The Sound of Middle-earth -> reading from LotR

[The Might]

I'm sick of having to learn tens of pages of chemistry stuff word by word, so I took a short break to haunt through the Downs.
As I clicked on the "Powerful Tolkien experiences" thread I immediately noticed a post by Estelyn remembering important Tolkien-related moments for her.

A quote:
Oh, and that reminds me of another special reading experience that also was shared and audible, though I was sitting at my computer alone. Back in the early days of my membership here, chatting was very much a part of the fellowship of Downers. I had read about a previous voice chat which involved people reading characters and narration aloud, and we got enough of us together, despite time zone differences (in Germany, England, and the US, Canada too, IIRC), chose passages/chapters that worked for the number of people, and distributed the roles. It was amazing to put on my headphone, open my book, and hear the voices of people I'd never met personally, speaking the words I knew and loved so well. Hearing two Brits, Rimbaud and Squatter, reading the exchange between the two wizards at Orthanc with their great accents, was wonderful and memorable!

Anyone with me on this one? ;) I think it would be wonderful to have current members get together, choose passages, and read them aloud. Now, I for example, have a rather strange accent - could do a good Orc I guess - but others surely sound lovely, and even if not reading myself I would love to just listen.

Esty sums it up very well:
I think that we often don't realize how powerful Tolkien's words are when spoken aloud. He wrote with a sense of rhythm and a poetic beauty that comes across strongest when we actually hear the story. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why audio books are so popular nowadays - but wouldn't it be even better to get people together and read to and/or with each other aloud?! I find it very interesting that the powerful experiences people have shared here take place in situations like that!


The tech party is easy, Skype allows conferences with more people for example. So... I guess if there are takers we could get this going! I'm counting on your support! :)

[Inziladun]

I think it would be wonderful to have current members get together, choose passages, and read them aloud. Now, I for example, have a rather strange accent - could do a good Orc I guess - but others surely sound lovely, and even if not reading myself I would love to just listen.

I would absolutely love to do this. I confess to being quite ignorant about the technical aspects, however. I've never used Skype, and I don't even have a mic on my computer at the moment.

[The Might]

Using Skype is very easy. I can post a tutorial once enough people are interested.
A mic is however necessary, but they are really cheap these days.

[starofthedunedain]

I'd love to do something like that. Would we go through the books or just choose selections? I think it'd be fun to go through the whole thing, although that might take a long time.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Great minds, TM! Tolkien Reading Day is coming up soon, and I've posted a thread (http://www.forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=16379) about possible ways to experience reading aloud together. Perhaps enough people can get together virtually to read next Thursday, or if that doesn't work well, the weekend right afterwards could be an opportunity.

A tutorial sounds like a great idea, but first it would be good to collect participants and find a time that will work for most of them despite time zones (including daylight time in North America). Go for it - and please share your experience afterwards!

(By the way, I'm moving this thread to the Novices and Newcomers forum, where it will reach a maximum of interested readers.)

[Inziladun]

I've now laid my hands on a mic.
It would be fun to do the whole book, but time constraints might indeed be an issue.

[Thinlómien]

Sounds cool! I don't have enough time to be actively arranging this, but if you decide to do this, I'd like to be in if it fits my timetables. :)

[The Might]

starofthedunedain, I think we should first choose certain passages and if it all works well we can later on think about going through the books. But first definitely just a passage.

Esty, Tolkien Reading Day fits superbly with this idea. Hopefully it will work out until next Thursday.

Before deciding on a passage, I think the number of people willing to participate needs to be determined, in order to know how many parts we can give away. I think we should try having the reading on the 25th, probably late evening for CET so that Northamericans can participate as well.

So, to speed this up, anyone interested please fill out this simple form I've just thought of:

Username:
Role: (as in what race, or character type would best suit you, in order to come up with parts people are comfortable with)
Time: (based on your schedule on the 25th next week - if you can plan ahead a bit that is, best would be based on CET to avoin confusion)

For example:
Username: The Might
Role: Male, Gondorian/Rohirr or Orc, doubt I would be a good Elf/Wizard/Dwarf
Time: no constrictions that I know of on the 25th

Criticism and improvement ideas of the planned reading or the form are of course more than welcome!
Now all we need are Downers! :Merisu:

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Incredibly interesting idea indeed. Well, I think the only downside from my part would be that I don't have Skype on this computer, for some reason I did not want to bother myself with it and just use MSN for calling home from Finland (as it serves equally well with good connection). Well, maybe if some fellow Finnish 'Downers had it :) But let's see... maybe as for the technical part, depending how many people can do it, maybe there will be other ways how to do it...? Or whatever...

[The Might]

Well... Skype would be great because it's reliable, easy to install and use and Skype audio conferences currently support up to 25 people at a time, including the host, which is about what we would need.

Other possibilites that I am aware of are Ventrilo and TeamSpeak, both of which I've used with my gamer pals.
Ventrilo however only allows 8 people, not sure if TeamSpeak has any barriers.

Biggest problem here is that unlike with Skype where everything is directed over their servers, in Vent and TS someone needs to set up their own server. Then he needs a good connection to set it up and everyone joins in... a bit more complicated than someone adding all the other downers on Skype and then adding each of them to the audio conference.

I also don't see what downsides Skype could have.

[Pitchwife]

Great idea, TM! I haven't used Skype myself, but my wife does it all the time, chatting with her Tribal Wars friends; if I can persuade her to part with the mic for a few hours, I'd be glad to participate.

Username: Pitchwife
Role: no preferences - I'm no judge of my own accent, but I'll try my best to handle whatever you throw at me
Time: I'll probably be available from late afternoon to midnight according to my time (GMT+1), which should be six hours earlier, respectively, in CET, if I have it right. (This depends, however, on whether or not Lottie's imminent Werewolf game has started by then - I'm not much good at multitasking...)

[Eönwë]

(This depends, however, on whether or not Lottie's imminent Werewolf game has started by then - I'm not much good at multitasking...)
"Well, I'm- SHE'S A WOLF! LYNCH HER!" :p

I need to check, what I need to do, but I might be able to join this.

[The Might]

It would be nice if more people joined in! :)

[Inziladun]

Assuming the technical, networking aspects are just a minor matter to the knowledgeable, I think I could do it. Like Pitch, the impending WW game may be a factor with me though.

User Name- Inziladun

Role(s)- Dúnedain, the Mouth of Sauron(!), Rohirrim. I'm not sure about Elves, and I probably wouldn't do well as Hobbits.

Time- 2300 GMT through about 0400, during the week. Weekends should be a bit more flexible.

[mark12_30]

Does an "I really wish I could play" count...? What an awesome idea, and I'm really jealous that real life intervenes.

Can you record it as an MP3? I would love to hear it afterwards!

[Thinlómien]

I'm slightly concerned if I can participate or not... Because if we do it late European time (and especially Finnish time as we're one hour ahead of central Europe and two of Brits) I can't probably be talking aloud in this apartment 'cos my family members tend to go to sleep early. Of course, I could possibly go to Legate's place and make him use my skype too... :cool:

[Pitchwife]

So WW LXXIV has started by now, but unless I'm miscounting, Thursday evening will fall into a Night phase, so I should be able to participate after all (provided we don't start too late - I've got to get up at 5am GMT).
Any suggestions as to what passage we should pick? Depends on how many speakers we can reckon with, of course.

[Aganzir]

Yay I think this idea sounds good! I'd also be willing to participate, but my Thursday is going to be quite busy as my last lecture ends at 6pm my time (gmt +2) and I've promised to see some friends around 9pm... So my participation depends on when you're going to do it.

Also, I use Skype on Linux and it's in some ways inferior to the Windows version as it lacks some features. I've never tried conference calls yet but I think it *should* work. And as for recording the call, is it possible to do it with the full Windows version?

Well, maybe if some fellow Finnish 'Downers had it
*raises hand*
Seriously though it isn't a very big deal to install it (unless your computer is so crappy it can't run one more program :p).

Because if we do it late European time (and especially Finnish time as we're one hour ahead of central Europe and two of Brits) I can't probably be talking aloud in this apartment
Bah we Finns can have a reading session of our own. :p

But yeah in any case, I'll post my info.
Username: Aganzir
Role: annoying females or elven men (with an accent). But basically I'm fine with anything (except singing).
Time: Thu 25th: 10-14 & 16.30-19 gmt. I don't think I'll be home early enough to join in even later... But from Friday on, I have much more time and basically all my evenings (except for Sunday) are free, so if we're going to do another take, I'm in.

[The Might]

About recording, yes, there are Skype add-ons for recording, have not used one so far, but if you we do the reading I'll install one and record the whole thing.

Hope this will work out. It appears that if we do this in the evening CET Aganzir, Lommy, Legate, Pitchwife and myself could join in.
Maybe you could make it too Inziladun.

Here's my idea, hope it sounds ok - what about a scene that also took place on the 23rd in Middle-earth?
If several people join in we could do the Host of the West marching towards the Black Gate.
If only two other persons happen to join we could do Frodo and Sam towards Mount Doom, one being the narrator.

Tell me what you think of this.

[Pitchwife]

Here's my idea, hope it sounds ok - what about a scene that also took place on the 23rd in Middle-earth?
If several people join in we could do the Host of the West marching towards the Black Gate.
If only two other persons happen to join we could do Frodo and Sam towards Mount Doom, one being the narrator.

