I met a fellow BDer!!

[Samwise]

By the way, for all you hobbits - the restaurant we sat and had lunch in had two pages of its menu devoted to mushroom dishes - and what we tried tasted very good
Aw, man....now I'm hungry... smilies/tongue.gif

[Finwe]

Samwise, you don't want to meet, me? How could you be so cruel? You've broken my poor little Elvish heart! smilies/frown.gif *runs off into the corner and does her best imitation of an Elfling's temper tantrum*


BTW, I was just kidding. smilies/biggrin.gif


Wow. I had no idea that so many BDers lived in Texas. We really should all meet up together somewhere, like the mall at Houston or Dallas or something.

[the phantom]

My summer plans are still up in the air but it is possible that I will be in Texas (Austin) this summer.

If I am unable to go this summer then next summer is a good bet.
We really should all meet up together somewhere, like the mall
Yes, just the place that I'd always imagined barrow-wights hanging around. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Sharkû]

I think it's preferrable to keep to the topic of this thread -- actual meetings which have happened; future meetings can be planned elsewhere.

[Aredhel Ar-Feiniel]

Since then we have hung out a lot and she has become one of my best friends.


Likewise Everdawn. Now my version.

I was so intimidated about what she would think of me in real life you know! And I was late which I had kittens about and it was so strange that we came ot be at Myers at the same time and that i had actually been following her down from the train station. Spooky!

And I had been feeling guilty as all hell for not meeting her in Sydney when I was at Balmain and she was at Darling Harbour, so I was really determined to meet her now that I had been in Brisbane for a while. Everdawn was totally not the person I had expected her to be even though we had been chatting for some time, as well as meeting on the downs.

Outside of Myer's I saw this girl and she sort of looked at me for a while and said "Aredhel?" and im like, "NO way are you her!" becuase seriously, she looked like one of thoes people you see at the MAC cosmetic counters, seriously not what I had expected, and she was really nice too! Though i called her Everdawn through the whole day, i think people around us thought we were hippies or something.

It was a great way to get to know my new city, and to meet a friend from the downs as well.

EDIT: Everdawn did not know this, but i had lost her photo so i was hoping she recognised me... lucky!

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:16 AM February 03, 2004: Message edited by: Aredhel Ar-Feiniel ]

[Eorl of Rohan]

Well, if NO ONE is from Korea, then I'd jsut have to persuade Koreans to be a BDer. A pity that no one I know speaks English.

[Galadel Vinorel]

Edited list of People living in Texas:

Maikafanawen,
Nuranar,
DaughterofVana,
Bulelainwen,
Eressie Ailin,
BethoHOG,
One axe to rule them all,
Finwe,
Child of the Seventh Age
and Luthien_Tunuviel.

Also, I, Galadel, shall be visiting San Anotonio, Texas this December.

*I sincerly apologize for not adding your name to the list before now, Luthien. Hope that you can forgive me. smilies/biggrin.gif

Anyone else from Texas, or will be visiting there this December?

So, does everyone on this list truly want to meet? Please either post a response saying so here, or PM me and, if so, tell me when and where you would be able to meet. I would definately like to meet you all. smilies/biggrin.gif

Namarie.

[Raefindel]

Well, he's not a fellow Barrow-downer, but he should be. I met Viggo Mortensen. He came to Seattle, to KOMO TV and I met him.:cool:

[Mister Underhill]

Is he as short as I think he is?

[Raefindel]

Mmm... He's pretty close to 6'.

They're gonna use my question on the air. The show airs Fri Feb 27th.:cool:

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

Well, if NO ONE is from Korea, then I'd jsut have to persuade Koreans to be a BDer. Good idea. The more the merrier.

I'm still getting over the fact that Tolkien's influence extends that far.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

I met Cinderella at the mall on Sunday- I had a lovely time, hope she did too.;)

-Menelien

[Galadel Vinorel]

Sharku posted this a little while ago:

I think it's preferrable to keep to the topic of this thread -- actual meetings which have happened; future meetings can be planned elsewhere.

