BMWMCCWA

Anthony had the idea of holding this event in New Norcia, this year. We could look at Saturday, 10 December and block book the New Norcia Hotel. We could stick around until midnight for mass, hold a moonlit vigil and baptiZe Ahab's sickly F800.

NN is 130 ks north of town, so easily doable on the Saturday via tracks unlimited, with a gentle ride home on Sunday. Those leaving form Rockingham and Mandurah; bring passports

John

Any expressions of (dis)interest?

John,
sounds good, going to the monastary and checking for dirty habits...

Sorry can't resist this:

The Old Monk
A new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand.

He notices, however, that they are copying copies, not the original books. So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies.

The head monk says "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son." So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original.

Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears a sobbing coming from the back of the cellar, and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He asks what's wrong.

The old monk sobs, "The word is celebrate."

Sounds pretty good, just submitted passport application.

make it happen!

The concept of the New Norcia Hotel as a venue for the Xmas dinner was one I initially thought might be a great idea.
Having been there only 5 months ago, I recall enjoying a great well priced lunch, and the abbey ale on tap is a great brew.
Whilst enjoying lunch, I thought I heard a chant in the distance emanating from the monastery..."form a circle"; but am unsure of the significance of such a chant.
But I have never stayed at the New Norcia Hotel so I thought I would read the reviews.
I have just finished reading reviews of the New Norcia Hotel. The reviews overall are not entirely complimentary. The main grievances in those reviews being that none of the rooms have en-suites, with only a limited number of shared bathrooms available. The bathrooms, according to those reviews been refurbished on the cheap. There was also negative critique regarding the breakfast being of stale bread etc.
When I mentioned these pros and cons to the woman whom might accompany me, the idea was not embraced with gusto, by virtue of the bathroom situation there.
Personally it would'nt bother me.
The stale bread at breakfast for me is not an issue either.
However members contemplating bringing their ladies with them might want to first read the reviews.

Having satyed at the Hotel and monestry a couple of times with a group of people having partners none have expressed concern at the arrangements.
Yes it is not the Bunker Bay resort however you do get a very good ambience and the Art Gallery is worth a look.
Its is one of the very few private towns in Australia being owned by the monks.
On the occasion I have stayed we have arranged for one of the senior monks to give some insight into the operations of the commnity.
The community owns substanital agricultural lands around the town which they use to support the community.
In fact it gives pepole an insight into how a large number of small town communites in Australia operate and it would be good to support a small rural community rather than a big commercial establishment.
If your reviewers are used to Bunker Bay then obviously they are not going to rate a basic small town hotel well, and the hotel operates inline with the basic tenantes of the Benadictine community beliefs of a simple life.
Anyway it would be an arangement better than the Jennacubine Tavern mid year event and slightly less then the Saints in York for accomadation.
The benefit is it is a place a lot of pepole may not of had a reason to go to before.
Oh by the way I am not religous so that has nothing to do with my comments.
I have spent a life time living in small rural communites and they really appreciate the support that visitors provide to their communitites.
Merry Christmas

Hi all,
Is there a camp site available?
Dale red k100

k100gs's can camp anywhere

you can camp behind the roadhouse at the bottom of the drive, good sites and showers etc

OK, I've just booked one of the fifteen rooms at the NNH for the night of 10 Dec 2011. You have been warned, move fast, to secure your room. The number of the hotel is 96548034. You have to tell them that you are a member of the BMWMCCWA. The cost is $95, which includes a continental bereakfast. They will probably ask you for a credit card # when you book and then just pay on the day. In terms of the dinner itself, the hotel is going to lay on a buffet. It would have just been too complicated, ordering frog's legs, caviar and crepe suzette puddings etc, before the time. I'm sure if you have constructive advice for the hotel it would be taken well but a buffet will be the easiest to manage for everybody.

Oh yes, and the comfort room is not ensuite, so take a candle with you! only joking.

A show of "hands" would help with the planning of the overall event.

John

Hi all...
I'll be there plus one
Dale red k100

Hi all. Doris and Bill will be taking the GSA up there. I hope to book a hotel room. Doris wasn't impressed with the snoring last time she camped with members

I'm in........roughin' it under canvas

Jane & I have just booked a room.
See you all there.

Alison and the kid,s fly out to Sydney on the 9 for ten days ,so it will be only me and the tent looking forward to a ride on the way up ,any idea,s