Review retreat Eindhoven

[jensroes]

We could have a writers' retreat in Eindhoven? Serious suggestion. Could just be two days. Jens and I put a lot of work into this when we were in Iowa, and it was really helpful actually both being in the same room, and free from other distractions. We have money to spend on this.

I think this is a good idea. I think we're looking into the weeks 9 - 13 September (there is an Away Day on the 12th, Mark) or Sept 17 to 20 (which is induction week but according to my diary at the moment I'm just teaching on the Monday of that week). I'm teaching quite a lot in term 1 so October might be difficult.

What do you think?

[Mark-Torrance]

It's going to have to be first week in October onwards for me if I want undistracted time. I'm away until 17th September then have massive student admin stuff (Projects) until end of first week of term. So from 30th September.

[RConijn]

Great idea!

Everything from Sept 9 - Nov 8 works for me (after November 8 I have to teach a lot), with a few exceptions:

• Preferably not on Monday Sept 9 (first day back from holiday, would be good to keep this day to catch up with emails/phd progress)
• I have Siebe-duty on Thursdays, but if I know the dates 4 weeks in advance I can adjust daycare accordingly.
• I have some teaching Sept 25, 27, Oct 4, Oct 25 (but might even be able to swap those dates if necessary)

All other days are fine.

[jensroes]

I don't think this is an option then unfortunately. October is teaching heavy for me and I won't be able to fit this in. If anything then Oct 22 to Oct 24 but including travelling.

So alternatively we can ask for an extension for the review and then meet in December. I was thinking about our PACE week as well but that's likely to be the week after Nov 8 which doesn't work for Rianne.

[Mark-Torrance]

I really want to make this work. Any chance of swapping some teaching? Or maybe leave Nottingham Weds PM and getting back to Nottingham Saturday early afternoon. Or even Thursday PM returning Saturday early afternoon - given that 8 hours on the train is all good working time?

I could probably also do week beginning 23rd September if I get my act together.

[jensroes]

The first 3 weeks of term include a lot of teaching I can't swap and some stuff I need to prepare cause it's new to me. The earliest week I could make work with swaps is the week w/c Oct 21 (could leave to Eindhoven on Sat Oct 19 or Sun Oct 20 but have to leave before Friday Oct 25).

[Mark-Torrance]

Ok, do you want to do w/c 21st October? That's good for me. Aim for 2 full days in Eindhoven, and to catch the same trains from and back to St. Pancras?

Rianne, is that good for you? It would allow us time to do the revisions on this paper, but also for you to work with Jens on the "when do they stop writing and start reading" analysis (I think that's what Jens was suggesting).

If so, that would mean travel out on Monday and back on Thursday.

[RConijn]

Yes this works perfectly for me!

[jensroes]

I've got "domestic clearance" and I'll sort out teaching cover later. I'll also ask for an extension for the review just in case.

[Mark-Torrance]

Excellent. Rianne, which hotel should we stay in? We have a lot of money to spend :)

[Mark-Torrance]

I can book trains for us both.

Out - Monday 21st Oct. Are you ok leaving St Pancras at 13:00 and arriving a bit after 19:00? There's a later train (15:00 to 21 something).

Returning - Thursday 24th Oct. Do you want to leave at 8:44 (arriving 14:00) or 10:44 (arriving 16:00), or 12:44 (cheapest, though we don't care).

Really tempted to book first class. It's not much more. I bet there are rules saying we can't, though :)

[jensroes]

Rianne, which hotel should we stay in? We have a lot of money to spend :)

Walking distance or bikes included and best breakfast in town please :) If possible with practice studio in the basement.

Out - Monday 21st Oct. Are you ok leaving St Pancras at 13:00 and arriving a bit after 19:00? There's a later train (15:00 to 21 something).

The earlier train is better I think.

Returning - Thursday 24th Oct. Do you want to leave at 8:44 (arriving 14:00) or 10:44 (arriving 16:00), or 12:44 (cheapest, though we don't care).

Is that 8.44 from Eindhoven or Brussels? If Eindhoven lets take early one.

Really tempted to book first class. It's not much more. I bet there are rules saying we can't, though :)

Can you try? Worst thing that can happen is that they tell us off.

[Mark-Torrance]

Worst things that can happen are (a) we make Evgeny unhappy or (b) I have to pay. I'll ask, though.

[Mark-Torrance]

Good. Those trains are good for me. Can you identify trains from Nottingham that will meet those (actually probably better to go with an Open Return in case of delays) and I'll get these all booked.

[jensroes]

• Train Nottingham to London at 9.12am (no changes) on Oct 21
• Return (open is fine by me) 3.35pm to Nottingham (no changes).

