Andy and I are off to Leeds on Tuesday, and amongst other issues we are going to be looking for a suitable venue for the next Frugal Friends meeting - which is planned for Yorkshire and the North East.
We have not been to this area before and are unsure whether there will be much interest - and I am pencilling in Saturday, 12 July 2008 as a suitable date - so can we see how many people would be interested in this meeting. It is my turn to host the evening, and I will be ensuring a very informal occasion - where we simply sit together in relaxed surroungings (a pub or hotel bar), have some sandwiches and sausage rolls and a good old gossip. As usual the cost of the evening, including feeding and watering is all down to us.
Can we have a show of hands if there is any interest in this venue and if the date is suitable. As with the Portsmouth meeting, we will find somewhere close to the motorway network where parking is easy and for those wishing to stay overnight we will try and negotiate good rates.
If there is little interest in Leeds, the most popular request so far seems to have been Manchester - so that will act as a good first reserve. The intention for future meetings is to have them once every two months in the following suggested geographical areas, on the second Saturday of each second month:-
North East and Yorkshire
Home Counties and London
Midlands
North West
South West and Wales
South Coast
Timings will be from 7.00 pm onwards - but really just drop in when you like - and if there are any new members (or existing ones as a matter of fact) who wish some one to one advice from Andy and myself about debt options, existing IVA queries or just a second opinion on something, we will be running a debt surgery for an hour and a half prior to the meeting. If anyone does wish to have a short, private meeting with either or both of us, then please e-mail Andy nearer the time. Also if anyone wants any issues raised as part of the discussion, please let us know and we will ensure that they are tabled (informally of course!)
For anyone who has not yet attended a Frugal Friends meeting - can I say how valuable they are in meeting new friends and sharing new ideas. There is absolutely nothing to fear, and some of the regular attenders will act as hosts and can meet you outside or in the foyer first. I shall look forward to meeting some of you again very soon, and if anyone out there has any recommendations for venues for any of the above areas, they will be very much welcomed.
Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner
