Author: Sloop John Bee

31st January 2026 

 

The Blog will be celebrating its seventeenth birthday next January 28th 2026.

Hello,

It is getting closer to the next Birthday Bash, and I post this as a reminder. I will be in London from Friday onwards. The main event will be in The Bridge House in Little Venice from about noon on the 31st.  There is a good menu for those were wish to dine. I will be bringing some macarons, but maybe not as ambitious as last year.

You can just turn up as you wish, but it might be helpful if you could let me know via comment here. If you want further guidance let me know here and I will email back.

In the past, things have started to wind up in the pub in the evening (7-8pm) and hardy souls have gone on to a local Chinese restaurant, and that could happen again if you wish.

I have had a go at a crossword to entertain any lulls in the conversation, and anyone else is encouraged to contribute a puzzle/quiz or similar even if they are saved for the train home. If you want me to print out copies, I need them the Wednesday before (28th Jan – the actual date of the launch of the blog in 2009)

I have been to quite a few Birthday bashes over the years and every year, Network Rail and whatever rail companies are involved, have contrived to make January travel a nightmare. I am going to stay over on Sunday as KingsX is a bus transfer to Peterborough! and I will be blogging the Toughie on the Sunday from my hotel.

It has been suggested that a summer get-together may help. The advantage of London is that it provides plenty of alternative diversions for partners (or Mama Bee’s) who don’t do crosswords, but if anyone knew of a suitable venue a bit further north, I will investigate the possibility. Peterborough or Cambridge in the East and somewhere on the West Coast line between Oxford and Crewe come to mind. Suggestions for dates and venues can be made here or at the event.

I will be doing a Teams link again if you like, but bear in mind that communication in a busy pub can be a problem. Let me know if you want to try again

Continue reading “Big Dave’s 17th Birthday Bash”