A Texas Mini owner suggested in the MINIUSA Owner's Lounge that we have celebrations on 11/18 for Sir Alec Issigonis' birthday. Anybody feel like celebrating?
The Cogman and the Babster will be there with bells on! Hopefully I can borrow that super duper GPS again, and once again make use of the alley next door to make my approach! By the way, the ONLY car to show up for the Museum run was mine. Needless to say, we didn't know the event had been canceled, and will be rescheduled for next spring. Barb and I sat there at the closed Dunkin' Donuts, watching the intersection in front, fascinated at the number of drivers who didn't know that a signal without power should be treated as a four-way stop! We did note, however, that every single car that simply blew though the intersection without hesitation had a driver who was on the phone! Distraction or downright stupidity? I wonder what their answer would be? See you on the 18th!
I thought about going to Buffalo for the VW event, but after driving through the ice storm here in 1991 I thought I might be wiser to stay where I was. If I knew you were there, Bill, I would have come on out just to prove that yellow Minis will be there!
Now, to find some appropriate birthday party hats. And maybe a recreation of Issigonis' drawing the design for the Mini on a cocktail napkin...
Just a note to all you "Newbies" out there. PLEASE consider making the trip to Rochester and the Old Toad for this event. The Old Toad is one of the most "warm and friendly" places we've been to! No waitresses with buggy whips (Coyote Cafe-Ouch!)! A very British pub with a huge selection of Ales and beers you've never heard of, and some of the best Brit-food (oxymoron?) ever at very reasonable prices. They genuinely seem to love having us there, too! Bill aka "Cogman"
Unless of course you prefer going places where the hostesses have whips...
They really do have good food at the Old Toad, though I agree with Cogman that 'good British food' may be considered an oxymoron. I've been going there since they opened, and the atmosphere has gotten even better over the years with the expansion, and it was a fun place to start with.
Speaking as one with British -Canadian ancestry, I'd like to point out how the land of the maple leaf messed up. We could have had French food, British culture and US technology. Instead, we ended up with British food, US culture, and French technology!!!! ;)
I wish you could be there, Bagpiper. I've never heard 'Happy Birthday' played on bagpipes before!
So who else would like to join us? It looks like Motoring Mom is coming up from Watkins Glen, and 1Der will get the long-distance award if she makes it to the dinner, from Casper WY. :D
Edit- here's the specials for this week. I'm not sure the liver & onions will draw much of a crowd, but the Bailey's Bread Pudding might! http://theoldtoad.com/menu.html
Sorry but once again we'll have to miss the gala. In NYC at a conference. Way too busy around here. Will get to go on a dinner cruise around Manhattan tomorrow night so it won't be a total loss.
We had a great time on Saturday- 10 people & Minis from Buffalo, Rochester & Syracuse, and a visiting Mini owner & family from Wyoming (state, not Wyoming NY). Thanks to all who came out!
Sorry I missed the party... the mexican's couldn't figure out what I was doing.. playing HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the beach facing EAST towards merry old ENGLAND. The Mexican workers at the resort said it sounded like "SCOTLAND"... Nice to see culture diversity....
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