As an aside, the rooms for both the Park Manor and for the Sedona hotel will be released in the first week of October (the 4th for the Park Manor and 5th for Sedona). I don't think they'll keep the "cheaper" rates after those dates.

The weather here has been very, very warm.

So in summary we actually have in vegas:

23+2 for wed night
21+2 for thursday night (ie no tart/ette)

Wee, mon sewer

What need we do to make sure we have rooms then? I e-mailed Sedona but haven't had anything back.

The weather here has been sunny but cool.

Hmm, I can call today and check on that. I'll let you know.

Inn of Sedona update:
It should be

"attention Sean"

email to:

sales@innofsedona.com

OK that's done; I'll let you know if I get a reply or not. Do we need to do anything about the Park Manor?

No.

Dannyboy - what news on Vegas?

Still working on it. Should hear back tomorrow with final pricings.

No reply from Sean...

Called them: the front desk girl went over and stuck "a giant sticky note" on his computer to have him email back. She also extended the blocking period until the 10th to give us more time.

i havent been paying attention...

do i need to do anything for em and i?

I just had a bit of a panic attack when someone told me that US customs get a bit funny with people who have less than 6 months left on their passport, mine runs out in March.

I think I am going to go in and get a fasttrack new one, the last thing I want to do is be sent back from LAX with a ticking off.

Anyone have any views on this issue? My view is its best to play safe.

I agree it's best to play it safe - go to Peterborough passport office in person and get one done there (I think you have to book). I wouldn't send your current passport off anywhere given how close we are to having to go.

Not for the Park Manor or the Grand Canyon, but you should email the Inn at Sedona.

Edit: I just gave them a call (was easier in the end) and reserved a room with two queen beds for me and Danny.

It should be pointed out that the rate of $145 does not include tax, but then what does in the States?

It should be pointed out that the rate of $145 does not include tax, but then what does in the States?

[/quote]


You can claim your tax back at the airport though i think. Usually i dont bother but this time it may be worth it if we're spending a lot on accommodation.

Anyone else need to share? Noj?

I have booked rooms at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. $75.21 per room, per night (tax included).

12 rooms for the Wednesday
11 rooms for the Thursday

If you have not booked a room for Sedona, I will take care of it. Who has already booked? Dan & King, Chris & Rosie?

em and i need a room in sedona - could you?

Looking at car rentals: I can get 10% off with Hertz so a Ford Focus (or similar) would be about £131 for the week. £176 if we wanted satnav.

Anyone else?

ur under no pressure me dear but we had a reserved space for you in our wagon if you should wish to take advantage.

And for others - we have a small car so can take 2 passengers - 1 if mike comes along, although that would likely be a squeeze what with luggage an' all.

That's very kind, I will most probably take you up on the offer. Thinking of the collective though; if there are members without transport that would otherwise pay civilian rates they could take advantage of my (company's) buying power...

PS I'll start collecting Times 2 crosswords...

I haven't booked a room for Sedona. Please can you book a room for Michelle and me? Thanks!

Pete has taken care of the rest of the holiday.

Not quite yet.

I will organise car hire before the end of the week. King, Noj, I will be in touch about corporate discounts.

Jennie -any idea how I can find out about decent flight prices from las vegas to shanghai? I might need to go on from there rather than come home with this bunch of ruffians.

A little outside my normal circle of Manchester, San Diego, Heathrow. I would assume, though, that kayak or some such online option would be your best bet.

Shanghai? Cool.

I know this isn't transport related, but it is wedding related.

Apologies in advance to Pedro who I imagine will be less than impressed with this query.

What to wear for the wedding?

I have already asked this question and got what was at the time a pleasing answer: "whatever you like". However, this answer is now playing with my tiny mind. It's just a little bit too open and I'm way too indecisive. It leaves the whole of my wardrobe in play, from black tie all the way down to pyjamas.

What I'd love to know is:

1) what others are wearing
2) is it going to be possible for me to be so casual that I offend members of the families of the bride and groom (I don't want to do this)
3) what others are wearing
4) what the groom is wearing
5) what others are wearing

Have I made it clear enough that I want to blend in?

