View Full Version : Bluebell Railway & Cream Tea meet on Sat 31st May
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:22
After many encouraging comments on my Bluebell Railway thread I have decided to organise a meet there followed by a cream tea at the nearby Heaven Farm. Of course I dare say we could end the day with a visit to a pub! Heaven Farm has loads of chickens etc running around, craft & organic food shop and a nice walks etc
As I work shifts I am proposing 3 dates namely 31st May, 7th June or 26th July.
Marcel can I please have a poll added for the dates?
The Bluebell Railway offer a discount of £2 on return fare of £10.50 if we had a group of 10 or more. Not sure on Heaven Farm but can check as we would probably need to reserve a table for cream tea if there's enough of us!
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:26
I should add the Bluebell Railway has an excellent restaurant with a bar. I can thoroghly recommend the Chips, Sausages and Baked Beans there!
where is the bluebell?
for us ignorant ones ;-)
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:43
poll added.
Thanks Ian!
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:44
where is the bluebell?
for us ignorant ones ;-)
About 10 miles south of East Grinstead in Sussex. Sorry should have put location. I'm so use to going there!
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:50
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/
Hope to see you there Ian as your rather large zoom lens should get some great shots!
King of Groove
13-05-2008, 13:51
And here's details about Heaven Farm:
http://www.heavenfarm.co.uk/
I would be interested in this, and being in Kent it is not to far away for me
I'm doing a wedding there for a friend on the 30th of May, so any thoughts/tips on the location would be great! They're getting married at Horsted Keynes station...
STARRIDER
14-05-2008, 14:54
im on board for this one:thumbs:..hopefully 31st May
I can do the the 31st May, now that we're not going to the Farne Islands trip. So hopefully see a few of you there.
Steve
Zande UK
14-05-2008, 16:53
I can't make 31st May but could do either 7th June or 26th July. I voted for 7th but am easy - I was a Member and very frequent visitor to the Bluebell during my son's formative years. (NB Mom was the member, not son)
King of Groove
16-05-2008, 13:05
Any more takers? The cream tea is out of this world!
Weggy here is the Bluebell page on their website on weddings.
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/wedding.html
I'm sure the Bluebell staff by what their webpage is saying are well geared up for weddings and I'm sure they can suggest suitable locations at Horsted Keynes. Some ideas would be the front of the station, any of the platforms are brilliant. One of the platforms has a lovley little cafe on it. Would probably make some good shots for the Bride and Bridegroom (remember the film Brief Encounter?!!).
Only thing I would say about Horsted Keynes is the only way to move between the platforms is by a subway.
This is what the railway, on their website, says about Horsted Keynes.
HORSTED KEYNES STATION
A large country station, home to our award winning Carriage & Wagon Department who are responsible for restoring and maintaining our carriages. 'Behind the scenes' tours are available on some Bank Holiday and Special Event days (please check details of these tours with Richard Salmon).
Right: Busy scene at Horsted Keynes station - replicated at 5.15pm most evenings when Table 1 is used - photo Jon Bowers.
On Platforms 1 and 2, where a small team of volunteers have rebuilt the canopy (which was demolished in 1914), will be found the Carriage Shop, open on the busier days, which has an extensive range of second hand books, magazines and models, in addition to the Carriage Exhibition, the Southern Electric Group's 4Cor Electric Driving Motor Coach (open with an exhibition, most weekends), an exhibition of railway paintings (open on busier days) and a new exhibition space in the rebuilt platform building.
The station has a large free car park, a Victorian refreshment room, and a "Ten Acre Field", the perfect place for a picnic and plenty of room for the children to let off some steam!
Im interested in this, 31st of may is cool, i have voted in the poll. :)
King of Groove
17-05-2008, 17:45
Ok folks it looks like the overwhelming majority are going for Saturday 31st May so that's the date I'm going for!
I don't know if everyone agrees but I think we should have a meal first before the train trip as the restaurant opens at 12 and can get crowded if you leave it too late.
Here's the timetable I'm proposing for Saturday 31st May.
Meet at front of Sheffied Park Station at 11am. I look like my avatar so just look for the ugliest person standing at the front of the station and you've found me. That would give us around an hour to visit shop, engine sheds, model railway and any other photos you fancy.
Lunch in the restaurant at 12 noon.
Travel on the 1pm train returning at around 2.30pm.
Last photos before travelling in convoy to Heaven Farm for cream tea, organic food & craft, walks, Cream Tea, unusual breeds of chickens & other birds etc. I should add that Heaven Farm shuts at 5pm.
And finally if anyone fancies a drink there are one or two pubs in area! One pub just past East Grinstead has a big lake where they do water skiing!
So at the moment it looks like the following are coming:
King of Groove
Grahame (possible?)
Weggy (possible?)
Starrider
Jelster
Toothie
Kerioak
Hanne (not sure what her username on here is!)
Any thoughts on timetable?!!
King of Groove
18-05-2008, 15:00
If anyone wants my mobile number just send me a pm!
Thanks for the info King of G... much appreciated.