If this is so, may I please be allowed to make a new topic where the Texan Barrowdowners may to meet to decide when and where they would like to meet, and others things about Texas and LOTR? Is this alright with you, Sharku? Moderators, will you please approve this topic of mine? Hope so. Thnak you all.:D

[The Saucepan Man]

may I please be allowed to make a new topic where the Texan Barrowdowners may to meet to decide when and where they would like to meet You could try here (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4519&highlight=texas).

But please bear in mind the guidance given on meeting up with other Downers in the forum FAQs (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6010).

[Beren87]

Originally posted by GaladrieloftheOlden
I met Cinderella at the mall on Sunday- I had a lovely time, hope she did too.;)

-Menelien

And I'm meeting both of them March 13-15 outside of Boston. :)

[mark12_30]

Sniff. Raefindel Brownies-- all gone. So are Rae's Homemade Croutons. And even Raefindel's Journey-cakes. Sad, sad Helen-hobbit.

At least there is still plenty of Raefindel Mocha Coffee left. (Helen-hobbit cheers up, and wishes she had thought to bring the bag to work.)

Raefindel sings well enough for any elf, and harmonizes skilfully enough for Lothlorien or even Rivendell. Bring 'em on, Elrond; Rae can keep up.
Rae (http://members.cox.net/hrwright61/RaeInGarden.JPG)

[warrenerd]

we should hold BD counsels in europe and the u.s. that way we could all sort of meet, and be sort of closer as a group of lotr freaks. but wouldn't that be great? i mean, i've never really obsessed about lotr with a person face-to-face before. and i'd be interested to see what everyone acts like in person. but i don't know who could possibly put that together. but if any connected people are reading this and could possibly pull a few strings and make it begin to happen, i'm sure we'd all freak.
~thinking at the wall~
:smokin:

[Raefindel]

Oh Wow, Helen!Who is that short, fat elf with hobbit-hair? A picture of me where I don't manage to look like the village idiot! You're a truly amazing photographer.

I put the remainder of the brownies in the freezer. Don't know how long they will last, but hoping they will make it till I see you again.

Helen is the most generous of Hobbits. She bought gifts for me AND my children!

There were toys the like of which they had never seen before, all beautiful, and some obviously magical. Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before, and had come all the way from the Mountain and from Dale and were of real dwarf-make.

We're going to take all the beautiful instruments to the Competition this weekend. It's supposed to rain cats and dogs- no hobbit trail for me!

BTW,How did the pic of he buffalo come out?

[Gorwingel]

Well I didn't meet a Barrow-Downs member. But this could be a Barrow-Downs first... I saw a B-D on TV!

It just happened that I saw our beloved Raefindel in the audience on a local television show where Viggo Mortenson was being interviewed (we just happen to live in the same general area). I had known beforehand that the lovely Viggo was going to be on it, so of course I wasn't going to miss it. But then as I was watching it, they started to have members of the audience ask Viggo questions. Then they called the name of a person and the camera moved over to them. And it just happened to be Rae herself! I was like "I know that person". I found it to be very cool.

[Raefindel]

I missed it! We lost power!

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Originally posted by Beren87
And I'm meeting both of them March 13-15 outside of Boston. :)
Well, that happened, and it was great. (Except I was a widdle bit clumsy. :rolleyes: (Just a little, really.)) Beren and Cinders are both very fun to be around. :)

-Menelien

[Lyta_Underhill]

Good evening to you all, and good day to those of you in parts of the world still graced by the Sun! I have come out of hiding to report, in brief right now, on a most unexpected occurrence! By pure chance, I met a fellow BD'er! By pure chance, I mean, she said she was going to be in a town that happens to be 20 miles from where I live, so let's say "chance acted upon!"

