Tolkien 2005

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

I recently came across this online...
It is for a 50th anniversary celebration that will be occurring in 2005. Plans are already underway apparently... http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2005/
I wish I lived a little closer because I would go!

[QuickSlash]

If it was in the States, I'd go in a heartbeat. ^_^ I know a few people that would love to go to that. Maybe someone should get something similar going over here. (hint hint!)

[Tarthang]

Damn! Wish I lived in the UK. I'd have me some tickets already.

[Gimli Son Of Gloin]

I don't wish I live in the UK. I wish I could go to convention, but I don't want to live in the UK

[Bramblerose Gamgee-Took]

That would be fun to go to. Too bad UK is so far away for me smilies/frown.gif

[Morquesse]

That would be cool to go to, but of course, I also live in the States. And I agree with Gimli, I don't want to live in the UK either. And for those of you who live in the U.S., you could checkTolkiengathering.com (http://tolkiengathering.com) for a event that could happen in the States.

~M

[Raefindel]

Thank you, tigerlily and Morquesse, that was interesting.

[Eärendil]

EEEE!!! I live close enough to England, and I will go!!! Gonna try and get a ticket very soon.... smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Aosama, the Wandering Star]

Both are too expensive and too far away for me. smilies/frown.gif
As soon as I can though, I'm coming to one of those! They sound like fun! *sigh*
Have fun, even though I won't be there. Tell me all about it. smilies/smile.gif

[Melephelwen]

What about Tolkien's 111th birthday? Is there going to be any celebration of that? It's next year (2003) on the 3rd of January.

[Child of the 7th Age]

What a good idea. At the least, the Downs should have a celebration.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[The Silver-shod Muse]

111! How very cool! Too bad he won't be alive to celebrate it like Bilbo was. smilies/frown.gif

[Elven-Maiden]

WOW!!!!! Tolkien will be 111 on my 18th birthday!!!!!!!!

is that cool or what? smilies/smile.gif

[Eärendil]

Hehe, oh yeah... smilies/smile.gif
So, what do you say, having a party that day? smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Maikadilwen]

We're definitely going to celebrate. Yay, Tolkiens birthday.

[davem]

Is anyone else actually going to this event - I've bought a ticket, & am hoping to attend. I also attended my first Oxonmoot with the Tolkien Society who are organising this event. It was in September, & we got to visit The Professor's grave. For those of you who aren't familiar with it. The grave is about 2-2 1/2 feet high, light grey marble, with the Beren & Luthien inscripton on it. Its an ordinary grave in an ordinary cemetary, with just a little wooden sign to indicate where to find it. Its in the Catholic section of the cemetary - lots of graves of Poles who stayed in the UK after the war.
There was a reading from the Two Towers - the part where Frodo & Sam leave Faramir & set off for the Crossroads, then a Society member sang Galadriel's lament in Elvish. After the 'ceremony' I was able to get a few seconds to kneel by the grave & place my hand on the earth.

Anyway, back to the main question - is anyone else planning to attend Tolkien 2005?

[Arwen1858]

There should be some type of celebration... I mean, eleventy-one is a rather interesting number. Even though Tolkien isn't alive, there should be something to recognize his birthday.

[Neferchoirwen]

Davem, that sounded like it came straight from the trilogy!

I might go, since by then, I'd be having my own job. Maybe I would. But I'd have to think of who to bring with me.

[Anastasia]

I want to go sooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!
It costs £20 (4 weeks pocket-money) + a trip to Birmingham (have to save up even more!)

I'm also going to oxford this week to visit everything to do with Tolkien there!!!!
That's the great thing about living in Britain...£7 and youre there!!! http://www.plauder-smilies.de/spin3.gif

[davem]

Anastacia, Don't miss the Eagle & Child pub (or 'the bird & baby') where Tolkien & the other Inklings met on Tuesday mornings. There's a whole bunch of photos of Tolkien, Lewis, etc. There's also a letter from them all to the Landlord on the wall, saying something along the lines of 'We, the undersigned, having partaken of your ham, have just drunk your health'. Its signed by Tolkien himself, Lewis, Christopher Tolkien & a few others. You feel really 'close' to them all in a way in there.

[Nilwen]

That all sounds so cool,but me being in Texas it is all a little out of reach for me.I hope to go to the UK one and see the sites.

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Wow, I posted this a while ago smilies/smile.gif

For those who are in the US or Canada... check out my post "Gathering 2003" in the "Barrow-Downs" section of the forum. This gathering is more of a movie gathering, but there is a lot of other stuff going on there as well... http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=000871

[arelendil]

Yes!! i heard about this when i wanted to go to oxonmoot in september but by parents said i was too young and they didn't want to have to take me! i sooo want to go i'll be 18 yes! i can go on my own! i wonder if i can convince my parents! who else is going?
hope to see you there! And ohh by the way England is the best! so there!
(okay America is cool too!)

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

I am sure that England is lovely... I just haven't been able to afford to take a trip over there yet - perhaps by 2005 I will be able to. I will be in Toronto in 2003 for sure.

[davem]

Well, I just got the first booklet sent out by the Tolkien Society about 2005. It looks very good - there are about 14 people (so far) from the US attending. Its going to be an expensive year for us Tolkien Society members - Oxonmoot is happening as well teh following month. They're planning to have a showing of the whole trilogy in the special edition, so that will be the closest i suppose I'll get to seeing the whole thing on the 'big screen' - it won't be the full cinematic experience, but it will be on a large video screen, in a theatre of fans. Hope I can kep my excitement under control.
Its really going to be a once in a lifetime event. 50 years since the LotR was published.

