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General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Lesley Cox on June 15, 2009, 12:54:53 AM

Title: Chat Digression from the thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 15, 2009, 12:54:53 AM
Oddly, the views look incredibly like parts of NZ too, when you get into the hills and look back onto the Canterbury Plain, or even near my own place.




Edit by Maggi: I have split off our  digression from the "meat" of the Bulgarian Mountain thread, to its own little world!
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 15, 2009, 07:11:37 AM
Maybe there is some sort of Dr Who time/space/dimension confluence thing going on and actually parts of Mt.Botev/Salisbury Plain/Canterbury Plain are all connected, if we all go stand at the right spot maybe we can meet up for a G&T?
Thanks Lesley,RR and Paul for reading.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Ragged Robin on June 15, 2009, 07:32:58 AM
Great idea Hristo  ;)  In the Queen's Jublilee year in the UK fires were lit on top every prominent hill top/plains all across the UK and people gathered to commune - a simple idea but a feeling of we are all one race in one place  ;)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on June 15, 2009, 08:57:31 AM
A very interesting walk Chris !!

Once again - same as many others - I'm totally surprised by the unknown aspects and beauty the Bulgarian landscape has to offer !

Thanks again for an agreable moment !!  ;)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Lvandelft on June 15, 2009, 09:10:08 AM
A very interesting walk Chris !!

Once again - same as many others - I'm totally surprised by the unknown aspects and beauty the Bulgarian landscape has to offer !

I can only second that Chris. For us was Bulgaria just another "East Block" country. Time to go there myself.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 15, 2009, 10:18:22 AM
Wow, RR, 1977 and the Silver Jubilee, where were you kind of occassion I think. I remember Jubilee day was spent on the shores of Lake Bala, camp fire in the evening, song, fire food and someone setting off signal flares over the lake!
Thanks for reading Luc and Luit, I do think Bulgaria is well worth a visit in the spring for the low lands or summer for the mountains, there are many endemics here, endemics to the Balkans in general and also to Bulgaria in particular.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 16, 2009, 12:20:41 AM
Oh yes! I'm all for a mass G and T meeting. :) I think there was something similar in NZ when the new century started, everyone standing on prominent hilltops to greet the new dawn, we getting the first glimpse of the sun of course. Well actually, there are a couple of small islands who get it before us, but the first of any size.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Paul T on June 16, 2009, 12:27:31 AM
Can we make the choice of drinks optional?  G and T is not really my thing.  ::)  Then again there is nothing really in Australia that is going to link up with places like those anyway.  Our "alpine" is not quite the "alpine" of so much of the world.  :o
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 16, 2009, 12:43:15 AM
Can we make the choice of drinks optional?  G and T is not really my thing.  ::)  Then again there is nothing really in Australia that is going to link up with places like those anyway.  Our "alpine" is not quite the "alpine" of so much of the world.  :o

What do you fancy then Paul? Scotch whisky, vodka? cocoa? ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Paul T on June 16, 2009, 03:08:37 AM
I'll come up with something.  ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 16, 2009, 09:19:38 AM
Paul, maybe all it requires is a place with alpine spirit! Both metaphysically and in a drinkies sense?
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on June 16, 2009, 09:27:08 AM
Can I suggest Enzian schnapps ??  ;D ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Ragged Robin on June 16, 2009, 09:28:19 AM
Plenty of Alpine Spirit here - there's a local Schnaps made from alpine gentians - excellent after a local cheese fondue - would be fun to organise one day?
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 16, 2009, 09:35:32 AM
RR, you've got the cheese, Luc has got the Schnapps, I've got Rakia, what an idea, if one year we could all meet somewhere, bring a favourite plant in a pot, each a different competition class, we could award oursleves a first each and then have a party!!!! ;) ;)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Ragged Robin on June 16, 2009, 10:05:31 AM
Great idea, Hristo, I'm in  ;)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 11:18:01 AM
I humbly suggest Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2011 at 9.30am ... I'll bring sausage rolls, toffee ice cream and dancing girls (and Brian Smethurst, I suppose).  Could the first ones there please turn on the lights, mow the grass and erect the chocolate fountain?
Maggi will be carried in on a ceremonial chair and will officially open the proceedings by declaring; "Chocs away"!
Anybody good on the fiddle?   ;D

Tickets will be available from all members of parliament at £400 each or two for a grand.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 16, 2009, 11:30:46 AM
Sounds good Cliff, may I suggest July or August, during this trip the temps were around 8c and the wind was about 70mph!
Just let the MPs in , they are good on the fiddle from what I hear on CNN!
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 11:47:37 AM
Official notification of an amendment to the date of the 'gathering'.