I met Alatáriël (look! I did the alt codes and everything!) at the Pulaski, Tennessee Elf-Mart today, where the pictures linked below were taken (all except the very last, which was taken at the cemetery where we walked). She had driven all the way from Texas, not to meet me, but to visit family. This was a happy coincidence! We had matching Sting swords and hobbit-gear, and I suppose people stared, but who cares? As those who follow the Walk to Rivendell and beyond thread know, Alatáriël is already trudging through the Emyn Muil with Frodo and Sam, whereas I am still groping my way through the Mines of Moria. Anyway, our disparate Middle Earth locations aside, we walked through a local cemetery, she clambering over the dangerous rocks on the East side of the Anduin, me climbing hand and foot towards the Chamber of Mazarbul.

I must say, she was a WHOLE lot of fun, and even more Frodo-obsessed than me in some ways! (That was a first for me, in person, at least!) Plus, she has a lot more swords than I do! And action figures and posters and banners, etc. etc.... We did not stop talking the entire time we walked, thus enhancing the whole aerobic effect in the Tennessee heat, but it was as if we were merely strolling about Hobbiton, talking about the weather, other hobbits we know, life at the Green Dragon, etc. More fun than Pippin with two pints in him! (Well, maybe not quite!) ;)
Alatariel and Lyta part 1 (http://www.ardmore.net/~frodo/alatariellyta1.jpg)
Alatariel and Lyta once again (http://www.ardmore.net/~frodo/alatariellyta2.jpg)
And a third time with matching drawn Sting swords! (http://www.ardmore.net/~frodo/alatariellyta3.jpg)
A Barrowdowns Tableaux (http://www.ardmore.net/~frodo/barrowdownstableaux.jpg)

And with this short report, I take my leave for now...
Cheers!
Lyta

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Thanks so much for your report and the pics, Lyta! When I read that two of my fellow Rivendell walkers would be in the same area, I was hoping you'd make it happen. Nice to see both of you, in Frodo garb, no less!

[mark12_30]

Lyta and Alatariel, those pictures are great!! You both make awesome hobbits.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I met the fabulous Lyta Underhill and her husband, the Witchking of Angmar, on Sunday in Tennessee. I really enjoyed meeting with them both and I had a wonderful time. I recognized her immediately as she was the only other hobbit in the swarm of orcs at the local Elf-Mart. We talked for a while and, in typical hobbit fashion, shared a few wafers of lembas (sold under trade name of 'Snickerdoodles'), before the Witchking took our photos.

We then travelled to a local cemetary, where we walked about 3 miles (while the Witchking parked under a tree and napped). We were able to spend about 4 hours together, and I don't think we stopped talking the whole time. It was almost scary how much we had in common, not least of which is our mutual Frodo obsession. It was such a pleasure to spend face-to-face time with another LotR geek. We hope to be able to get together again the next time I'm in Tennessee. Definitely as much fun as both Merry & Pippin with two pints in them!! :cool:

[Andrea]

Alright, first off, apologies. Beleth here. Old account got lost and forgotten, so I had to make a new one. With this new account, I vowed to be better about my forum-habits.

That said, I definitely met Lush on Thursday. Passing through Duke University, for a few reasons. My dad's an alum, and my brother was looking at various universities. Duke was not a destination to be missed, especially with such a person as Lush currently residing there.

Here's the evidence.

http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v26/tight_lacer/other/Img0301.jpg

We went out to dinner with my father and brother, and exchanged stories and talked of Duke in general. Afterwards, I was afforded the special chance to walk around a bit with her, seeing the place under her narration. A very fun evening indeed. You should all be jealous of me.