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Supposidly, from what I understand... the event in Toronto is going to show all three on the bi screen. It coinsides with the openin of Return of the King.
I believe that the plan in to show The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers and then move on to the first viewing of Return of the King.
This is what it sounds like to me.
All I know is that I can't wait for the experience of viewing Return of the King for the first time with a whole group of Tolkien fans who are all seeing for the first time. It will be the best audience film experience ever!

[ October 25, 2002: Message edited by: Tigerlily Gamgee ]

[Estelyn Telcontar]

It's 2005 - time to dig up this thread and see if any of us are planning to attend the 'Tolkien 2005' event. I've been looking at the website, and the guest list is illustrious and highly interesting. I am definitely interested and unless something happens to stop me, I plan to register and book accomodations soon. It would be fun to have a get-together with other Downs members there - anyone else want to come too?

[Phervasaion]

Im definately thinking of going. I live near, in fact only just outside of birmingham so ive no problem of getting there. Its going to be real cool if i manage to see some of you lot there! please go :D .

If you go on to the aston university website, and then click on the road network around birmingham link, I live in the little town called aldridge.

[davem]

I have my ticket (have had for about two years) & I'm planning on dragging Lalwende with me.

[Lalwendë]

Plan no longer! For the postman has just arrived and my booking is confirmed. :cool:

[Turin]

It's just a short trip into the city centre for me!

I'd better book my tickets before the missus stops me.......

[Lathriel]

I wish I could go but my situation does not help. I'm in Canada, no money to buy a ticket and 17 (Graduating this year).
*Sigh*
Well at least I hope you guys have fun.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Well, I've gone and done it, rung the bell, so to speak - I have booked not only the event and accomodations but also a low-budget flight to Birmingham, so I'm all set! Next I'll have to start sewing that costume...

[Mithalwen]

Still humming and haaing about this.... not sure if it is really my kind of thing (ie cruising above my head ) ... and I certainly don't do costumes in public.... but it is over a weekend and I have lots of friends and family in the area - and Aston is apparently about 20 mins walk from the new Selfridges ;)

[davem]

This is taken from Amon Hen 189. I promised [b]Esty[/i] I'd dig out the info, & hope she doesn't mind me sharing it rather than just pm'ing it to her.

Tolkien 2005 will take place at Aston University between Thursday, August II and Monday, August 15, 2005. Registration will take place during the day on Thursday with an Opening Ceremony in the late afternoon or early evening. It will also be possible to pre-Register on Wednesday; this is for people who turn up early and wish to help in some way. The Dealers' Room and the Art Show will be set up on Thursday morning and should open in the aftemoon. Apart from the Opening Ceremony there will only be a limited programme on Thursday. There will be some talks lectures panels happening during the day, mostly in the aftemoon; there will also be a video stream running all day. After the OpenIng Ceremony we plan on having a performance of Farmer Giles of Ham; this should be repeated on Friday evening. During Friday through to Sunday, inclusive, there will be a full range of events. Most of the time the main activities (talks, lectures, panels, workshops, entertainments) will be run in four concurrent streams; in addition there will be a Video stream, the Dealers' Room and the Art Show, making seven main streams. Any signings will be in addition to these streams. On Monday things will wind down: there will be fewer streams, the Dealers' Room and the Art Show will close in the afternoon. There will be a Closing Ceremony on the Monday moming. Most people should plan on going home on Monday; however, it will be possible to stay over that night. This option is mainly provided for people who have an early flight to catch on Tuesday. On Saturday evening as part of the programme of events there will be a Costume Extravaganza. This will be similar to the Masquerade held during the Party at Oxonmoot; however, it will be noncompetitive and will be a showcase of old and new Tolkien-inspired costume. There will also be drama workshops with Viv Wilkes whose drama group, Shire Productions, are performing Farmer Giles of Ham. In addition to the on-site activities there will be two tours: one of Tolkien's Birmingham, which will take place on the Sunday. The other will be to Oxford and is mainly intended for those who are not familiar with Oxford and those who live outside the UK. The numbers for both are strictly limited and are offered as an extra-cost activity; booking will be on a first come basis and will open in 2005.

(No, I didn't type it all out - I used my pen scanner, so please forgive any little spelling mistakes - typing it would have taken me about 20 minutes, scanning took about 3)

[THE Ka]

i wish I could go... It sounds great from what you guys have said... :(


~Sad ka...

[wilwarin538]

I wish I could go to. There are many things stopping me from going. Im in Canada and Im only going to be 15 at that time and it probably would be really expensive...... :( *sigh* Oh well all of you who are lucky enough to be able to attend will have to tell us all about it.

Wil

[Lalwendë]

Just by way of tempting fellow 'Downers into attending, the Tolkien Society have made available a list of proposed papers (http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2005/programme.html) for the 2005 event. There's some really good items, particularly relevant to recent discussions on the Downs! :)

[Dragon Reborn]

How much will it cost?

[Lalwendë]

How much will it cost?

It's quite reasonable, about £60 to register as a non-member of the Tolkien Society, but slightly cheaper if you are already a member. The accommodation is the most expensive thing, about £280 for five (four?) nights and two meals. But aren't you in Australia? I would say that the above sums are a drop in the ocean compared to a flight then (especially taking into account the all-important spending money)! I have noticed that there are some interesting looking events being held on other continents for the anniversary year, so it might be worth looking out for some of these. :)

[Bêthberry]

Ah, Lal, I am torn!

