There seem to be quite a lot of new WriMos in Derry this year, which from my point of view (and Larys' too, I suspect) is very good news!
So, I'd like to organise a kick-off event and some weekly meetings for our area... Generally, the kick-off takes place the week before NaNoWriMo starts. It's a chance to meet some of the other people who are going to be partaking of the insanity and to just chat about what and how and why. The meetings are both a chance to socialise and talk about NNWM, and also to do some writing (laptop/Alphasmart/pen&paper).
Last year we just met one evening a week in Costa Coffee in Foyleside, which had the advantages of being convenient, generally not too busy, with decent coffee and very comfy chairs. But there's nothing wrong with a change of venue - if anyone's got any suggestions for somewhere comfortable and open fairly late, speak up!
What days and times work for people? I can make any of the 5 days a week that I'm not in Belfast, but would prefer weekday evenings or any time of weekends.
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Municipal Liaison for Northern Ireland
WriMo Ireland - the place for all WriMos in Ireland - visit the chat room!
51,192 / 50,000
Oct 9, 2008 - 12 18
I fear it may be JUST me Catherine :D
Hopefully there are more tho :)
I think I'll nanomail you, there's alot there !
(I'm Fiona by the by)
70,545 / 50,000
Oct 17, 2008 - 08 51
Wednesday 29th, 7pm, Costa Coffee in Foyleside suit anyone for a kick-off/get-to-know-you session?
And we can figure out from there which nights work for us and where to meet from that point on... A lot of the cafes in Derry seem to have very early closing hours (and Foyleside shuts at 6 on a Monday & Tuesday) so it would be nice to be able to pick a regular day to plonk our arses somewhere and get writing!
55,589 / 50,000
Oct 19, 2008 - 18 03
I'd definitely be up for attending meetings if that's okay...
I've actually just moved to Derry so I'm not sure on places... but I can pretty much make any day of the week.
70,545 / 50,000
Oct 21, 2008 - 09 59
Okay, I've added a Derry kick-off to the calendar, for 7pm Wednesday 29th, at Costa Coffee in Foyleside (they didn't seem to mind us lingering last year).
I'll be there in my hideous neon-yellow T-shirt (well-hidden by my coat, I suspect, at least until someone else turns up) and also clutching the Pumpkin Bucket of Sugary Doom (which will probably be easier to spot).
Although if lots of people NaNoMail me or comment to say that they can't make it then and there, we can arrange something else.
55,589 / 50,000
Oct 21, 2008 - 10 30
I'll be there if it's alright.
I'll just look for a neon yellow shirt in amongst a jacket somewhere :P
Oh, and is there anything I should bring? Or anything I should expect?
This is my first one so I have no idea what usually happens.. heh..
51,192 / 50,000
Oct 21, 2008 - 12 22
I'll probably be there!!
I'm off that day so there'll be no rushing...
What, pray tell, is the Pumpkin Bucket of Sugary Doom?
:) Halloween related?
50,541 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2008 - 09 25
*rushes in, panting*
Next wednesday, 7pm, Costa Cafe - Fine for me ! :D I'll bring some black chocolates - and maybe my werewolf mask.
Any evening is OK for me, except Tuesdays and Thursdays.
(I missed that pumpkin basket :))
70,545 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2008 - 13 58
Wow, we're already double our usual number from last year's Derry meetings! We'll have to find a bigger table... :)
50,541 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 06 34
If I can suggest other places that open late and where we can meet :
* Starbucks Coffee in Foyleside opens until 9pm from wednesday to friday (included). And they have electrical outlets ! :D
* Café Calm (near the Guildhall - and one of my favourite places ;)) opens until 9 on thursdays, fridays and saturdays - if I'm not wrong :\ They have two big sofas near the window ^^
70,545 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 14 12
Starbucks rather than Costa is a very probable meeting place for November (although we'll stick to Costa for tomorrow) - although I haven't been in there yet.
I adore the tapas in Café Calm (and those are the opening times I saw, too - at least, those are the days they do tapas; I tried phoning early last week but didn't get an answer) but I'm not sure if it would get too busy for us to sit in there and write. Would be good for a TGIO do though!
