Anybody fancy a BKN christmas lunch? - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

Anybody fancy a BKN christmas lunch?

matt123 · Senior Member

Will it be tax deductible? :D

matt123 · Senior Member

I'm a veteran member after only 39 posts?!?

Amanda · Expert

We need one up north and one down south. Good idea Michelle.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Michelle,

its a great idea. Unfortunately this year is out for me.

For one year in advance though definitely pencil me in for next years bash(es).

For a national get together my suggestion would be somewhere close to Bristol so that we are able to coax the BKN team out of their lair plus we seem to have a lot of members around that area and the west country.

Actually, we've got a lot of people everywhere from Argyll to Kent (actually Canada to Australia but I'm not expecting those ones to be attending!) so finding a venue acceptable to all would I fear be near impossible.

The alternative is that the country is divided up into areas. I would definitely say that Manchester, Birmingham, Coventry, leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Stoke, etc. would be the same area.

Bristol and South another possibly with Bristol as the venue

Scotland and Northern England another with perhaps Edinburgh as the venue

Sure that there would need to be others as well.

If they were all on different days so that people are able to attend more than one venue that would be good plus site photo's from all venue's would be mandatory.

As an alternative to a Christmas bash I know that some of the practices in my area have post / pre crazy season bashes in late Feb, early March. Thought that might be worth putting out there as an alternate plan?

Looking forwards to hearing peoples views on this.

Merry Christmas (just had to get the first one of the year out there),

Shaun.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

matt123 wrote:
Will it be tax deductible? :D

Office party, all staff in business must be invited, no more than £150 per staff member per annum. Includes food and alcohol. (the fact that it would be 30+ businesses having their parties at the same place at the same time would be a no never mind).

or

Networking event, at cost but excludes food and alcohol where such are optional rather than included within event fee's.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

matt123 wrote:
I'm a veteran member after only 39 posts?!?

You would be surprised how few make it that far!

The most ironic one though has to be the people who become experts by asking 500 questions and don't actually answer any.

NickCraggs · Guru

I think this is a great idea.

York anyone?

Nick

NickCraggs · Guru

Why stop at Christmas lunch? BKN Conference????

Nick

DaveCampbell · Senior Member

If it is in Birmingham you can count me in Michelle, It has to be Birmingham or my electronic tag will go off lol,

Dave

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

seconded on BKN conference.

And for that I would actually argue in favour of Daves suggestion in relation to the venue being one of the smaller conference venues around the NEC as it has to be the easiest place to get to in the country (outside of London).

If there's a general vote in favour I'll drop Steve and / or Ross a message to make sure that they are reading this thread and also see if a conference would be a starter from their perspective.

If it is I may suggest that in future years the BKN awards get combined with an annual gathering.

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

Ultimately, some would end up travelling further than others, but if we could find somewhere in the middle of the furthest of travellers?

NickCraggs · Guru

Birmingham would get my vote (if we cant have it in Yorkshire).

We can probably get a venue a bit more reasonably priced than some of the ICB's recent dinner venues, the Savoy and Dorchester!

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

We could do it on a friday and have REAL friday fun! LOL!!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Michelle,

sorry, this seems to be escaping the original intent a little.

Could I perhaps suggest that we start chapters of BKN in a similar way to IAB and ICB cells so that those of us in close proximity are able to get together periodically including for an xmas bash. (I regard Manchester and Brum and everything between as close proximity).

I'm thinking that this thread may have inadvertantly been the catalyst needed to move BKN to the next level... lol, what are Steve and Ross going to do when they inadvertantly find that they've accidentally created a totally seperate professional body.

Another plus side to this is that you may find that as a result of this you get the additional benefits of the members area that you were looking for.

This thread is so being brought to Steve and Ross's attention.

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

Sorry Shaun, I was trying to get together for an unofficial lunch with anyone who fancied it, and didnt mind travelling. Anything above that I shall leave in your capable hands and look out for those posts :)

Suggesting a place in the middle seemed less selfish than saying does anyone fancy meeting me in Manchester for something to eat.

Adrian99 · Senior Member

Sorry for such a long period of absence.

I would love to attend to the Christmas party and meet everybody in the real world.

Wish everyone a nice afternoon.

Adrian

Spamkebab · Expert

Sounds Great! Get you lot all together in the same place at the same time and..............................................

Mwha ha ha the world is mine..