Tell me what you think of this.
There's not that much dialogue on the march to Morannon, IIRC. But why the 23rd, not the 25th?
Possible selections:
1.)The parley with the Mouth of Sauron. Roles: Narrator, Mouth, Gandalf, Pippin (interior monologue).
2.) The Cracks of Doom. Roles: Narrator, Frodo, Sam, Gollum.
3.) The beginning of The Steward and the King up to the fall of Barad-dûr. Roles: Narrator, the Warden, Éowyn, Faramir, Eagle (doesn't have to be a countertenor;)).
I'd favour the latter, as it has a female role for Agan or Lommy. What d'ya think?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

If we manage to organise this, it would be brilliant :)

I will talk to Lommy at least in person tomorrow, if she does not check this thread by then (which I assume she will anyway) and I guess we may just arrange it on our end along with Aganzir.

I would be also for the latter one, as I think it's quite nice - although I would not be even that worried about female roles. I think the girls are adaptable at least :)

As for me, of the people there I would for example enjoy the Warden, but I guess anybody can do that, or I could take the Eagle, if nobody wanted him (although it's a well open role). I have nothing in principle against the others either...

[The Might]

Ok, that sounds good.
Then let's see what we come up with in the end. ;)

[Eönwë]

Depending on the time, I'd quite like to do it.

[Thinlómien]

Ick!

I'm all for getting sleep Thursday-Friday night, so I'm not sure I can participate. Depends on the time, I guess, and the required arrangements.

But if I participate, I can do any role - that was quite proven a few years ago when Brinn visited Finland and we did a little clip (http://nogrod.xanga.com/audio/a99472114600)of the scene at the gates of Moria and somehow I ended up doing Boromir and Bill the Pony. :D And besides this is just reading so it has even less importance.

So I think our prime requirement is just that we have as many roles as readers, which might be tricky because the number of readers seems to be unsure.

[Aganzir]

I'm fine with anything, but the Steward & the King part sounds good, and I'd have nothing against being Éowyn, but yeah we're adaptable. ;)

However 16.30-19 gmt is the only time I'm available tomorrow unless my plans change... I'll let you know tomorrow.

Haha Lommy I didn't know that clip still exists! :D It was nice to hear it again... and for the record, I was holding my nose while talking (I was Frodo) so I don't think I sound quite that retarded normally. :p

[Inziladun]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to do it.

[Pitchwife]

However 16.30-19 gmt is the only time I'm available tomorrow unless my plans change... I'll let you know tomorrow.
That would be fine with me. I'll probably come home 16.00-16.30 GMT.
and for the record, I was holding my nose while talking (I was Frodo)
I could tell you were!

So, role-wise:
Agan - Éowyn
Legate - Warden (what a pity - I'd looked forward to you and Lommy as Faramir and Éowyn:))
The Might, Lommy (or Eönwë, if she can't?) and me - Narrator, Faramir, Eagle. You choose, I'll take what's left.

[Aganzir]

Legate - Warden (what a pity - I'd looked forward to you and Lommy as Faramir and Éowyn:))
Ewwww having heard what they sound like when they're being all cuddly, that's a disgusting thought! :D:p

'Éowyn, Éowyn, cuuute silli of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!' And he stooped and pushed her nose.

[The Might]

I too think Legate and Lommy should do Faramir and Éowyn. :)

Anyhoo, I'd do the Warden if Legate does Faramir. If not I can take Faramir as well.
Not that awesome a reader, so I wouldn't want to take the narrator who has quite a lot to say.

[Aganzir]

I too think Legate and Lommy should do Faramir and Éowyn. :)
...and what would you suggest I do, then? :rolleyes:

While I'm fine with being somebody else, too, I'm not entirely fond of first being allowed to choose and then told that people would like to see somebody else in that role.

Anyway I think we could maybe take turns on being the narrator. I mean, that's a lot of text for one person. Another option is that there are two (or more) narrators, because if both Lommy and Eönwë can participate, we'll be short of one role.

[Thinlómien]

I can participate if we start at 7pm GMT at the earliest because I have work before that. But it'd be cool to be in. And if I can participate at 7, Aganzir can probably too, because we were just planning (or they were planning and I was sort of with it) to see a friend then in the evening, so maybe we can postpone meeting her a bit and have a reading session first...?

Like I said, I'm fine with any role, with the exception that if Agan is Éowyn I don't want to be Faramir. That would not be funny. :p

So yeah, I can be (half of) the narrator or the eagle, if Legate wants to be the warden, Agan Éowyn and TM possibly Faramir...? (And I can be Éowyn if you insist but if Legate wants to be Warden and Agan wants to be Éowyn, I think it's better that way. :))

If the narrator and the other people don't object, I think we can have it all read by one person, if we don't have enough people to do it otherwise. I think it's better if the characters don't have the same voices as the narrator. Speaking of which, what about lines like "said Faramir", shall we omit them, or shall the character's reader say them (the narrator saying them would be ewww-y if you ask me :D)?

So, Eönwë, can you be around?

Pitch (and Eönwë), do you have any preferences about roles?

And once more about the timetables, would you think 7pm GMT is ok? I'll try to follow this thread or at least have Legate or Aganzir inform me while I'm at work or something...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Exactly, the timing is good (and I believe for everybody at least of us Finns that way), I am at the university up to 4 PM GMT if I'm counting right, but free after that.

I think if we have many people, it will be the best that two people could share the narrator's post. I would still like the Warden the most of all. Honestly I don't think I would make a good Faramir.

[Thinlómien]

If we're doing this at 7pm GMT, Greenie's also going to be around and she can do any role if we need, or just amuse us by reading some poem or something. :)

[Aganzir]

we were just planning (or they were planning and I was sort of with it) to see a friend then in the evening
Apparently Lommy has agreed with her on around 8pm gmt so we two have time until then.

Like I said, I'm fine with any role, with the exception that if Agan is Éowyn I don't want to be Faramir. That would not be funny. :p
It would. Which one would you like to be?

Speaking of which, what about lines like "said Faramir", shall we omit them
I say omit them. It would be pretty silly if it was like
Agan: "Sir"
Lommy: "she said"
Agan: "I am in great unrest et cetera"

But then again if there's some description about how a person reacts to the comment (Éowyn looked at Faramir kindly or whatever), those things should be mentioned...

If we're doing this at 7pm GMT, Greenie's also going to be around and she can do any role if we need, or just amuse us by reading some poem or something. :)
Yay that'd be cool! :D

I'm now online and talking with Pitch on Skype, is there anyone else around? If yes feel free to add me (scavengerlikeme).

[Pitchwife]

Online too.
I'm fine with Agan being Éowyn, of course (actually, having heard her talk, I must say she'll be perfect) - the other was just an idea.
As to choice of role, I don't really have a preference - I could be one of the narrators, or the Eagle, as long as you don't expect me to sing. I'll even try my luck at Faramir, if TM should be averse to doing it and you won't mind the Steward sounding a wee bit Germanish.;)
And I'm pitchwife62 on Skype.
So where is everybody?

[Aganzir]

Online too.
I'm fine with Agan being Éowyn, of course (actually, having heard her talk, I must say she'll be perfect)
Aww thanks. :)

you won't mind the Steward sounding a wee bit Germanish.
Hmm wouldn't it be funny if all the Gondorians spoke with a German accent? ;)

[Aganzir]

It's Pitch, Lommy, Greenie, Legate and me now, and we thought about starting half past (in a minute). If somebody is around NOW and would like to join, you're welcome to do so (add me: scavengerlikeme).

Sorry Might but Lommy and I can't hang around here the whole evening...

[Aganzir]

Okay we got it done now and I must say it was a lot of fun even though for me it wasn't probably as exciting as it would've been if I hadn't known anybody in advance: as it is, Pitch was the only one whose voice I hadn't heard previously.

In the end I was Éowyn, Pitch Faramir, Legate the Warden, Greenie the Eagle and Lommy the narrator (assuming I didn't get the sisters' voices mixed up), and everybody did a great job. And we didn't get it recorded because all of us are quite new to Skype and didn't bother to go through all the trouble.

I'll have to leave now, just thought I'd share this with you. :)

And we'll have to do more of these, really.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

In the end I was Éowyn, Pitch Faramir, Legate the Warden, Greenie the Eagle and Lommy the narrator (assuming I didn't get the sisters' voices mixed up)

Yes, it was exactly like that :)

I must say it was really tremendous fun and only a pity The Might or anybody else could not join at that point, but no matter, this can be - and I am actually positive that it must be - organised someday again. It was wonderful and I definitely want to experience something like that again (with both Pitch and also some others whom I didn't have the chance to hear yet :) ). I guess this time it must have been the most interesting experience for Pitchwife, because as Agan said the rest of us all know each other, but I must say that it was interesting enough for me to hear Pitchwife's real voice, which is - as we have consequently agreed with Lommy and Greenie - very pleasant and I must say he did a very good Faramir, even considering the fact that we did not try to make any "professional" acting or anything like that.

I should say for the record that the passage we have read in the end was the first part of the chapter "The Steward and the King" in RotK, up to the point before the victorious hosts come back from Cormallen, resp. up to the sentence "And she remained there until King Éomer came."