[Lhundulinwen]

Ahhh, y'all are just so cute! No, I'm not gay/stalker/etc, its just that BDer's are beautiful people! lol, here's my story.
The person who introduced me to the BD is a casual poster, Princess of Mordor last time I checked. We go to school together, but last Sunday, she graduated from high school. I was proud of myself; I waited to cry until I was in the parking lot. She's my best friend, and I love her so much. And she's going to college out of state. Where at you ask? Where else! Texas! :cool: Anyway, she and I are going to see Van Halsing (sp?) tomorrow, and she's going to sleepover with me. I'm so sad to see her go, but you know what she gave me for a parting gift? A necklace with a mini-sword on it!! Her words on the card -and I quote- ""May it be a light in dark places" and may it give you the strength and courage it bestowed upon me when I needed it most." :( :( I'm going to go cry a little now...

I hope all of you find a LOTR nut to be best friends with too. It took me awhile, after all I live in Arkansas, but trust me, there are people like us out there!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I enjoyed yet another BD summit in London last week! Squatter was there, an old aquaintance by now, since he's been at three get-togethers that I've attended. He's always a brilliant conversationalist and was an invaluable guide to the Tolkien sites and sights in Oxford. We were joined by the wonderful Bêthberry, whom I met for the first time and felt comfortable with immediately. The London meeting took place in Gordon's Wine Bar, where the guests sit in the cellar, enjoying their drinks by candlelight - a very evocative atmosphere! I could well imagine Sam down there, saying farewell to the beer barrel...

For our trip to Oxford, we were joined by Bêthberry's family. Squatter had prepared a long list of possible attractions, so that we had to choose which were our top priorities. We opted for a break at the Eagle and Child first, where he showed us his first editions of LotR and other great books he owns. A group of Spanish Tolkien fans talked to us, asking about the way to JRRT's grave. They are from the 'elfenomeno' website, a familiar name from back in the days where that site ranked high on the list of favorites. Interestingly, we met them again on the way to the cemetery, our next stop. There were a few other people who came to the grave while we were there as well.

We then went to the Botanical Gardens to see the Pinus nigra (black pine) tree beside which Tolkien posed for the last photograph taken of him in 1973. It's an amazing tree, huge and beautiful! Of course we had to pose for pictures there too.

Time only allowed for a walk past one of the houses in which the Tolkien family lived, and we finished off with dinner at the Mitre, which he also mentioned in several of his letters, before taking the train back to London.

It was a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable day; I can't imagine a better way to see Oxford than with those BD friends! (Though we missed those who couldn't be with us... )

[Lush]

Awww, Andrea remembered. That was a fun night. especially due to your dad's old Delta Tau Delta stories. I felt like I was in a movie. :)

Esty, *grinding teeth in supreme jealousy*

[The Perky Ent]

Well, I don't think there's any Lousiana Barrow-Downsers, but, I go into Texas frequently.....As for Texas. I know the perfect place to meet. In Houston, there's a place called The Hobbit Hole. Could you ask for a better place than that?

[Bêthberry]

Well, it was not quite Rivendell, but I did for the first time set eyes upon the land that Tolkien loved so much, and I walked some of the streets and trod on some of the paths he did. And I was accompanied by a fellowship of Downers who made the visit all the more fun and delightful.

I met first in London, for the first time, Squatter, who guided my family and me around the British Museum and its monoliths of Egyptian stone and Sutton Hoo relics. We retired to a pub where he had first met Estelyn, a pub which has now seen three inaugural Barrow Downs meetings and so is on its way to becoming a real BD tradition. Squatter in real life is larger than his character here, a looming presence of wit, generosity, courtesy, a mind easily at home with any topic of conversation and a sensibility of charm and devilish good humour. We parted from my family and then met Esty in the most romantic of dark dens, Gordon's Bar.

There, amidst candle-lit, emptied bottles of wine, with the stone walls of the underground cavern sweating soot from the candles, we talked and talked. Squatter has said you could imagine Faggin there; I thought of all the Cornish smugglers bringing in port and sherry to be stored there away from the above ground authorities. In the dark, we could barely see each other except through flickering glimpses, yet what did it matter, having forged our friendship through chat and posts.