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

We might be ordering spamkebab for lunch in that case!

bleh

Don Tax · Expert

Yes to everything. Conveniently enough Alton is about in the middle of Brum and Manc ;o)

Seriously, York is one of my favourite cities and I'm game for Brumingham.

Good idea Michelle.
Tim

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

Well, so far it seems the middle of York and Brum is the answer.. airing on the side on Alton! LOL

Let's see who throws somewhere else in the mix, and how that changes :)

FoxAccountancyServices · Expert

PS this evening I will be mostly eating...

www.solita.co.uk/workspace/menu/menu.pdf

Throw in a Rosemarys Ruin cocktail, and I might just be in heaven!!

RobH · Expert

Great idea, selfishly the Midlands sounds good...also quite like Shaun's suggestion of Christmas in February. Will be fun to see how much people differ from their avatars, I might need to revert to Rodney from 'only Fools' to be more accurate!

DaveCampbell · Senior Member

FoxAccountancyServices wrote:
PS this evening I will be mostly eating...

www.solita.co.uk/workspace/menu/menu.pdf

Throw in a Rosemarys Ruin cocktail, and I might just be in heaven!!

The fast show? I used to love that, and you do know it is a brummie actor who used to do that sketch? So Birmingham it is then lol, I am sure Shaun or myself can find a suitable venue and I can even put a couple of people up, (females only please and only the ones that find me attractive when very very drunk lol)

Dave

Adrian99 · Senior Member

That burger looks really good !

Adrian

Brian McVean · Senior Member

Dave Campbell wrote:
(females only please and only the ones that find me attractive when very very drunk lol)
Dave

Sorry Dave, can't resist this one. Did you mean only find you attractive when they're drunk? smile

Spamkebab · Expert

They'd have to be! ;)

DaveCampbell · Senior Member

So since when did BKN decide to have a take the Pxxx out of Dave Thursday then? Brian you have other BKN members at a disadvantage as you have met me and therefore are fully aware I meant when they(women) are very very drunk lol, failing that blind but I can handle having a face for radio and my mother said I have a very good heart lol.

Don't worry as this year I will be mainly attending parties in a gimp mask.

You wait until my next life when I will be a Greek Adonis or an Italian Stallion, we will see who is laughing then.

Dave

Brian McVean · Senior Member

biggrin

Sweetman Accounting · Veteran Member

How about Portsmouth as a good central location for the Christmas meal?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Sweetman Accounting wrote:
How about Portsmouth as a good central location for the Christmas meal?

lol

Adrian99 · Senior Member

or maybe London ?

RobH · Expert

There's a brilliant new vegetarian restaurant opened in Birmingham if anyone fancied Christmas dinner with a difference???? Probably dinner on my own again then....

Peasie · Expert

If you're looking for a central location - what about the centre of the universe - Ayrshire?

Spamkebab · Expert

I'd visit Ayrshire just to see 'The leaning Tower of Peasie'

Peasie · Expert

I forgot I'd mentioned that on here.

It had to be taken down and rebuilt twice to let a printer and a dishwasher in through the doorway.

billabong47 · Veteran Member

RobH wrote:
There's a brilliant new vegetarian restaurant opened in Birmingham if anyone fancied Christmas dinner with a difference???? Probably dinner on my own again then....

You're not referring to Mr Singhs Vegetarian Pizza restaurant in Handsworth Wood, are you? I'll meet you there

RobH · Expert

See you there at 7...don't be late I wouldn't want Mr Singh's authentic Indo-Italian fayre to get singed!
I was actually referring to Bistro 1847, there's also a more established one in Manchester which is fantastic.

billabong47 · Veteran Member

RobH wrote:
See you there at 7...don't be late I wouldn't want Mr Singh's authentic Indo-Italian fayre to get singed!
I was actually referring to Bistro 1847, there's also a more established one in Manchester which is fantastic.

Looks good....I'll have to check it out next time I'm in Birmingham.

ClawzCTR · Guru

I'm game for this... then again I'm game for most things! lol ;)

Also VERY interested in a BKN conference, sounds like a FAB idea! Point to note though... Mate of mine has recently booked the NEC to hold a Wealth Summit, for a weekend in April 2015 (fully booked for next year!) is costing £60,000!!!!! It doesn't matter how many fully paid up BKN'ers we have, I doubt we could afford that...!

Why not try something like a local hotel that has large rooms for hire... there's bound to be some! You have to remember that although there may be 300+ members (dont know ACTUAL numbers) you would only get about 10% of those attending something like this. So a hotel with enough to cater for 80 people would be ample.

