Oxford Anniversary Moot 10-12th August. Time to book a room!

[ArPharazon]

I can do a WALK/guided tour no problems.

Is there anything/anywhere people want included this year that I have not included before?

Let me know soon so I can do the research.

Arphy

[Berhael]

Would anyone be interested in visiting Tolkien's grave at Wolvercote and a reading of Namarie by yours truly? It would be a Saturday am thing.

[heliona]

I'd certainly be interested - I've heard great things about your Namárië.

And Arphy, I'm willing to follow you around Oxford listening to you no matter what you're talking about.

[ArPharazon]

FANS - what can you do wiv 'em?

no matter what you're talking about

Nonsense as usual no doubt!1

I might try to do something about Tolkien's old homes if that would interest people - where he wrote LOTR. I'll see if its possible to string something together. I have never visited those streets myself.

Hey, I could show you the underground study where he conceived the secret sequel to LOTR!!!!

Arphy

[Berhael]

Thanks, heliona.

ArPhy, I'm thinking, perhaps we could tack the grave visit to the end of your walk - it would make sense in a practical manner, as Wolvercote cemetery is practically next door to the Peartree park & ride which is where I'll leave my car (http://wikimapia.org/7123123/Wolvercote-Cemetery the park & ride is the triangle-shaped lot to the left). And etymologically it fits better to say 'Namárië" at the end of my day in Oxford rather than at the beginning...

So after the walk, anyone interested in visiting the grave could hop on the bus to Wolvercote with me - it's number City2.

[Aravar]

I can do a WALK/guided tour no problems.

Is there anything/anywhere people want included this year that I have not included before?

Let me know soon so I can do the research.

Arphy

I would like to visit the underground church. We only saw the spire.

[Hobbituk]

That's a great idea Berhael, I'd be interested... seems sort of a fitting thing to do on the tenth anniversary.

As long as we make sure we're all back at Keble for 18.30 of course.

[Gungnir]

I (and the rest of the Gungnir tribe) would also love the guided walk and also are definitely interested in seeing Tolkien's grave - we are staying at the travelodge near to the pear tree park and ride on the Thursday and Friday nights - Keble on Saturday and Sunday nights.

So we'll probably have a wander around Oxford on Friday morning, pop into the L&F on Friday afternoon and join the dinner at the Mitre on Friday night.

Another wander etc on Saturday morning then E&C for lunch and Arphy's tour (hopefully!) but we will be doing our own thing on saturday evening for dinner -not sure about after that, we could always send the kids off to Keble if everyone's going to the L&F.

Sunday - ??

[Berhael]

ArPhy, I've been to 20 Northmoor Road, some 23 years ago (yikes). If my 17 year old self could find it on a map, before the advent of sat navs and the Internet, I'm sure I can repeat the feat.

[Hobbituk]

Please could those people arriving on the Friday or Saturday afternoon let me know your estimated arrival times?

(especially if its an odd time... like Banana O'Clock, 18.64 or just quite late).

[niniel*]

Arphy, yes would love the walk again. It's been a long time! (I missed the one last year)

It would be lovely to visit Tolkien's grave again Ber, I remember the first time well.

Hobbituk, I should arrive just after lunch on the Friday.

(in the old days I would have made that 3 separate posts to bump my count!)

[ArPharazon]

OK - I think I have something that might work.

The "murder walk" will be a saunter with about 10 stops starting and finishing at Keble. So no guided tour this time - just a bit of exercise and (I hope) a laugh!!

All being well the hole thing should be over in 90 minutes or so. (If it's pouring with rain we might be able to do the whole thing indoors in a pub if you preferred.)

At the start and at each stop I'll tell you about a murder investigation and you'll have a chance to interrogate witnesses, suspects and others involved (police specialists etc) collecting (hopefully) information and clues as you go.

People will be able to work individually or in pairs or groups or just tag along for the ride.

Once back at Keble, you will be able to discuss and think about the information you have collected. I'll give a sealed envelope to someone sober and trustworthy (in our crowd?? ) so you know I haven't changed my mind mid-stream.

Later in the day (or whenever you say) you can share with the group who you accuse of the crime and we can open the envelope. (It won't be complex, difficult, intellectual or particularly challenging in any way, I assure you.)

Does that sound like something you'd like to do?

If it is not to people's taste, I can always go back to the drawing board.

Arphy

[Hobbituk]

Brilliant! I'm in!

(EDIT TO ADD: I'm going to suggest we do this pretty early on in the afternoon. Just so we have plenty of time to do this, for any folk who want to visit the grave and then for everyone to be back to Keble by 18.30... without it all feeling like we're rushing around. Will be much nicer to do it at a saunter )

[Inzilbeth]

Count me in !!!!!

[Alys]

That sounds brilliant Arphy, we'll be there!

