Summer meet up is for ALL members of Autism Umbrella

This meet up we are planning for us this summer is for ALL members of Autism Umbrella so please any input and ideas are more than welcome, the more the merrier and if we can make it so we spend an evening together also, that would be fantastic!

Ive got T helping me with the locations of areas in the UK on his map of the UK, he knows more than me!

ok here are few locations i have spotted:

http://www.stickneyfarmpark.co.uk/index.html

http://www.whitepostfarmcentre.co.uk/

http://www.derbyarboretum.co.uk/Intropage.htm

dunno if they are appropriate but they may be possibilities for us

Somewhere in the Forest of Bowland might be quite nice. Particularly when it's warm.

Needless to say, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire is too far away. Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, southern Cumbria, West Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire would be OK though.

I bet these all have ale establishments Paul???!!!!

They might do. But I think I can survive without permanently trying to get plastered.

I dont know where everyone is located as yet to be able to pin point what is central for all of us, so if everyone can state their location in the UK it would give us a better idea of where to be looking. I am trying to make it fare coz i know its not going to be easy for those who have to travel with special needs kids and using public transport, like myself.

Bambi = West Yorkshire

GrandmaKyak = East Anglia

kebab = East Anglia

Paul = Lancashire

mum2charlotte = Surrey

funkymamu = Southampton

marshmallow = West Yorkshire

sorry hun, i dont know exactly where surrey is in relation to west yorkshire and i think west yorkshire is the furthest north of the UK our members are.

I think i have listed definates who would be up for it, so anyone else that wants to add to the list please do so stating ur location

Surrey is right at the bottom of the country, in the south-east. Lancashire is in the north-west of England. Lancashire borders West Yorkshire to the east.

Have a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_counties_of_England

I think somewhere like Northamptonshire would be central but not in easy reach of any of us.

Northants is fine for me, but then I am lucky in having a car. No car= no go anywhere we can't walk to. Not able to do the public transport thing AT ALL!

Is Brum any good for anyone? I can get there in a couple of hours (used to go to Crufts at the NEC) but my knowledge of "the north" is as sketchy as yours is of "down south" Bambi!!

I know its a shame we are all so distant from eachother! but we need this and i think it will lift our spirits. What about Birmingham? look at this:

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=101427&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=126

Wow snap mum2c! just saw ur post after i posted

I have to say a big thank you to GrandmaKyak for all her help and supporting our meet

http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/wfdc_html/clacs/parksandgreenspaces.htm#Brinton%20Park

Several places here in shropshire look nice and with excellant facilities.

http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk/Council%5FServices/Tourist%5FInformation/

I have sent off for info for what we are specifically looking for

Bambi: Wyre is five minutes away from here.

The Forest of Bowland is in the Valley. Look at Ribble Valley Borough Council's website for info on that. I'm also a Valleyman.

Wyre is a four hour drive for me, well according to the AA route planner it is!
I'm happy to travel that far, I can easily turn it into a bit of an adventure for us by spending a night at a travelodge along the way. A bonus really as C and I won't be tired and pernickety about things!
Isn't one of us in Southampton? That's even further south than me....

Brinton Park looks nice on the first link, no way can u drive 4 hours to location mum2c! thats way too far for ya and were not having that sorry we want to spend a night at the location as it is so we get 2 days to chill and mingle

I dont know who is in southampton, is it funkymamu?

Paul u do know ur mum is more than welcome to come and if she cant make it bring a friend!

Butterfly Farm - Stratford-upon-Avon

http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-78737705-United_Kingdom_Stratford_upon_Avon_Butterfly_Farm.html

Cannon Hill Park - Birmingham

http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-78756805-United_Kingdom_Birmingham_Cannon_Hill_Park.html

The New Forest

http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/what_to_see_and_do.html

East Midlands - Family fun locations

http://www2.enjoyengland.com/campaigns/family-fun/eastmidlands/nature.aspx

I know this but she's very busy as it is. Unless it's local (i.e. within the counties I posted earlier) it would be very difficult for me to get there. If we had a few more southern members we could have north and south meets.

By all means sort out a meet of your own.

Don't forget me

I'm down here in Southampton but would be willing to travel to meet up!!!

Everyone is welcome funkymamu and its good to hear u wanna join us

No worries Paul trying to accomodate everyone and its what ever everyone wants to do (wanting to travel near or far).