[RConijn]

Rianne, which hotel should we stay in? We have a lot of money to spend :)

Walking distance or bikes included and best breakfast in town please :) If possible with practice studio in the basement.

Some options. First three are all within walking distance (although bikes are always nice - you can basically get bikes everywhere):

• Hotel Mariënhage (if you really have money to spend, nice modern hotel in an old monastry, spa/pool, gym, good breakfast)
• Hotel the Match (nice design hotel in a nice area, no breakfast though - but a small supermarket / coffeebar downstairs, and good breakfast opportunities nearby open from 7.30/8.00 - Meneer de Boer / Anne & Max
• Social Hub Eindhoven (expensive student accomodation & hotel in one, really next to the train station/uni, with gym and breakfast, might even have a recording studio)
• B&B Grote Beek (nice green area with some social housing, very cheap -> good value, would require bikes (ca. 4km from station/uni)

I will ask around for a practice studio - we have a pretty active PhD-band, and I know they practice somewhere as well:)

EDIT: Oh, and I'd recommend booking relatively soon, as your dates coincide with the Dutch Design Week, so hotels might fill up.

[jensroes]

I think number 3. 3 has breakfast as well btw. I don't think the first one looks much better and is probably haunted.

Don't worry too much about the practice studio. It would be nice to have a few days where I can play for a couple of hours but I'll be okay if not.

[Mark-Torrance]

Final check before booking. Do these times look ok?

3	London St Pancras Intl	21 Oct 24 at 13:01	Eindhoven	21 Oct 24 at 19:16	Second	£217.40
4	Birmingham New Street	21 Oct 24 at 10:17	Birmingham New Street	24 Oct 24 at 15:48	Standard	£73.00
5	Nottingham	21 Oct 24 at 10:12	Nottingham	24 Oct 24 at 16:09	Standard	£132.30
6	Eindhoven	24 Oct 24 at 08:14	Rotterdam Centraal	24 Oct 24 at 09:16	Second	£55.83
7	Rotterdam Centraal	24 Oct 24 at 10:58	London St Pancras Intl	24 Oct 24 at 13:37	Second	£173.75

And staying at the Social Hub, with breakfast.

[RConijn]

Sidenote: not sure if I read this table correctly, but these prices are insane, should be half the price at least for the london-ehv part (~220 pounds return ticket). Did you try nsinternational / deutsche bahn? (although it doesn't matter much for the budget)

[Mark-Torrance]

I've not picked cheap times, but still these always come back from our travel agent at more than I expect.

If you want something really insane, look at the prices of the UK tickets - Nottingham to London is an off-peak ticket - so cheaper. If Jens was travelling before 9:30 am the ticket price was £215 for a journey that lasts 1 hour and 45 mins.

[jensroes]

When I look at trains the prices for the 9.12 train from nottingham and the 10.12 train are about the same.

[jensroes]

I think you actually can book local trains yourself via diversity without interacting with agents. These should be the same prices as on trainline.

[Mark-Torrance]

The prices above are for the journeys we are sharing are for two people, not one. Thanks for checking Rianne - it said one person on the quote. Jens, those fare are pretty much the same as trainline, with a small booking fee.

@jensroes can I go ahead and book?

[jensroes]

I'd prefer the 9.12 train but if the price difference is so massive, 10.12 will be fine. That just means I shouldn't faff about.

[Mark-Torrance]

The tickets are off peak, not advance. So they are not booked onto a specific train. If 9:12 is off peak, then your ticket will work. Very worst case, just pay the difference on the train and claim back. The Open prices was about £100 more.

[jensroes]

One of things I have not understood about trains in this country. how do I know if 9.12 is off peak?

[Mark-Torrance]

These is a whole genetic memory thing that permits interpretation of UK rail fares. You don't stand a chance.

Normally 9:30. That 9:12 is still peak time (I've checked). The cheaper price is an Advance fare.

I could just not book you UK travel, and you claim back? I've done that lots of times. Or get the later train.

[jensroes]

Good so it's not me. That's good enough. I think I'll just chance the 10.12 train.

[Mark-Torrance]

I've got onto a Eurostar arriving at the station 12 mins before departure. Not recommended, but the 1 hour in advance thing is flexible :)

Booking now.

[RConijn]

Wohoo, looking forward to hosting you here! @jensroes -- the PhDs just use our lab spaces after office hours for band practice, apparently -- so this is what you might use as well (we should just check if there is not an experimental setup running over night those days.

[jensroes]

haha that would be great. That's what I used to do in Potsdam and even at NTU for some time.

[RConijn]

Multi-purpose those rooms - I've used them as nap room during my pregnancy as well (they have a much better couch than the dedicated nap room our university offers)