Anyway, this was probably the best way to honor Tolkien's Reading Day - and the destruction of the Ring - and I must thank again everybody for participation. It was fun!

[The Might]

No problem, happy to see this all worked out well in the end. :D

I'm the caretaker for our student hostel for this semester unfortunately and we had some technical difficulties in our house, so I had to take care about it and could not attend.

Looking forward to next time though!

[Pitchwife]

Anyway, this was probably the best way to honor Tolkien's Reading Day - and the destruction of the Ring - and I must thank again everybody for participation. It was fun!
Yes it was (fun, interesting experience and everything):D! Thank you all!
A little bit awkward too at the beginning, when Agan (the one I'd had the least interaction with on the Downs) called me and I discovered my spoken English had got a bit rusty and I was somewhat at a loss what to talk about (except Werewolf), and while we were all fiddling about trying to figure out the mechanics of a conference call on Skype, but we got over all that, and the reading itself was just wonderful.
And for the record, if I were the Witch-King and Agan told me to "Begone, foul dwimmerlaik!", it would definitely give me pause...

To sum it up, there must be a next time!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Kudos to each of you for making the effort to organize this virtual event! Please do keep us all informed of future plans: I, for one, would be interested in joining in - "though I do not know the way" - if someone explains the technical aspects to me in small, understandable steps.

[Aganzir]

A little bit awkward too at the beginning, when Agan (the one I'd had the least interaction with on the Downs) called me and I discovered my spoken English had got a bit rusty and I was somewhat at a loss what to talk about (except Werewolf)
Haha actually it was you who called me (I just added you on my contact list). :p But yeah I know Skype can be a bit confusing at first (it took me a while to learn to master it, and I still keep having problems with it although they are rather due to the fact that I have Linux).
And I didn't even notice that your English was supposed to be rusty.

And for the record, if I were the Witch-King and Agan told me to "Begone, foul dwimmerlaik!", it would definitely give me pause...
*likes* Thanks!
I've never thought of my voice as anything special, but a while ago somebody told me that if he ever made a Silmarillion movie/play/musical/whatever, he'd have me do Ungoliant's voice... I can't deny that comments like these stroke my ego. :smokin:

I, for one, would be interested in joining in - "though I do not know the way" - if someone explains the technical aspects to me in small, understandable steps.
You need Skype (http://www.skype.com/intl/en/welcomeback/), a microphone, and Downers on your contact list. Despite everything I've said earlier in this post, Skype is relatively easy to use, but if you need assistance, I'll be happy to help you as best I can. :)

Anyway, more than one person has said that we should do this again. How about making it a regular event? As long as there is interest, we could have a reading session, say, once or twice a month (something like each month's first Friday, or whenever people have time). Opinions?

[Pitchwife]

You need Skype (http://www.skype.com/intl/en/welcomeback/), a microphone, and Downers on your contact list. Despite everything I've said earlier in this post, Skype is relatively easy to use, but if you need assistance, I'll be happy to help you as best I can. :)
Really, it's not that difficult. I'm pretty backward technologically myself (I've only discovered YouTube this year!), and if I can do it, everybody can.

Anyway, more than one person has said that we should do this again. How about making it a regular event? As long as there is interest, we could have a reading session, say, once or twice a month (something like each month's first Friday, or whenever people have time). Opinions?
Great idea! Most definitely yes. What about the 25th of each month (or whatever viable date falls next to it)? Or any Friday or Saturday would be a good idea too, as most people won't have to get up early next morning.

[Gwathagor]

Can't believe I missed this! Dang dang dang.

Count me in for the next session.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Great idea! Most definitely yes. What about the 25th of each month (or whatever viable date falls next to it)? Or any Friday or Saturday would be a good idea too, as most people won't have to get up early next morning.

We have been actually talking about this a bit yesterday with Lommy in Nogrod's place, and I have raised basically the same question - that in my opinion the only problem is to have any set date, otherwise it will fall apart, as people will be just like "yes, we definitely have to repeat that some time! If that's ever done, count me in!"

In my opinion it would be the best to have some good occasions triggered by special days, like this one was. Totally typical would be to read on days like the 22th September etc., you get the point... it will also nicely give us hints as to what kind of texts we could read (as it was in this occassion). Of course the bad thing is that right now we have entered the part of the year when more or less nothing happened at least in the LotR timeline. However with lack of visible dates we could just as well use the 25th, as Pitch proposed (or maybe 23rd or 24th would be better, as they are not followed by Mondays). Or another possibility was something Nogrod had mentioned yesterday, if there is some date like e.g. the release date of some book or something, that might also be a nice occassion.

So, whichever of these - let us decide. There is of course still quite a lot of time to discuss that, also to discuss what to read. I think some part from the start of the Hobbit might be nice, for instance, as we'd fit the timetable.

[The Might]

I fully agree with what Legate just said.
Furthermore, I feel we shouldn't do this too often, otherwise it won't be as special anymore.
However, I guess once a month is ok, 12 times in one year sounds like something that won't become boring in time.
For example late April something to do with Aragorn's coronation?

[Gwathagor]

I fully agree with what Legate just said.
Furthermore, I feel we shouldn't do this too often, otherwise it won't be as special anymore.
However, I guess once a month is ok, 12 times in one year sounds like something that won't become boring in time.
For example late April something to do with Aragorn's coronation?


Let's do it!

[Aganzir]

Also, do people prefer weekends or does anything go? If both Europeans and Americans (and Asians etc.) are going to participate, either we should stay up very late or Americans should try to find some time during day. Considering that I'm inclined to vote for weekends.

How about something like Saturday the 24th of April as the next reading session?

Aragorn's coronation sounds fine enough as well as something from the Hobbit. If somebody has any time to spare, they could maybe search for more good passages and post them here (the situation & the number of speakers) for future reference.

[PrinceOfTheHalflings]

Sorry I missed it. I'll try to make the next one!

[The Might]

I agree, the 24th sounds great, and I also agree that we could also do the Hobbit instead.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I agree, the 24th sounds great, and I also agree that we could also do the Hobbit instead.

Yes. So let's set 24th as the "base date"? If there are any problems or demands, we can change it, but let's set it for now so that we have a stable date?

I was thinking that e.g. the Trolls in the Hobbit would be a nice scene (although... we should've better picked some 'Downers with Londoners' accent... on the other hand, with a bunch of international people, the accents might be even more peculiar and interesting). Depending of course on how many people we have, and we might as well set the length of the scene also depending on that, but I think that one's pretty lively one, and might be fun. :)

[Gwathagor]

If we're missing an certain accent among the participants, I can probably feign it.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

If we're missing an certain accent among the participants, I can probably feign it.

Nah, I think there's no need to and it's even better that way. No limits to performance - Tolkien could not have written about Bert having Finnish, Tom German and William Czech accent, since the audience would not be familiar with them and thus it would prove confusing, however, we can have any accents no problem... even American ones ;) :p

[The Might]

Firstly, congrats on 5000 posts, Legate! Here's to the next 5000!

Secondly, I just wanted to let you know I'm probably going to miss the next reading. :( We're organising a party for the 23rd and the 24th is going to be clean-up day. Still, maybe it will work out and I can join in.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

This sounds like a fabulous idea; I'd love to join in, but I couldn't be informed on the Downs. . .

You wouldn't have to be friends with everyone on Skype to do this, right? I know that I am friends with Aganzir and Eonwe, but other than that. . . how does this work?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Firstly, congrats on 5000 posts, Legate! Here's to the next 5000!

Secondly, I just wanted to let you know I'm probably going to miss the next reading. :( We're organising a party for the 23rd and the 24th is going to be clean-up day. Still, maybe it will work out and I can join in.
Thanks, Miggy! And well, a pity, but if we are planning to keep doing this in the future... or perhaps if people were okay with it, we could slightly alter the date, if it was so that it would fit for everybody then?

This sounds like a fabulous idea; I'd love to join in, but I couldn't be informed on the Downs. . .

You wouldn't have to be friends with everyone on Skype to do this, right? I know that I am friends with Aganzir and Eonwe, but other than that. . . how does this work?

It's enough to be friend with at least somebody, I think, and in any case, you can add the others later on if it's needed. It's just important to have a version of Skype in which you can make conference calls, but then I believe probably each of them can do that.

[Aganzir]

I had almost forgotten about this...

So the next reading is planned for tomorrow. Anyone still interested? And what are we going to read? Aragorn's coronation, something from the Hobbit (eg. the trolls)? Other suggestions? And what time? At least for me some time in the evening GMT would be best, but then I don't necessarily have to read anything as I had quite a big role last time (I can just listen, unless there are very many roles, and if the time doesn't work out for me, I can drop out).

Pitchwife
Esty
Gwath
Legate
PrinceOfTheHalflings
TGEW
Agan
Might?

Last time we did this, I couldn't start a conference call (or, I could, but I couldn't hear what the others were saying) - I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I use Skype on Linux and it's a much older & simpler version. So we should choose somebody who adds all the participants on their contact list and starts the call.

[Gwathagor]

I'm busy in the evening (6 pm PST), but otherwise open tomorrow.

Let's look through our copies of LotR and find a bit with 7 or 8 roles to read.

