as well as the ports and the company ofc

Yes please.

Reserve list please
Thanks

Yes please.

Confirming, looking forward to this as usual

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Yes please sir!

Confirming, many thanks for getting organisation underway Alex.

Yes please.

WS1 has confirmed by WhatsApp.

By pure coincidence, the date coincides with what would have been my late father's 100th birthday.

With that in mind, I shall be providing a 1922.

My father's preferred tipples were beer, and in restaurants 'a good fruity Hock'

My knowledge of German wines is very limited - if anyone has a suitable candidate they would like to share, do please bring along.

Yes please

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑06:50 Sat 03 Sep 2022 hás

You're becoming more and more Portuguese by the second

MigSU wrote: ↑16:40 Tue 06 Sep 2022

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑06:50 Sat 03 Sep 2022 hás

You're becoming more and more Portuguese by the second

Autocorrect on my iPhone seems to assume my native language is Portuguese!

Just a nudge to keep this near the top of the forum. Don't forget to book your accommodation sooner rather than later...

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑08:59 Tue 04 Oct 2022 Just a nudge to keep this near the top of the forum. Don't forget to book your accommodation sooner rather than later...

Thx for prompt Alex. Booked into the Cricketers Arms @ Rickling Green.

Mike - I've just switched my room booking to be at the Cricketer's. I'll book a taxi to the White Horse to leave the Cricketer's at 17.30 and to come back from the White Horse at 23.59.

Let me know if you want to share both or just the return.

Am also now booked into the Cricketers and so that’s three of us for a taxi.

Four - Oscar is also booked in at the Cricketer's.

I've just seen the announcement of the new rail strikes planned for 13-14 and 16-17 December.

For the moment I am assuming that this tasting will still go ahead since many of us drive to Newport and so will not need to rely on the trains on 16 December.

However, if anyone would need to drop out if the rail strike goes ahead, please let me know.

I'll be driving round the north side of the M25, so if anyone wants a lift to a tube station somewhere in the north of London (like Rickmansworth) I'll have 3 spare seats in the car.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑18:55 Tue 22 Nov 2022 However, if anyone would need to drop out if the rail strike goes ahead, please let me know.

On the assumption that the strike will go ahead, I've now also booked into the Cricketers on the assumption I'll be travelling by car; I would therefore also now be looking to share taxis if possible. Is Oscar still likely to attend if the trains are out that week?

Oscar is planning to attend even if there is a rail strike.

On the 15th, I have a taxi booked for 17.30 pick up from the Cricketer's and to return from the White Horse at 23.59.

The taxi is a standard size taxi so can only take 4 passengers - me, Oscar, Ian and Mike. Apologies.

It's probably worth booking a second cab since I suspect that you won't be the only one changing plans and there may be more of us booking in to the Cricketer's!

I was coming by rail, and am willing to make way for one of the many reserves.

I was also coming by rail, and can only come by rail as I have to be somewhere else early the following morning. I shall have a last despairing check of timetables over the weekend before resigning my place.

Getting to the tasting by rail should not be an issue.

Having to be somewhere else early on the 16th will be a challenge, although the northern end of the central line is only a 30 minute taxi ride away or Cheshunt Overground station and its link to Liverpool Street is 40 minutes away.

For anyone who needs to be elsewhere in London by about lunchtime, I am happy to give a lift from Rickling Green to Epping Station once breakfast has been consumed.

Julian has confirmed that he will not be attending the tasting on the 15th.

Harry, you’re the first reserve. Would you like the place?

At the moment the trains still seem to be running on Thursday 15th, including the 2244 back to town (which arrives just before midnight). Getting that continues to be my current plan.

Guys,

have booked myself into the Cricketers as do not want to rely on the trains. When booking a taxi may I can join the crowd?

Looking fwd to the christmas bash.

regards

WS1

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑10:12 Sun 27 Nov 2022 Julian has confirmed that he will not be attending the tasting on the 15th.

Harry, you’re the first reserve. Would you like the place?

Sadly i can't make this, my diary is a little crazy and I would be ...... therefore all have a great time.

Christopher can't make it either.

Ralph, the place is yours if you want it provided you let me know in the next couple of days (ie. at some point before I wake up and log on Wednesday morning).

May I be added to the reserve list? I can attend this year.

Alex M wrote: ↑12:40 Mon 28 Nov 2022 May I be added to the reserve list? I can attend this year.

Added. You may be lucky again...