Estelyn has made me an offer very difficult to refuse ;) yet the lure of England may be greater than the lure of Tolkien talk, to say nothing of Downer matter. In short, for me to fly to England (or to meet Esty elsewhere first), well, I would imagine that, once there, I would be tempted to galavant around the country rather than sit tidily listening to the kind of thing I can read here regularly.

Is it possible to, say, make reservations for that Saturday night dinner only?

And were The Smiths from Birmingham? (or was it Manchester?). Just checking out all the attractions as this wouldn't be just a jaunt down the road for me.

[Mithalwen]

The Smiths are from Manchester but Noddy Holder is from Walsall (near Brum) :D

[Essex]

If you're travelling from afar then it's worth taking the coach trip to oxford to see tolkien's grave and visit the eagle and child pub for a pint where tolien and co met up for their chats after work. very nice beer too......

I'm from essex, only a hundred or so miles away, so it sounds very tempting.

And Dave, hopefully there will be some good deals on the sideshow statues for you to pick up ;)

[davem]

And Dave, hopefully there will be some good deals on the sideshow statues for you to pick up

I expect there'll be remaindered bin, yeah.

[Lalwendë]

Is it possible to, say, make reservations for that Saturday night dinner only?

It could be well worth contacting the Tolkien Society to see if you can do this. I think there is an e-mail address for the booking secretary/officer, so tis worth a go!

Ah, but aren't The Smiths technically from Salford? Anyone from Salford will tell you it's a different city entirely. But then I might be wrong about their origins... Who is from Birmingham? Hmmm, Ozzy Osbourne? Duran Duran? Not too exciting, eh? ;)

I'll be looking for those remaindered Sideshow items though. :p

[Bêthberry]

If you're travelling from afar then it's worth taking the coach trip to oxford to see tolkien's grave and visit the eagle and child pub for a pint where tolien and co met up for their chats after work. very nice beer too......

I'm from essex, only a hundred or so miles away, so it sounds very tempting.

And Dave, hopefully there will be some good deals on the sideshow statues for you to pick up ;)

Thanks for the tip, Essex, but last summer Estelyn, Squatter and I made the Oxford run, the Bird and Baby, the gravesite, the Mitre, the Botanical Gardens, at least one of the houses.

For a trip down memory, visit this post (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=351617&postcount=281) .

Hmmm. Can lightening strike twice?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The big shindig is already casting its shadow in my direction - I contacted the organizers of the Costume Extravaganza and found out that they are doing that particular event up larger than I'd thought. They want advance pictures of the costumes for a catalogue! :eek: That means I have to start sewing ASAP, since the deadline is the end of June and I'll be away much of that month. Oh well, I guess early deadlines prevent over-procrastination! Problem is, I haven't found the kind of trimming I want to sew onto the dress...

[Mithalwen]

Well you could make the dress up and submit the picture? Then sew on the trim when you find it maybe? Unles the dress has to be shown as described ;)

[littlemanpoet]

In short, for me to fly to England (or to meet Esty elsewhere first), well, I would imagine that, once there, I would be tempted to galavant around the country rather than sit tidily listening to the kind of thing I can read here regularly.

That is precisely what my wife and I will be doing in the latter three weeks of September. .... London for a week, then a few days form Winchester to Bath to Tintern Abbey to Cotswolds to Oxford; then a few days in York, then home again. No tour, we decided ourselves. We've planned on 2005 for years and years, but when it came right down to it, Bb's quote fits our thought precisely.

[Shelob]

I'm leaving England a just a few days before the Tolkien2005 starts, had I known of it before I would have convinced my parents to stay a few days more. Ah well...

...Since we will be visiting England though, for about 10 days in late July/early August, if anyone has suggestions for Tolkien/non-Tolkien things we really ought to see please e-mail/PM me. I lived in England a few years back so can guarantee that we'll be in the areas of Henley-On-Thames (now as much my home as here) and Oxford for at least a day each, so suggestions in other areas are particularly appreciated. Similarly should anyone, for whatever reason, care to meet up let me know and I shall gladly try.

[HerenIstarion]

I was toying with the idea for some months, but it seems I won't be able to afford it. It comes down to flight costs, unfortunately.

I'll (hopefully) be in Paris by the end of June, though, so if anyone happens to be down there at the time, feel free to look me up and we'll have a nice round of beer someplace (they do drink beer in France contrary to popular belief, 1664 is a good brand, per instance :))

[Mithalwen]

Oh I haven't been to Paris for 10 years - only once since I lived there ..... Maybe I should give myself a birthday present!!! :D Time goes so quickly...

[Bêthberry]

I emailed the Tolkien Society almost two weeks ago asking for more information about the registration fee but I haven't heard a thing from them.

I was thinking of registering just for the Saturday, with the banquet, as it would be hard to fly 'cross the pond to Merry Eld and not see Merry Eld for sitting in a classroom all day. A pity if they don't have one-day registration fees. :(

[Lalwendë]

I was thinking of registering just for the Saturday, with the banquet, as it would be hard to fly 'cross the pond to Merry Eld and not see Merry Eld for sitting in a classroom all day. A pity if they don't have one-day registration fees.

That is precisely what my wife and I will be doing in the latter three weeks of September. .... London for a week, then a few days form Winchester to Bath to Tintern Abbey to Cotswolds to Oxford; then a few days in York, then home again. No tour, we decided ourselves. We've planned on 2005 for years and years, but when it came right down to it, Bb's quote fits our thought precisely.

Well if I ever went 'across the pond' then I too would prefer to take in the sights than sit in a university to be honest! LMP - If you're going to York, do not miss the Yorkshire countryside, and especially do not miss a trip to Whitby, even if you could go only for a few hours you could climb the 199 steps to the church and abbey (as made famous by Bram Stoker, Caedmon and the Abbess Hilda) and then go back down again for crab butties and Black Sheep ale in the Duke of York, overlooking the harbour.

