Portsmouth IVC

I had a flier from Bath Travel yesterday announcing their escorted skiing holidays flying from Bournemouth Airport to Austria.

I went to Soll last year with them and Mayrhofen the year before that and can fancy going again this winter.

More details and prices can be found on the Bath Travel Website – I’m happy to go back to Soll, or try somewhere new.  These holidays sell out quite quickly, so we will probably need to book it by September.

Don’t forget you will also need to add on winter sports holiday insurance, ski/snowboard hire, boot hire and ski school.

Have a think and leave a comment if you are interested.

Hello Everyone,

A spring BBQ/Party was held in Fareham at the start of May.

The event was very well organised by Adrian and his girlfriend with loads of food and drink.

The weather was a bit of a downer, but we did not let that spoil our party as you can see from the photos.

A message to any potential new members is – Come Along and Join in the FUN!!!

Bye for now,

Chris

Hello,

On Saturday 24th April a meal was arrnged at Truffles Restaurant in Fareham.

The restaurant is located in the high street and specialises in french cuisine.

The food is freshly cooked to order and is of a very high standard both in quality and presentation.

Approximately ten people from the club attended and the meal was enjoyed by all those who attended with good conversation and jokes flowing through the evening assisted by fine wine and coffee liquers

The photos attached to this article can testify to the atmosphere of the evening.

Well done to Nikki who organised this enjoyable event.

Regards,

Chris.

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Following the AGM last week, I have updated the committee page with the pictures and details I have received so far.

Ed, Jo, Dev, Maria, Carol, Anne all went to this AIVC weekend event hosted by Birmingham IVC. This was a national event and many Clubs attended and fun was had by all.

We stayed the Etap Hotel and the accommodation was good value for money. The breakie was continental and plentiful.

On the Friday we met at the Wetherspoons and had a nice meal and met all the people attending.

Saturday we did separate events and I did the canal trip and was very interesting seeing the sights and learning the history. It’s the first time on a canal boat acting as an ice breaker and the canal was frozen.

In the afternoon a group of us went cycling in and around the canal system and visited a few pubs en-route. We also saw the Cadbury’s factory.

In the evening we all met up as a group for an evening meal at a Chinese costing a tenner each.

Sunday we went shopping and explored the Bull Ring.

The whole weekend cost per person was £50 and was great value.

A great time was had despite the snowy conditions and I have now seen Birmingham in a new light and definitely go again.

All the people were very pleasant and it was nice meeting new people.

This year’s AGM will be held at The Cormorant, Castle Street, Portchester at 9pm prompt.

For the various deadlines and other rules, please see the constitution.

If you wish to stand for a committee post then nomination forms must be with the secretary at least 14 days before the AGM except where there are no other nominations for the post, in which case nominations can be accepted on the night.

Due to the dangerous road conditions, tonight’s (6/1/2010) club night has been cancelled.

Hope to see you next week.

Just a quick note to mention about the Christmas Meal at The Red Lion Hotel in Fareham.

Around twenty people attended the event with an excellent meal being followed by a disco which everybody enjoyed.

This excellent event was organised by Ed.

See the photos for yourself.

Chris.

AIVC have notified us of the following events organised by other IVCs.  Please see Ed for contact details of the orgnisers if you are interested in going (phone numbers and email addresses have been removed to prevent spam).

Friday 4th Dec 2009
Bremen Christmas Market weekend – Friday 4th – Sunday 6th December
Join Kate and London IVC on a weekend trip to one of the delightful Christmas markets in Germany. We will be visiting Bremen’s atmospheric Christmas market which is considered to be one of the most attractive in Germany.

“There are more than 160 Christmas stalls, wonderfully romantic and beautifully decorated, assembled right in front of the 600-year-old town hall, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, on the historical market square and in the shopping arcades. The atmosphere is further enhanced by the delicious aromas of freshly roasted almonds, hot chestnuts, grilled sausages, gingerbread and glühwein.” (www.german-christmas-market.org.uk)

We will be flying Ryanair from London Stansted, returning on Sunday late afternoon and staying at the Townsend Hostel which is within walking distance of the Old Town and offers a choice of twin and 4-bed private rooms.

Cost of flight is approximately £65 (excluding checked-in baggage charge) and two nights accommodation approximately £40.

For more information and to book please contact Kate on k_cottingham@tiscali.co.uk or telephone 07989 279651.

For more information on Bremen and its Christmas market please see

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/bremen_christmas_market.htm

http://www.bremen-tourism.de/english/bremen.cfm?flash=true
Place: Bremen, Germany
Club: London IVC
Organiser: Kate Cottingham
Saturday 12th Dec 2009
Essex Christmas Dinner Dance
You are welcome to come to Essex IVC’s Christmas dinner and dance in Chelmsford which includes a three course meal with multiple choices followed by a disco until midnight.

