What's New and Let's Meet!

It's Showtime at Malvern- will you be there?

It's a year since the Meet @ Malvern blog was launched, so I've tweaked the layout in celebration to launch our 2011 get together. I'm looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible this year :D

Helen and I have various work, family and exam commitments over the next few months and so we won't be able to do very much in the way of organising this year. This also reflects what a number of you said in last year's feedback too, and our informal get together at the Autumn Show last September proved an organisation-lite gathering can still work successfully.

However, I'm also aware there are a number of people who are interested in coming who didn't join us last year at either show, so I'd welcome your views on how we can best ensure we all can find each other easily for a natter with the minimum of organisation.

I've used the Blogger Page function to bring together most of the useful information you'll need to make your own arrangements to attend this year. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to add to the information, particularly the Accommodation, Getting There and Hints and Tips pages.

You'll also see there's an Attendee page: this is very much in the early stages of development, do let me know if and when you're attending so I can keep this page up to date. If last year is anything to go by, this won't really reflect what's happening until late April! And do pass the word round to your fellow bloggers and tweeters who may be interested in coming. This post is the invitation for everyone, so it's up to us all to ensure no-one's left out.

The exception to the useful stuff at the top of the page (isn't there always one!) is the all important contact details for obtaining your tickets. This is in the sidebar under Tickets Please! heading. If you click on the picture, it'll take you to the official Malvern Show booking page. NB The countdown clock has been reinstated too - though you'll have to look a bit harder to find it this time!

I won't be posting as much on here this year as I believe what's already here is enough to give anyone a flavour of what the show is like either by going through the blog in sequence or using the Labels in the sidebar (towards the bottom) to home in on what looks interesting. There'll be the occasional update of news as and when I get it. If anyone would like to write a guest post to help lighten the load, then do get in touch :)

As the posts will be less frequent, you may wish to sign up for Updates or Follow this blog to make sure you don't miss out on anything. You'll find the appropriate buttons in the sidebar. I'll also be updating via Twitter, but experience showed last year that this is a bit hit and miss in keeping you updated.

NB as for last year accommodation is already filling fast, so this is something for you to consider NOW if you're wanting to stay over during the show.

Ticket Deal Update - Important!

Over the weekend I wrote to everyone eligible for our ticket deal* about the arrangements for obtaining your ticket. The process is now much simpler than originally planned and you need to call the ticket office and quote the special promotion code when making your booking. Details of the number to ring and the promotion code are in the email.

If you haven't received this, have a look in your Spam Inbox as it might have gone into there - I wrote to you using the Malvernmeet email address. If you still don't have it, then please contact me and I will resend it to you.

I've sent your names along to the booking office so they know who should be giving them a call. Note that the closing date for bookings is 20th April. You should be able to include booking tickets for friends and family or for any additional days you need at the full price if you haven't done this already.

I will be getting tickets on behalf of Ewa, Frances, Gail and Yolanda :)

* = except Frugilegus whom I can only contact via her blog and tweets - here's hoping my message gets through in time...

Update 11am 12/4: Yay! Frugilegus has been in touch and Malvern have confirmed they're ready to go with taking your bookings :)

Ticket Deal & Last Call for Blog Posts

Just a quick reminder that there's just one week left before our ticket offer expires on 31st March. Thanks to those of you who've already posted thus far and I'll contact you once the deadline has passed to confirm your requirements and how payment is to be made.

In case you missed our previous posts on this topic, we have a limited number of half-price tickets (for Friday or Saturday) for bloggers planning to visit the show if you write a full blog post on your blog (i.e. not just a mention in passing or a paragraph in a post) about the Spring Show or if you already have a blog but choose to write a guest post for us here.

Need inspiration? Then have a look at what Frances, Happy Mouffetard, Edith, Victoria Tim and Karen have written thus far...

If you would like to do a guest post here, then email me at the address on the sidebar with your content and any photo(s) you'd like to use. We are more than happy for you to do simultaneous postings with it appearing on your own blog and here at the same time.

If you're coming to Malvern for more than one day, then the lovely people at the showground are also offering any extra days at the slightly cheaper group rate.

