Convention shop visits...

[MatsP]

I'm planning to attend the CSG convention in a couple of months.

Usually there is a couple of outings to go see for example Pier Aquatics.

I'm planning on driving up on Friday, so perhaps that's a good time for such outings. Or perhaps Monday morning? [Or both?].

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Mats

[Richard B]

Sounds good - perhaps anyone interested can agree arrangements a bit nearer the date?

[Coryman]

If you guys are planing to come to the CSG convention, don't leave it to late to book in, the early booking discount ends at the end of this month.

There will also be a discount voucher for from one of our sponsors Aqualife, at Ulnes Walton local store just a few miles from the convention venue.

Ian

[Richard B]

If you guys are planing to come to the CSG convention, don't leave it to late to book in, the early booking discount ends at the end of this month.

There will also be a discount voucher for from one of our sponsors Aqualife, at Ulnes Walton local store just a few miles from the convention venue.

Ian

PM sent

[MatsP]

I have filled in the sheet for booking - I'm just waiting for confirmation that the holiday I've booked is accepted [it is a formality, but until it has been accepted, you can't say for sure that it's not going to be rejected]. Unfortunately, I've been on a course today and again tomorrow, so I can't check my work e-mail. Subject to rejected holiday [very unlikely], expect to receive a booking for by end of the week.

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Mats

[Richard B]

Forms etc sent to Ian

[Coryman]

Richard B,

Your form was received yesterday and you are now fully booked in. With a room share.

You will collect your Convention pack on arrival.

Ian

[Richard B]

Thanks a million Ian

[Richard B]

I'm planning to attend the CSG convention in a couple of months.
Usually there is a couple of outings to go see for example Pier Aquatics.
I'm planning on driving up on Friday, so perhaps that's a good time for such outings. Or perhaps Monday morning? [Or both?].
--
Mats

The agendas are quite full over the weekend so i plan to do any visiting on the Friday. Anyone interested injoining me? (I cannot make Monday)

[MatsP]

The agendas are quite full over the weekend so i plan to do any visiting on the Friday. Anyone interested injoining me? (I cannot make Monday)

Yes, Friday was my plan too - I have more or less promised my wife to be home for Sunday evening, so should be ok.

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Mats

[MatsP]

I just posted my convention application form + check - should be with you on Saturday, Ian.

--
Mats

[Jools]

Yup, I aim to be at BAS for around noon on the Friday, then over to Pier, over to the hotel, check in and hit the bar! In the absence of anything more official, is that a date for all Planet conventioneers?

Jools

[Richard B]

Yup, I aim to be at BAS for around noon on the Friday, then over to Pier, over to the hotel, check in and hit the bar! In the absence of anything more official, is that a date for all Planet conventioneers?

Jools

That sounds like a plan!

[Jools]

That sounds like a plan!

Yup, it does. That is unless Ian lets us know if the CSG has anything formal organised for shop visits with speakers and other dignitaries organised in which case we should tag along with that group. I am not aware that anything such has been agreed, so best making our own plans.

We should also try an hook up with my good friend Allan James who runs scotcat if he is coming down on Friday too. Allan, are you there?!?!?!

Jools

[kim m]

I'd like to go to those shops too, but the only thing I know is that I'll be picked up at the airport friday morning.

[andywoolloo]

you guys have all the fun.

No but seriously, have fun and take pics for us poor people far away.

[Jools]

I'd like to go to those shops too, but the only thing I know is that I'll be picked up at the airport friday morning.

Which airport and who's picking you up?

Jools

[scotcat]

That sounds like a plan!

Yup, it does. That is unless Ian lets us know if the CSG has anything formal organised for shop visits with speakers and other dignitaries organised in which case we should tag along with that group. I am not aware that anything such has been agreed, so best making our own plans.

We should also try an hook up with my good friend Allan James who runs scotcat if he is coming down on Friday too. Allan, are you there?!?!?!

Jools

Hi Jools,

Could'nt quite get the PM to work (maybe me ) Jim and I (and maybe two more) are coming down on the Saturday morning so we could work something out, depending on the lectures, See you there.

[MatsP]

Yup, I aim to be at BAS for around noon on the Friday, then over to Pier, over to the hotel, check in and hit the bar! In the absence of anything more official, is that a date for all Planet conventioneers?

Jools

If around noon isn't very precisly 12.00noon, I should be able to make that. Google maps says that it takes about 4 hours to get to Bolton, so if I leave at 8 AM, I should be there more or less precisely at noon. However, there are several conditionals that may fail here:
It assumes I don't stop at all - I probably will - 4 hours of driving without a break is a bit on the long side for me.
It assumes no problems with traffic - lets hope on that one.
It assumes that I leave at 8 AM precisely - this is the same time (or 3 minutes later) I usually get on the train, so I SHOULD be able to do that.

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Mats

[Coryman]

Hi All,

There are no official plans for shop visits, although in the past there have been small gatherings arranged at the above mentioned shops, however that was when they were active CSG sponsors. Neither establishment currently considers that CSG conventioneers have any appreciable effect on their takings over that weekend and are therefore no longer sponsors. Something that astounds me knowing the number of people attending the 2008 convention that frequented those establishments and number of the fishes that were purchased. In the light of this, no official arrangements have been made for any of our speakers or guests to meet up at either shop. It will be entirely up to individuals to decide and make their own arrangements for such visits.