50,541 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2008 - 08 09
The few times I went to Cafe Calm late in the evening, it was pretty quiet and once I brought my laptop there and got away with like 2000 words. But yeah, we should definitely meet there for a TGIO :)
On the other hand, I think Starbucks is quite crowded around 7 but past that time, it's more quiet.
70,545 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2008 - 04 46
Kick-off in Derry accomplished! (I had fun, especially writing the plot/character/place/object cards for emergencies, hope you guys did too - and thanks to Larys for the extra chocolate!)
Next meetings - and regular throughout November - every Friday @ 6:30pm in Starbucks, Foyleside. Starting from Nov 7th since of course this Friday is Halloween.
We'll be doing a bit of socialising, a lot of novel-stressing, and oodles of writing.
Hope to see you all there!
50,541 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2008 - 16 22
I spotted a brand-new coffee shop in the city centre - Café Boho (or something like that). In the corner Sackville st-Great James street, just next to the Halloween shop and opposite that pub whose name I have just forgotten. They opened until 10 pm on wednesdays to saturdays. I haven't tried it yet but I'll see tomorrow or thursday if their coffee and food's OK and if they have power points. That could be a nice place for a meeting :)
22,733 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2008 - 14 12
Hey guys...
Cafe calm's a nice place to meet too....good coffee...but after 5 they serve food so dunno about only having a coffee.
Larys, I know the place your talking about...think the bars called 'The Grand Central' though may be wrong...haven't ben to the cafe though
I'll keep an eye on this thread and hopefully manage to meet up with some of you :D
70,545 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2008 - 05 28
We're thinking of Café Calm for a Thank-God-It's-Over tapas session, once November is done!
For the moment, Starbucks was OK yesterday although getting exactly the right corner is a bit of a chore, so we'll probably be there next week again.
Although if anyone's in Derry (which I'm not) on a regular basis and can least pop their heads into Café Boho to check out its opening hours and general ambience, that would be great. (And yep, the Grand Central is the bar opposite.)
Hope to see you next week maybe, Stephen? I have steeeeeckers.... (bribery often works)
50,108 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2008 - 05 48
Might be better to leave off Cafe Boho. I was in there Thursday or Friday and although the ambience is nice and they have a lot of potential, they were out of every kind of everything only halfway through the lunch hour, so I think they're still really finding their feet. Also, there's not very much room in there, so unless we could get the one spot with the two 2-seater sofas facing each other, it would be pretty hard to have a sensible meeting.
No idea about electrical sockets.
One place that would be worth looking into is the cafe up on the city walls which is just around the corner from St. Columb's Cathedral. It's got a great little reading room and everything in it. Worth a look anyway.
50,541 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 03 16
I tried Cafe Boho last night and I agree with MaidM - it's really a great place ! :D I had delicious tapenade with the house's own tea, which they called the Belfast Blend. They also have organic food and it's not all expensive. The lady at the counter was really nice and she let me stay a bit later after 10, as I was really deep into writing. I talked to the lady about us and she'll be really happy to have us in the evenings ^^
I forgot to check for the electrical outlets ^^; but I had my notebook (which I baptized with olive oil and cookie crumbs) and I wrote about 600 words, so I won't mind if there aren't.
70,545 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 04 01
Sounds pretty nice and welcoming too. (Is that the Suki Belfast Blend tea? It's good.)
We'd probably better stick to Starbucks for tonight though (alas) because that's where people are expecting us, and it's a bit short notice to change. Next week though....
70,545 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 14 00
Looks like we're definitely in Cafe Boho next week - I'll update the calendar.
50,541 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2008 - 14 22
We'd probably better stick to Starbucks for tonight though (alas) because that's where people are expecting us, and it's a bit short notice to change. Next week though....
Aye, that's the one :) Suki make really excellent tea !
Starbucks was fine for me - the only one inconvenients were it was too far from home (for me to walk) and it's always quite crowded at that time. But it'll still be a good place for me to write ^^ (when it's quiet).