Cost £35. Booking by 27th November.
Place: Essex Regiment Way Golf Club, Chelmsford
Club: Essex IVC
Organiser: Judith Pickess

Saturday 12th Dec 2009
Manchester IVC Christmas Party
All are welcome at our Christmas Party at
Manchester Bridge Club
30 Palatine Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 3JJ

Spacious venue, large dance floor, safe parking
Hot and cold buffet by Bespoke Buffets
Boogie Nights Disco will play music from all eras (and not too loudly)

All this for £15

Please send cheque (made out to T. Astell) to:

Xmas Party
Manchester IVC
94 Grosvenor St
Manchester M1 7HL

Or reserve tickets by phone or email
Place: Manchester
Club: Manchester IVC
Organiser: Tom Astell

Saturday 12th Dec 2009
Norwich and Norfolk IVC Christmas Party
Members of Norwich and Norfolk IVC extend a warm invitation to our Christmas Party at the Lansdowne Hotel, 116 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RU from 7.30pm until Midnight.

Tickets are just £15.
All cheques payable to Norwich and Norfolk IVC please.

The evening will include a good buffet and a professional disco. Dress code is smart casual.

The deadline for buying tickets is Friday 4th December.
Place: Norwich
Club: Norwich & Norfolk IVC
Organiser: Michelle Workman
Tuesday 29th Dec 2009
New Year Celebration Break at Arundel YHA
WSIVC has secured an exclusive booking at the Arundel Youth Hostel in West Sussex for four nights over the New Year period (29 December 2009 to 2 January 2010). We have previously had fantastic New Year trips to Youth Hostels in Kent and the New Forest with 35-40 attending each time – come and join us this year to ring in the New Year in a fantastic location with great company and great times. If you haven’t been on a WSIVC trip before, we would highly recommend it! The historic town of Arundel is great for walks, sightseeing etc, together with an array of shops, pubs and restaurants and is only just over a mile walk along the banks of the Arun from the hostel. Nearby towns for day trips include Chichester and Brighton and for the more dedicated walkers the South Downs Way is but a mere stroll away.
No specific itinerary is decided in advance except of course our New Year Celebration Party on the Thursday. One of our members has offered to organise the catering for the party, so let’s bring it on! We generally decide what to do on the day and typically the group will split up do various different things such as walking, cycling, horse riding, sight seeing or shopping. As we’ll have sole use of the hostel we can also enjoy our time indoors, with games, DVDs and cooking group meals.
If you would like to join us in Arundel at New Year then please get in touch as soon as possible. The cost is £70 for the 4-night stay and may include some food if enough people attend to make a surplus. Places can be booked online by PayPal at www.wsivc.org.uk/payments or by contacting the host.
Place: Arundel, West Sussex
Club: West Surrey IVC
Organiser: Simon Jeffery
Friday 8th Jan 2010
Posh And Decadent Weekend
This year the choice for this weekend is the Novotel in Sheffield
The Hotel is close to the train station. The accommodation is either in a single or twin bedded room with half board and en-suite facilities. It also has a swimming pool. There is free car parking although not allocated, so first come, first served. Car sharing is always a good idea.
Single room cost is £58 per person per night and twin room is £48 per person per night.
If you have to cancel your booking for any reason, Birmingham IVC will make every effort to refund any monies you have paid. Any refund may be net of any costs incurred by the Company as a result of the cancellation. Consideration should be given to taking out appropriate insurance.
A deposit of £50 is required. See website for further information and downloadable booking form:
www.birminghamivc.org/sheffield_weekend.html
Place: Sheffield
Club: Birmingham IVC Ltd.
Organiser: Janet Blick

Friday 19th Feb 2010
IVC goes to Birmingham – Friday 19th to Sunday 21st February
In 2010 we are going to Birmingham the Second City.

The weekend will be hosted by members of Birmingham IVC, helping you to explore all that Birmingham as to offer. All within walking distance of the hotel.

The accommodation will be in the “Etap” Hotel located in the city centre, which has secure parking and is within very easy walking distance of both the train and coach stations. The “Etap” is a modern hotel with most of the expected facilities you would expect.

Birmingham Offers
Canals – take a three hour guided trip on the N.B. Anson (costs about £8) or just take a walk around the Mail Box, Brindley Place, ICC and Broad Street soak up the atmosphere.

Twin Towers walk (4miles – easy) Walking from the city centre to see the towers of Perrott’s Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks, which may have influenced J.R.R.Tolkien who lived nearby as a child. The walk takes in the canal and Edgbaston Reservoir.