HA. Well, I doubt you'd manage to offend family members. (Trust me). You will certainly blend in with a suit or button up shirt and slacks. There will probably be a wide range from "California formal" (no jacket, button up shirt) to guys in three-piece suits etc.
And, as an aside, my sister and I have already had this exact conversation; it went like this:

I am going to go with suit + shirt but probably no tie

Well, everyone is wearing Gimp suits so you had better join the club, lots of people are in red leather so may be you should think of a different colour, also, thongs are out and bottomless hotpants in - so there's another idea for you. Jennie informed me that her family WOULD be offended if you did not join in with this and that Pete WOULD be offended if you didn't stuff a red leather ball in your mouth during the service. I hope that's cleared things up for you. Oh also, I have bought a collar for chris and I understand that Sammy boy has a whip, so accessories are also welcome.

Just don't forget your camera.

im thinking its not a great ideal to lug a suit over there in a suitcase (this was honestly the first time i'd ever realised that a suitcase acutally implies that it is a case for a suit).

it'd surely get crumpled and creased. so i'll go for the "button up shirt and slacks" option...

geee sure... slacks..

I have my new passport. Result.

On a completely unrelated side-note, is anyone else mildly perturbed by the fact that if you search for 'badgerfest' on google it comes up with 'did you mean beaverfest'. Govind surely has a part to play in this.

Keeping off topic: Running the london half-marathon on Sunday I saw a guy jogging along with a badger-head for a head.

My hero.


Anyway - my attire will depend absolutely on the temperature. Suit in heat is a no-no for me. It is currently sunny 26 degrees. This is quite hot. Will it stay this way? If so, I might have to wear shorts, basketball vest and flip flops to avoid flooding the aisle....

Is it humid or dry?

Very dry... (fires are lighting once again..but not nearby) To add interest, the temperature appears to be fluctuating between the 80's and mid 60's. I would guess that at most it will be about 75 in San Diego. We will be right on the water, and it will probably get chilly quickly as the sun starts to set.

Oh my God, I want to be there now, right NOW!

Cant wait, its gonna be a good one people.

mmmmmm sun mmmmmmm no children mmmmmmmmmm alcohol mmmmmmmmmm relax mmmmmmmmmmm exciting things mmmmmmmm

Wow, seems like 15 years since I snooped the fest...just wanted to warn the relevant parties that I am a nervous no terrified air passenger and will need much distraction and possible sedation, failing that just smack me over the head with something. Much apologies in advance.

Very exited about everything tho and cant wait for the huge canyon and Vegas baby!

Bobbyboy, Im wearing my Jim Jams, so yours wont seem out of place.

Dan! I shall not be topless in any pool, I even shower in shorts and T-shirt....

Are you a descendant of Mr T? At least you try to fly, he's as stubborn as a mule all he ever says is 'I aint gettin' on no plane'.

Perhaps, like him, your A flying team could put something in your milk to help you sleep? That's right, and if that works out, you all have to say 'I love it when a plan comes together'!

Yo, i'm going suit + tie and reserving the right to drop the tie entirely.

Can we stickie a separate thread with the final itinerary so that I can draw myself a pretty little schedule please?

Edit: I've booked a car, under Pete's careful direction. With me, Ween and Em in there, I think there are a couple more spaces so we should be good to go.

What time will people be at Gatwick?

I am putting together a pdf with details for the trip. Should be ready by Tuesday, but you can see a preview in the attachment to this post. The svg source is also included. Use Inkscape to make modifications. Grand Canyon and Las Vegas legs still to be added.

Let me know if anything is unclear at this stage.

Tip for Adobe Reader users: Hold down the Ctrl button while scrolling the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

PDF

SVG Source

Please bring MP3s with you.

The current plan for wedding music is to have a laptop with iTunes connected to the speaker system. The playlist can then be changed using the apple remote app. on all available iPhones and iPod Touches.

Its as if you've got some kind of financial investment in Apple.

Are we likely to see Steve Jobs as your best man? and/or Apple logos everywhere advertising the new 'Genius' feature?

Any particular genre / style that you're looking for?

Any particular genre / style that you definitely don't want?

I will be at Heathrow between about 1pm and 2pm on Friday. Plane leaves at 3:15pm.

We are keeping options open at the moment. Please bring all your MP3s. I have >30GB free on my laptop.