For 14th June 2011 please read 14th July 2011 (still at 9.30am) ... would someone please tell Maggi, as she likes to display regular reminders?
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Paul T on June 16, 2009, 12:55:40 PM
Cliff,

If we have to be there then the price per ticket is a bit steep.  If the Exchange rate goes back down again that would be close to a grand per ticket, plus plane fares etc.  :o  I don't think Mt Kosiousko would be sufficiently large to merge with Mt Botev temporally, so I guess the next best thing would be to join Lesley near Mt Cook in NZ.  Do those of us who are joining the gathering simultaneously from mountains in other parts of the world still have to pay for tickets from the British MPs?  Sorry to ask all these dreadful organisational questions but we've only got 2 years and a bit until it's on..... so there is no time to lose.  ;)

Oh boy, have we diverged from the original tour by Chris that started this topic!!  :o ::)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 16, 2009, 01:05:21 PM
Well, it seems the venue is up for discussion but I'll go with the date 14th July 2011 meantime, eh?  ;D
Far be it for me to ask why June had to become July.... I expect Cliff is already booked to babysit Ollie :-\


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Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Paul T on June 16, 2009, 01:12:18 PM
Maggi,

The month was changed because someone suggested it would be too cold to have a party there in mid June.  I'm sure I read a message from Chris that said that.... or am I imagining that as well as the message I posted last night that disappeared.  Maybe ALL of this is just a figment of my imagination...... if spending so much of my time here is the best my imagination can come up with though......  :P :P :P :P

 ;)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 01:22:19 PM
That IS quite expensive Paul, but our politicians are not cheap to maintain!  It may be necessary to promise you a plant or two for your trouble (a red Fritillaria camschatcensis or a pot full of Meconopsis delavayi perhaps).  You DO have lots of time to save up.  Lesley or Fermi may subsidise you if you ask very nicely?
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 16, 2009, 01:26:58 PM
Yes, Paul, now I pay attention I see that Chris said June might be too chilly.

I'm a bit concerned about the cost, too  ;D.... after all, there is the big Alpine Conference in 2011 as well, if the AGS ever get around to telling us the details so we know how many piggy banks we need to fill for that  ::) ???
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 01:58:55 PM
Let's not pussyfoot about ... combine the two on the same day and we may be able to negotiate a reduction?  Perhaps we could incorporate the Pudsey Pig, Glastonbury, Woodstock, Hampton Court and that little Chelsea thingy under a blanket price of 22 1/2 euros?  No breakfasts will be included ... just Kit-Kats.

Tablets please Ollie?
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Ragged Robin on June 16, 2009, 03:32:58 PM
I read: 'Kitticat' for breakfast - not exactly my cup of tea, or coffee for that matter - I do like the idea of a an Alpine Groupie get-together though...who knows what might happen to the world before 2011 unless we save the planet with lots of fun and caring  ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 16, 2009, 03:41:22 PM
A number of us are coming to  the 2009 SRGC Discussion weekend and staying over an extra night for a Forum Fest, Robin....... you could think of that...... and I don't doubt in the course of conversation we'll all manage to put the world to rights!  ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 03:50:33 PM
I read: 'Kitticat' for breakfast - not exactly my cup of tea, or coffee for that matter - I do like the idea of a an Alpine Groupie get-together though...who knows what might happen to the world before 2011 unless we save the planet with lots of fun and caring  ;D

We could always stage an Armageddon Alpine Away Day, Robin ... no need to be gloomy, it's not the end of the world!

