Admin Post: Admin Post

[pensnest]

I checked my calendar, and I am supposed to pay the remainder of the Camp Sparkle money on the 17th of this month.

I don't see us being able to hold Camp this year, at any rate, not in June. There's a reasonable chance that we in the UK will be out of lockdown by mid-June, but are we going to be allowing tourist flights into the country? I wouldn't count on it. Are those of you in Europe, the US, or elsewhere going to be able to get on a plane anyway? I wouldn't count on that, either. Are the local tourist attractions going to be open for business? Who knows. We will very likely still be working on 'social distancing' even if it is somewhat relaxed by then. As before, it's not really a question of being afraid of catching the virus - my understanding is that most people catch it and get over it - although I do have diabetes so am probably at somewhat higher risk. No. It's because the situation with regard to free movement has changed so radically that I just cannot see it being possible.

Besides which, are we all going to want to get together in a bunch of a dozen+ people, to spend a week in close quarters? No offense intended to anyone, but if I'm going to be allowed to spend time close to people I don't live with, the people I'm going to spend time with will be my children. I love you all, but.... Also, what if we went back into lockdown once you had arrived?

I propose that we cancel Camp for this year.

If by some miracle we find we can do it, later in the year... we might be able to get together in September or October and just grab a rental two or three weeks in advance. I should think we'd be able to find a suitable house at a bargain rate, maybe even the very house that we'd booked for this year. My sister runs a couple of holiday rentals, and her bookings have been cancelled for the next two months (so far).

Beast and I are willing to live with the loss of £800 (deposit). *If* we are able to get together at a bargain rate, we can discuss incorporating the lost deposit into the Camp fees, but we're not going to suffer any hardship if we don't get it back.

We could, maybe, do a Zoom meetup or two, just so we can at least see one another. Now that most Campers don't really appear on DW, I don't know what you're all up to these days. But I hope you've all been practising the Boyband Dance sequence!

This is more of an advisory "I am going to cancel Camp Sparkle" post than asking for advice, but if anyone disagrees, please make your case!


ETA: I have emailed to cancel, and inquired about our deposit in case there is any chance of getting it back or possibly using it next year. I will let you know, though I don't hold out much hope! Meanwhile, thank you all for being willing to pay a share of the deposit. I *think* there were only a dozen or so people who were intending to come this year, I'll check up on that and suggest a per-person amount.

Comments

[nopseud]

I 100% agree that we should definitely cancel. I don't see the lockdown being any less than the originally estimated 12 weeks -- longer is more likely than shorter. Even if its strictness is reduced, I don't think that holiday destination stuff will be the first thing to be loosened. It would be very sad to go up to the Yorkshire Dales and not be able to look at any of it.

I don't think it's fair for you guys to have to deal with the lost deposit, though. People offered to contribute before, and I don't see why you shouldn't take them up on it.

[rikes]

Agreed - this is going to take a while yet (and we want it to take a longer time because that means we're successfully flattening the curve), and even if the worst were over by June, I don't think international travel is going to be among the first things we'll be allowed/willing to do. Also, some people's financial situations might now be different from what they were in pre-covid times.

Very slight silver lining: money-wise we're probably not losing any more money than we would have, had we cancelled the last time we talked about this a month ago, because I don't think anyone else would have booked the house in the meantime either. Still willing to pay my share of that though.

Definitely up for video chatting at some point! I am reading on DW regularly, but why is actually writing posts so difficult...

[saba1789]

As sad as I am about this turn of events, I definitely agree that we should cancel Camp for this year. I love the idea of setting up a Zoom meeting or whatever though!! :)

Would love to help with the costs of the deposit, but please check if you can't get it back due to the extraordinary circumstances - people I booked with for Japan were definitely more accommodating with refunds than they would have had to be.

[turlough]

It's very sad but yeah, with the way things look now and how they're progressing, canceling Camp is the only possible decision.

ETA: I agree with the others, it's not fair to let you and Beast shoulder the whole deposit cost. I'm definitely willing to pay my share.

[bettina]

As sad as it is, it's understandable and problaby for the best.
I agree with the others, I'm more than willing to pay my share of the deposit!

*hugs*

[ephemera]

I think you're right, except about your covering the deposit which doesn't seem fair - happy to pay my share.

[iconis]

Absolutely will help out with the deposit as well. <3

[turps]

I agree with everyone else, as sad as it is Camp has to be cancelled. And I'm also willing to help with the deposit.

[chalcopyrite]

I think a virtual meetup is an excellent idea! We can drink tea and giggle with each other!

I did mean it about helping shoulder the lost deposit. Not fair for you to take the whole hit!