How many 'Downers are planning on going to Brum now? I wont have flight problems but the train timetables still haven't been released for August. :(

[littlemanpoet]

Oh, I want to go to Whitby, and I want to climb the 199 steps to the Abbey. Thanks for the tip. Now to convince my wife.... :p

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I'll be there in spirit. davem had best be careful, for like all the houseless I shall be attempting to find a home within the willing spirit of a living person -- and I rather suspect that he is an easy target for enchantment: all that baggage of his is readily tossed aside!! :smokin: :D :eek:

[narfforc]

The time is drawing near when Middle-Earth shall blaze into the Glorious Summer of England ,unless it rains, which it usually does, then the breath of Manwe and the rain of Ulmo will be warm on the faces of The Faithfull.

I have been thinking of how we are going to recognise each other, so without setting up an elaborate system of Cold War spy codes, I will act as a starting point. I will be wearing a black t-shirt, which has THE BARROW-DOWNERS in big white letters written on the back, if you are going please introduce yourself then I can introduce you to others. I promise not to bite (I am only Half-Orc).
I am looking forward to this event, and have already started my costume (Pallando) I didnt want to copy anything from the films. Hope to see as many as possible, commiserations to those who live too far away, but hopefully you will have some form of celebration at the appropriate time.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I have also begun sewing my costume, a wine-red Arwen style dress, but I certainly won't be wearing that during the daytime! It might be a good idea for those of us who are attending to PM each other for our real names, as I assume most will have those, not nicks, on their badges. I do own one of the Downs T-shirts, but I don't actually wear it, since green does not become me at all. :rolleyes:

For those who want to take part in the Costume Extravaganza, it's a good idea to contact the address given in the booklet in advance - they are doing that event in big style, with a catalogue of the costumes, so want pictures by the end of June.

Here's a list of those who are planning to attend, as far as I know - if there are more, please post here to let the rest of us know!

davem
Lalwendë
narfforc
Estelyn

possibly:
Phervasaion
Turin
Bêthberry

[Elonve]

I wish i could go!!!!!
whaen is it? i might be able to go my auntie lives close to burmingham :D
but i probably wont be able to make it...
________
fat woman Cams (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/webcam/bbw/)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

It takes place from August 11 - 15. All information can be found at the website given in Tigerlily's first post on this thread.

[Elonve]

we are leaving on the 11th! oh well there's always next year! :confused:
________
Vaporizer volcano (http://volcanovaporizer.net/)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

When I arrived home from my vacation trip, the final progress report was waiting for me - how exciting! Of course I looked through the complete list of participants, in hopes of chancing on familiar names; those I recognized were the guests, the organizers, and the two real names of participants I already know - davem and Lalwendë, besides my own name, of course. I'm willing to collect real life names and send them by PM to those who will be coming, so that we know which ones to look for. I'm assuming that most of you, like myself, are using real names on the tags, not nicks. If you'd like to be included on the list and thereby entitled to receive the list by PM, please send me a message. I hope those of you who have registered and not yet posted here will let the rest of us know as well!

By the way, Bêthberry and others who are interested, this last report does say that "We will be selling on-the-door tickets for ... individual days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday." However, that apparently does not included accommodations - booking for that closes July 15, so I'd recommend checking with the booking agent for your country to clarify that.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

For those who, like me, are still working on their costumes for the event, there is a brief respite - the deadline has been moved to mid-July.

[Lalwendë]

Is your accommodation booking fine, Esty? In the Progress Report it said you could look them up online but alas ours are not listed - possibly as we booked them right before the deadline for the rise in price. We have receipts but I can't help fretting...I'm using my real name though, so you can pass it on if you like - I saw yours in the list!

I'm just hoping it's not going to be hot weather like it has been in the UK for the past fortnight. I wouldn't want to suffer from another burned nose. :D

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I just checked my booking, and it's fine - you might want to contact the Bookings Officer just to be sure.

Now all I have to do is figure out where I want to spend the free days I have in between the two Birmingham events I'm attending - it looks like it might be difficult to travel far on what remains of Monday. I was thinking about London, but as I was there last summer, I am now considering a brief trip to Glasgow, since there are places and things I'd like to see there. I strongly suspect, though, that a trip there will take quite a few hours.

[Lalwendë]

Glasgow's about a 4-5 hour journey away, but nowadays very much worth the visit I hear. Have you thought of visiting Warwick? davem's been and he liked it a lot. Also Stratford isn't far from Birmingham, if you could stand the crowds. :) Personally, I'd recommend a trip to the Peak District as you've got big houses like Chatsworth (Mr Darcy's house, allegedly ;) )and Haddon Hall, plenty of walking with stunning views, stone circles, and lots of pubs. You can tell I'm a frustrated tour guide... :)

[Kahnshefal]

This looks way cool! But even the registration is more than I could afford, never mind the accomodation and travel. :(

Kahnshefal

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This is the week! I'm collecting my things to prepare for packing and have made a Barrow-Downs tote bag, so I should be recognizable by the green carry-all with the sword on it. (It was a BD T-shirt in its first life, but since I never wear it, I decided to put it to good use in this transformation.) As far as I know, there will be four Barrow-Downers attending, and I look forward to getting to know the others! :)

My costume is finished and will travel in my hand luggage - after all the work and time that went into it, I'm not going to risk having it delayed or worse yet, lost by the airline. :eek:

[The Saucepan Man]

As it turns out, I could have gone to this event. We were originally going to be on holiday this week, but had to re-arrange thanks to a work conference being arranged for the same week. Then the work conference was postopned until September! :mad:

Oh well, too late now and I would probably have struggled to spare the holiday time anyway. :(

Esty, I hope that you and the others have a wonderful time and look forward to hearing your reports. :)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Have fun there all -- and be sure to raise your glasses (filled with appropriate beverages of course) in honour of those BDers who are with you in spirit only.