Estelyn is as vivacious and gregarious as one would expect from her posts here, an enthusiastic conversationalist who would put MeriSue in her place with the twinkling of an eye. And her eyes do twinkle! We met for the first time as old friends. Well, not that we are old, but that we had already had much shared between us. Alas that English pubs have such early closing hours. Had Squatter not had to catch a midnight train back to his home town before it turned into a pumpkin, we would have explored the night life of London further.

Estelyn went on to her quilting conference in Birmingham, where she followed a few sites of the Tolkien trail there where Sarehole once stood, while Squatter joined us for a second day of London haunts. It had to be something medieval; we choose the Tower of London, a splendidly preserved palace, but not the largest keep of the land. Here William the Conqueror build The White Tower, which with a fair bit of extravagant imagination on my part I could transform into something ressembling Tolkien's fortresses. Dinner was not medieval, but firey Indian. Another patron, across the restaurant from us, set up a bit of an entertainment that would have done Fawlty Towers justice. Poor Manuel!

The grandest adventure we reserved for Oxford. It was not a visit as daring and romantic as Squatter's first recorded escapade of midnight trespass into the gravesite, but it had its charms and special moments. All those scenes of Gwaihir rescuing Gandalf and Sam and Frodo were put in perspective when I saw the sign outside the Eagle and Child (called affectionately the Bird and Baby by the Inklings). The Rabbit Room, yellow-painted walls and midbrown wood, uneven floors and irregular walls, holds not just photographs of the Inklings but a framed scroll which they all signed testifying to their time there, Tolkien identifying himself as the father of the above named Christopher Tolkien. Squatter brought out his beloved first editions with their marvellous maps and glorious covers--books which attracted the attention of the Spanish Tolkien fans who had also journied there. Squatter shared his books with them and of course we shared internet sites. A pity it was that none of us was wearing a Barrow Downs tee shirt, but one cannot foresee all events.

We then took off for the gravesite, walking past the first of Tolkien's houses in Oxford (rather small and nondescriipt) and St. Aloysius Church (Tolkien's parish church), which we would have entered but a wedding was in process. We arrived at the cemetary just as the Spanish fans came up behind us! It is easy to find and almost overgrown with rosemary (that's for remembrance), roses, and other smaller plants. Both the headstone and the granite border bear reminders of other visits, fans leaving behind rosaries, cards, bracelets, small mementoes and tokens of respect. Tolkien's son Michael is buried a little off to one side from his parents. The names Luthien and Beren still stand out.

From there we caught a plebian form of transportation, a city bus, to High Street, which we walked up, passed Merton College and the Bodleian, to the Botanical Gardens, where we found the pinus nigra by which Tolkien stood in the last photograph taken of him. Rather unimaginatively, the three of us crowded around for the obligatory photograph of us touching it. It is a huge tree, spreading taller and wider than it did in that photograph and looking nothing like the shape of pine trees I am used to in my country. We departed after Squatter struck a pose at the foot of the tree which marked a perfect example of the way his imagination revisits sites and places.

All of this activity on a hot day generated a great deal of thirst. We repaired once again to the Bird and Baby, where my husband joined us. This time we did not run into any Tolkien fans and I was insensed that a mug with the pub's crest on it cost twenty English pounds, a sum I was not willing to part with.

On then to the Mitre, which Tolkien had favoured for dinner, a more stolid and less quaint pub than the B & B. The food was solid but excellent pub faire, made all the more convivial for Estelyn's and Squatter's company. We slowly wound our way down the streets of Oxford, still a medieval city in many ways, towards the train station, lingering along alley ways and in front of buildings in the warm summer night. The train carried us through the dark to end our day; we bid a hurried and quick farewell to Squatter at his stop and then completed our return to London.

One last night there and we spent it with Estelyn once again, meeting at the crypt under St. Martin's in the Field and then to dinner in a quiet corner where we could simply enjoy some last time together. It is possible that not all our conversation turned on Tolkien. We returned to Gordon's Bar for final departing pictures and then with melancholy excitement said our farewells.