I wont be able to make the 31st though, due to the wedding the day before...
King of Groove
21-05-2008, 15:51
Currently it looks like the following are coming:
King of Groove
Grahame (possible?)
Starrider
Jelster
Toothie
Kerioak
Hanne
Hello,
I am in!
See you on the 31st.
Grahame
King of Groove
21-05-2008, 17:01
Excellent news Grahame. Look forward to seeing you at the front of Sheffield Park station. PM me if you want mobile number.
If im welcome you could please add my name to that list... :)
King of Groove
22-05-2008, 15:29
Darryn it would be great to have you on board!
Some trip from Lancashire to Sussex!
So now it's:
King of Groove
Grahame
Starrider
Jelster
Toothie
Kerioak
Hanne
Darryn
chuckles
23-05-2008, 08:43
We may be able to make it. We have to get Maisie back "dahn sarf" on Saturday so we have to see how the plans work out :(
Count us as maybes.....
erm, one minor thing, my calender says the 31st is a SUNDAY! you all talking the 31st or the saturday 30th?
erm, one minor thing, my calender says the 31st is a SUNDAY! you all talking the 31st or the saturday 30th?
I think your calendar is wrong... maybe take it back for a refund.:p
King of Groove
23-05-2008, 16:23
erm, one minor thing, my calender says the 31st is a SUNDAY! you all talking the 31st or the saturday 30th?
Your calendar is wrong!!!
King of Groove
23-05-2008, 16:24
We may be able to make it. We have to get Maisie back "dahn sarf" on Saturday so we have to see how the plans work out :(
Count us as maybes.....
Would be great to see the newlyweds again!
King of Groove
24-05-2008, 16:17
I assume everyone is having a cream tea as well at Heaven Farm! Wondering whether to ring them up and reserve tables for us say for 3.30.
It might have to be a choice between lunch and a cream tea - I think the cream tea will win - that was the part of the heading that caught my eye to start with
King of Groove
27-05-2008, 15:58
Well I'm aiming to have both! I'm a growing lad!!
Well I'm aiming to have both! I'm a growing lad!!
Me too !!
I'm thinking about leaving home early and having breakfast at Pease Pottage services.....
Steve
cream tea sounds lovely but iam not opposed to lunch:D
King of Groove
27-05-2008, 17:14
Well even if you don't have lunch there is a bar!! They also do sandwiches!
Well, I suppose if I omit either my midnight feast, breakfast or elevenses I might be able to manage both :)
I may have to back out of this im affraid... not sure yet, ive been on nights (first time in a few months) and its killing me... :( im currently full of a cold and it hurts to breathe.
Ill see what im like tomorrow morning and then post back here and let everyone know if im going to be able to attend. Sorry folks.
Hope you are feeling better soon Darryn.
Loads of flu remedys and hot toddies to get you back on your feet ;)
Have heard that Cream tea cures all as well:woot::woot:
King of Groove
29-05-2008, 07:38
Sorry to hear that Darryn. Hope you feel better soon. Must admit the smell of steam seems to cure everything but then you can get a dirty face!!
hope you feel better Darryn.
Thinking of just bring my new G9 to put it though its paces and see what i can do. any thoughts on this?
King of Groove
29-05-2008, 22:06
hope you feel better Darryn.
Thinking of just bring my new G9 to put it though its paces and see what i can do. any thoughts on this?
Go on!
I might bring my new tripod along. Hope I can work out how to use it! :bonk:
Well i just left work early as im pretty much able to work, with all the meds ive been taking i doubt i should have been driving tbh... but at 2am there was no-one else on the road.
Going to bed now, hopefully ill be able to stop coughing and sneezing long enough to get to sleep. :( ATM i feel like staying in bed all weekend feeling sorry for myself. To make matters worse the car I was looking at buying has been sold, so im gutted. :( Suppose it will teach me to be indecisive.
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 05:37
Well i just left work early as im pretty much able to work, with all the meds ive been taking i doubt i should have been driving tbh... but at 2am there was no-one else on the road.
Going to bed now, hopefully ill be able to stop coughing and sneezing long enough to get to sleep. :( ATM i feel like staying in bed all weekend feeling sorry for myself. To make matters worse the car I was looking at buying has been sold, so im gutted. :( Suppose it will teach me to be indecisive.
Darryn, hope you feel better soon.
Go on!
I might bring my new tripod along. Hope I can work out how to use it! :bonk:
ok just me and the new G9 no SLR so i can see what i can do with it:)
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 12:38
ok just me and the new G9 no SLR so i can see what i can do with it:)
I'm sure you'll do well.
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 16:25
Well folks I've been doing the sun dance all day in the hope of getting some decent weather tomorrow!! I tell you my feet are aching! According to the Met Office website we should get sunny intervals tomorrow with temperature between 18c and 20c!
Perhaps not chucking on the sun cream weather but doesn't seem too bad.
At Heaven Farm we can have a good wander round after the cream tea! There is walk you can do there where you pay around £3 for map and contributes to upkeep. Well worth doing it so I'm told. Also at farm is a farm museum.