[Pitchwife]

I had almost forgotten about this...
Me too.
It'd be lovely to do something from The Hobbit, but my problem with that is... er, well, it's a bit embarrassing, but... after all these years, I still don't own a copy of TH in the original English, only a German translation.:o I tried to get one from my library, but they're all taken at the moment.
Don't let that keep you back, though. Like Agan, I had a large role last time, and I'll enjoy myself perfectly just listening.
If you decide to do something from LotR, on the other hand, I'm definitely in, and I'd be more or less available all day.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I am going to see Lommy tomorrow afternoon (basically afternoon GMT), but I think that will not necessarily be a problem but it might be even a bonus - it only depends, however, which time we (meaning now we Downers here) agree on (probably late-ish will make more sense, but that still depends... I think I will learn more about that from Lommy at most tomorrow if she does not pop up here herself. In the worst case, you can have me only as backup).

I am wondering about a possible dialogue with that many people there (Council of Elrond and all this stuff comes to mind, but it has generally rather long monologues from people, so maybe rather not), but I think let's first see how many people remember/forget about this. I will think about it. That said, however, if there's some time collision, nobody says that two separate things could not be arranged, and then each group might refer to the other what it was like :)

[Eönwë]

Hmm... I may well have time to do this tomorrow, depending on the time.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I don't think that I can do it tomorrow, due to prom and dress shopping, but I'd love to go another time. If that's alright. :)

[Pitchwife]

If we're going to do this today, it's probably time to get serious about it.

Troll scene from Hobbit - speakers required:

Narrator
Bilbo
William
Bert
Tom
Gandalf
*Thorin
*one or two other Dwarves
(* depending on how much context is to be included)

Aragorn's coronation - speakers required:

Narrator
Ioreth
Faramir
Aragorn
Gandalf
*Éomer
*Éowyn
*Frodo
(* if we go all the way to end of chapter)

Available speakers as of now:

?Pitch (see my last - we could of course do a bilingual version and have one of the Trolls speak German:D)
?Esty (not sure whether she's familiarized herself with Skype yet)
Gwath (looks like it's going to happen sometime in the European evening, if at all, so with PST being 8 hours behind GMT IIRC you should be fine)
Legate
PrinceOfTheHalflings
Agan
?Might
Eönwë

[Aganzir]

Thanks for posting those, Pitch. I suppose you could always download the Hobbit as a PDF file but then, those are usually illegal... I don't know if it makes a difference that you only plan to use it for this and have bought a German copy, though. But naturally I wouldn't suggest anything that goes against the rules of the Downs, so if you can't get a copy of the Hobbit, we could just do the coronation?

I'll be home for the whole evening, most likely, so I'm fine with any time. How would something like 8pm BST (British Summer Time, GMT+1) sound? That'd be 12pm PDT (that's your timezone Gwath, right?).

[Pitchwife]

I suppose you could always download the Hobbit as a PDF file but then, those are usually illegal...
Thanks for leading my innocent feet astray on the path of crime!;) It's actually out there on the web as an online e-book... Illegal as hell, to be sure, but I guess my conscience wouldn't object to using that for a one-time purpose, and I'll swear a Feanorian oath not to download or save it and to delete the bookmark once we're done.

I'll be home for the whole evening, most likely, so I'm fine with any time. How would something like 8pm BST (British Summer Time, GMT+1) sound? That'd be 12pm PDT (that's your timezone Gwath, right?).
Perfect for me.

[Aganzir]

Alright... I wonder how many people are around later. I don't have any preferences about a role although I don't think I'd make a credible troll, for instance. If enough people show up I can just listen but if not, well, I can take whatever there's left.

[Gwathagor]

I'll be home for the whole evening, most likely, so I'm fine with any time. How would something like 8pm BST (British Summer Time, GMT+1) sound? That'd be 12pm PDT (that's your timezone Gwath, right?).

12 pm PST? Great.

[Pitchwife]

Right, I think I've just found out how to host a conference call. So anybody who is going to join and doesn't have their Skype name in their profile (which seems to be everybody but Agan, Gwath and me), just send me a Skype message (by clicking on the little Skype icon down under my avvie) so I can add you.

[Pitchwife]

Agan and me are online and having a little chat on Skype. Anybody else around?
Gwath, I've sent you a contact request, in case you haven't noticed.

[Aganzir]

Agan and me are online and having a little chat on Skype. Anybody else around?
Hmm why does this situation feel familiar...? :D

Anyway I suppose we're just going to wait until a suffiecient number of participants shows up.

[Gwathagor]

I'm on.

[Aganzir]

12 pm PST? Great.
Aren't you on daylight saving time (which should be PDT as far as I know)?

[Gwathagor]

Oh. Maybe?

[Oddwen]

...hi! Mind if I jump in and be all awkward?

[Aganzir]

Please do Oddwen! :D Just add one (or more) of us on Skype and that's it.

[Oddwen]

I believe I have all of you now, but nobody is showing as online.


edit: Until I post this of course...

[Thinlómien]

If you need one more person, pick me! (I'm thinking of an excuse not to reread the ww thread... :D)

[Boromir88]

Next time you do this, definitely get a hold of me. Terrible day to be away from my lovely internet connection at my apartment where I have all skype, cameras, and microphones available. Ah well, next time, next time. :D

[Thinlómien]

Hey people who might be reading this! We're currently online and soon start doing another reading. If you want to join, act quickly and add someone in Skype (I'm thinlomien, for example). :)

[Oddwen]

We came, we talked, we CONQUERED LIFE ITSELF

In other words, it was wonderful. We have great talent and it was great fun.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

It was once again a wonderful experience of reading, I have been present only for the latter part when we were reading the Voice of Saruman (myself taking the part of Gimli and Merry). A few highlights: Saruwife (as opposed to Saruman) is somebody to whose Voice you could really listen for hours, and we had also a very cool Gwandalf. But also Théoddwen was rather good and Lommy's Éomer too, sort of young and brash. Aganzir Wormtongue should perhaps have had more lines (but she was a good Pippin too). Our poor narrator Kath, unfortunately, could not, after the reading, speak to us anymore because of exhausting her voice.

We had also brilliant sound effects, especially as we were getting closer to the end, with Saruman's staff breaking and then Palantír falling on the stairs, the stair cracking, the Palantír rolling on and at last falling down from there, the atmosphere was getting dense! :D

Later then, we still spent some time chatting as people were one by one leaving to their beds, eventually leaving me, Eönwë (who was present in the first reading, I understand, but not present when I came, and he later came back), Oddwen and Pitchwife. We ended up discussing deep philosophical things and linguistics... all related to Fungoltch and Shcmurt... in my case, it was around 4 AM when we called it over. But it was a very deep and enlightening debate. (as you can surely imagine ;) )

But that said... this only confirmed the decision that we should continue doing this regularly. So, same time next month?

[Eönwë]

It's the first time I've actually talked on Skype to a BDer, and it was definitely amazing. Conquering life itself is an understatement, Oddwen.

The first reading of the troll scene was brilliant, though I assume that, like Gandalf, their "art improved with age."

And next month!? Next week! Though it probably isn't a good idea to do it too often.


There's only one thing left to add:
Moltch?

[Pitchwife]

Yeah, it was incredible! As has been said, we started with the Troll scene; Oddwen was our narrator, Agan, Lommy and me were the Trolls, Kath was Bilbo, Eönwë Gandalf, and Gwath did all the Dwarves. When Legate joined us a short while later, we decided this was much too good to stop now and plunged right into the Voice of Saruman.
For the record, Eönwë's voice is very pleasant too, as is Oddwen's. And everybody else was fabulous as well. I couldn't but shrink back from my computer when Gwathdalf dismissed me from the balcony of Orthanc!
The following chat was quite unforgettable. Among other things, we discovered the true nature of the nameless things gnawing the roots of the world under Moria and found out which language Ilúvatar must have been speaking in the beginning (hint: see post title:p). Not to forget we all managed to pronounce Ibrin's full name (brag, brag:D).
Yep, let's definitely do it again next month!

[Gwathagor]

Aye. Twas a grand time had by all.

[Loslote]

I'd like to join in next time.

Username: loslotesnowflower
Role: Either a female or a young person...I have a very high-pitched voice.
Time: The 25th of May should be fine whenever, because I should be done with school by then, but it's a while away so I don't know anything more specific. :)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Sorry I couldn't respond to your call, since the list included me. I do have Skype now, so that wouldn't be a problem, but I was away at the German Tolkien Seminar and wasn't online to read about this meeting. However, please keep me on the list - I'll try to make it happen next time. Ioreth would have been great fun for me to speak!! Perhaps we could do the Houses of Healing next time? There are lots of roles there.

Aside from that, I'm willing to speak any character necessary or to narrate.

[Oddwen]

The coronation of Aragorn was one of our choices before we changed to Voice of Saruman, we could plan on that next time. Ioreth has a narrative there. :Merisu:

[Pitchwife]

++Esty for Ioreth

[Thinlómien]

It was indeed wonderful. :D The thing I will remember the longest, no doubt, were Pitchwife-Saruman's screams and maniac laughter. :D

And you should definitely count me in for the next reading unless it conincides with something else I'm doing. :)

[The Might]

Hopefully next time will work out for me as well, then again May doesn't look too promising either...

I'm trying to find an easy method to record Skype conversations, however so far I have been unsuccessful. It should work with something like Audacity I guess, by recording everything that your sound card plays out plus what you speak into the mic.