Guided walking tour towards the Jewellery Quarter.

Jewellery Quarter Museum – an old factory, worth a visit. www.jewelleryquarter.net

Visit original Back to Back Houses (costs £5.70)
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-birmingham_backtobacks

Shopping – the best shopping experience in Europe (apparently).

Saturday Night
is Party Time at the breathtaking £5.5m entertainment venue “Oceana”. www.oceanaclubs.com/birmingham

The cost per visiting member would be:
£50 2 people sharing a room
£90 Single room

Should the weekend make a surplus, the surplus will be donated to “Help the Heroes”.

This covers the accommodation and tickets for the “Saturday Night Party” only. Food and drink extra.
Place: Birmingham
Club: AIVC Committee
Organiser: Peter Howe
Friday 16th Apr 2010
AIVC National Conference
Conference 2010 will be held at Warrens Holiday Village, Clevedon, North Somerset.
Friday 16 – Sunday 18 April.
Hosted by Bristol & Bath IVC.
Put the date in your diary – more details to follow once confirmed.
Place: Clevedon, Near Bristol
Club: Bristol & Bath IVC
Organiser: Cheryl Loy

Friday 14th May 2010
Butlins Weekend ’80’s Madness’
Butlins comment ‘Stage an 80s rebellion second time around at Butlins
with big-haired sounds. You really can’t touch this.’
There will be a selection of original acts and tribute acts -
Tributes may include – Madonna, Michael Jackson, Madness
Original acts may include – Nathan Moore, bad manners, Dr & the medics
Line-up is announced later, please visit the website for other
possibilities
These weekends get booked quick and I am amazed this weekend is
already showing limited accomodation on some types
Idea is 2 to 6 bed(3bedroom) chalets, dinner bed & breakfast
Cost around £130 for 3 nights Fri-Sun/Mon

If this weekend does not happen an alternative is Skegness on weekend
comm 26/2/10

Please let me know by email preferably with contact details if you are
interested and also if the alternative work for you (or better)

Please feel free to still contact me if you make a decision after the
book by date and we may still be able to sort something
Place: Bognor Regis
Club: Northants IVC
Organiser: Andrea
Friday 28th May 2010
A – Z of Weekends Away : AMSTERDAM
We are starting with “A” is for Amsterdam, the vibrant capital city of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the city of canals, bridges, art, culture, architecture, coffee shops, diamonds, night life, parks, tulips and much more. Join us for a Whitsun Bank Holiday Break at the end of May 2010.

Fly direct from your local airport– the earlier you book the cheaper your flight is likely to be. Easyjet has already released their flight schedules for next May and you can book now.

Approximate dates : Friday 28 May to Tuesday 1st June, but if you can’t make those days or want to go for a longer or shorter period then you can book to suit yourself.

All types of accommodation can be found in the city ranging from shared dorms to B&Bs or more comfortable hotels to suit every pocket. We will sort out where we are staying nearer the time.
Place: Amsterdam
Club: Bristol & Bath IVC
Organiser: Cheryl Loy

Saturday 7th Aug 2010
“The Long Way Up” – Cycling Lands End to John O’Groats
An IVC opportunity!
To bring clubs together, whilst improving the profile of IVC, raising money for charity and achieving individual personal goals.

“Help the Heroes” is the charity and we will have a target to raise £50,000.
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

Cycling and visitor from all clubs will be able join in the tour, enroute. Clubs will be notified with the times and places to meet the team.

The trip would involve passing as many IVC as possible.
Plymouth IVC Birmingham IVC Fylde IVC
Exeter IVC North Staffs IVC North Lancs. IVC
South Somerset IVC (Cheshire & North Wales IVC) Border & Lakeland IVC
Bristol and Bath IVC (Merseyside IVC) Edinburgh Socialites
(Cardiff IVC) (Manchester IVC) (Dundee IVC)
Gloucestershire IVC
(Brackets are for clubs not on the route but nearby)
Riders and Support Team wanted!
Altogether 20 cyclists will be taking part, with a 5 person support team. Logistically this is the maximum due to transport and accommodation restrictions.
Cyclists
To qualify for this tour, each rider should have recently cycled over 100 miles at an average of 12 mph plus in one day. The cost
Support Team
Members of the Support Team will have pacific roles.
Each member of the team will be asked to pay a Registration Fee for a commitment and to cover the bear essentials £200 for riders and £100 for support workers, however we are looking for Major Sponsors to help the team to carry out the logistical side of the event.
Place: Britain
Club: Birmingham IVC Ltd.