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
As mentioned meet out the front of the Sheffield Park Station at around 11am. You might spot my car in the car park which is a red Rover 45 with an AFC Wimbledon sticker on the rear window!!!
As mentioned meet out the front of the Sheffield Park Station at around 11am. You might spot my car in the car park which is a red Rover 45 with an AFC Wimbledon sticker on the rear window!!!
Well there will be only one won't there...... :lol:
Will see you all in the morning.
Steve
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 17:03
Careful Steve! You'll need to follow the car if you want to go to Heaven Farm!!!!
I am still intending to be there - you might realise which car is mine once you see it :)
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 18:05
I am still intending to be there - you might realise which car is mine once you see it :)
I'll look out for the Rolls Royce!
Careful Steve! You'll need to follow the car if you want to go to Heaven Farm!!!!
:lol:
Well it's not like you're gonna leave me behind in your dust is it http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1548/rofl.gif
Sorry, must behave.... :rules:
Mines the red "go faster" Focus :thumbs:
(You watch, my car will break down or something tomorrow......)
Oh, and the Mrs is in the kitchen making "cake" for tomorrow..... First time in about 10 years so this could be interesting......
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 18:09
:lol:
Well it's not like you're gonna leave me behind in your dust is it http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1548/rofl.gif
Sorry, must behave.... :rules:
Mines the red "go faster" Focus :thumbs:
(You watch, my car will break down or something tomorrow......)
Oh, and the Mrs is in the kitchen making "cake" for tomorrow..... First time in about 10 years so this could be interesting......
I'll have you know 'The Burgundy Stunner' as she's known is one mean performer and goes like a rocket!!
Is it your birthday then Steve?!!!
I am feeling decidely restless and with nothing to do tomorrow, may come along if no one minds, depends on Mr LL really, but what time are you all meeting?
EDIT - sorry, just read Clives post properly, 11am
I'll have you know 'The Burgundy Stunner' as she's known is one mean performer and goes like a rocket!!
Is it your birthday then Steve?!!!
No, she just thought that a cake would be nice for a day out in the countryside. Only thing is I think she's just drunk all the sherry that's meant to go in the cake :eek:
Steve
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 18:33
I am feeling decidely restless and with nothing to do tomorrow, may come along if no one minds, depends on Mr LL really, but what time are you all meeting?
EDIT - sorry, just read Clives post properly, 11am
It would be lovely to see you.
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 18:35
Right I think it looks we have the following coming!
King of Groove
Grahame
Starrider
Jelster + Cake!
Toothie
Kerioak
Hanne
Darryn (if feeling better)
LadyLens
Marianne & Barry (?)
And don't worry folks if you wake up tomorrow morning feeling at a loss for something to do just turn up!
im in the blue swift and have purple hair i should be easy to spot!
It would be lovely to see you.
Well no promises, like I say, depends on what the boss says, but will do my best, I am so tempted by a gentle day with camera and friends :D
transport will be...a megane [silver], or a different megane [blue], or even that silly red sports car, though loathe to take that anywhere atm as its looking kinda sold.
King of Groove
30-05-2008, 19:08
Well no promises, like I say, depends on what the boss says, but will do my best, I am so tempted by a gentle day with camera and friends :D
transport will be...a megane [silver], or a different megane [blue], or even that silly red sports car, though loathe to take that anywhere atm as its looking kinda sold.
Just think of the cream tea and you'll be coming!
Cream tea and a cake....heaven, may leave camera at home!!
Cant miss me....I will be the biggest loudest person (quite deaf so end up talking to loud.....or shouting if you believe my wife).
King of Groove
31-05-2008, 06:35
I look like Quasimodo so not hard to spot!
Sound like we will be a handsome bunch....lol
:shake: sorry guys, Mr LL thought it might be better whilst rain looked like holding off, if we tackled the jungle outside the back door - I think he was right, looks much better now, but hope you all had a great time, good weather and got some brilliant shots!! :thumbs:
Well organised Clive:thumbs:
Grahame did i beet u back??
Made a last minute decision to go today with my partner but didnt see anyone fitting your elegant description so we did our own visit and took loads of pics anyway :)
Made a last minute decision to go today with my partner but didnt see anyone fitting your elegant description so we did our own visit and took loads of pics anyway :)
well the important thing is you got lots of pics and had a good day out, shame you didn't see us.
Cheers Ruth...infact most people i saw had compacts so i would have thought pple with large lens like mine would have stood out...but there you go
Kevin
chuckles
31-05-2008, 18:26
Sorry -- we just couldn't make it. Our being there was dependent upon how we got Maisie back south. Hope you all had a lovely time.
(The trip to Sussex didn't work out but - I do have a lovely new D300!)
Have to try something else again another day Clive.....
King of Groove
31-05-2008, 18:29
I'd like to thank everyone for making today such an enjoyable day out. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
We even saw some sun! I think the cream teas went down a treat!
Thanks Ruth for your comment.
Shame Kevin we never saw you. Sorry some of you couldn't make it.
I'll start a seperate thread for anyone to post their pics.
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