XCstravaganza 2013

Yet another Stragnell Family Reunion

Guys and gals,

Back in the UK recovering from the jet lag but still enjoying the after-glow of a wonderful couple of weeks at XCstravaganza. It was a real pleasure to see everyone again and to meet the new interlopers and newest members of the extended family. Thank you to everyone for helping to make the celebration such a huge success.

XCstravaganza Group Photo

Now, I need your help and assistance.

Photos

I need you to share your “least bad” photographs (and don’t be too picky when deciding which ones to share). So far we’ve had photos from Grandpa, Sandy & Pam, Amanda and one from Susie. I know there are more!

You can upload your photos to the Microsoft OneDrive we created where you can also see and “borrow” any of the other photos which have been uploaded.

If you no longer have the instructions for logging into the XCstravaganza OneDrive drop me an e-mail and I will send you the details (again).

Photos from XCstravaganzaOnce you’ve logged in click to open the Photos from XCstravaganza 2013 folder and then click to open your personal folder. Click the Upload icon on the Menu Bar to choose the photos to upload. Let me know if you have any difficulties.

Recipes

I also need the recipes for the various meals which we had the pleasure of consuming during the festivities. If you could send me the recipes or send me appropriate links if they are available online. Several participants have already enquired about the availability of the XCstravaganza cook book and I personally am very keen to have the recipe for Rob’s Ribs.

Lots of love,

Greg

 

We’ve tentatively decided on the schedule of events for Saturday.

3.00 pm – Photo Opportunity at the White House. Please arrive promptly by 3.00 wearing something “nice”.

4.00 pm (or, as soon as convenient following the Photo Opportunity) – The Royal Command Variety Performance (Part One) at the White House

6.00 for 6.30 – Dinner at the White House

7.30 pm (or, as soon as convenient following dinner) – The Royal Command Variety Performance (Part Two) at the White House

 

 

Less than one week to go! The following check list from Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush might provide some useful reminders for those of you, like me, who are less well-organised than you might be (although I suspect most of you won’t need to worry about the overseas spending or activating your phone for use abroad):

  • Warn Credit Card company of any heavy overseas spending
  • Check your packing list for un-purchased items
  • Buy Lighting Timers
  • Give your destination contact details to family / neighbours
  • Check you have enough prescription medication
  • Prepare your Travel Blog
  • Arrange for bins to be collected
  • Make sure your mobile phone is activated for use abroad
  • Top up your phone card
  • Check tickets arrived for transport
  • Check your Credit Card balance
  • Check vital bills are paid before leaving
  • Cancel your papers and milk
  • Order Enough Disposable Contact Lenses for Your Holiday Duration

See you soon!

 

All participants in XCstravaganza should have received Update 5 in the past couple of days which I’ve also uploaded to the documentation section on the XCstravaganza web site. If your spam filter very cleverly blocked it, you can find the update here.

Most importantly, if you do not eat certain items and have not yet let the Catering Committee know you need to do so as soon as possible, please. There is a Dietary Requirements form on the XCstravaganza web site which it would be helpful if you could complete (if it applies, of course – if you are a die-hard meat eater there’s no need unless there is something specific – parsnips, for example – you really don’t like).

RattlesnakesAs XCstravaganza approaches it is worth reminding campers of the potential danger from the local timber rattlesnakes. I’ve posted the information which we circulated at the last camp-fest, Stragapalooza 2010.

Click here to see the full details.

Only 65 days and counting! I can hardly wait!

I’ve sent out another update for XCstravaganza 2013. If your copy didn’t arrive or your spam filter sensibly deleted it, you can access the update below.

XCstravaganza 2013 – Update 3 – May 30, 2013

We’ve got everyone’s (provisional) arrival and departure details so now we need to turn our attention to the really important things like eating!

I’ve allocated provisional cooking dates to those who will be responsible for catering XCstravaganza. We now need to know what special dietary requirements, if any, each of you might have. I’ve put a form on the XCstravaganza web site which you can access here. Alternatively, drop me an e-mail with your needs and we will ensure that they get communicated to each day’s Chef de Cuisine.

Grandchild Beauty PageantWe’re also just finalising details for a new event this year – a Great Grandchild Beauty Pageant! (Various members of the extended Jelliffe clan are keen to meet their new great-grand-nieces and nephews so we’re planning a lunch on Saturday 10 August when the great-grandchildren can be paraded and admired. There will be various categories such as Most Beautiful Great Granddaughter aged 5 years or older; Most Beautiful Great Granddaughter aged between 3 and 5 years old; Most Handsome Great Grandson aged 5 years or older, Most Beautiful Great Granddaughter aged less than 3 years old and greater than 18 months old, etc., etc. By an amazing coincidence, I believe there are seven great grandchildren and there are seven categories in the pageant – what are the chances of that!)

Anything else you think of drop me a note or complete the suggestion form on the XCstravaganza site.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

 

Following a flurry of e-mail communications, registrations for XCstravaganza are up by nearly 100% over the past couple of days. See when your favourite niece, nephew, cousin, sister, brother, etc. is planning to arrive and depart on the “Up to the Moment” Arrivals and Departures board.

Three more reservations for XCstravaganza 2013! Carol, Zach and Azalea will be attending bringing the number of confirmed participants to 19 so far. That’s just over half the ticket sales we need to ensure a sell-out. So, if you’ve not registered your intention to attend, get yourself over to the Registration Page and fill in your details ASAP!

We’ve just sent Update 2 to everyone on the XCstravaganza mailing list. If your spam filter very cleverly has obliterated your copy you can retrieve it from the Documentation Archive.

Included in the Update:

  • We’ve added a Countdown counter to the XCstravaganza website. You can while away the hours watching the seconds count down!
  • We’ve set up a Twitter feed (@XCstravaganza) for those of you who use such new-fangled technology! Follow XCstragvaganza and you will (allegedly) receive a Tweet each time we post something new.
  • We’ve added a whole plethora of dates to the XCstravaganza calendar. Let me know of any incorrect information or if we’ve just missed you off the list!

Get over to the site and register your intention to attend and/or see who has registered already.

ArchiveWe’ve added a Documentation Archive to the XCstravaganza 2013 site which you can access here. This page will hold all the communication and documentation distributed to participants in XCstravangaza 2013 so that you can retrieve any that you might happen to misplace.

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