Danny's London trip
 

Hi everyone! Yes, it's true! I will be visiting the great city of London, England, for the first time in my life. I've never been to England before, and it's something that I've wanted to do my entire life. This trip is school sponsored, meaning that I'll be going with one of my teachers (my world history teacher, who coincidentally is a rabid Doctor Who fan :D) and a dozen or less other students. I've already spoken to Chris and Ross, and Chris definitely intends to meet up with me while I'm up there. If anyone else would be interested in perhaps arranging a meeting, I will be happy to keep you all informed of the details.

This trip will probably not last more than five days or so, but I don't know what the scheduling will be like. I informed my teacher that there will be a new Doctor Who episode on either Saturday of the week off, so she said she will see what she can do about letting us be there for that. (It would be so cool to catch a new Doctor Who episode in England as it aired!)

This trip looks like it will be occurring from at the earliest April 8, 2006, up until at the latest April 17, 2006. We probably will not arrive until a day or two after the 8th, and we probably will end up leaving a day or two (or perhaps more) before the 17th, but that is a rough time frame for when I will be there. If you want to see me, please keep your calendars open some time during that week. :)

Chris -- remember to tape Doctor Who for me in case I miss it! ;)

I would do the same as Chris, but I think London is too far to travel just to visit for a few hours. Also, im trying to save for a possible trip to the Trek convention in London later on in april. I hope you enjoy your trip, Danny!

Well, it'll be unfortunate, especially since I don't think I'll be making a second trip any time soon, but that is of course your choice.

It will be great, I will Tape Doctor Who, and see if you can come to Bristol and see my house. It will be great, i am so happy you are coming mate, This is good news. As long as you can come, it will be good :)

How far is Bristol from London? I imagine my teacher will try to keep us on a short leash, but I hope we'll see each other one way or another. Would you be able to make your way to London if I couldn't leave?

EDIT: Looking at this map, it looks kind of far -- two hours and forty minutes away.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from%3...stol&f=d&hl=en

It would be a lot easier to take the train Danny, plus it would slash the journey time.

Yeah, the trains over there are probably the best way to go. I took a train when I was over there like *thinks* 3 years ago.

Oh, I didn't know. I've never been there. Obviously. :P

I did not know you have been to England, David.

The train system is reliable, sort of, and it would be the best way to go, But even if you are not allowed to come to Bristol, i am sure i could get to London.

Yeah, I went with my family. We only stayed for like 2 days before heading to France for a couple days and then coming back. It was really fun though.

I am glad you liked it. :)

Of course he liked it. It is Britain afterall :P .

Yeah,. Britain is a good place to be, although we do have our probelsm too, like all countires.

I'm glad to hear you'll be able to pop over to London, Chris. It would be terrible if the one opportunity we had got wasted. But I'm glad it looks like everything will be okay.

Yes, it should be ok, I don;t know how i will get there, but i will either Take the Train or get my neighbours to take me.

Train would be wiser.

If i can get one that takes me where i want to go.

I'm sure everything will work out.

Hopefully, we have ages yet.

Yes, we do, and we shouldn't dwell on all of this now.

Yeah, let us be happy that you are going.

I live in London so what part

Not sure yet. Unfortunately, things are looking worse. I got the itinerary so I can type that up later, but for the first time today I heard the cost of the trip. It's going to cost $2771, which is twice the amount that my dad paid for his car. My parents will probably not be able to afford it, in which case it may end up that I'm not going after all. :(

Brace yourselves for that possibility, guys. :( :( :(

Damm! I am sorry Danny. I wish i could help, Can't you do some activties to raise money for this trip or somethng?

I'm not sure. Nothing is set in stone as of yet, but that's a lot of money and my parents aren't going to be able to just cough it up. Damned if I won't keep trying though.

Yeah, keep going Mate. :)

That's unfortunate Danny. Sorry to hear you may not be visiting our little corner of Europe.

If I can get my mom and dad to split it 50/50, $1500 each (for spending money), then I might be able to go. The trouble will be convincing my mom.

is you mum worried about Money?

You could say that. Although the more I talk to my dad, the more he is determined that I should go. So I wouldn't count me out just yet.

I would love for you to go, it would be such a break to talk to someone up close who understands me, I really lack it and if you can come, i would be deterimned to meet you. i know i can;t force you, or do much, but if you came, it would really mean a lot. But i am hoping you can come, because England is a nice place.

I don't doubt it, and I would love nothing more than to go. But it looks like thanks to my mom, I may not. :(

That's unfortunate :( .

Let's put it this way. My dad's willing to pay for half, and he reasonably expects my mom to pay the other half. However, for reasons beyond my control that I will not go into on here, she doesn't look like she's willing to pay for the other half. So if I don't go, it will be entirely her fault.

Man, I am really sorry Danny, i can;t believe your mum won;t let you go, that si unfair. I feel very sorry for you.

Things may be looking up. Don't get your hopes up, though. But suffice it to say my mom is willing to pay if my dad does something, which may or may not be fair for him, but he's probably going to do it so that she'll pay.

Well to be honest I personally dont think that $2000 + is a reasonable price per person for a trip to the UK. If I was offered a trip to America for that price my parents would laugh at me for asking them to pay.

You're probably right -- and actually, it's closer to $3000. But still, this is my chance, so I really want to do it.

Fair enough, as oyu may not get another one, you might as well take it.

Not really sure how things are looking right now. Dad is determined, and mom is trying to bargain her way through it.

Estimated chance of going at time of post: 75%