Return of the Ring and Barrow-Downs Mega-moot - Celebrating Tolkien in 2012

[Estelyn Telcontar]

One year before this event, interest is building - at Finlandmoot, we discussed the possibility of getting Downers together around the time of this wonderful occasion in England next August. I've merged two threads that announced it so that all information is gathered in one place.

Several Downers are definitely planning to be at RotR - I have already registered and will be actively involved in programme organisation and lecturing. Have others already registered? Who's thinking of coming? If a Moot takes place, I will plan to be there as well.

[Aganzir]

I was just looking at the registration but don't want to do it before we know more details about the Barrow-Downs moot.

We've been discussing it on Facebook. I think we should move the discussion onto the Downs. This would be fair to all the non-facebooking Downers and those who don't want to friend scary internet people. Plus, it should be more coherent here without any separate posts with long comment threads.

We had an FB poll about the exact dating of the moot, with one person voting for week 1 (Aug 6-12), one for week 2 (Aug 13-19), three for weeks 2-3, and four for weeks 1-2. Personally I'm in favour of weeks 2-3 because the actual RotR event is on August 16th - 20th and I think it would be easier to get into a proper moot mood after the "official" stuff is over.

We also thought about hiring a cottage (this was linked) for a week or two so it's easy to hang out together, but everything is still at an early planning stage.

So, who's coming? Any ideas? Suggestions?

[Pitchwife]

I'll be working fulltime again from January on, so chances are looking better that I'll be able to afford Loughboroughmoot, but I won't be able to say anything definite for a couple of months yet. In case I'm able to come, I vote for weeks 2-3 for pretty much the same reason Agan has mentioned. (Btw, I like the term "moot mood".)

IN THE MEANTIME...

... for all those around Europe who won't be able to make it to RotR (or who just can't wait that long), how about having a Wurstlandmoot sometime next spring (like, say, around Easter)? I'd be pleased to host, if there's interest. We live half an hour's drive from Frankfurt-Hahn and about an hour from Frankfurt International, so picking everybody up at their respective airport would be no prob with a bit of organisation. Our house easily sleeps ~8 people (10 with a little piling), and if there should be more, there's a youth hostel in a very nearby village. We live in a pretty rural aerea, but close to the cities of Mainz, Koblenz and Frankfurt and the Middle Rhine Valley, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of Germany with lots of historic attractions (indeed, a day tour by ship on the Rhine, passing the Loreley and one castle after another, is something to write home about).

Discuss.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm interested but uncertain - it will all depend on the date(s). Easter itself (April 8 - 9, 2012) will likely involve a family get-together here at home. However, it looks like there are no other important (Tolkien) activities around that time - the German Society's Seminar is several weeks later.

[Kath]

If we are going to have a moot around RotR now is the time for it to get properly sorted, before Christmas would be best and before the New Year for definite really! Dates need to be fixed so that a cottage can be booked. And if a cottage is going to be booked confirmation of attendance needs to be given so that prices can be worked out properly.

16th-20th has to be one of the weeks as that's the conference, right? So would people want to come early, hang out, then finish at the conference or do the conference and finish with a moot. Majority rules - but the players need to speak!

[Bêthberry]

Yesterday I registered for RotR (because prices increase December 1, 2011) and I also booked accommodation. I wasn't too sure how interested folks were in RotR and I didn't want to be left stuck for transportation.

Like Esty, I am interested, but it depends on the dates. I cannot do week 3 as I must return to Canada on August 20th for family reasons (such as an anniversary with Mr. Berry), so I would be interested in weeks 1 and 2.

I agree with Kath that decisions need to be made soon. As I am also thinking of tracing some family background, I checked out accommodations at a village in Gloucestershire yesterday only to discover that all dates for August are already booked!

Are we to stop posting on FB about this and just reply here? I think then that Aganzir should put a notice up on FB advising folks there to reply here now.

EDIT: Opps, just realised Aganzir has already posted on FB about this thread.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I agree that we need to book as soon as possible. Remember, the Olympic Games are taking place in England next summer, and the country is sure to be packed with tourists.

I have booked RotR with accommodations, so I will commit to cottage accommodations from approximately August 6/7/8 to the 16th. RotR will finish off my trip, and I'll be flying home directly from there.