[truehobbit]

Visit to the grave would be a lovely thing esp on this anniversary occasion.

The crime-investigation walk sounds great fun - the time-schedule and all looks very good, too, though I think we'd need an early start if two events are to fit into a Saturday afternoon, plus being back in time for dinner. Maybe one of them on Saturday morning or on Friday?

[Hobbituk]

I think we'll have plenty of time to do them both on the Saturday afternoon, if we don't schedule our usual long sit-around in the Bird & Baby.

Anyone who wants to could grab a bite to eat there and as long as we get started by about 1pm, that should be fine.

For tradition's sake, those who aren't going to the Grave could always have a few pints in the Bird & Baby instead

[ArPharazon]

If it helps I could alsways tell you who dunnit and then leave you to work out who was murdered??

Faster that way.

[rowanberry]

Your ideas for the walk sound fun. I haven't decided yet if I want to visit the grave, so I'll keep all options open at this point.

[Silwen]

Just let me know when you would want to start on Saturday so we get there on time. Wouldn't want to miss the fun. We still have to check in to Keble as well.

[niniel*]

All sounds like good fun to me! An early start is a good idea too. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all soon

[Hobbituk]

Off Topic: There is a documentary on the BBC iPlayer, narrated by Billy Boyd, about the first school musical production of The Hobbit in Oxford in 1967 (with Tolkien in the audience).

I've listened to the first half and it was fascinating, includes contributions from the legend Howard Goodall (composer of TV themes from Blackadder to QI among many others!) whose brother was in it.

Linky

[Jaeniver]

it all sounds lovely! I'd love to visit the professor's grave again. Ber, please read the poem.

[Berhael]

I'm aiming for being in Oxford by midday on Saturday, the time the Bird & Baby opens, so I'll go there directly, then get ready to do the walk after lunch.

Once we finish the walk, those of us interested in visiting the grave can get on the bus to the cemetery; the C2 goes from the centre of town, and there are stops all along the Banbury Road, so we could get on any of those. The journey is approx. 10 minutes (one way) and there is a stop just outside the cemetery. There are buses every 5 minutes, even on a Saturday.

Poem memorised.

[ToshoftheWuffingas]

I've looked and not seen any rendez-vous for Thursday afternoon. Should people head for any particular pub?

[Hobbituk]

Tosh, I replied on Facebook, but unfortunately most of us couldn't make it on the Thursday this year for various reasons. There are couple of people (such as Rowanberry) who will be around though, so I'm sure there will be someone to meet up with! I'm sorry if there was any confusion though.

MEANWHILE...

Here's the Official (Not really official cos I'm not the boss of anyone) Itinerary of the 2012 Oxford Moot...

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Meet in Lamb & Flag for beer, lunch and beer. Check in at Keble from 2pm.

FRIDAY EVENING: (From about six-ish, but we can be flexible) Head to The Mitre. We have the room from 4pm but they're not expecting us to eat until about 7.30pm. I spoke to them yesterday. After dinner, myself and Wilko185 have prepared a little quiz. We have the room until close, and for those who aren't quite ready to turn in then... ROOM PARTY!

SATURDAY LUNCHTIME: Grab a bite to eat, possibly at the Eagle & Child, but it's up to you! As long as you're done by 1ish! Then assemble at Keble for Arphy's famous walk/murder mystery/tour/awesomeness.

After the walk, Berhael will lead an expedition for whoever wants to visit Tolkien's grave, a busride away. Be sure to be back by 6.30pm!

SATURDAY EVENING: At 6.30pm we will eat in Keble's Great Hall. Then afterwards, probably head back to the Lamb & Flag. There may then follow another (more civilised please because I'm driving the next day) room party.

SUNDAY: Breakfast at Keble, Coffees... then a Sunday Roast at the Turf pub.

How does that all sound?

[niniel*]

What are we doing again?

Actually, all sounds fab. Best of all someone else is organising me! You have no idea how good that feels especially as I spend my life organising my kids, house and the three consultants at work, so this is a holiday for me Thanks Hobbituk

[Hobbituk]

The little amount of organising I end up doing for Moots is awesome.

Basically, I just decide what I want to do and then invite everyone to tag along.

Everyone wins! Especially me!

[ArPharazon]

If we are doing the murder mystery/quest "thingy" on the amble to Tolkien's former home, on Saturday (assuming that's what you folks want to do....

I am happy to do a "proper" tour of Oxford (i.e. covering sites, scenes, history etc) if anyone wants one/hasn't done one before etc - on FRIDAY afternoon once I've greeted friends and had a couple. I'll have my notes with me just in case.

Let me know.

As for the murder mystery - it could be a disaster.

Arphy

[niniel*]

As for the murder mystery - it could be a disaster.

Arphy

Of course it won't! We are amongst friends, in Oxford having fun