(11-05-2009 09:28 PM)Celia Wrote:  Hello Benny !
Sorry, I wrote to you but I think it was when the system was down (!) and you didn't receive my message. So I was saying I'm glad my admission in APFF could give all of us the occasion to see fine videos.
I would also thank you for your warm welcome and send you all "bien cordialement depuis Genève" !

Hey Celia, thanks for responding! I haven't been a member for so long myself, but I'll tell you, they're a friendly bunch. And there's so much to explore on the site, so many ramifications you're always in for a surprise.
I was just fantasizing about meeting at the Bull's Head, several of us and spending the night listening to Alan. Has it ever been done? Difficult to organize, I'm sure. We would have to use some sign of recognition. Anyway, when I go, I'll be sure to mention it on the forum and hopefully you, Lullaby and the others will, too.
I hope we'll keep hearing from you,

Benny (=Bénédicte, as you might have guessed)

Hello Benny !
Nice to read you again !
You're right : this site IS FANTASTIC ! Every day, I find myself a pretext to go on it and to see if there are new messages or simply news about our great singer !
These days I was thinking too that it would be fine to meet all or some members and your idea to go together at The Bull's Head is great ! I think the appointment could be decided in a hotel in Barnes (I'm sure there are people in this fan club who know such a place) and every one had to "wear" (?) a badge APFF. So we could be introduced the ones to the others....
In the past I know a girl whose name was Benedicte but it also be a name for a boy.... so.... ?

(11-07-2009 03:53 PM)Celia Wrote:  Hello Benny !
Nice to read you again !
You're right : this site IS FANTASTIC ! Every day, I find myself a pretext to go on it and to see if there are new messages or simply news about our great singer !
These days I was thinking too that it would be fine to meet all or some members and your idea to go together at The Bull's Head is great ! I think the appointment could be decided in a hotel in Barnes (I'm sure there are people in this fan club who know such a place) and every one had to "wear" (?) a badge APFF. So we could be introduced the ones to the others....
In the past I know a girl whose name was Benedicte but it also be a name for a boy.... so.... ?

I've been looking and found a budget hotel that is very well rated on TripAdvisor. It's called Premier Inn Putney and they offer a double room with continental breakfast at something like 75 euros a night (sorry, I don't know how many Swiss francs that comes to). The Tube is Putney Bridge 200m away. Any Londoners out there who could tell us if it's not too far from the Bull's Head? It's hard to evaluate on a street map, but it seems to be in the vicinity.
Yes, right, Bénédicte is a girl's name in French (the male version would be Benoit).
Have a nice day,

benny

hi everyone. I'm a newbie here. But i've read some of the messages in here, you definitely ARE friendly i really enjoy Alan's music. He makes my days. I have a hard period in life... sorta... exams and so on, it's my last year at the university. but i start every day with his songs and don't feel depressed) it's not just that his music and voice make me smile. but i can hear him smiling in his songs and that is totally great. It's hard to find a positive singer nowadays. So... me happy to join you) Thanks for making APFF, it's really nice.

Hi Daria
Welcome to APFF and pleased to hear you like the forum.
We know what you mean when you say you can here Alan smiling in
his songs - great isn't he? Do you have a favourite song?

Are you at uni in the UK and what are you studying?

Welcome, Daria! Have you ever been lucky enough to see Alan perform in concert?

I am so excited to have so many new members these days! I love bennyb's idea of us all going to the Bulls Head together one month. I would need to plan that WAY in advance, though.

Daria, good to have you with us. Tell us more about yourself...
I'm beginning to think this get-together at Bull's Head is feasible and I would like to suggest a date but the problem is, if you look at the "official" AP website,they don't announce a gig beyond January and the Bull's Head site doesn't go beyond Dec. In other words, for those of us who would have to make arrangements like booking a flight, a hotel room and taking time off from work, it might be risky to plan, let's say April 8th (the date I was envisaging). A trip to London is always a fabulous experience anyway but imagine our disappointment if, for some reason or another, the gig was called off. I'm not even talking for myself (after all, from Brussels, London is two hours away by train, it's closer for me than for some of you North of England or in Scotland) and by the way, if it cuts costs for some of you Continentals, I can offer a bed for the night. OK, now I'm REALLY getting carried away...

(11-11-2009 08:46 PM)bennyb Wrote:  I'm beginning to think this get-together at Bull's Head is feasible and I would like to suggest a date but the problem is, if you look at the "official" AP website,they don't announce a gig beyond January and the Bull's Head site doesn't go beyond Dec. In other words, for those of us who would have to make arrangements like booking a flight, a hotel room and taking time off from work, it might be risky to plan, let's say April 8th (the date I was envisaging). A trip to London is always a fabulous experience anyway but imagine our disappointment if, for some reason or another, the gig was called off. I'm not even talking for myself (after all, from Brussels, London is two hours away by train, it's closer for me than for some of you North of England or in Scotland) and by the way, if it cuts costs for some of you Continentals, I can offer a bed for the night. OK, now I'm REALLY getting carried away...