[Ardamir the Blessed]

A report (http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1548256,00.html) from the ongoing event.

Reports and lecture material etc. from attending BD members would be very much appreciated.

[Bêthberry]

Oh my oh my


"It's the spirit of sacrifice, to share our feelings and our legends, to be together. In the book, too, from Frodo to Gandalf, everyone has to sacrifice something important to him."


We do these things as sacrifice? Now, there's a pagan idea! I just hope no one was sent to the bog last night after the feast. ;)

[Mithalwen]

Oh well that confirms my suspicion that not going was the right decision for me.....

[Alcarillo]

As he reads a Bilbo Baggins poem about Strider, his audience mutter along as if reciting the Lord's Prayer.

First sacrifices, now prayers? It's a full-blown religion! :eek:

[Lalaith]

I was going to post the link to this article but then I figured someone would have beaten me to it...
The quote I particularly enjoyed was this:
The Terry Pratchett gatherings are "much less highbrow," he says. "It's interesting to see a newbug have their first discussion with a serious Tolkien scholar and watch their face go ... " Mole loosens his lower jaw in bewilderment.

Rather reminiscent of the Downs, dontcha think?

So, were any Downers there, in the end?

[Mithalwen]

They will still be there if they have gone for the whole thing... I guess we can expect reports from Lawende, Davem, Estelyn and Narforc tomorrow....

[Lalwendë]

Well, that Grauniad article didn't quite capture the spirit of it, the one in the Telegraph was better, and funnier too. I personally didn't spot anyone muttering during Tom Shippey's lecture (though someone got glared at for opening a box of action figures and making a racket ;) ). Did they mention the game of Golfimbul? The snoring truck driver or the guy I dubbed 'Windy Miller'? No.

A full report shall follow soon...

[davem]

Yeah - full report later. As to highlights - one: meeting Esty (who's one of the loveliest persons you could wish to meet! Two: meeting Narforc (who, by the way, is in the process of writing one of the funniest & cleverest parodies of LotR - I'm far from a fan of the genre, but he's won me over).

The other thing was the lectures - Tom Shippey's on the use of proverbs, Ronald Hutton's on 'Tolkien the Pagan'!!!!! (He made a fascinating point - in a letter to his son, Michael?? Tolkien stated that for a time in his younger days I think he mentioned while at Leeds & at Northmoor Road, but I'll have to check, Tolkien says he neglected his faith - working this out, this period, according to Hutton, covered virtually the whole of the 1920's! This is significant, because thiis was the major period of the development of the Silmarillion. I'll have to go into this later)

Also, a couple by Verlyn Flieger - well, one lecture & one short story reading - why was that special? It was an unpublished short story by Tolkien himself! Actually, it is a background story to Smith of Wooton Major, telling the story of Smith's grandfather, Rider, the history & origin of the Fay Star, & the reason for the Faeries interest in humanity, & incorporating a fascinating philosophical discussion on the nature of Faerie & its relationship to our world & their interdependence. Well up to the standard you'd expect, & it adds incredible depth & meaning to SoWM. It will be finally published (in the UK on 5th Sept by Harper Collins) in a new edition of Smith, but according to Flieger there's no info on an American publication date. We were the first members of the public anywhere to hear the story, & so, for a few weeks at least, the only ones anywhere.

[Lalwendë]

OK, I have some time for a report.

The event as a whole was excellent, but it was exceedingly tiring, with having to get up early and not getting to bed until after midnight. I even spent one afternoon asleep because I couldn't keep going any longer (but I only missed one interesting sounding talk). The days were stuffed full of things to do, the daytimes mostly being focussed on listening to talks and lectures though there were also some dance and drama workshops for those who wanted them too. Getting the programme sent me into shock as I didn't know how I was going to choose what to attend (there were at least four options at any time) and I quickly relaised I couldn't attend things all day long because it was mentally tiring. And to do a talk by someone like Verlyn Flieger justice, you have to spend some time digesting it afterwards.

Some of the talks were excellent. I particularly enjoyed those by Ronald Hutton "The Pagan Tolkien", and some by lesser known speakers such as "Hobbit Names Aren't From Kentucky" and "Galadriel's Lovers". One talk I went to this morning taught me very little indeed (it was on the origin of Ents) but it was utterly entertaining due to the eccentric man presenting. Some papers looked interesting but the delivery of them was dull or else hard to understand due to language difficulties. One young chap gave a talk on Milton & Tolkien, but alas he spoke so fast it was difficult to take it all in. Some talks were light-hearted and others were very serious. Some looked exciting in the brochure but were like aural valium. I'll try to list what I saw and who gave the talks in a later post but impressions are more interesting for now methinks.

The dealers' room was excellent - and I spent a fair amount of money. Any book you could wish for was on sale. Plus a lot of other stuff too. I got Alan Lee to sign a book for me, and he was very nice to talk to. I also went crashing into Tom Shippey in a horrible crowd but it was all very English with apologies from both parties....