Have been looking at options for fitting this in, but unfortunately won't be able to attend. Please leave me on the list for next year.

please can i also be on the list for next year. thanks

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑11:36 Mon 28 Nov 2022 Christopher can't make it either.

Ralph, the place is yours if you want it provided you let me know in the next couple of days (ie. at some point before I wake up and log on Wednesday morning).

Ralph hasn’t responded. Neil can’t make it.

Alex M - the seat is yours!

nac wrote: ↑12:49 Thu 01 Dec 2022 Have been looking at options for fitting this in, but unfortunately won't be able to attend. Please leave me on the list for next year.

Remind me when I start the thread for 2023 and I’ll add you to the reserves list.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑11:16 Sat 03 Dec 2022

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑11:36 Mon 28 Nov 2022 Christopher can't make it either.

Ralph, the place is yours if you want it provided you let me know in the next couple of days (ie. at some point before I wake up and log on Wednesday morning).

Ralph hasn’t responded. Neil can’t make it.

Alex M - the seat is yours!

Confirmed! Thank you very much.

In a statement of intent / faith, have popped the cork on the wine I intend to bring (not port, as none of you will be surprised to hear).

Julian’s offer to make placemats for the tasting on the 14th has prodded me into realising i have done about placemats for this tasting,

Tom is not keen on sticky labels unless we carefully remove them from the glasses after use since they are a pain in the dishwasher. Does anyone strongly desire sticky glass labels or would a couple of chalk pens suffice?

Does anyone want tasting note sheets?

And the food order question - does anyone not want a steak?

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑07:48 Thu 08 Dec 2022Does anyone strongly desire sticky glass labels or would a couple of chalk pens suffice?

Chalk pen(s) works for me

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑07:48 Thu 08 Dec 2022Does anyone want tasting note sheets?

Tasting note sheets and voting sheets would make sense imo.

I will start getting the usual food order together tomorrow unless anyone has an issue:

Smoked salmon
14oz fillet steak + chips
Vanilla ice cream and gravy
Stollen slices
A selection of British cheeses + biscuits

uncle tom wrote: ↑16:31 Thu 08 Dec 2022 I will start getting the usual food order together tomorrow unless anyone has an issue:

Smoked salmon
14oz fillet steak + chips
Vanilla ice cream and gravy
Stollen slices
A selection of British cheeses + biscuits

That sounds absolutely wonderful Thank you Tom!

@ Alex - Another vote for chalk pens and tasting sheets.

@ Tom - if it's not an imposition pease could I start with just a green salad? I didn't do sufficient justice to my massive fillet steak last year.

George - I confess that I had a cold fillet steak sandwich for my lunch the day after my last Xmas tasting. Aluminium foil is your friend.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑16:46 Thu 08 Dec 2022

uncle tom wrote: ↑16:31 Thu 08 Dec 2022 I will start getting the usual food order together tomorrow unless anyone has an issue:

Smoked salmon
14oz fillet steak + chips
Vanilla ice cream and gravy
Stollen slices
A selection of British cheeses + biscuits

That sounds absolutely wonderful Thank you Tom!

Agreed. I ate far too much of the delicious smoked salmon last year, and given the opportunity will likely do the same again
Cheers Tom! (don't worry George, I'll help you with your smoked salmon too...)

uncle tom wrote: ↑16:31 Thu 08 Dec 2022 I will start getting the usual food order together tomorrow unless anyone has an issue:

Smoked salmon
14oz fillet steak + chips
Vanilla ice cream and gravy
Stollen slices
A selection of British cheeses + biscuits

Sounds fabulous - thanks Tom

uncle tom wrote: ↑16:31 Thu 08 Dec 2022 I will start getting the usual food order together tomorrow unless anyone has an issue:

Smoked salmon
14oz fillet steak + chips
Vanilla ice cream and gravy
Stollen slices
A selection of British cheeses + biscuits

Wonderful - thanks Tom. I'll bring one or two extra cheeses as usual. And some cash to pay for dinner

Yes, thanks Tom and fingers crossed that nothing goes awry at the last minute this year! Now just to find a suitable unknown bottle…

winesecretary wrote: ↑23:11 Thu 08 Dec 2022 @ Tom - if it's not an imposition pease could I start with just a green salad? I didn't do sufficient justice to my massive fillet steak last year.

Could you possibly bring your own, or ask the Indian restaurant just down the road?

We don't stock salad ingredients in the pub and I don't do rabbit food at home either..