[Oddwen]

Doing the Google, it seems Audacity will only record what you say. The program i-Sound might work, I've used that at my part-time job to record streams off the internet.

[Pitchwife]

...and maybe we could try a little bit serious advance planning this time?

So what about next weekend (preferably Friday or Saturday maybe, for those who have to get up early on week days)?
Aragorn's coronation has been on the schedule for a while and is still undone. I posted a roles list for that a page ago (would be great if Ioreth Telcontar were available!). But other suggestions are also welcome, of course.

So, who's in?

[Gwathagor]

Friday works for me if we're doing it around the same time. Maybe even Saturday.

[Eönwë]

I might well be able to be there for this...

Also, I think this (http://www.prettymay.net/callrecorder/index.htm)can do it, though the free version only works for up to 15 minutes.

[Oddwen]

Saturday would be awesome, or even Friday evening for me, which would be early in the morning for the rest of you.

[Loslote]

I should be able to on either day. :)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm sorry - this is a holiday weekend, so I will have guests here. Alas, Ioreth hath no time! I will not give up hope though - it will work out someday.

[The Might]

Again, I unfortunately have no time at all to spare this weekend... I wonder when I'll finally get some peace and calm here.

[Pitchwife]

Esty, TM, don't worry, your day will come!
I'd prefer Saturday, but Friday would be possible as well. Or maybe even Sunday, as Monday is a holiday (where I live at least - don't know about the US though)? And about the same time as the last one - evening GMT = American afternoon = about noonish for Lottie? Or maybe later? (I don't mind staying up late, but 'early in the morning' sounds gruesome - sorry, Oddwen!*insert yawning smiley*).
About the choice of text - I'd be inclined to postpone the coronation until such time as Esty is available to do Ioreth, but what about other opinions? On the other hand, seeing how the second half of the last reading was successfully cobbled together on the spot, we can decide about that ad hoc depending on how many people actually show up.
Moldutch?

[Gwathagor]

It looks as though Saturday may work better for me as well.

[Loslote]

Sunday wouldn't work very well for me, but about noonish my time works for either Friday or Saturday. :)

[Eönwë]

So... when are we doing this?

[Laurinquë]

So... when are we doing this?

Indeed. I'm interested in joining whenever it starts. My Skype name is robynhalloran.

[Eönwë]

OK, well if anyone is reading this and wants to participate, log onto Skype now and we can start!

If not, there's always tomorrow...

[Pitchwife]

Well, it looks like tomorrow is going to work best for most people... presumably around the same time of day/night/whatever-it-happens-to-be-for-you, unless there are any objections?

[Gwathagor]

Sure.

[Loslote]

That works. :)

[Pitchwife]

Btw Eönwë, I just find that I unexplicably didn't get you on my contact list last time around. Could you please amend this?

[Eönwë]

Btw Eönwë, I just find that I unexplicably didn't get you on my contact list last time around. Could you please amend this?

I have now added my skype account to my profile. Hope that works.

[Eönwë]

Ok everybody, lads and lasses, ladies and gentlemen, barrow-wights and bodyless spirits!

We're doing it tomorrow at about this time, give or take an hour or two either way.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

They talked me into it. So, I'll be there... if I remember. :(
If I open Skype up as soon as I get home, I should be okay. :D

[Pitchwife]

Yay! Hookbill's been assimilated!

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Is anyone going to record these readings, by the way? :)

[Oddwen]

I found a couple of programs that can do this, however my computer is being unreliable and crashing right now so I will share them with you all and someone will be able to make it work.

Recording with Audacity (http://tryingtofollow.com/2006/03/31/5-steps-to-record-a-skype-call-with-audacity-free/)

Additional info with Audacity (http://weblogs.asp.net/jasonsalas/archive/2005/05/03/405334.aspx)

Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net)(recording and editing program, it's a good program anyway)

A free recording software (http://voipcallrecording.com/), haven't checked it out yet.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I have recording software, I just can't record from system on this computer. If I set up Skpye on my laptop I could push it. ..

[Thinlómien]

Poke me by PM or something when you're doing something, I should be glued to the computer for the next few hours since there's some essay-writing to do (and if I skip that, I feel like continuing a story I have written here, so I should be around anyway) but I'd also like to go to sleep early, so I might be already offline if you start late... So, actually, in case BD shows I'm online, poke me on this thread or by PM, if it shows I'm offline, don't bother about me because I'm (at least almost) asleep. :)

[Pitchwife]

Oddwen, there's 5 of us now. I'd like to add you, but you seem to be offline on Skype.

[Oddwen]

Skype is updating now, not sure how long that will take. *sigh*

[Thinlómien]

In other words, if someone else wants to join, do it now. :) There's me, Pitch, Oddie, Lottie, Lauri, Eönwë and Hookbill around now. (Start by adding me - skype name: thinlomien - as a friend.)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

That was fun. Though, those who were Skyping seemed to have descended into madness by the time that I came 'round.

I shall definitely be doing that again! :D

[Oddwen]

This month's reading consisted of the encounter of Our Four Hobbits with Old Man Willow and Tom Bombadil, consisting of Loslote, Pitchwife, Laurinque, TGEW, Hookbill the Goomba and his kazoo, Eonwe, Thinlomien and Oddwen. I believe that Eonwe made recordings of the event, and may soon upload selected selections suitable for everyone's ears.

So this time afterwards we didn't get into the deep philosophical discussions of the deep places of the world like last time. Our topic was of subjects less keen and lofty in delight but deeper and nearer to mortal pants. I mean Heart.

It was amazing once again. This time next month quite a few of us will be involved in the visiting of our Finniship of the Ring, so the next time may be pushed way back.

I've talked with Pitch Tombadil, Eonwe, and Lommy before, but with Lotty, Rinky, TGEWy and Hooky I hadn't had the pleasure yet. Everyone was awesome and hilarious and very fun to talk with. :)

[Laurinquë]

It was brilliant! It shone like a nuclear reactor in meltdown.

The best part was when Hookbill fixed Skype with is his sonic screwdriver. And when Eönwë uncloaked. I had to leave about half way through, so I'm not sure what madness everyone got up to after I left. If it was as mad as it was when I departed (and we were on a downward spiral of decreasing canonicity) then it must have been bedlam by the time it finally came to its timely demise. :p

Did you get to record the whole thing Eönwë? I must hear what happened next! Also TGEW and I think your accent is really posh. :D

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Ah, what a pity, what a pity I missed this one! Especially with such a special cast. But, well, my internet connection decided to pick yesterday of all days to die out, be repaired, or be on strike, whichever of it it was I am not sure. Alas! Hopefully next time then - and hopefully with good amount of people as well.

[Gwathagor]

Sorry I missed it. I was at an unexpected wine tasting.

[Pitchwife]

The cast:

Lottie - narrator
Oddwen - Frodo, zither (?)
Eönwë - Sam, recording engineer
Hookbill - Merry, kazoo, gratuitous sound effects
Laurinquë - Pippin
Pitch - Tom Bombadil
Lommy - Goldberry

All of the above - additional weird sound effects, general mayhem

That was fun. Though, those who were Skyping seemed to have descended into madness by the time that I came 'round.
That would be presupposing we started somewhere else to descend from...

The best part was when Hookbill fixed Skype with his sonic screwdriver. And when Eönwë uncloaked.
Not to forget Hookbill's musical autobiography; and the light-saber duel in Eönwë's shower; and the Gandalf limericks (utterly unsuitable for publication, alas). And everything else.

On a slightly more canonical note, we discovered that architecture in Middle-earth was way more advanced than is commonly recognized. Has anybody ever noticed that Tom's and Goldberry's home included a penthouse? (Go check, no kidding.)

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

These sessions sound quite entertaining. I just started getting acquainted with Skype, so perhaps if I can figure it out and there's a next time.... :D

[Oddwen]

These sessions sound quite entertaining. I just started getting acquainted with Skype, so perhaps if I can figure it out and there's a next time.... :D


Definitely! You're almost an honorary member, since anyone who can pronounce your name will gratuitously throw it into the conversation somewhere. :p

Also, om nom nom.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Definitely! You're almost an honorary member, since anyone who can pronounce your name will gratuitously throw it into the conversation somewhere. :p.

For some strange reason, that doesn't surprise me. :D

[Loslote]

Not to forget Hookbill's musical autobiography; and the light-saber duel in Eönwë's shower; and the Gandalf limericks (utterly unsuitable for publication, alas). And everything else.

Unsuitable for publication on a family friendly site, you mean. They are perfectly suitable for publication in some place with lesser regulations and a love of uncloaking jokes. ;) And I thought it was his toilet, not his shower...:eek:

[Laurinquë]

Unsuitable for publication on a family friendly site, you mean. They are perfectly suitable for publication in some place with lesser regulations and a love of uncloaking jokes. ;) And I thought it was his toilet, not his shower...:eek:

I thought that he had thrown his computer in the Thames!

[Loslote]

I thought that he had thrown his computer in the Thames!

No, that was Hookbill throwing Eonwe's dead body in a resevoir to hide the evidence. They can't prove anything. :Merisu:

[Oddwen]

And I thought it was his toilet, not his shower...:eek:


Oh no, it was definitely lightsabers in the shower. While skydiving.

[Loslote]

Oh no, it was definitely lightsabers in the shower. While skydiving.