Anyways, we met Esty who is just lovely, and very intelligent I might add. Though I'm sure she thought we were very odd and quiet as she is so outgoing! I should have liked to have met her in a less pressured environment and been able to talk more without feeling like we had to always rush off somewhere or else we were too tired! Her costume was beautiful - I have a photo but might wait til she says it can be posted. We also met narfforc, who is very funny, and his Pallando costume was superb. He roared in the bar that people were coming up to him and saying "like the Gandalf costume" a statement which davem stored up to shout at him later. ;)

Saturday was bizarre with the costume extravaganza in the evening. Lots of people were going about dressed in various outfits, even those not taking part! Yours truly even got a cloak on for the evening which blowed and swished satisfactorily in the breeze (though the goose droppings round the lake were a bit hazardous). One participant chose to be a non-canonical 4th Age female wizard which was a bit irritating (especially as she was not actually a very pleasant person to begin with), but some chose clever costumes such as Haleth and a doric Entwife. One guy turned up as a Hobbit but he had a beard and glasses so he looked more like the Peter Jackson as a Hobbit action figure. It was all worth it when the drink started flowing and hordes of drunken Gandalfs (Gandalves?) were staggering about playing Golfimbul later on. A random drunk guy (just a Brummie on a lads' night out) was delighted to see this and stormed up demanding his picture be taken with the white wizards.

There were a few not entirely pleasant people about, including one who took a dislike to me, but most were very nice and interesting to talk to - some of the people were shall we say 'eccentric', some were very stereotypical geeks with thick glasses and jumble sale clothes (this includes "Windy Miller" who trumped* his way through a performance of folk songs), but most were just as normal as the next person. There were people of all ages and from all places. The truck driver I mentioned went to sleep in the Ronald Hutton talk, his snores getting louder and louder until he had to be woken up; poor man was mortified.

We were, however, disappointed that nobody chose to dress up as Gandalf the Grey.....Uncloaked! ;)

*trumped - you can guess what this is. He must have had beans and prunes for breakfast. :eek:

EDIT

Some more...

One thing I didn't mention is that Priscilla Tolkien attended the event. She came to the opening ceremony and was still there on the Friday. This was a nice surprise! And in addition to Alan Lee, Ted Nasmith was there, mingling with the drinkers at night (as he always does, apparently).

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Hi! I'm still travelling, so I can't yet add an in-depth report - well, I just tried to write at least a bit, but the PC at this internet place crashed and it's gone. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed the event tremendously and had a wonderful time! More to come when I'm back home...

[davem]

Couple of reports on Tolkien 2005 here (http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1124415594) & pixhere (http://www.theonering.net/scrapbook/group/1734/)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm back! And in recalling the events of the past week I've realized that it will take several posts to even scratch the surface of events. Therefore I shall report in installments. Here's some of what I experienced on the first evening:

I arrived with just enough time to unpack and get settled in my room before dinner. Lal, davem and I had arranged to meet for the meal, and it was great to finally see them! They are both friendly, warm-hearted, and enjoyable to be with. It's hard to put a meeting like that into words - it's very different than meeting strangers, though seeing and hearing each other is a new experience, after having read so much by and about each other.

The big surprise of the opening ceremony was Priscilla Tolkien - her appearance hadn't been announced previously! Unfortunately, the room was too full, so we didn't get to see the Farmer Giles play, but went out to the campus pub with narfforc. He is a very funny guy, who kept us (and others!) entertained by telling us about his LotR parody - we had lots of fun! I took photos, so as soon as they're approved by the others, I'll try to get them online.

There was a late lecture by Verlyn Flieger on On Fairy-Stories; I was very impressed not only by her knowledge but especially by her as a person - she was humorous, and very patient and gracious with questions afterwards, even those I thought were inappropriate or stupid.

More to follow...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The daytime lectures and presentations will be showing up in discussions on the forum - davem started Galadhremmin Ennorath (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12132) a few days ago, and I posted "Not all those who wander are lost." (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12155) today. I'd like to tell about the dramas that were presented - well, at least those that I saw, which were all but the Farmer Giles play.

The Reduced Silmarillion Company presented - well, the reduced Silmarillion, of course! It was a hilarious compilation of facts and fiction from the Legendarium, mostly involving Elves that begin with "F". It's nothing that can be told about, has to be seen, and was great fun.

The Tolkien group from Greece presented two tragedies - the story of Túrin and the myth of Oedipus, one act each. The stories have some remarkable similarities, and seeing them one right after the other showed that connection quite clearly. The actors (all amateurs, of course) did an excellent job; the fates of the characters were moving to those who watched.

Another parody presentation was "The Lord of the Goons", by the Cambridge Tolkien Society, whose members are apparently very active in dramatizations. I wasn't familiar with the original "Goons", but even so, it was very funny and got many laughs and much applause.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the BBC dramatization of the LotR by the Cambridge group. Various members read the different roles in selected scenes for two hours on Sunday morning, and although there were other lectures during that time, I decided that I'd heard so much about LotR that I wanted to hear the words themselves speak to me. It was a wonderful experience. There were funny passages, with a fantastic voice for Gollum, for example. But there were also very moving passages, and by the time Sam said "Well, I'm back!" at the end, I was not the only listener wiping surreptitious tears away. (At least, so I was told - I couldn't see anything at that point! ;) )

There was no acting, aside from the fact that the speakers really got into their characters, but hearing the LotR being read aloud reminded me that it is a wonderfully oral tale. I remembered live readings on voice chat a couple of years ago and found myself wishing that there were someone to read aloud with at home...

[Lalwendë]

I have to write a bit about The Reduced Silmarillion Company.