If you've already booked your tickets, or are one of the people who can attend as a member of the press, I still need to know which day(s) you are coming so your names can be added to the admission list for our dedicated VIP area.

If you're coming with a partner or friend(s), their tickets should be booked separately via the Malvern Spring Show booking system, or purchased on the gate. I will also need to know their name(s) and day(s) for the VIP admission list.

Any questions about your post or the tickets offer? Just leave a comment below or drop me a line via email.

Michelle

Tickets Please!

This time last year Happy Mouffetard wrote:

Ceci n'est pas un billet*

Well, it is actually, but also so much more than that. It's an opportunity to gaze, to shop, to gain inspiration, to look at perfect flowers in awe, to covet plants, to wish I had a bigger garden, to learn, to make notes, to take photos and to enjoy a day out amongst thousands of other plant lovers.

It's the Malvern spring gardening show. And I have my tickets! Now I just have to wait six weeks [or so, check the countdown clock - Ed]...

(*'This is not a ticket', with apologies to René Magritte)

Which also gives me the ideal opportunity to remind you about our fantastic half price ticket deal:

• We have a limited number of half-price tickets (for Friday or Saturday) if you write a full blog post on your blog (i.e. not just a mention in passing or a paragraph in a post) about the Spring Show or if you already have a blog but choose to write a guest post for us here
• The deadline for posting is the 31st March 2010
• Need inspiration? Then have a look at what Frances, Happy Mouffetard, Edith, Victoria and Karen have written thus far
• If you would like to do a guest post here, then email me at the address on the sidebar with your content and any photo(s) you'd like to use.
• We are more than happy for you to do simultaneous postings with it appearing on your own blog and here at the same time
• If you are coming to Malvern for more than one day, then the lovely people at the showground are also offering any extra days at the slightly cheaper group rate
• If you've already booked your tickets, or are one of the people who can attend as a member of the press, I still need to know which day(s) you are coming so your names can be added to the admission list for our dedicated VIP area
• If you're coming with a partner or friend(s), their tickets should be booked separately via the Malvern Spring Show booking system, or purchased on the gate. I will also need to know their name(s) and day(s) for the VIP admission list

Don't forget the deadline - 31st March- and don't forget to send us the link to your post. I'll contact you to request the information needed for the Three Counties Showground and payment so they can issue your tickets.

Any questions about your post or the tickets offer? Just leave a comment below or drop me a line via email.

Michelle

Exciting news about tickets!

Well we have teased you long enough and now VP and I can reveal the great deal that the lovely people at the Three Counties Spring Show have offered us.

They have offered us a limited number of half-price tickets (for Friday or Saturday) for all those who write a full blog post about the Spring Show before the event or who write a guest post for the Meet@Malvern blog. The deadline for posting your offering is the 31st March 2010. So go on get writing, tell us about your previous experiences of the Spring Show and/or what you are looking forward to etc. If you would like to do a guest post for the Meet@Malvern site then email VP at the address on the sidebar. We are more than happy for you to do simultaneous postings with the post appearing on your own and Meet@Malvern blogs at the same time.

Don't forget the deadline - 31st March- and don't forget to send us the link to your post. When we receive your link VP will contact you to request the information we need for the Three Counties Showground so they can issue your half price tickets.

On top of this generous offer the Three Counties Showground are providing a special area for us to meet. This will be located near the refreshment area and near the Living Design Theatre so we will be close to the show gardens and the coffee - what more could we ask for! Bloggers will also be given free wireless access while at the showground just in case they can't resist blogging/tweeting about their day. Partners/Guests of bloggers will also be able to use this facility but we will need to know who you are planning to bring so please drop VP a line.

We have more interesting and exciting news to reveal but you will just have to wait and see what these are...we wouldn't want to over excite you too soon!

Helen (aka PatientGardener)

Hot News: Just the Ticket!

Stop right there if you're getting ready to buy your tickets for Malvern!

The show's organisers are going out of their way to ensure we have a very warm welcome in May, which includes a generous ticket deal. Helen and I are meeting with them on the 25th to iron out the fine details, so will be able to tell you everything very soon.

It'll mean more cash available to buy plants, so do hold off buying for now :)