French Run - no-shows and free place award

For the no-shows (Beelzebub, Prawn and BGN):

The hotel did, in fact, not charge me for your rooms.

However, they didn't give the second free place out (which would have
been only the room, anyway, and not the dinners) because your absences
(and I know they were all for good reasons) dropped us below the numbers
required for the second free place.

Actually, on checking the bill, I noticed they forgot to credit me with
mine as well, so I've corrected that.

Anyway, the situation is this, and this is for the benefit of anyone
ever contemplating a French Run in the future:

I do insist on payment in advance for the French Runs because we're
dealing with a lot of money here - 50-odd people makes it several
thousand pounds. Those who manage to offload their places to someone
else can generally get the someone else to cough up, like Monz who took
the place vacated by Sniper's mate this weekend.

Bookings are made on the strict understanding of no refunds if you have
to abandon after all the arrangements have been made (unless you manage
to flog your place). And on this occasion, too, I'm afraid the rule also
applies.

There's a good reason for this: if people get the idea that they can
book, pay, and then collect a refund if they don't turn up, then one of
these days I'm going to have a weekend where the weather is even fouler
than it was this weekend, two dozen no-shows, and an exceedingly
pissed-off hotelier.

I know none of you think this way - I'm just stating the position. I'm
also thinking of the embarrassing position Lozzo was in at last year's
EOSM when a lot of people didn't turn up.

OTOH, I did not have to fork out for your bills.

So, after some discussion with others over breakfast this morning about
what to do ("**** 'em. Keep it." was one contribution from a certain
Kawasaki rider....) it was suggested that as there was no free place
offered, and as there was some money in the kitty, that it go towards
funding the missing free place.

Splendid idea.

And it can go to funding not just the room but someone's ferry crossing
and two dinners as well.

So, I took my list of 50 attendees, and 10 minutes ago asked my
neighbour to think of a number between one and 50, and she chose 23, so
I counted down the list of names until I reached number 23.

Salad Dodger, you got yourself a complete freebie. I'll put a cheque in
the post.

 

In message

[snip]

Great weekend despite it pissing down on Friday. Cheers TOG. Now where's
that bottle of wine gone?

 

What bockle? It weren't me, guv.

 

Fix!

You do know your neighbour is SD's aunt?

 

In message

Ah no, here at home bottle rather than one doing a vanishing trick in
Sedan.

 

Yer wot?

 

On Sun, 28 May 2006 18:30:36 +0100,

As a travel agent I understand the position it put you in. I didn't
expect a refund of any kind but thank you for your explanation.

As a well travelled member of the public I also recognised the need
for insurance to protect against the unknown and, as such, organised a
comprehensive no-excess travel insurance policy before travel which
should have covered me for cancellation, curtailment, repatriation and
medical expenses where necessary.

P&O kindly arranged return travel on the Pride of Calais at no extra
charge and Carole Nash recovered me home for free from Berth 9 in
Dover so I'm not out of pocket in that regard.

I will contact Auntie Carole shortly to request some form of receipt
for recovery home as proof to AIG Europe that the insured trip was
curtailed and I would appreciate it if you would be able to provide a
copy of my original 'booking form' or a short booking confirmation
showing that I paid for the hotel so I can claim this back in full.
They may also ask for some proof of the curtailment with regards to
the hotel and if they do I will ask them to qualify exactly what they
need as I don't want to put you to any trouble.

For this curtailment I am confident AIG Europe will refund the cost of
the accommodation & food (£69?) as well as my ferry tickets which I
purchased via Saga if I provide them with evidence that the trip
didn't go ahead as planned.

 

BGN wrote:

Sounds like a lot of effort for £80

--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Filling in a form, sending a photocopy of a booking form and tickets
doesn't seem like too much effort.

 

snip>

I did notice the large number of Kawasakis present but it only takes
one rotten bastard to make everyone look bad.

I'm sure it wasn't me said it.

 

Owen's son had a Kwak that died recently, SeanH's Kwak threw a rod
last month and my Kwak inhaled all of its coolant and exhaled all of
its oil. I think we're giving Kawasaki a bad name.

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:

Speech!

 

On Sun, 28 May 2006 18:30:36 +0100,

Coo. Ta.

Seeing as how my wonderful missus paid for the trip, and paid for
everything while we were away, and has yet to exact retribution for
last night's excesses, would it be possible to make the cheque payable
to her, please?

Just so I don't end up maimed.

Oh, btw:

The trip to the castle in Bouillon where Dan and Glyn got lost?

This photo is taken from the castle. The three blue parasols indicate
where the journey started. No, I can't work out how they did it,
either.

http://www.salad.dodger.dsl.pipex.com/castle.jpg

Oh, and thanks for this, too.

http://www.salad.dodger.dsl.pipex.com/cheeky.jpg

That was bloody gleaming when I set off, as well.

Finally, one for Tim: I think we've got the culprit.

http://www.salad.dodger.dsl.pipex.com/cheeky.jpg

Apologies to Dan and Spete for the somewhat impromptu direction change
yesterday, everyone in the carpark for the KSB, the waitress for
nearly ramming her parents' car, and TOG for having to breathe unburnt
fuel everytime I overtook a car this morning.
It's the accelerator pumps, honest.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..79553../..21469.../..31308.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR'06 Points: 75 Miles: 317

 

http://www.salad.dodger.dsl.pipex.com/cheeky.jpgOn Sun, 28 May 2006

Arse.

--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..79553../..21469.../..31308.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR'06 Points: 75 Miles: 317

 

<ginge>

--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

What? GPS users, getting lost? Who'd believe such a thing?

 

It's still breathing. When you said "got the culprit" I was expecting;
Wing 1 Woodland Alliance 0.

 

Fucking clit bikes. Nice run though, weren't it?

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

There were five Triumphs present

 

Not on the run back from Verdun, there weren't.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`