Sour grapes you may think or even say so, but we do have sponsors in the area and as such these are the shops we would ask our guests to visit, because without sponsors we would not be able to put on such events as these. You may or may not agree, but we feel that it is our duty promote the interests of those that are helping to fund and promote our activities.

One shop is our resident auctioneers establishment, "Aqualife" at Ulnes Walton, just a few miles west on the convention hotel, who has given us a 12.5% discount voucher, which you will find in your convention pack. Also we have a newly opened branch of "Maidenhead Aquatics", which is within 1 mile of the convention venue.

Ian
(chairman)

[Richard B]

we do have sponsors in the area and as such these are the shops we would ask our guests to visit, because without sponsors we would not be able to put on such events as these. You may or may not agree, but we feel that it is our duty promote the interests of those that are helping to fund and promote our activities.

One shop is our resident auctioneers establishment, "Aqualife" at Ulnes Walton, just a few miles west on the convention hotel, who has given us a 12.5% discount voucher, which you will find in your convention pack. Also we have a newly opened branch of "Maidenhead Aquatics", which is within 1 mile of the convention venue.

Ian
(chairman)

I think we should consider including these in our plans.

[MatsP]

I think we should consider including these in our plans.

Definitely.

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Mats

[kim m]

I'd like to go to those shops too, but the only thing I know is that I'll be picked up at the airport friday morning.

Which airport and who's picking you up?

Jools

Manchester Airport...I think Ian is working on finding someone to pick me up.

[Coryman]

I am at present compiling a dossier of all the overseas visitors to the convention and once I have all the relevant details I will be arranging airport pick ups and returns after the convention.

We have also made a change to the convention programme. This is in the sale of tank bred fish and surplus breeding stock. Instead of the proposed hire of sales space for those people wishing to sell there fish, we have decided to retain last years procedure and this is what will now take place: -

Firstly the people allowed to offer fish for sale will be those who have booked in for the two days.

The fish eligible are, tank bred youngsters and surplus breeding stock.

There will be a sales station from which all sales will take place, those wishing to take advantage of the facility must ensure that all fish are adequately bagged, clearly labeled and priced with an accompanying check list for the sales person in attendance.

All fish for sale should be booked in on Saturday morning before the start of the convention at 10.00am.

Sales will only take place during the break times.

As with our normal auctions a 15% levy will be payable on all sales.


Ian
(Chairman)

[Jools]

The only requirement I really have is that I get to Pier as I want to chat with Neil for a while. So, if someone with an organised Brain (e.g. Mats) wants to work out a route that will take us to where we want to go and end up at the hotel at 6pm, then great!

I'd say we meet at a fish store for 12:30. BAS might be one of the better ones to meet at because it has toilets and it has some form of refreshments but happy to go with the flow.

I will do some address hunting down / mapping meantime.

Jools

[MatsP]

This is just a unordered list of the shops we are visiting:

BAS:
Britain's Aquatic Superstore Ltd, 225 Folds Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, BL1 2TW
Closes at 6pm.

MA Wigan:
Golden Days Garden Centre, Back Lane, Standish, Wigan, Lancs, WN6 8RS
Probably 5.30, but the site is down at the moment.

Pier Aquatics:
Great George Street, Off Wallgate, Wigan, Lancashire, WN3 4DL
Closes at 5.30pm.

Aqualife & Pets Auldene Garden Centre, 338 Southport Road, Ulnes Walton, Preston, Lancashire, PR26 8LQ.
Closes 6pm.

Aquahome (within Avant garden centre), Wigan Road, Leyland, Wigan, PR25 5XW.
Closes 5.30 [shame it's not a thursday, they are open until 7.30 then!]

I will have a bit of a look at google maps and such to figure out a "plan of attack".

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Mats

[Jools]

Hrm, map here, with permissions for you to edit it Mats!

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&m ... 351074&z=9

[MatsP]

Thanks Jools.

I made an initial sketch starting in Bolton, then Wigan, then Aqualife, and ending up at Maidenhead aquatics before going to the hotel. That gives the shortest "back again" amount - I'm sure we could run a "salesman's algorithm on it", but I doubt it will make a HUGE amount of difference if we intend to go ALL four places.

The driving times are (according to Google Maps):
BAS -> Pier: 32 min.
Pier -> Aqualife: 27 min.
Aqualife -> MA @ Wigan: 14 min.
And two minutes or so to the hotel.

Map here

(I think that link shows directions as well).

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Mats

[TP]

You'll actually be very close to this shop as well on your route

http://www.aquahome.co.uk/

I haven't been in for a while but it looks like it has got a lot larger since then and is apparantly rated in PFK's top 20. If you like I can pop in and see if it is worth a visit before you finalise your plans. Its a good excuse for me to make the effort to go!

[MatsP]

A possibility, but it adds another 15 minutes to the total travel, and 4 shops in about 4.5 hours with 1 hour 10 minutes driving in between, I think it may get us a bit too far off the target 5.30 time that the shops close for the last few shops.

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Mats