07-08th Dec´13 MG-Christmas Meeting in Cologne / Germany

[Steffi]

The time for our annual Christmas-Meeting weekend comes closer and after we went to Heidelberg last year,
the decision was made to visit Cologne this year.
In Cologne you may visit 8 different Christmas markets and when they open their gates end of November, millions of visitors
from around the world enjoy the goods for sale at the quaintly designed huts. Christmas music, arts and crafts, toys, Christmas
decoration and the scent of the Christmas bakeries create a wonderful atmosphere.

We will stay at "Hotel Haus Sonnenschein" in Hennef Stadt Blankenberg again. Those of you that did the "pre- and post MGFIM 2013 gathering"
already know the hotel. We have our own car park again and for those of you flying over I will arrange a transport from Cologne Airport to
the hotel and back.
I blocked the whole hotel for that weekend and as before please do your reservation directly with the hotel: http://www.hotel-haus-sonnenschein.de "MG-Christmas meeting 2013"
It´s also possible to arrive on the Friday or/and leave on the Monday.
I have a meeting with the hotel owner tonight and after that I will give you information about the exact room prices.

The following room prices I could arrange:

Double room / twin room € 72,- /per Night incl. breakfast buffet
Single room € 52,- /per Night incl. breakfast buffet
Tripple room € 90,- /per Night incl. Breakfast buffet

Here are some information of what is planned to do:

On the Saturday around midday we will visit Cologne ( we either take the train or use the bus) and will have a look around and enjoy the different Christmas markets.
In the evening we will have dinner in a tradition Cologne pub (Brauhaus) with local specialties.

After a good breakfast on Sunday we will drive to the Cologne Zoo and have a nice walk around. http://www.koelnerzoo.de/
This has alredy become a tradition and our Christmas gathering will end there.

For those of you that have to fly back on Sunday evening I will arrange transportation to the airport.

As I know that some of you already showed interest in the event, I hope to see you again for that please put your name down on the list.

This event is also published on the german "mg board" http://www.mgboard.de/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8191 and we already have more than 20 person showing interest in the event

01. Christine und Klaus
02. Colin und Steffi Friday
03. Fabian

05. Michael + Susanne
06. Mykel with Family
07. Dajana und Philipp
08. Efah
09. Lars Steinke arrive Friday
10. Jürgen und Claudia
11. Daniel und Franzi
12. Brigitte und Klaus
Dave and Rhona - cant join us ref 16/9
13. Adrian and Dawn arrive Friday leave Monday
14. Pete and Lin arrive Friday leave Monday Tbc
15. Ton and Gea arrive friday leave Monday
16. The Birdies - Martin & Doris, arrive Friday leave Monday
17. Dieter & Rosi
18. Rob and Elena
19. Nina and Nadine
20. Thommi and Steffi
20. Heinz (sunday only)

[colintf]

wunderbar Steffi, danke for organising this for us

I know last years event that Klaus arranged was a lot of fun and I know that this will be as well.

I hope those from the UK who showed interest can make it, it would be nice to have a meal at teh Hotel on the Friday night as well with them

[Dave_T]

Put us down for a place please
Dave & Rhona

We will probably fly in to Cologne.

[Steffi]

Hey, that´s great news
Maybe you can fly in on Friday.....

[colintf]

That's great Dave & Rhona

[adrianclifford]

Erm.......you left us off the list

[colintf]

Erm.......you left us off the list

You are now several showed interest at Blankenberg last month for this Xmas weekend, mows their chance to commit

[Pete & Lin]

Aloha

Wouldn't miss it.

Undecided whether to fly or drive (non MG)

Pete & Lin

[colintf]

Aloha

Wouldn't miss it.

Undecided whether to fly or drive (non MG)

Pete & Lin

The overseas family unites again

How many of you Pete ? Could work out cheaper to drive

[Steffi]

I have new information about the hotel room prices.
I will post them at the top

[Dave_T]

If we were to drive, would we require winter tyres?

[Steffi]

German law says: If the roads are icy, slushy, snowed or frosty, cars need to have tyres on that meet those charactaristics. (Winter tyres)
If police gets you with summer tyres you will have to pay € 40,- , if you get stuck € 80,-.
And they do control.....

[colintf]

If we were to drive, would we require winter tyres?

Which is why I have a set for the ZS ready to go on as soon as uk temps drop to 7degC or I drive to Germany in winter (whichever comes first)

Last year we did have snow during the Christnas gathering weekend on heidelberg do you never know Dave!

[colintf]

If we were to drive, would we require winter tyres?

Actually thinking outside of the box, a set of winter tyres ordered now + ferry + diesel could work out cheaper than 4 flights for you, Rhona, Adrian and Dawn

[Steffi]

I normally have the winter tyres on my car from end of Oktober till April.
If you haven´t got winter tyres for the car already it will be cheaper to fly over to Cologne airport.

[adrianclifford]

I'll look at flight prices and times, parking at Stansted needs to be added into the price unless we get the X30 Aircoach which is free for us. Steffi/Colin who do you fly with ?, I remember you telling me once, it wasn't easyjet was it but Jet2B or something similar.

[John Ponting]

I would be interested in knowing which winter tyres the German owners use on a TF? I'll get my P.A. to advise later.

[Geoff.F]

We are tempted having visited many Christmas Markets but I do not think Ann would let me get away without returning via Switzerland.

I normally have the winter tyres on my car from end of Oktober till April.
If you haven´t got winter tyres for the car already it will be cheaper to fly over to Cologne airport.

We have winter tyres on both the MGF and Astra. (and chains). The Astra as a winter daily car and the ski gear and now the "F" after extending the Register Geneve Motor Show Trip to Gstaad and Interlaken.
It is nice to leave the Mercs and Audis at the bottom of the English hills.

An additional point to remember if taking the car is to be aware of the "Low Emissions Zones" including the centre of Cologne. Details at http://www.theaa.co.uk
Geoff F.

[Geoff.F]

I would be interested in knowing which winter tyres the German owners use on a TF? I'll get my P.A. to advise later.

We use 185/55R15 Marangoni.from http://www.mytyres.co.
Do you have big front brakes ??? This is the MGR size iaw the C of C for my car (Swiss Export). A 2nd set of 15in wheels come very cheap these days. Snow Chains CANNOT be used on the 16in wheels and since it is often Mandatory to carry them in Switzerland,it is pointless if you cannot use them.
I trust that you will go on this trip particularly with there not being a UK Christmas party.
Geoff F.

[colintf]

I'll look at flight prices and times, parking at Stansted needs to be added into the price unless we get the X30 Aircoach which is free for us. Steffi/Colin who do you fly with ?, I remember you telling me once, it wasn't easyjet was it but Jet2B or something similar.

me, Easyjet from Gatwick or Germanwings from Heathrow Adrian.