Oh, right! I'd forgotten the skydiving part. Was this before or after a train ran over his house?

[Pitchwife]

Yay Ibrin! Another drone for the collective! Resistance is futile.

Gwath, never mind, I just hope the wine was good.:)

No, that was Hookbill throwing Eonwe's dead body in a resevoir to hide the evidence. They can't prove anything. :Merisu:
Didn't he end up burying the corpse in the sky because they were least likely to look there?
*quickly ducks away lest Esty mistake him for a tasty nut*

[Laurinquë]

Oh, right! I'd forgotten the skydiving part. Was this before or after a train ran over his house?

Was that the same train that ran over Lommy and Oddwen's houses? Or were they attacked by a stampede of oliphaunts? That's what it sounded like to me. :p

[Aganzir]

Definitely! You're almost an honorary member, since anyone who can pronounce your name will gratuitously throw it into the conversation somewhere.
Hey I did that last time I participated! :p (For the record, I should also be able to write it correctly. ;))

Anyway sounds like you had fun, I would have liked to join but I wasn't anywhere near a computer so no can do. Looking forward to hearing the recordings, though! :p

[Eönwë]

A quick note first- The last software that Oddwen linked sort of worked, but because it messed up my Skype (made the call just sound like short blocks of sound, etc., and I think this happened to Oddwen too (and it may have had a virus), I had to uninstall it, so the large files of sound containing most of the call(s) are gone, and seem to have overwritten by the software as a large act of revenge so I can't even recover it).

Anyway, as I didn't realise this software had been working until the end, I recorded with the free one that I found, but it only records 15-minute sections, and at first didn't record my voice. So there are bits and pieces of the call that I do have.

OK... so here are some of the more... normal... recordings:

LOTR reading 1 (http://eonwe-kalmo.xanga.com/audio/122493893953/)(The Old Forest) - I was in this one, but for some reason the software only started recording my voice at a later time, so there are a few gaps in it.
LOTR reading 2 (http://eonwe-kalmo.xanga.com/audio/d41263893965/) (In the House of Tom Bombadil)- I'm not in here, so it hasn't got any strange gaps

General discussion (http://eonwe-kalmo.xanga.com/audio/bff3b3893986/) (before it went... erm...)

[Oddwen]

The last software that Oddwen linked sort of worked, but because it messed up my Skype (made the call just sound like short blocks of sound, etc., and I think this happened to Oddwen too (and it may have had a virus)

Aww, dangit, sorry. :( It had been recommended in a couple of places. Hopefully next time we will have the Magic Goomba and his Recording Computer of Doom to assist us.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I think I've got some software that will work. I'll probably have to test it out before hand, though. But hopefully... :)

[Laurinquë]

Lottie said something about having another Skype call sometime near the end of June. When exactly is this set to occur? Or was that decided on at all?

[Loslote]

Lottie said something about having another Skype call sometime near the end of June. When exactly is this set to occur? Or was that decided on at all?

I think we were considering having another one around the 25th again...for me to be there, though, it'd have to be before the 28th. And I don't think the Finns will be able to make it at all. :(

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

They probably won't, but I will :) 25th is Friday this month, so that would be the "default" date - if people preferred e.g. 26th, however, the schedule could be changed accordingly... it will be nice to get as many people as possible :)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

They probably won't, but I will :) 25th is Friday this month, so that would be the "default" date - if people preferred e.g. 26th, however, the schedule could be changed accordingly... it will be nice to get as many people as possible :)
Hmm. If it is on the 26th I have to pick up Lauri from the airport. I guess it would depend on what time it happened. I might be able to do the 25th, though. Not sure. . .

[Pitchwife]

25th or 26th would both be feasible for me.
IIRC Oddwen mentioned she'd be meeting with the Finns around that time, so I guess she won't be available either. Don't know about Eönwë, but I don't really see him passing it up if he can possibly make it.

[Loslote]

I'm pretty sure both dates work for me. And really, Pitchie, I can't see anyone passing it up if they can possibly make it! ;)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Maybe we could do it on the 27th?

[Laurinquë]

Maybe we could do it on the 27th?

The 27th would be good, though I'm not sure how Tabby and I will do it when we're at the same location. I suppose you'll just have to put up with a shared microphone. :p

[Loslote]

I'd be busy on the 27th - friend from Virginia coming up, get to see her once a year, all that fun stuff.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I'd be busy on the 27th - friend from Virginia coming up, get to see her once a year, all that fun stuff.Oh dear. Then we shant do it then.

[The Might]

27th would be the only good date for me that weekend...

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

So, are we doing another conversation tomorrow, the 27th? It would be good to know. :)

[Pitchwife]

Oops - I'm afraid this whole business has rather slipped from my mind in the last couple of days.:o I won't be able to hang around as long as the last times, but if there's something happening not too late in the American afternoon/European evening, do give me a ring!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Oops - I'm afraid this whole business has rather slipped from my mind in the last couple of days.:o I won't be able to hang around as long as the last times, but if there's something happening not too late in the American afternoon/European evening, do give me a ring!

Ooops, the same. I actually wanted to post a reminder here a few days ago, but I forgot it... so here we go. Well, there is still a possibility to do something... but not sure how many people could participate and all... and when... and so on.

[Pitchwife]

Well, I'm here, if anybody else is.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Well, I'm going to pick Lauri up from the airport today and if we did something today, I couldn't do it until after 15.30 Washington time (or 23.30 Britain time).
So were we doing something?

[Pitchwife]

So were we doing something?

Not yet, it seems.
Well, I'm going to pick Lauri up from the airport today and if we did something today, I couldn't do it until after 15.30 Washington time (or 23.30 Britain time).
I'm afraid it'll get rather late for me then, unless we make it a quickie - say till 01.00 GMT at the latest; but you can always go on without me, of course.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I'm going to give it a shot.
Can't promise much as there are some internet problems in the village, but I'll see what can be achieved!

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Not yet, it seems.

I'm afraid it'll get rather late for me then, unless we make it a quickie - say till 01.00 GMT at the latest; but you can always go on without me, of course.
If we were going to do something, who would be involved?

EDIT: Are Pitchwife and Hookbill the only ones who would be able to do it now?

[Pitchwife]

If we were going to do something, who would be involved?
At the moment it looks like you, me and Hookbill, and possibly Legate, too. TM said he'd have time today, but I've no idea how to contact him on Skype.:confused:

[Hookbill the Goomba]

At the moment it looks like you, me and Hookbill, and possibly Legate, too. TM said he'd have time today, but I've no idea how to contact him on Skype.:confused:

I don't have Legate on Skype, so just add me to your conversation. I'll try and record some of it if you like. Not sure if it will work, though. I may have to experiment. :)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

At the moment it looks like you, me and Hookbill, and possibly Legate, too. TM said he'd have time today, but I've no idea how to contact him on Skype.:confused:
Is anybody friends with The Might? I'm not. I don't know if you and I are contacts. :confused: As I said, I'm picking Lauri up from the airport in about two hours, I could do it before then, but then I'd have to leave and come back.

EDIT: Every time I post, Hookbill has posted while I was posting.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Alas! I don't think I can participate today. Very sorry, but... tired, getting up early tomorrow, everything... not able to focus very well at the moment. Hope to be able to participate later, though... although the holidays might shuffle things a bit now... but anyway, at most in September :(

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Alas! I don't think I can participate today. Very sorry, but... tired, getting up early tomorrow, everything... not able to focus very well at the moment. Hope to be able to participate later, though... although the holidays might shuffle things a bit now... but anyway, at most in September :(That's too bad.

So, is something happening right now? I'm still a bit confused.

[Pitchwife]

Is anybody friends with The Might? I'm not.
Me neither...
I don't know if you and I are contacts. :confused:
If I remember correctly from last time, you're 'typically-British-beverage-in-eternity', right? I've just sent you a contact request.
As I said, I'm picking Lauri up from the airport in about two hours, I could do it before then, but then I'd have to leave and come back.
Well, the stars don't seem to smile on us at the moment. You could always try to start something later in the evening with Lauri, Hookbill and whoever is around and feels like dropping in... Otherwise, let's just try again in another month.

[Pitchwife]

So, is something happening right now? I'm still a bit confused.
Not really, apart from Hookbill and me having a little text chat.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

If I remember correctly from last time, you're 'typically-British-beverage-in-eternity', right? I've just sent you a contact request.
Indeed I am. :)

Well, the stars don't seem to smile on us at the moment. You could always try to start something later in the evening with Lauri, Hookbill and whoever is around and feels like dropping in... Otherwise, let's just try again in another month.Well, talking with Hookbill is always fun; I'd be happy to do it even if there weren't any other Downers around. But I would love to actually do some reading this time; last time I was too late. I suppose that it is up to Hookbill now? :confused:

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Sorry guys, but I'm not going to be able to do it - Internet problems are slowing Skype down to unreasonable levels. It won't let me do a call because of 'connection problems' and the text conversations are taking an age to go from keyboard to screen. :(

[The Might]

Just got your message Pitch, I'd be up for it as well
EDIT: xed with Hookbill, guess we're too few then.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

We'll just have to do it at a later date.

Do we have to wait a whole month? :(

[The Might]

No, of course not, the whole monthly thing only emerged because doing it too often would spoil the fun of it being something special.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

No, of course not, the whole monthly thing only emerged because doing it too often would spoil the fun of it being something special.
Oh brilliant!
We'll have to set up another one then!

