Western Germany Get-Together! Because...

[Ginger_79]

...I am to stubborn to admit I live in the scrapbooking desert!

[Jenn Barrette]

LOL I am in the middle of no-where Canada so I feel your pain!!

[Ginger_79]

Maybe we need to schedule a 2013 super SSD event on the Maledives. And it's only open to all the scrapbooking outcasts from all over the world. We will take lots of photos and post them everywhere to make them all jealous.

[mrshobbes]

LOL I totally understand! I live halfway across the world. I'm down with going to the Maldives! Can you spot my airfare?

[Jengerbread88]

Maybe while my sister is visiting this year from Hamburg, I can convince her to start scrapping. Not going to happen, but worth a shot. :P She'd at least be semi-close to you! My brother in Weeze would be closer, but he'd TOTALLY not be into the scrapping thing... lol. I need to get some of my German friends and family over to the dark side of digi

[Ginger_79]

Hah! You are just trying to make friends now, so you can sneak in on our outcast exclusive Maledives SSD event...

[lovely1m]

Originally Posted by Jenn Barrette

LOL I am in the middle of no-where Canada so I feel your pain!!

Umm, you live like 2.5 hours from me and not too far from Leah. Maybe we should all meet in Grand Forks? lol

[Freckles]

Haha, I'm on the same boat. But hey, Western Germany is not too far from here. We should totally do a meeting with all the European girls! Let those with their weird hobby unite!

[Jenn Barrette]

Originally Posted by lovely1m

Umm, you live like 2.5 hours from me and not too far from Leah. Maybe we should all meet in Grand Forks? lol

That sounds like a plan! LOL

[lovely1m]

I am sure we can find plenty of things to do there.

[FireWolf]

I'm just over an hour away from Langenfeld and my husband works in Dusseldorf, so I agree with Kim, let's have a German, Dutch, Belgian (and anyone else close enough) get together.

[Leontine78]

I am in for a nice get together....for me it's also about 1,5 hrs to the Germany border....but I have no idea where Langenfeld is....

If this doesn't work....the Maladives sound good to me!

[Ginger_79]

OMG, it was a joke but that would be SO awesome! Langenfeld is pretty much in the middle between Cologne and Düsseldorf. So we could probably find a city in the region, everyone can reach easily. Maybe something in the middle between all of us.

[winipeg1]

Originally Posted by Ginger_79

Maybe something in the middle between all of us.

No no no I was hoping for the Maldives

I know I don't live in Germany but I don't know anyone in real life that scraps or even knows/understands what it is so please take pittyy on me

[Mye]

LOL you're not alone! I am always jealous when there are meet ups.

Hey, Lex - we can meet up haha! Call the rest of the gang and let's have coffee

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by Ginger_79

OMG, it was a joke but that would be SO awesome! Langenfeld is pretty much in the middle between Cologne and Düsseldorf. So we could probably find a city in the region, everyone can reach easily. Maybe something in the middle between all of us.

I'm all for a "European neighbourhood" meet-up. We don't live that far away from each other, I think it's totally doable. :-)

[Leontine78]

But what would we do on such day.....except for talking about scrapping. I sure like the idea.
I guess somewhere in Limburg, Netherlands is in the middle of germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland (I am at the coast, so Limburg is about 2,5 hrs drive minimum).

If this is really serious we might think of a date early May.....I am now 21 weeks pregant so driving for 3 hrs back and forth is not something I can do for a long time anymore.

[FireWolf]

I could be wrong, but I think most of the get togethers are lunch and and just getting to know each other a little better.

It looks like I am at the central point so if we can pick a date and you all let me know what you want to do/eat or just drinks or whatever, then I'm happy to look for a place for us meet and make the arrangments if everyone is in agreement, since everyone else will have to drive a bit and I don't, it's the least I can do.

[Ginger_79]

Well, I would definitely make it! So maybe we should do a list, who is interested?

[adrianka]

Well, I'm the problematic one since I don't drive, but I'm sure there's a solution of some sorts. :-)

[FireWolf]

Ginger, I'm definitely in.

Adriana, since you work full time and I think so does Leontine, then we would need to do this on a weekend, right? Let me talk it over with DH and we could possibley meet you halfway and bring back or something like that...DH is good coming up with travel solutions, so let me see what he can come up with. I'll let you know tomorrow, but knowing him, he'll say we'll just come get you and bring you home. LOL

[adrianka]

Nika, thanks! That is so lovely of you.

It's true that it would have to be a weekend unless I can arrange a day off (that is a possibility, too).

