Does anybody know how many tickets have sold so far? I'm ticket #35 and in the green group. I'm very excited about this trip...it will be my first off the North American continent. In fact, it's been so long since I've been out of the US, the last time I went to Canada they took a cursory look at your driving license on your way in and back out!

Is everyone planning to stay at the DeVere? I'm actually staying at a small bed and breakfast in town (the Bradford Guest House) because I can stay for nearly 1/2 the cost of the DeVere.

I'll be renting a Ford Fiesta (yes, truly I am!) and driving from London to Swindon. I'll be in a day early and leaving a day after, so if anyone knows of some really great, nearby places I could drive to, let me know. I'm going to Stonehenge, of course, but I'd love to drive to Wales (Cardiff's not too far) so any ideas for that would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Cheers,

gailfus

"In the absence of clearly defined goals we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia." - Unknown

If you are heading to Stonehenge then Avebury, Silbury Hill, Old Sarum and Salisbury are all part of the day trip. Bath is just down the road, and especially interesting for a Jane Austen fan and on the way to Cardiff.

Steam museum in Swindon is a personal favourite, and Cirencester just to the north is good for Roman ruins.

Almost forgot the statue of "Lola Vavoom" in Swindon, but I expect that you will see that anyway. Enjoy the trip

The Lola Vavoom statue is only a couple of hundred yards from the de Vere, so i would suggest that you don't drive to it.....

She's good looking in the dark, the old statue. Watch out for bird droppings around the area I didn't realise until too late myself. They probably feed the pigeons there.

Thanks, CannibalRabbit, for the tips. Bath would definitely be of interest (huge Jane Austen fan!) as would Avebury, etc., and Roman ruins. I'm afraid I'll try to do too much in the short time I'm there...And yes, I expect I'll see Lola's statue several times. :)

Cheers,

gailfus

"In the absence of clearly defined goals we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia." - Unknown

Lacock is a lovely village worth seeing. It's used a lot for filming - Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Moll Flanders, Cranford.

[www.nationaltrust.org.uk]

I don't know if you will have time to visit enough properties to make it worth your while, but the National Trust do a 7 day visitors pass for £20. This will cover Stonehenge and Avebury, Stourhead, and all manner of other properties between London and Cardiff.

<takes notes>

Thought it was about time I bounced this back up to the top....

Tickets are on sale RIGHT NOW from here:

[www.ffordeffiesta.com]

Activities include

* Fun Competitions and quiz events based on Jasper's novels
* Stalls, merchandise and games (many with a 1985 theme)
* Live pre-union tour performance by Strontium Goat
* Audience Participation Performance of Hamlet (Prince of Zombies)
* Character fancy-dress party
* Murder Mystery Gala Dinner (with a story written especially for the Ffiesta by Jasper)


Also, while I have your attention, here's a potentially useful new bit of software which you may want to check out:

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

It enables you to watch British television programmes. Live, on your computer. Even if you're not in Britain...

Dr Who fans may want to take note particularly! No more waiting for the next series!

(this all sounds too good to be true to me so I have no idea how long it'll actually last....)

I can't wait til I've finished my degree and am at liberty to spend a year or two in England...

---

Part time Quantum Elephant hollower

Bonzai Kitten Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't wait til I've finished my degree and am at
> liberty to spend a year or two in England...
That's great. THe one thing most students cannot do after finishing their degree is spend - anything.
It would be great to see you at the Ffiest in 85 (10).

-----------------------------------------
Joint winner Colouring Competition 2007
and outright winner of the 3 time winner of the Ffestival Dodo Feeding competition.
Fforde Ffiesta Ffotos are here - [www.flickr.com]

lol, yes, but luckily with a teaching degree I can work over there... at the crappiest most scary schools, so at least be sure of an income (which, lets face it, will be spent on tourist tat)... maybe even in Swindon?

---

Part time Quantum Elephant hollower

Not many schools in Swindon I think.

Population of 180,000 - think that there are four state secondary schools each 1,000+ pupils, and one big catholic one.

Plus Chippenham, Wootton Bassett, Calne, Malmesbury and several hundred villages are within spitting distance of Swindon with wonderfully easy access via public transport in Wiltshire

Since you're on the subject of Swindon and surrounding places -- anybody got any suggestions for public transport possibilities from Birmingham or Bristol to Chipping Norton?

National Express have a service.
From Birmingham to Bristol: Service NX324. Duration 2 hours.
From Bristol to Swindon: Service NX302. Duration 2 hours.
Depending when you travel there could be a wait between busses.
Cost about £17.50

-----------------------------------------
Joint winner Colouring Competition 2007
and outright winner of the 3 time winner of the Ffestival Dodo Feeding competition.
Fforde Ffiesta Ffotos are here - [www.flickr.com]

Thanks for the tip, but how do I get from Swindon to Chipping Norton?

[www.travelinesw.com]

[www.travelinesw.com]

Should give you some ideas.

A really great help - thanks a lot; saved a lot of searching.