Morning activities - Sowing seeds, Propagation Workshop, Looking at new introductions
Afternoon lecture - 'Looking Ahead' with Robert Rolfe (that should delay things a bit)
Evening activities - Garden visits and sky watching. Happy eternity in the bar
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 03:54:56 PM
we'll all mange   ;D

You really need to see a doctor, dear Maggi!!  It is treatable.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: ranunculus on June 16, 2009, 03:59:47 PM
Which of your pets would you hug as Armageddon struck?   

The phoenix, of course!

The old ones are the ... oldest!
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 16, 2009, 04:12:19 PM
we'll all mange   ;D

You really need to see a doctor, dear Maggi!!  It is treatable.

Three dogs here today, Cliff....either that or  it must be a freudian slip about the manky ideas we are likely to come up with  :-[ :-X     Perhaps I should  offer to bring the mange-tout   ::)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Maggi Young on June 16, 2009, 04:19:56 PM
We could always stage an Armageddon Alpine Away Day, Robin ... no need to be gloomy, it's not the end of the world!

Morning activities - Sowing seeds, Propagation Workshop, Looking at new introductions
Afternoon lecture - 'Looking Ahead' with Robert Rolfe (that should delay things a bit)
Evening activities - Garden visits and sky watching. Happy eternity in the bar

I do take your point about getting Robert to speak to delay the end of the world, Cliff.... but I think our Forum get-together speakers ought to have had some Forum connection, so I nominate Panayoti Kelaidis, a cheery soul that could surely take our mind off impending  doom and most likely charm any Gods listening and persuade them to a lenient intervention?  ::) 8) ;D

Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Ragged Robin on June 16, 2009, 04:29:59 PM
A number of us are coming to  the 2009 SRGC Discussion weekend and staying over an extra night for a Forum Fest, Robin....... you could think of that...... and I don't doubt in the course of conversation we'll all manage to put the world to rights!  ;D

Thanks for the idea Maggi, I'll keep it in mind, never quite know where we'll be but if there's a chance I'll take it  :)
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Michael J Campbell on June 16, 2009, 07:55:11 PM
Quote
I humbly suggest Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2011 at 9.30am ... I'll bring sausage rolls, toffee ice cream and dancing girls (and Brian Smethurst, I suppose).  Could the first ones there please turn on the lights, mow the grass and erect the chocolate fountain?
Maggi will be carried in on a ceremonial chair and will officially open the proceedings by declaring; "Chocs away"!

Anybody good on the fiddle?   Grin


You will need a few Politicians and a Bank Manager for that. ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 16, 2009, 09:48:14 PM
Well, it seems the venue is up for discussion but I'll go with the date 14th July 2011 meantime, eh?  ;D


Well perhaps Paul's suggestion of a southern mountain is a good one for those in the southern half. We could arrange video links etc so we're all together in effect. That way, I could bring Teddy too. Fermi and Otto may still be in the north.

I don't see why we have to involve politicians at all actually. There's not one that I'd want much to do with. Some nasties around here lately too. They'd only spoil the fun one way or another.

If it's Mt Cook Paul, you'll need to save for extra woolly woollies for July.
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: cohan on June 17, 2009, 07:21:01 PM
my, this thread did go a little astray...lol
nonetheless, chris, the plants on the rock were really nice,especially the saxes!
Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Rodger Whitlock on June 17, 2009, 07:46:31 PM
I don't see why we have to involve politicians at all actually. There's not one that I'd want much to do with. Some nasties around here lately too. They'd only spoil the fun one way or another.

Think "barbecued liar", Lesley. I'm sure if they're marinated in the right stuff for long enogh, they'd be quite edible, perhaps even tasty. After all, some people think bears' paws are a delicacy when so treated.

Title: Digression from this thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria, June 14th 2009
Post by: Hristo on June 18, 2009, 11:27:56 AM
Yes Cohan, off we go at tangents, only myself to blame, oh piffle!! Mnay thanks for reading bud!
Title: Re: Chat Digression from the thread: Mount Botev, Bulgaria
Post by: cohan on June 18, 2009, 08:53:28 PM
lol--nothing wrong with tangents ;) its the difference between a technical journal and an informative discussion among friends..
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