I have checked the train connections between Luxembourg and Duisburg and I admit they are far from perfect, but I'm sure with a compromise thrown in it can be worked out somehow. And thanks again. :-)

And yes, I'm deffo interested in a meet-up. Meeting online friends is nice.

ETA: Leontine, when are you due? We should do this before you are too far in your pregnancy, I guess. :-)

[Freckles]

So Nika, you would bring your husband? I'd prefer to go alone, but only if it's not too far, I am not a very experienced driver... If the UK ladies would like to join, then I think Belgium would be most central for everyone to reach (or is that wishful thinking, haha!).
A weekend would be best for me as well. Who else is in?

[seatrout]

Originally Posted by winipeg1

No no no I was hoping for the Maldives

I know I don't live in Germany but I don't know anyone in real life that scraps or even knows/understands what it is so please take pittyy on me

Hey you - you live about 3.5 hours from me ... we could meet in Shrewsbury during the summer

[FireWolf]

Kim, no, I will not be bringing DH! Where in Belgium are you? I'm not sure where would be best if the UK girls want to join, so we need to know who all is coming before we set a location, I think.

Adriana,
DH says we can do a couple of different things. He says he thinks there is a direct train to Liege and we could pick you there...if you wanted to stay over we could drive you back to Luxembourg, if not we could get you back to Liege. Brussels would be another option. Just check and see what the best rain options are for you and we can go from there. Neither of us minds driving/riding at all so we have options.

ETA: Luxembourg to Liege is 20.50 euros 1 way

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by FireWolf

Kim, no, I will not be bringing DH! Where in Belgium are you? I'm not sure where would be best if the UK girls want to join, so we need to know who all is coming before we set a location, I think.

Agreed. Just a thought - in case UK ladies are coming, might Brussels be a good meeting point? I think it probably has the best connections.

Heh, if there ever was a meet-up in UK, I think I might be tempted to appear. There are direct flights Luxembourg-London and Luxembourg-Edinburgh, which is most probably not the best choice of location, but still. Fun to think about it. :-)

Originally Posted by FireWolf

Adriana,
DH says we can do a couple of different things. He says he thinks there is a direct train to Liege and we could pick you there...if you wanted to stay over we could drive you back to Luxembourg, if not we could get you back to Liege. Brussels would be another option. Just check and see what the best rain options are for you and we can go from there. Neither of us minds driving/riding at all so we have options.

ETA: Luxembourg to Liege is 20.50 euros 1 way

Liege and Brussels are no problem at all. We get direct train connection to Brussels, and there are some direct ones to Liege, with some it's necessary to change train in Namur. Any will do, depends on what suits you best.

I actually contemplated booking a hotel, since doing such a journey in one day might be too much, so if you offer me to stay over, I will be most grateful, but I can do a hotel too if necessary. :-) Let's see what happens.

[Leontine78]

I am due August 3rd, but for me Southern Limburg is about 3.5hrs drive I guess, especially when I take the A2....that will be to far for me pretty soon I guess. I can go by train aswell to Maastricht or something, that would be more pleasant for me I guess.

But can't we meet in Belgium then?
Brussels is two hours for me, Antwerp a little closer....it really is the traffic...
I am not a huge fan of driving, especially now!

[Freckles]

Sorry Nika, I hadn't read the entire thread so seems, I missed your suggestion of meeting in Zuid-Limburg. That's 2 hours from here, so totally doable.
But for Adrianka and Leontine Brussels seems like a better option? I'm only 35 km from Brussels, we could meet up at my place if there aren't too many people. Brussels does have a great connection from all corners of the world (even the UK, by High Speed Train. Where are you English girls?!). I could pick up a few of you if you came by train.

Any other European ladies who'd like to join? So far it seems like it's only the 5 of us?

[mrshobbes]

Originally Posted by Mye

LOL you're not alone! I am always jealous when there are meet ups.

Hey, Lex - we can meet up haha! Call the rest of the gang and let's have coffee

We really should! Though now I wish I lived in Europe, I'd love to meet all you lovely ladies!

[Leontine78]

I really like Kim's idea of going to her her house.
For me it's the best option so far but I realize I am not the only one.

But what dates are we talking about. I don't think Eric will let me drive that far after May.
And I think I will not feel comfortable about that either.
If that doesn't work, I have to skip this time!

[FireWolf]

Leontine, are you at the same address I sent the paper to? If so, routenet says you are 2:06 from your door to mine....is that extra 1.5 hours from traffic jams?

[Leontine78]

Yes, according to routenet it is 2 hrs....but the A2 is always such a crime....last time I had to go to Maastricht it really took me 3,5 hrs! So that's what in my head still.

[DaniW]

Originally Posted by Jenn Barrette

LOL I am in the middle of no-where Canada so I feel your pain!!