I'm not much of one for drama, but I do love a good bit of comedy. And these guys didn't disappoint. Basically it involved a small group of young men tearing about, running behind screens and coming out with say, a new wig on, to represent a character. Lots of comedy props were used including an inflatable hammer, many wigs and a doll. The Silmarils were represented by cans of Beer (very good choice). Add in some funny sound effects (including a highly over the top and very silly scream followed by the sound of a monster groaning) and a deadpan narrator, and plenty of running gags and it made for a fast paced but hilarious show.

It might sound very stupid from that description, but no, it was cleverly done, not amateurish, and it reminded me very much of The League of Gentlemen. It had the same frenzied style of joke, it was surreal and it had some great moments of dark humour too. If anything, it was a satirical look at the Silmarillion, and I do recommend it!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I promised pictures - here are three:

Four Barrow-Downers (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/tolkien2005b.JPG) (narfforc, davem, Lalwendë, and Estelyn) Please note the Barrow-Downs totebag; I made it of my BD T-shirt.

Three BDers (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/tolkien2005a.JPG)

narfforc as Pallando the Blue (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/tolkien2005c.JPG) Taken at the Costume Extravaganza

[Lalwendë]

I just found some more pics of Tolkien 2005 here. (http://www.eldalie.ch/fotografie/thumbnails.php?album=105) This appears to be an album from a Tolkien group somewhere in Europe (Switzerland I think). See Page 9 for a mad tattoo, and page 7 for a Barrow-Downer (narfforc). Page 2 has a piccy of Priscilla Tolkien, and page 13 displays passport evidence of the lengths some fans will go to (I'm lost for words). :eek:

[davem]

Another one!

Yes, another FIVE DAY Tolkien conference! In Oxford this time - August 21st to August 25th 2006

http://p203.ezboard.com/fsecondspringfrm10.showMessage?topicID=31.topic

[Bêthberry]

Instead of tempting me with Tolkien conventions and conferences, why don't you just help me get permanent visitor status? Or maybe I should check out the family skeletons to see if there's any way I qualify for something more official. ;) :cool:

[davem]

We're tempted by this, so I'll try & keep everyone up to date on what's happening.

There were only four of us Downers at Tolkien 2005 & it would be nice if we could arrange another (bigger???) get together next year. Have no idea if its residential or not.

Anyone interested in going?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Surprise! ;) I am...

Whether or not it will work out remains to be seen. Do you have any idea who's organising it? After enjoying last summer's conference so much, I would very much be interested in attending another.

[Mithalwen]

A few days in Oxford is always tempting - especially if it were residential since Oxford is expensive...... Exeter has such a lovely chapel although I have slightly excruciating memories of my last visit..... interesting subjects too .....

[davem]

Surprise! ;) I am...

Whether or not it will work out remains to be seen. Do you have any idea who's organising it? After enjoying last summer's conference so much, I would very much be interested in attending another.

You're as wise as I am - all I know about it is what I've seen on the website. Its probably the GK Cesterton Institute. They had one in Oxford earlier this year (or maybe last - not sure) 'Landscapes with Angels' on fantasy & imagination.

[littlemanpoet]

Unless I get a windfall, there's no England for me next year, let alone Oxford. I tell you, one day is not enough to visit Oxford. Ah well. Enjoy the Con! :)

[Lalwendë]

There's a little more info about the Second Spring (http://www.secondspring.co.uk/) Tolkien conference, which I've copied below as I'm suspicious this link won't take you right there.

I have to say it looks very interesting so far and is in a fabulous location (couldn't be better really) but the price is ridiculously high considering it couldn't hope to be as packed a programme as that at Tolkien 2005.

£695?! :eek: :(

Oxford Tolkien Conference

The Lord of the Rings: Sources of Inspiration

Exeter College, Oxford
Monday 21st to Friday 25th August 2006

Exeter College Oxford is the college where J.R.R. Tolkien was an undergraduate. He graduated in 1915 with a First in English Language and Literature. The great mythopoeic work for which he would become famous was already germinating in his mind. In the years that followed he married Edith Bratt (Luthien) and served in the Battle of the Somme. The great mythopoeic work for which he would become famous was already germinating in his mind.

Ever since the publication of The Hobbit, Tolkien's fantasy and mythological writing has eclipsed his important academic work. C.S. Lewis said of The Lord of the Rings: "The book is like lightning from a clear sky... To say that in it heroic romance, gorgeous, eloquent, and unashamed, has suddenly returned at a period almost pathological in its anti-romanticism, is inadequate... It marks not a return but an advance or revolution: the conquest of new territory. Nothing quite like it was ever done before."

How and why did the lightning strike? This international conference will examine Tolkien's extraordinary achievement from a variety of angles, asking some of the leading specialists in the growing field of Tolkien studies to discover the main sources of his inspiration and influences upon the work.

John Garth on Tolkien, Exeter, and the Great War
Verlyn Flieger on Tolkien and Northernness
Alison Milbank on Tolkien, Thomism, and G.K. Chesterton
Philip Zaleski on Tolkien and his Predecessors (Romantics, Pre-Raphaelites)
Patrick Curry on Tolkien and Enchantment
Tolkien and the Inklings
Tolkien and Language
Tour of Oxford
Specialized bookshop
Special guests


Prices: £695 full board; non-res. per day £100; apply for latest details.

Watch for further announcements.

Stratford Caldecott
Conference Office, Exeter College, Oxford OX1 3DP

[Mithalwen]

Well I can forget about that unless a premium bond comes up in a big way - especially since it is all weekdays :(

[Lalwendë]

I'm wondering to post this is the 'Assigned to Mordor' thread, actually... :mad:

Here's a link to the actual website of the Second Spring Oxford Tolkien Conference (http://www.tolkiensoxford.com/index.asp). It gives extracts from might be expected from papers, some of which look extremely interesting, especially the one on Tolkien's England, and the event sounds very high level and academic. However, my suspicions are confirmed that there is only one paper being presented at any time, and it is very much a highly 'timetabled' event, including tours and dinners and the like. It is, however, in a beautiful college, includes plenty of time with Priscilla and has those interesting papers...