Any spots u think are suitable for our meet pls do post em, where ever they are in the UK

Wirral Country Park

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/wcp.htm

Arrowe country park - Wirral

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/arrowe.htm

Central Park - Wirral

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/central.htm

North Wirral Coastal Park

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/er/nwcp.htm

If we had a few more members then we could have seperate north/south meets. How would you go down south Bambi? It must be difficult for you.

An idea I had would be to just find a nice town and meet up there for a day. Northern Staffordshire could be doable?

I travel down south all the time with T where there's a will there's a way coach or train aslong as i have Ts consoles! thats why i thought maybe an over night stay would suit us if we travelled quite a distance & the bonus of quality time together.

We could do a day trip and an overnight stay meet during the summer, after all it is 6 weeks the kids are off school!

I'd come and visit you (and other northern members) no problem - if the chevron can take the pressure, that is! Anywhere within a two-hour drive away is doable. Longer and it's a no-no.

Ok thats fine Paul im looking for places to go at any given moment! There really are some beautiful sites in the UK and i want to explore them! I love going places, a break from the norm is a must

I'd rather leave the country. Could you do that? There are interesting places inside and outside the UK.

I could leave the country but cant arrange anything like that until i have the funds to do it and i do plan to venture abroad at some point this year

We could always meet on the Isle of Man in a few months. I'll be visiting there anyway. That way we all have to travel and there are no members too near the meeting point. Unless we get some Manxies on here between now and then, of course.

Loving that idea Paul.
I've always wanted to go the Isle of Man, but there is one proviso to anywhere we might end up....I cannot travel on a boat! (I have Menieres Syndrome)

We could meet up in Douglas while we're there. Or we could meet in one of the villages. I want to go back there later in the year for a few more days, mainly to see the western side of the island. It would be a nice, quiet place for us to meet away from a lot of the hassle of the mainland.

You can fly from the UK to the Isle of Man through Ronaldsway if you can't do ferries. It'll be much more expensive but a bit quicker.

Would love to go there it sounds lovely

Can't see C getting on a plane somehow

Haven't they built a tunnel yet?

Or how about a bridge? Surely there's a road bridge? Please!

It would be nice, but it's equidistant from the UK and Ireland. It's ferry or airport only and most take the ferry.

Will look northern staffordshire later Paul

I had a call back from these people today:

http://www.wyrebc.gov.uk/Council%5FServices/Tourist%5FInformation/

They are sending me info about whats on in the summer and what picnic and park areas will suit us

Wyre's a nice area. I recommend Garstang. It's a nice quiet town. Some nice shops, especially on market day. Most of the other towns in the area are either a bit grim or don't have much to recommend them.

Ok guys i need dates for when we want to meet up and location suggestions pleeeeeease, then we have to agree on the location then we can meet up!

ok the dates i have in mind are:

Saturday 28th July

Saturday 4th August

If satuday isnt a good day then say, schools are out everyday during the summer so i didnt think it would make a difference being the weekend, its gonna be the same any day we go

So long as my Fiesta can get there (and back again!) I really have no concrete idea of where to go.

C and I have confined our trips to the Southern part of the country so a journey to the North would be fun and a real adventure!

I'd be happiest in August but only because we have the whole of August off from school!

I actually broached the subject with C this evening, and her face lit up when I explained to her that there are other children who think and feel like she does. It made me feel all gooey, but a bit sad to think that she is already aware that she isn't the same as some of her peers....

BTW, she roared with delight when she heard some of your names! The winner was Marshmallow who got the award for "the best name I've ever heard Mummy"....

Thats fine hun we can do August, bless C and it must of hit home realising that she knows she is different, T knows it too and has said he thinks he is weired i told him he isn't and that he is a very special boy. He also realises its his brain that makes him the way he is, he told me one day when we had a Paed appointment 'the doctor cant fix my brain and its a ghost inside of my brain' bless his little cottons.

I think its good for our kids to realise they are not alone and maybe it can do wonders for their self esteem which a lot of our children lack ( i know T does) he told his Paed last week that he is 'f***ing rubbish'

Way to go marshmallow! u are awarded Autism Umbrella's

Skipton's a nice idea...? Or somewhere like Derbyshire perhaps?

Was thinking derbyshire myself Paul here are a few ideas:

http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/chatsworthfarmyardandadventureplayground.htm

http://www.derbyshireuk.net/derbyshire_attractions.html

http://www.betterdaysout.co.uk/parksandhalls.php

http://www.towtop.co.uk/what_to_see.htm

I forgot to say family members are more than welcome too, a partner if u have one plus siblings or simply just a close friend