My family and I then flew west and who can say that we Downers shall not meet again within the circles of the world?

[The Saucepan Man]

*Saucepan turns a bright shade of green and curses the demands of work that led him to miss such illustrious events*

:(

[Estelyn Telcontar]

It's time to revive this thread to report on yet another first-time meeting of Barrow-Downs members. Here's a brief account:

On Monday, on my way through Houston via plane, I had the opportunity to meet Thenamir and his family, Child of the 7th Age and her family, and Valesse as well as seeing the LotR exhibition in the museum there.

It was wonderful, every bit of it! Despite the confusing airport, Thena and I recognized each other from photos right away and we all had fun talking in the car on our way to see Child/Sharon. Then there was lots more talking, enjoying her hospitality, and lots to see as we admired her LotR collection - it's wonderful!

We had to pull ourselves away to get to the exhibition on time, which we did, and we met Val and friends there. It was great fun to see everything with fellow Downers, talking about everything and pointing out details to each other. And details there were - the costumes and props were absolutely amazing!! Val shared my interest in costume detailing and fabrics, so we "ooh"d and "aah"d over them. But everything was done with such meticulous attention to details - weapons, belts, papers, masks, armor, banners, all wonderful. There were some fun activities, trying out the tricks they used for scale correction and motion capture.

After over two hours there, we spent some time looking though the many possibilities for spending money on collectibles in the gift shop. I finally decided to buy only a pin that says "I went to Middle-Earth and all I got was this lousy ring" - I did not want to splurge on the genuine Elven cloak (woven by the same company that did the fabric for the movie), which would have set me back almost $1000!!

Dinner and the drive back to the airport took up the remaining time, and on my trip out of Houston I found myself smiling over thoughts of a very enjoyable day - wonderful people and something interesting to do together - can't top that!

When I get back home, I'll try to remember to give a link to the exhibition's online page - we weren't allowed to take pictures there. However, I do have a photo of Sharon, Thena, and myself which I'll put up when I get back home in two weeks.

Perhaps the others will add their reports to mine. I think I hold the record for meeting the most Downers in the course of my travels these past three years, and each time it is a highly enjoyable experience - they (well, I guess I should say "we" ;) ) are a wonderful bunch of people!

[Bêthberry]

Well now, Estelyn, thank you for your report. It is lovely to hear about the LotR Exhibit and how you got there and back again. :)

But there is something more to tell that you have skipped lightly over. Now that you have met Thenamir and Child, you can tell us what they are like in real life. We have more to go on than HerenIstarion's thread here!

How closely are they like their user name or nick personas? Thena has shared pictures of himself as Gandalf, but to the best of my knowledge we have no public pictures of our Shire mod. What does Child look like? Is she a curly mophead hobbit? Did she talk your ear off or is she quiet? Is Thena's sense of humour predominant or is that more his chat-self? Give! Give! to those of us who are less privileged than you, Mistress Downs-Member-Meeter! :D :cool:

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I second Beth's request. I'm quite sure that being related to a member does not constitute meeting one, so I'm very curious, not to mention a wee bit jealous.

[Kath]

Yesterday I met a fellow BDer by the name of Kristen (Shelob). She's only been on here a few months but I got talking to her about an archaeological dig she was going on in Spain for that is an interest of mine and it was near where I am going on holiday so I thought we could maybe meet up. Then it turned out that she was also coming to England and after a few PMs everything fell nicely into place. We had the slight problem of how to recognise each other, the idea of using large signs was vetoed due to the worry that our parents/friends would desert us on sight.

At any rate we met at Victoria Station in London just after midday and found each other (though thank God for mobiles or we never would have!). Her parents looked me over and decided I was not about to kidnap their daughter and so they left us be. Kristen is from Boston and had brought me a Red Sox (sp?) hat and also a pack of LotR card from Spain! I felt so bad that I'd got nothing for her and I now owe her £2 as well seeing as how she lent in to a friend of mine. If you read this and want it back I'll send it to you I swear!