The cost remains at £695. For two people this is outrageous, which is why I am thinking of sending it to Mordor! That's about £1400, which would buy me over a month's holiday by the seaside in high season! Or a new car! Do they deliberately want to exclude us 'riff-raff'?

Rant over...

;)

[Mithalwen]

Well the premium bond did come up yesterday but only to the tune of £100 - which was nevertheless and appreciated windfall, particularly since I had assumed the nasty brown envelope from up north was from the Inland Revenue. Not enough to make a difference to the conference. So I thinkI will spend it on shoes ...and maybe a chocolate fountain ...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I attended a German Tolkien Society seminar last weekend which featured several lectures by experts I'd already heard last year in Birmingham. I very much enjoyed it, especially as I'd already decided that the Oxford conference is not on my agenda this year. I asked the other participants, and the general consensus was: it's too expensive, and after Birmingham last year, we really don't need to go to something similar so soon. I wonder how well it will be attended...

[Child of the 7th Age]

I cannot believe the pricetag on this! Either they are putting people up at luxury digs, or someone has to be making money on this. Or perhaps they are paying all the speakers huge stipends?

[Mithalwen]

My guess is they only want serious academics who will be funded by their departments not the lay enthusiasts...... Of course a more select gathering pushes the price up.....and Oxford is generally a lot pricier than Brum

[davem]

They had another Conference a couple of years back - 'Landscapes with Angels' - about fantasy literature, with a focus on Tolkien & Chesterton & the talks from that have been published as a special edition of the Chesterton Review, so I'm assuming the same will occur with this one. Its available as a single issue here http://www.isi.org/journals/chesterton_review.html

And for anyone who didn't make it to Birmingham last year the Tolkien Society are due to publish the talks from that either later this year or next.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

The program for that conference is quite wonderfully funny. On the evening of Monday 21 August 2006 for example, we learn that: "Evening free for conversations, orientation and rest". Does one have to do all three, or can one do but two? Does one have to do them in order or can one go a bit mad and do them out of sequence?

Even more amusing is the agenda for Thursday 24 August 2006 when after lunch there is a "Free period for rest or shopping". What if one wants to nip down to the Bird and Baby for a pint? Would that be frowned upon do you think?

From the looks of this thing, it is not something from which hoi polloi is being excluded -- quite the reverse! From the price tag, the lack of multiple offerings, the speakers list, the special guests, the paper topics and the location I assume that this is being put on specifically for Tolkien Fans of Means who don't mind dropping a bundle on a fab week walking in the professor's footsteps. I can assure you all that there are very very VERY few academics out there fortunate enough to work for institutions who would be willing to shell out that much money for a conference!

[Lalwendë]

The program for that conference is quite wonderfully funny. On the evening of Monday 21 August 2006 for example, we learn that: "Evening free for conversations, orientation and rest". Does one have to do all three, or can one do but two? Does one have to do them in order or can one go a bit mad and do them out of sequence?

Even more amusing is the agenda for Thursday 24 August 2006 when after lunch there is a "Free period for rest or shopping". What if one wants to nip down to the Bird and Baby for a pint? Would that be frowned upon do you think?



It would have to be specified as a 'pint opportunity' in the timetable!

:D

This made me laugh too. It reminded me of the Shearings Coach Holiday brochures my retired parents get which feature over-regimented four day breaks in Bournemouth and detail every last activity down to the minute. I have a natural aversion to being herded about and would somehow find myself unable to resist breaking the rules and rebelling by perhaps being five minutes late for breakfast or something.

Exeter College are maybe cashing in by ripping off the people organising this - you used to be able to stay there for £5 a night, dinner being £1.50 extra. I suspect that whenever the magic word 'Tolkien' is uttered in Oxford college deans' eyes light up with little pound signs in front of them. :rolleyes:

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Is anyone planning on attending The Gathering of the Fellowship in Toronto this July?
http://www.gatheringofthefellowship.org
There are going to be lots of scholars there.

[ninja91]

Be it anime or tolkien, us in the US get pooped on again. i wish i could go... :mad:

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Tigerlily, how was the Gathering? I hope you have time to tell us a bit about it!

I'll be attending the German Tolkien Society meeting this coming weekend, and there are definitely echoes of Birmingham involved: Alan Lee as guest of honor; the Greek Tolkien Society as guests (remember their wonderful tragic play?!); and renewing my aquaintance with German Society members I met in Birmingham last year. Unfortunately, Brian Sibley, who was to come as well, is ill and can't be there.

Another very nice detail - the young German artist Anke Eissmann, who displayed her paintings in Birmingham last summer, designed a T-shirt print for the occasion. Here it is: T-shirt (http://www.spreadshirt.net/shop.php?op=article&article_id=3151665&view=140)

[Lalwendë]

That's a really cool t-shirt design! I like the way its quite cheeky. ;)

Anyone else going to Oxonmoot? I'm sure narfforc will be. We've not sent the money off yet so I hope we still get in! We're hoping to spend a few more days in the area too, so anyone with top tips about parking the car in Oxford for the three days of Oxonmoot (Somerville College), your info would be welcome, as would anything about good places to stay. We quite fancy wandering off to Avebury, Stonehenge and the Lambourn Downs too.

[narfforc]

Yes I am going, and I will be going in 2007 by the look of it.................