That would indeed be historic! I wonder if we could set a record for highest number of nationalities attending a single offline? Off the top of my head we already have tentative indications from UK, Netherlands, Italy/Swiss, Canada and US, with Belgium now a possibility.

I cannot say yet which weekends would work best for me, but Thomas will not arrive until August so that might be best.

My wife may be coming over for a long weekend as well, probably the last weekend in July or first in August. If she does, then that weekend would not work as I think I'd rather spend my time alone with my beloved (no offence, I'm sure you all understand....)

No offence taken, bman! - but please remove the "tentative" for the Dutch: I WILL be going to London, even we are the only two interested in sharing a glass: it gives me the perfect excuse to visit my second favourite city again!

Tsunami just told me about this "little"
get toghether

We can change our tickets to arrive on the 7th
instead of the 8th, if it is scheduled on that day.

Think about it bman can add Mexico
to the list of those attending!
I'm sure that if Gastro makes it, we won't be
speaking in Spanish, I'll bet he speaks Jibberish


Salud!

Well, if it's going to be a Guinness Book Thing:

We'll be arriving at the metropolis of Melbury Osmond on July 8th, leaving on July 22nd.

That is unless the booking agency turns out to be a fraud. In that case I'll be home, counting my losses and I'll be offline all together for a while.

My ideal days are

Aug 4-6
July 13-July 22

I cannot be available from July 1-10 and from July 23-Aug 2

Ir would really be a pleasure to be part of something like this

Hmmm. Seems like it will not be possible to include everyone who is interested, so.....

I guess we'll just have to have two offlines!! One mid-July and one in early August. How does that sound?

Bman, don't even think about including me under the U.K. nationality. Add Australia to your list quick smart!!!

The two weekends I definitely can't do at the moment are July 9/10 and 23/24. May be tight for me, as a very busy six weeks, with many visitors from Oz lobbing over. Will work something out I'm sure.

A million apologies Aussie, not for including you with the Poms (I would never do that to someone from Down Under, knowing how you feel about the mother country), but for neglecting you altogether.

Since you live in London and I'll be there for six weeks, perhaps we can get together more than once.

BTW, why hasn't BirDungy signed on yet? Will I be the only Canadian present?

No worries bman. We can definitely catch up more than once. You'll have to come over to our place for dinner at least. Also some great pubs/wine bars close to where I live.

BirD must be away at the moment, as I haven't seen him lurking on the boards. Sure he'll check in soon enough, and sure he'll be keen for another (or multiple!) London offline. He's got some great Ports as well - the '66 Croft we had at his place recently was simply awesome. Tempting me to pick up the last bottle of '63 Taylor's at Majestic near Borough market.

Bman:
my two friends in Southampton would like to hook up w/ you while you're there, possibly include you in their wine group dinner too.

email me at tastebud at sbcglobal dot net with your info, which I will pass on to her. We recently introduced them to the whole offline scene when they came over for Jazz Fest a few weeks ago, now they are interested in meeting other posters & off-liners whenever they can.

best,
Michelle

Aussie; we must have the same taste in wine: first the Screagle, and now this Taylor! I *almost* bought it (had it in my hands actually), but the capsule is cracked in a way that it might have been stored too hot...but if you're willing to the gamble...

This looks like we're going to have a great time!

Stevie, I had another look at the bottle yesterday. That capsule is a worry, but the level is still in the neck, so I'm in two minds. BBR had '63 Taylor's in good condition, but at £207 a bottle. They also have some '63 Sandeman at £115. Any one got any info on what it's like???

Aussie, I was very, VERY tempted to buy it - but at 150 Pounds it was too big a gamble for my limited budget.
I have not tasted the Sandeman, but from what I've read about it, it is past its prime and turning into a Tawny.

Would we consider joining financial forces and jointly springing for special bottle for our offline?

Aussie: Roy Hersh stated on ebob that the 63 sandeman has turned into a (lovely) tawny. I did a search a while ago (was also tempted to buy it) and also found some very positive notes from about two/three years ago. I'll look up what Michael Broadbent has to say about it this evening.

bman: not a bad idea at all! Any specific port in mind (a '55 perhaps...)?

Michael Broadbent has some reservations about the Sandeman '63 as well. He writes: "variable notes since the early 1980s", but at his last tasting in 2000: "still a good colour, 'classic', flavoury, a pretty good '63." He gives it four stars (out of five), with the advise to 'drink now'. That's 2002.
So, a bit of a risk, but if you find a good bottle, it should still be lovely. Problem is of course that you won't know that until it's bought and opened...

bman, happy to chime in for a special bottle as well - but which one? I'd be partial to a Croft '45...one of the Ports I'm most eager to try.

Also happy to chime in and source the bottle/s if you'd like.

Here and here are two sources were Stevie and the Roots' could retrieve something special. Just take a look and if you find anything interesting, we can inform whether it is still available.

...and regardng planning: for now it looks like an August offline (with Gusbo and tsunami) would work best for me.

I like the way this going but my schedule has tightened to allow only the 4-6 of August.

I would really like to come

Hmmm, Tsunami's dates are midweek. May be difficult for me with work, though I may be able to swap some shifts if necessary. Looks like we're going to need a few offlines.

I prefer a weekend as well, but if midweek is the only option, I'll settle for that.

You guys sort it out and it should work for me, barring perhaps the long weekend holiday - could someone in the UK confirm which weekend is the long weekend?