We left the station and went to get some lunch, just some sandwiches, and then we went on the tube to Green Park to go eat. It was pretty warm and there was some sun so we stayed there for about an hour just talking about anything and everything really. She is from America so I must admit to bombarding her with questions but she was very good and put up with them all.

I'd had to come with a couple of friends because my parents wouldn't let me go to London on my own with all the bomb things and as they wanted to go shopping we all headed off to Oxford Street (well we tried, we ended up in Bond Street). Once there Kristen showed me her photos from Spain. The dig site looked incredibly hot! She'd also been to the Alhambra which I had been to the year before so I actually recognised some of the photos which was nice.

We had completely lost track of time and Kristen had to be back with her parents at 3:30 though that didn't quite happen. We took a quick photo before she had to go so that might end up on the photo page in a while.

I really liked meeting her as she was very friendly and didn't seem to mind the problem I have with indecision :rolleyes: I hope that she also had a good time and that she had a good remainder of her holiday.

[Maladuialion]

I'm meeting Bokkie in about.. 2 hours or so. He's sleeping at my house. Pictures promised of the goat and the Malad :D

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Pictures, Mala? I might finally see who Eponine keeps trying to kill me for flirting with? Life is complete again. :p

Perhaps I'll convince some fellow college kids that their lives are incomplete without The Barrowdowns and so will, by default, have met them.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Four Barrow-Downers got together at the event of the year in Birmingham, England a week ago. I travelled there for 'Tolkien 2005' and met Lalwendë and davem right away on Thursday - they are friendly and warm-hearted, easy to feel comfortable with immediately! Later that evening, we met narfforc, who is a very funny person - his accounts of the LotR parody he is writing kept us and others laughing! For more reports on the event and the various activities and people we experienced there, please check the Tolkien 2005 (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?p=406757#post406757) thread.

Pictures will be forthcoming...

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Has there not been a meeting for so very long? Let it be changed! Today I met Cailín in my hometown of Aberdeen. No seer-dreams, no wolf-attacks, all very normal. :D

She has come here to study for a year at the University of Aberdeen. Fortunately I had some wisdom to share with her (having studied there for four years) and so we had a wander about: looking at beautiful, stuffed animals and sketching our names at the top of the King's Tower. :p

It's hard to do her justice with words. Her ability to speak or read several different languages is phenomenal (no matter how much she tried to play it down), and made me feel rather uncultured by comparison. She comes across as she does on the Barrowdowns, perhaps slightly more soft-spoken than I had pictured her. She is charming, pretty and funny and I enjoyed my afternoon with her greatly.

I feel like it would be almost a host's duty to visit Loch Ness with her in the coming year but I'm not sure she'd be keen on such a terrifying ordeal. ;)

[Mithalwen]

Well clearly such things are like buses since I met Lalwende and Davem at Oxenmoot on Saturday.....

[Lalwendë]

Well clearly such things are like buses since I met Lalwende and Davem at Oxenmoot on Saturday.....

She almost didn't though folks, so let that be a warning that maybe we all ought to invent a secret Barrow-downs hand signal of greeting like the Masonic handshake. ;) Anyway, Mithalwen's great and we got talking and laughing away right from the start, and we'd like to meet her again as soon as possible! :)

[narfforc]

There are plans afoot to arrange a Yulemoot sometime in December, somewhere near Sheffield or Barnsley. This is being arranged independently by some of the Tolkien Society members. They are trying to book an hotel for about 70, so if you are interested watch this space, the Oxonmoot 2006 thread or PM me, I will try to keep you informed.

[narfforc]

My what BIG feet you have, are you a hobbit?

[Bêthberry]

My what BIG feet you have, are you a hobbit?