Getting some guest speakers, I'm sure with all the people we know collectively we could rustle up some! And best of all it would count as CPD!
Happy to help in the planning of this if you like Shamus?

Good idea on the local area meets too! we'd certainly need a census on who was where to make this work though.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

I've sent a message to Steve and Ross in relation to this thread and I'll keep you informed of any developments.

For a full meeting like yourself Garry I wouldn't have suggested one of the halls at he NEC but rather one of the other smaller 60-100 seat venues around there as they get the benefit of the transport infrastructure without the associated prices of the NEC.

To be honest though its the idea of the development of local offline groups thats gained my interest (bagsy South Staffs. Pretty sure that Nicks got dibs York and Kris has Ayrshire).

It would just need to somehow develop the same mentality as the site where everyone is treated as an equal no matter what their professional body and those involved not pushing training or membership of any of the bodies.

Shaun.

Adam2003 · Veteran Member

This sounds a great idea. If and when i get myself organised and started on my icb course i would be interested

ClawzCTR · Guru

Shamus wrote:
I've sent a message to Steve and Ross in relation to this thread and I'll keep you informed of any developments.

For a full meeting like yourself Garry I wouldn't have suggested one of the halls at he NEC but rather one of the other smaller 60-100 seat venues around there as they get the benefit of the transport infrastructure without the associated prices of the NEC.

To be honest though its the idea of the development of local offline groups thats gained my interest (bagsy South Staffs. Pretty sure that Nicks got dibs York and Kris has Ayrshire).

It would just need to somehow develop the same mentality as the site where everyone is treated as an equal no matter what their professional body and those involved not pushing training or membership of any of the bodies.

Shaun.

Dibs on East Anglia then! biggrin lol

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

lol, its not even off the drawing board yet and we're dividing the country up! Think htat we had best put Nick down for first refusal on North Lincs then before that gets snapped up.

Didn't realise that you were from that neck of the Woods Garry.

I grew up in Irby in the Marsh few miles from Spilsby.

Moms side of the family had a dairy farm in Orby but after the nightmare of dairy farming in the 90's they've now retired inland to East Keal.

I'm over that way quite regularly so if this does kick off it would be good to pop along to one of your meetings.

NickCraggs · Guru

Shamus wrote:
lol, its not even off the drawing board yet and we're dividing the country up! Think htat we had best put Nick down for first refusal on North Lincs then before that gets snapped up.

Can i just have from Lincolnshire up to County Durham, and then from the North Sea west to the Peninnes. I wouldnt want anything further west than that as after that is where strange people like Neil Concannon live!!!

Just friendly banter Neil biggrin

Nick

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Why does this dividing up the land now feel as though we're playing a game of thrones....

On risk of instant banning do not ANYONE tell me what has happened in the latest series. I've spent the last few months with my head in a bucket (some think that such is a great improvement) in order to avoid knowing what happens before the DVD release... And the swines have moved the release date back from Feb 14th to Feb 24th! Can't think of anything happening on Feb 14th thats a good enough reason to stop every bloke in the land sitting in front of the TV for 12 hours solid.

Stardoe · Guru

Shamus wrote:
Why does this dividing up the land now feel as though we're playing a game of thrones....

On risk of instant banning do not ANYONE tell me what has happened in the latest series.

Does that include telling you what happened in the books Shaun? I've read all of them, except the last one....as it isn't out yet!! Hurry up Mr. Martin!!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Pauline,

Since starting with accountancy I end up feeling guilty if I'm reading anything that isn't accountancy related.

Mr Martin is either brilliant or he has one huge whiteboard to keep a track of the links between the characters... I say white board as there's no point recording any characters name on anything more permanent.

Stardoe · Guru

Lol....I just like to escape into fantasy occasionally I don't know how he keeps track of all the characters either. I've watched Season 1 so far and have asked for Season 2 for my birthday (looming!)

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Season 2... Wow... Just wow...

After the success of season 1 they had the budget to actually show a battle.

They even drafted in Mr Martin to write the screen play for it.

My boy and I watched the entire boxset in a single sitting! We didn't intend to it was just one of those "Just one more episode then we'll go to bed" Says it all really.

Right must remember, haloween is here after to be remembered as Paulines birthday.

Hope that you get exactly what you want and if you do I won't be expecting to hear from you on site on the first... It really is that good.