You are pretty remote, Jenn! My friend's brother practices law in Kenora so I get to hear the stories from her visits there.

These get togethers sound like so much fun! I have only two friends who digiscrap - one who only uses freebies and never buys anything and the other has a very different style. We did have coffee once to chat and look at each other's layouts and I think we'll do it again. I have been actively trying to recruit new scrappers so I have people to talk to about it!!!

[FireWolf]

Originally Posted by Leontine78

Yes, according to routenet it is 2 hrs....but the A2 is always such a crime....last time I had to go to Maastricht it really took me 3,5 hrs! So that's what in my head still.

That's crazy! When is the last time you were in Maastricht? I know with the new roadways DH can get to Amsterdam in 2 hours where it used to take him 2.5. But we are about 40 mins east of Maastricht.

Anyway, Brussels is fine with me...I only offered because you said Limburg would be the most central for everyone. Whatever works best for everyone is fine with me.

Kim, what town do you live in so I can get a better idea of travel time?

[Freckles]

I don't feel comfortable posting my address in a public place, So I sent you a pm about that Nika. If any of the other girls wants to know more details, please pm me as well

[pomi]

This spring is unfortunately out of question for me because of tight money, but if this should become a tradition (like, every year or so , I'm in for the next one(s).

[adrianka]

Lots of things written since when I was last online! :-)

I haven't noticed any date suggestions yet, but I guess something from mid-April to mid-May/end of May might work? Depends on what people's plans are. I'm sure I'm off to Slovakia until 15 April, and I also wanted to go there in May, but that would only be one weekend and the date is not set yet. I suppose for Leontine it's "the sooner the better", so maybe end of April or something?

As for the location, I can adjust as long as there's a reasonable connection to the place chosen. If Brussels (with the possibility to go to Kim's place) are better for you, Leontine, I think we can do that. For me Brussels is fine and if there's a train connection to where Kim lives I think I can do it nicely. If we decide to go to Nika's, then I'll be most grateful to accept that drive offer.

I'm not sure how much Brussels is fine for Inga?

As for revealing info online - we can also move the discussion on the more concrete things to PMs or email. I think that might be sensible. :-)

[Leontine78]

Nika, I thought you were a little more up north, that's why I suggested Limburg.
I'll have to admit, the last time to Maastricht was 2 years ago, before the restructering of the A2, so it might me quicker.

Kim, are you 30km north of Brussels? It's sort of a straight line down for me, so it migh take me less than 2 hrs then.

And yes, the sooner the better!

[Ginger_79]

I am fine with anything. We have good connections from Düsseldorf and Cologne, plus I have a car.

[FireWolf]

I can't do anything until May. What with easter, DH's 40th birthday and some other stuff every weekend in April is booked. So if it needs to happen in April for Leontine I'll have to miss it. Most of May looks good, I just have to check which weekend we are going to the UK.

[Freckles]

@Leontine: I sent you a pm

The weekends in April are already full here as well. So far, I think any weekend in May is fine.

[adrianka]

Most of May should be fine for me.

[Leontine78]

The weekend of Mother's day might not work for me and the 5/6 also not because of Eric's birthday. OMG...I am making things hard...

Other wise I skip this one maybe....Eric was not to fond of the idea when I told him....

[adrianka]

I can't do the 19/20 May. I think other dates should be OK.

[FireWolf]

Oh yeah, Mother's day won't work for me either and I still don't have an answer to which weekend we are going to the UK.

[Leontine78]

I had to search for the topic!

20/21 might be ok for me....but rather the Sunday than the Saturday though.

[adrianka]

Originally Posted by Leontine78

20/21 might be ok for me....but rather the Sunday than the Saturday though.

April or May? Because 17-20 May I'm sure I'm on a short vacation because we have a 4-day weekend here.

Also, Luxembourg-Brussels-Kim's place is rather hard to do in one day, so I'd deffo prefer a Saturday with the possibility to a) find a hotel in Brussels or b) do it in one go but get some sleep the next day rather then go to work. It's 3-hour journey by train to Brussels alone for me, and I'm talking from experience, I did in in one go several times and was wasted each time - but it's still doable alright. But adding another place to the itinerary and still do it in one go seems too much for me.

Anyways - if by any chance I can't do it this time, I can do it the next time! It's very hard to get more people agree on one date, so I can totally understand. :-)

[Leontine78]

Oh my.....this will be harder than we think hahahha.

[adrianka]

Don't worry, we will find a solution. In the extreme case I can do a Sunday, or whatever. If 4 other people agree on a date, I won't insist on a Saturday, or maybe I will skip this one and we'll do another one some day. :-) Let's see what happens.