This sounds a fabulous idea - BUT I am due to have a hip replacement operation about beginning April.
Earlier than April not feasible as hip will be dodgy for travelling and I am told it takes 2 or 3 months to recuperate after the operation So probably won't be able to see any of Alan's shows (if there are any) until next July or August time.

But please go ahead and if it is the success I think it will be then perhaps a further date about next August?
This will give me a great incentive to get fit

(11-11-2009 09:33 PM)Jean Wrote:  

(11-11-2009 08:46 PM)bennyb Wrote:  I'm beginning to think this get-together at Bull's Head is feasible and I would like to suggest a date but the problem is, if you look at the "official" AP website,they don't announce a gig beyond January and the Bull's Head site doesn't go beyond Dec. In other words, for those of us who would have to make arrangements like booking a flight, a hotel room and taking time off from work, it might be risky to plan, let's say April 8th (the date I was envisaging). A trip to London is always a fabulous experience anyway but imagine our disappointment if, for some reason or another, the gig was called off. I'm not even talking for myself (after all, from Brussels, London is two hours away by train, it's closer for me than for some of you North of England or in Scotland) and by the way, if it cuts costs for some of you Continentals, I can offer a bed for the night. OK, now I'm REALLY getting carried away...

This sounds a fabulous idea - BUT I am due to have a hip replacement operation about beginning April.
Earlier than April not feasible as hip will be dodgy for travelling and I am told it takes 2 or 3 months to recuperate after the operation So probably won't be able to see any of Alan's shows (if there are any) until next July or August time.

But please go ahead and if it is the success I think it will be then perhaps a further date about next August?
This will give me a great incentive to get fit

aack! Next summer I won't be in Europe, personnally but it's such a fabulous idea of doing a general meeting... in fact, why not in April, but the next year, AND, since we're all faithful followers of Alan Price, why not organize a get-together, where we all go to an April gig at the Bull's Head, and chip in for a birthday present we'd hand after the show?? How about it, folks?

(And write our names all over the wrap that way he can't throw it away! )

Jean, i love almost all his songs. but the biggest impression is his Walk On By version. Unfortunately i'm neither in UK nor in the USA. I live in cold Russia) if I may say so. not. it's not really cold in here now) I study foreign languages. So, English is my major but it's not my native language so I sometimes make mistakes. Your (our)) forum is a great place. Really feel at home in here. THX sooo much)

hollyh, unfortunately not :( i wish i could. but don't think i'll be in UK in nearest future. So the only thing I can do is listen and watch movies. sad but true.

bennyb, you guys are so lucky to meet each other)) so happy for you) hope to reach you through photos or via Skype one day) i'm too far from you

Great ideas ! I've already told the secretary who is working with me I'll be on holidays the week after Easter 2010 ! but I agree with what Benny says : if we book a flight, an hotel etc. and there no concert at the Bull's Head, we all be disappointed. Even London is a nice city to visit ! But a assembly of all (or almost) of us would be faboulus !

---

Hi Benny ! as I just wrote, your idea to go in London on April 8th is fine and I agree with it ! I think a friend would come with me because I think she is becoming an Alan fan, too !
Thank you for precision on your name but I have to tell you that where I live there is a man whose name is Benedict (but without the "e"). That's why I asked you !
I would be very nice to know you and Lullaby... and others !
So please go on with your idea !
See you soon !
Celia

I know the Bulls Head website doesn't post dates for 2010, but as I recall, Alan's routine is to play there the second Thursday of every month. So April 8th should be a date he'll be playing!

OK, let's get moving on this.
I love Lullaby's idea of going in April - the month of Alan's birthday (my husband's, too). We go to London about once a year on the whole, so I have no problem booking April 2011 - but I could NEVER wait so long !!! God knows where we'll all be by then and - I know we hate to admit it - the Man IS going to end up retiring
So let's contemplate April 8th, 2010 and block the date in our agenda. If anyone finds it easier/cheaper to make a stopover in Brussels, keep my offer in mind. (I have four dogs, hope you don't mind). Jean, if your surgery takes place later than the 8th, you may be able to join us. We'll take care of you and make sure you're comfortably seated. Please consider it.
By the way, Jean, I hope you realize how much joy your site gives us all - hours of fun looking at all the material, the opportunity to communicate with people from all over the world and now - even to actually meet! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ok, folks, start looking at your agendas and your bank accounts. The earlier you book train/plane, the cheaper.

bennyb

Besides, I really must go- I'm in the process of writing a novel (and some publishers have already looked at my writings), and I'd like to use some lines from 'City Lights', and I need permission... so you know, there's just no way I'll make the year without going up there anyway

But oh! It'll be so much fun if we could all meet!!! I'll bring a couple pies, like a Tarte Tatin, that I'll make before driving up. And maybe even a key lime pie.

I'm afraid that date falls right AFTER my children's spring vacations from school, so it would be difficult for me to fly over to the UK then. But I'll see what I can do!