[Pitchwife]

Sorry guys, but I'm not going to be able to do it - Internet problems are slowing Skype down to unreasonable levels. It won't let me do a call because of 'connection problems' and the text conversations are taking an age to go from keyboard to screen.
*triple sad smiley (or rather frowney)*
I suppose that it is up to Hookbill now?
I'd say it's always up to whoever is there and takes the iniative... so why not you?:)
Just got your message Pitch, I'd be up for it as well
Would have been great to have you with us, especially since you started all this in the first place... but I'm going to bed now (after a lovely little chat with TGEW), and I don't know whether something's going to happen later tonight or not; doesn't look like it at the moment.
Oh brilliant!
We'll have to set up another one then!
So what about next weekend? 4th of July... Independence Day... The Scouring of the Shire? [/mad brainstorming]

[Eönwë]

Err... did anything happen today?

[Gwathagor]

Hope not, I totally forgot.

[Pitchwife]

Not that I noticed. But if you two're still around, we could start planning another retry?

[Loslote]

I'm around and can plan, but I'm only available today and in the late afternoon tomorrow.

[Pitchwife]

I'm around and can plan, but I'm only available today and in the late afternoon tomorrow.
Unfortunately, it's rather late already over here, and your late afternoon is I think well past midnight for me...:( Also, recruiting enough people at short notice didn't work too well last time. What about next weekend?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Next weekend would work for me.

[Loslote]

I'll be around next weekend.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I've got full internetness back, so I'm ready for fun whenever you guys are.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Ooh. So we've got five people (Lauri, Lottie, Pitchie, Hookie, and me) for next weekend? Wonderful! Who should we recruit next?

[Eönwë]

I'll probably be able to do it next weekend.

[The Might]

Next weekend sounds good, although I never really know how much time I'll have.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

But - next weekend is the final game of the World Cup! Which day would you be planning? If there's not a game on at that time, I'd try to join, at least for awhile.

[Eönwë]

But - next weekend is the final game of the World Cup! Which day would you be planning? If there's not a game on at that time, I'd try to join, at least for awhile.

What about on the 10th (Saturday)? Apparently the final will be on the 11th.

*Stops self before getting too off-topic*

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

The tenth would work for me.

[Pitchwife]

But - next weekend is the final game of the World Cup! Which day would you be planning? If there's not a game on at that time, I'd try to join, at least for awhile.
Arrgh, can you believe I totally forgot that? Shows what a football fan I am...:o
What about on the 10th (Saturday)? Apparently the final will be on the 11th.
Yeah, but the game about the third rank (='bronze medal', between the losers of the semi-final) will be on Saturday, and I reckon some people will want to watch that (I, for one, may, depending on how our boys fare against Spain on Wednesday).
OK, never mind the Ballack [/doubly obscure inside joke] - Sunday wouldn't have been a good day anyway, considering some of us on this side of the big pond have to get up early on Monday, but what about Saturday the 10th after the game (i.e. probably something like 2200+ GMT)?

[Laurinquë]

So it shall be on the 10th of July, 2010? I can do that. It will be great! Are we going to even attempt to be on topic at all this time? :cool:

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Pfft! Who needs to be on-topic when you can kill some chat skwerlz? :p

What time will it be happening? Did we agree on a time?

[Eönwë]

Are we going to even attempt to be on topic at all this time? :cool:

What's a "topic"? :p


But seriously, have we ever had a topic in the first place?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

But seriously, have we ever had a topic in the first place?
Of course we've had topics in the past: Gandalf the Grey Uncloaking. :p

[Laurinquë]

May I propose we all start to wander online sometime around 20.00/8.00 GMT (Hookbill & Eönwë time)? That's 11.00 Laurinquë time, 12.00 TGEW time, and 21.00 Pitchwife time. Is this all right with you? And if we want to read aloud, well, it's all open to suggestion. :)

[Hookbill the Goomba]

May I propose we all start to wander online sometime around 20.00/8.00 GMT (Hookbill & Eönwë time)? That's 11.00 Laurinquë time, 12.00 TGEW time, and 21.00 Pitchwife time. Is this all right with you? And if we want to read aloud, well, it's all open to suggestion.

Sounds good to me. :)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

May I propose we all start to wander online sometime around 20.00/8.00 GMT (Hookbill & Eönwë time)? That's 11.00 Laurinquë time, 12.00 TGEW time, and 21.00 Pitchwife time. Is this all right with you? And if we want to read aloud, well, it's all open to suggestion. :)
Sounds great! I like how we all have our own different time zones! :D

[Loslote]

Wait, would that be 10 in the morning my time, or noon? I'm confused. As it is, I don't know if I'll be awake at ten in the morning - I haven't really slept for two weeks...I'll try to wake up in time, though.

[Laurinquë]

Wait, would that be 10 in the morning my time, or noon? I'm confused. As it is, I don't know if I'll be awake at ten in the morning - I haven't really slept for two weeks...I'll try to wake up in time, though.

As long as you're still in Alaska with me it will be at 11.00 AM. TGEW is in Washington now so she is an hour ahead at 12.00. But you can come in whenever you like, I'm going to have to hurry if I want to be on too. I just thought it would be easier for our European friends if we didn't do it at midnight their time. :p

Any ideas for reading?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Any ideas for reading?
I have some. Don't know if they'll be good for our group, but it's worth suggesting.


The Council of Elrond (What? It would keep us entertained for hours.:p)
Strider ('Twould be fun!)
A Short Cut to Mushrooms (Farmer Maggot is amusing.)
The Passing of the Grey Company (Looks like a bit of dialogue.)
The Battle of Pelennor Fields (There's some great dialogue here when you get to Theoden dying and Eowyn and Merry being generally awesome. :D)
The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen (Did we already read this one? Ah who cares.)

[Loslote]

As long as you're still in Alaska with me it will be at 11.00 AM. TGEW is in Washington now so she is an hour ahead at 12.00. But you can come in whenever you like, I'm going to have to hurry if I want to be on too. I just thought it would be easier for our European friends if we didn't do it at midnight their time. :p

Any ideas for reading?

Ah, excellent! I might be able to wake up by then. :p

As for reading, we'd better see how many people we have first. (If we already know this, I'm just being sleepy. ;) )

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

As for reading, we'd better see how many people we have first. (If we already know this, I'm just being sleepy. ;) )
Of course. I think, off of memory, we have six or seven Downers at this point.

[Eönwë]

May I propose we all start to wander online sometime around 20.00/8.00 GMT (Hookbill & Eönwë time)? That's 11.00 Laurinquë time, 12.00 TGEW time, and 21.00 Pitchwife time. Is this all right with you? And if we want to read aloud, well, it's all open to suggestion. :)

But... that's during the Germany vs. Uruguay game. Is that such a good idea?

About 2 hours later would probably be better if you want more people to join. Just saying.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I will definitely not be online during the game tonight, and I'll have to wait and see what happens (= how long it takes and whether I'm still awake enough afterwards), so I'm not making any promises. I would also have to figure out how it all works, which could be a problem for this Skypie newbie at that time of day...

[Gwathagor]

I'm going to be backpacking this weekend, so won't be around for reading.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

But... that's during the Germany vs. Uruguay game. Is that such a good idea?

About 2 hours later would probably be better if you want more people to join. Just saying.Wait. Are you telling me that I got up this morning for nothing? :( You're making us wait for football. . . Two whole hours.

[Eönwë]

Wait. Are you telling me that I got up this morning for nothing? :( You're making us wait for football. . . Two whole hours.

I just thought it best to warn you early so that you don't go online and find out that everyone's gone to watch football. At least now you know why people won't be online.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I just thought it best to warn you early so that you don't go online and find out that everyone's gone to watch football. At least now you know why people won't be online.
Well, all right. Not all of us will be watching football, though. Might as well get on Skype anyway. Just in case. :p

[Laurinquë]

But... that's during the Germany vs. Uruguay game. Is that such a good idea?

About 2 hours later would probably be better if you want more people to join. Just saying.

Huh. Well, as I'm not a football fan I guess I'll just have to sit around waiting for you to come online. :( I got up at 9.55 for this! And that's very early by my summer standards you know. We could always postpone it to a later date I suppose.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Huh. Well, as I'm not a football fan I guess I'll just have to sit around waiting for you to come online. :( I got up at 9.55 for this! And that's very early by my summer standards you know. We could always postpone it to a later date I suppose.
I suppose that we could always wait two hours two. We've already waited one. Is another one going to kill us? :p

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Skyping is happening now. Though, no Tolkien topics as of yet.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Germany won the game! However, it's way too hot to sit upstairs at my computer, so I will take a rain check and hope it works out next time. Have fun!! :)

[Laurinquë]

It was the best way we could find to spend seven hours on a Saturday afternoon. Some people were wise enough to leave the madness early, but others were foolish and stuck around until the end. I think the part that was most on-topic was after everyone but TheGreatElvenWarrior, Loslote, and myself had left. We read the end of Mount Doom! Most of the time it was utter nonsense though; Barrow-Downs jokes, Jethro Tull referencing, the whole thing. I only wish it could have lasted longer. ;)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

We had our Skyping madness. And now it's over. It was quite fun, I think anyway. We started off with Lottie, Lauri, and myself. We had a lovely conversation with Alaskan Downers adding sally soon after. We did some talking about non-Tolkien related things and decided to bother some other Downers to join. This is where Hookbill joined in. We typed for about five minutes when Eönwë joined after his football game.
We chatted about nothings and Jelly Babies for probably half an hour before the actual call started. Most of it was off-topic, so I will not go into it here, but we did read some poems and songs from The Lord of the Rings. That bit was fun but we soon got off topic again. The joys of Skype!
Anyway, Hookbill left early and Lottie had to leave for some time. But it was fun anyway. We probably kept Eönwë up a bit too long, though. :p
As Lauri said: the most on topic we got was when there were just us Alaskans left.

It was grand and I only look forward to doing another in the near future. :D

[Loslote]

Skype was epic. We read a few poems and songs at the very beginning, and we kept the British-type people up later than we probably should have. I missed part at the beginning, but otherwise was there for most of it. We had a ton of fun. Alas, Steve did not bring out his saxaphone, but there was a good reason for this. :Merisu: My nose was bitten off by Sally, who was upset with me for my continual dying (coughing). We lost The Game rather often (I just lost The Game) and the others disscussed Doctor Who and such incomprehensible things. :p (Next time, guys, I'm going to start off on Australian Rules Football - then you'll be just as lost. ;) ) Steve abducted TGEW, and Sally was upset that he didn't take her, too. Steve also decided to make a dictionary with his own personal definitions for everything, leaving out words he doesn't want (such as gullible). Twas epically fun!

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Eonwe didn't really take me with him in his TARDIS, but I wish he would have. :(


I think that in the event we all ended up changing the subject line and conversation picture waay too many times.

[Pitchwife]

Ah, sorry I couldn't participate this time! I'm still recovering from a nasty stomach infection and was in no condition to post or talk much for most of the past four days. Anyway, congratulations on pulling it off once again, and I'm naturally dying with curiosity to hear any recordings you may have made!

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Ah, sorry I couldn't participate this time! I'm still recovering from a nasty stomach infection and was in no condition to post or talk much for most of the past four days. Anyway, congratulations on pulling it off once again, and I'm naturally dying with curiosity to hear any recordings you may have made!
That's too bad, Pitchie. We missed you. :)
I actually don't think that we made any recordings this time around. The conversation sort of went like this:
Eönwë "Is anybody recording this?"
Hookbill "I have some recording software on my laptop, but I don't feel like getting it out right now."
Eönwë "Oh, well. . .(gives suggestion)"
Hookbill "I don't have that on my computer; it's a desktop."

So those in the group who could actually operate technology couldn't do anything, so we didn't record.

Actually, for further reference, I think that Skype has a recording software that you can download onto your computer. I'm not sure how it works or how well, but we might consider using that next time if somebody want to test it out.

[Laurinquë]

Ah, sorry I couldn't participate this time! I'm still recovering from a nasty stomach infection and was in no condition to post or talk much for most of the past four days. Anyway, congratulations on pulling it off once again, and I'm naturally dying with curiosity to hear any recordings you may have made!

We did indeed miss you. I wanted to read Fog on the Barrow-Downs, but without you as Bombadil I couldn't find the will to convince everyone to do it. :(

That's too bad, Pitchie.
Actually, for further reference, I think that Skype has a recording software that you can download onto your computer. I'm not sure how it works or how well, but we might consider using that next time if somebody want to test it out.

I tried that time before last. It's utter rubbish. Oh well, somethings are better left unrecorded. . . :rolleyes:

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I tried that time before last. It's utter rubbish. Oh well, somethings are better left unrecorded. . . :rolleyes:
You don't think that Doctor Who and Beatles references are material for a Tolkien Discussion Forum? Rubbish! :p

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

When is the next feasible date that we could have another call? I'd, personally, like to have another soon. But whatever works for all you other Skypers.

[Eönwë]

It should probably be this or next weekend... We'll see see if I can make it.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

This weekend would be fine with me, but it is a bit of short notice... Perhaps next?

[Oddwen]

Next weekend would be great for me, as that's the week I work my second, shorter job.

[Pitchwife]

I'm afraid I'm going to be too busy this weekend, and absent on the next.:confused:

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I believe that we wanted to do another Skype call this weekend. Were we going to arrange this, and who would be participating if we did do it this weekend?

[Loslote]

Auuugh. I might have something next Saturday, I don't know yet. I might have to miss this one. :(

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Auuugh. I might have something next Saturday, I don't know yet. I might have to miss this one. :(
If nobody can be there on one weekend, we'll just do it the next. However, we'll need to find a good date for most, if not all Skypers.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I'm okay for any Sunday for as far as the eye can see. :)

[Pitchwife]

See above - I'll be away from my computer from tomorrow till Sunday evening. But go ahead and have fun!:)

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

We could always do it next weekend. If we are going to do something this weekend we better get a move on planning it.

[Aganzir]

You didn't do it yet? I'm going to have skip spence (and Greenie) here, starting tomorrow, and if you do it at any other time than Saturday night, I could try to convince them to join.

[Loslote]

As far as I can tell, I'm open for basically any time...

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Aganzir, that would be for this weekend, or next? If it is this, then we could do it on Sunday. :)

[Loslote]

Aganzir, that would be for this weekend, or next? If it is this, then we could do it on Sunday. :)

I have stuffs Sunday morning, but after one-ish I should be available. That might be too late at night for the Finn-type people, though. :(

[Aganzir]

This weekend. We're GMT +2 (EST -7) and could probably stay up quite late, although the earlier the better.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

This weekend. We're GMT +2 (EST -7) and could probably stay up quite late, although the earlier the better.
Therefore you're two hours ahead of my watch. How about 20.00 or 21.00 GMT? Should be late enough for Alaskans and not too late for Finns.

I guess that any time we use would be fine, just as long as it's not Eönwë Standard Time. :p

[Pitchwife]

Therefore you're two hours ahead of my watch. How about 20.00 or 21.00 GMT? Should be late enough for Alaskans and not too late for Finns.
Perfect for me!

I guess that any time we use would be fine, just as long as it's not Eönwë Standard Time. :p
But isn't Eönwë Standard Time = GMT? Or is that a reference to his personal biorhythm?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

But isn't Eönwë Standard Time = GMT? Or is that a reference to his personal biorhythm?
He does not operate on GMT, but his own time zone. The rumour is that he doesn't actually ever sleep, but is always up and at his computer.

Anyway, that's good that it works for you. How far ahead of GMT are you, Pitch?

[Pitchwife]

How far ahead of GMT are you, Pitch?
Two hours with the daylight saving. But I'm on annual leave, so I don't have to worry about getting up early on Monday (except that my wife will make me pay if I'm not functioning by Monday noon, but I can live with that:p).

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Two hours with the daylight saving. But I'm on annual leave, so I don't have to worry about getting up early on Monday (except that my wife will make me pay if I'm not functioning by Monday noon, but I can live with that:p).
All right.
Do you think that we have enough Downers to have a call?

[Pitchwife]

So far it looks like it's Agan (+skip +Greenie?), Lottie, you and me (unless I've forgotten someone); sounds good enough to start with, doesn't it?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

So far it looks like it's Agan (+skip +Greenie?), Lottie, you and me (unless I've forgotten someone); sounds good enough to start with, doesn't it?
Hook said that he'd be good for Sundays. Also, I could probably persuade Eönwë and Lauri to join our madness. In fact, I don't know that they would actually need persuading. :p

[Aganzir]

The time sounds good, and I could also try to get Volo here. Do you have any suggestions about what to read?

[Pitchwife]

Hmmm... If all of the above actually make it, we'd have a complete Fellowship for something from FotR - like, say, The Ring Goes South or the Moria chapters. Now that would be awesome!

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Moria sounds lovely, the Ring Goes South is good to read too. Or we could always read the first chapter of FotR, of course. ;)

[Loslote]

I might be a bit late, but I should be able to make it. :D

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I should be around. Will probably be able to record if everyone is okay with that. :)

[Eönwë]

Well of course I'll try to be there.

I have stuffs Sunday morning, but after one-ish I should be available.
What, so that's about 10pm here and midnight in Finland?

I guess that any time we use would be fine, just as long as it's not Eönwë Standard Time.
Hey! :p

He does not operate on GMT, but his own time zone. The rumour is that he doesn't actually ever sleep, but is always up and at his computer.
Remember that any time I'm up late, Pitch and the Finns are up two hours later!



So yeah, we could start at 20:00 or 21:00 GMT and wait for Lottie to join in before we start our reading.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I should be around. Will probably be able to record if everyone is okay with that.
Good. We'll actually have someone to record our madness this time, probably! :D

Well of course I'll try to be there.
Good, good. If you weren't there I'd have to sell your dirtiest secrets to the press.

Hey! :pYou brought this upon yourself. I'm not the one Skyping to the wee hours of the morning.

So yeah, we could start at 20:00 or 21:00 GMT and wait for Lottie to join in before we start our reading.Sounds like a good idea. Last time we didn't start reading until Lottie got back as well. ;) I think that she is conspiring against us.

In other words, I'm really excited!

[Aganzir]

So TGEW and I (+Greenie, Volo & skip) are online. How about you others? :p

[Hookbill the Goomba]

I'm on line. May be called away soon, but will do what I can. :)