It's all that hair, narf. :p :D

[Mithalwen]

She almost didn't though folks, so let that be a warning that maybe we all ought to invent a secret Barrow-downs hand signal of greeting like the Masonic handshake. ;) Anyway, Mithalwen's great and we got talking and laughing away right from the start, and we'd like to meet her again as soon as possible! :)

A secret handshake is one thing ... I could cope with that .... just not compulsory footwigs :D

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

What about name tags? Or custom Barrow-downs T-shirts with screen names and user numbers on the back?

[narfforc]

That is a brilliant idea, I have a multitude of t-shirts with many Tolkinesque quotations written on them, all you have to do is find a suitable outlet, I get mine from www.air-brushed.com.

[Mithalwen]

What about name tags? Or custom Barrow-downs T-shirts with screen names and user numbers on the back?


Actually the name tags were rather nice but I had my RL name on mine :D

[Lalwendë]

A secret handshake is one thing ... I could cope with that .... just not compulsory footwigs :D

I suppose we could make do with always wearing fluffy slippers to emulate excessive foot hair - sounds nice and comfy so I wouldn't be averse to it.
;)

There are plans afoot to arrange a Yulemoot sometime in December, somewhere near Sheffield or Barnsley. This is being arranged independently by some of the Tolkien Society members. They are trying to book an hotel for about 70, so if you are interested watch this space, the Oxonmoot 2006 thread or PM me, I will try to keep you informed.

I know about the idea for a TS Springmoot in Leeds, but Sheffield or Barnsley would be much better owing to the fact that Leeds is a dump and also has no pubs. Barnsley has loads of pubs but no bookshops (I can vouch for that I've just been there today), whereas Sheffield has seen many of its pubs turned into cruddy bars but has a few bookshops - and the best real ale pub in the city is oooh, 5 mins from my house (but 20 mins minimum uphill returning ;)). Tha'll 'ave t'call everywun thee and thar though....

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

It's hard to do her justice with words. Her ability to speak or read several different languages is phenomenal (no matter how much she tried to play it down), and made me feel rather uncultured by comparison.


I have expirienced that exact reaction from many a brittish person. . . When I traveled South America Brittish people constantly complemented me and started to talk about what a shame it was that they did not know any languages. They felt Uncultured, even though they did not use that word.
And it is not only me who expirienced it, alot of my travel companions did as well. . .
I am starting to think, that you think to little about "forigners" english skills in general.

It may well be that Cailin realy is amazing at several languages, I have never met her so I don't know.

[Cailín]

What is this, Rune – why not let the British think we are all brilliant ;) ?

I have little to add: I had a wonderful time with Eomer yesterday and though it was entirely odd to meet another Downer (I was secretly quite terrified) I soon felt comfortable and neither of us seemed inclined to kill the other. :p I got quite an extensive tour of the university buildings as well, which allowed me to show off to the ignorant little freshers today.

A description? Well, all rumours are true, of course. Eomer is a kilt-wearing Snoopy-Werewolf crossbreed, who looks like Johnny Depp and has one wooden leg and an eye-patch. Seriously. Picture that. Aside from that, he is just as loveable as he is on the Downs.

You should all come to Aberdeen this year. Wouldn’t that be fun?

I feel like it would be almost a host's duty to visit Loch Ness with her in the coming year but I'm not sure she'd be keen on such a terrifying ordeal.

It can hardly be a more daunting place than Seaton Park, really.

[the guy who be short]

Rune - To the typical monolingual English mind, it is inconceivable that somebody could be fluent in so many languages. As we do not bother to learn other languages to any degree of competency, it surprises us that foreigners do so so well.

Remaining on-topic, of course (;)), I am afraid I will be unable to meet anybody for another year due to overprotective parents. The fun starts in Uni next year.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I forgot to tell about my meeting with Spawn and Lommy earlier this summer.

Well, I was with my family on a trip to Finland and besides being pussled by the mixture of Russian and Scandinavian culture, I had the pleasure of meeting Spawn and Lommy for a few hours.

We used them on having picknickish thing, where I got to try some finish speciality and all the food in Lommys kitchen, wich she had shamelessly robbed. . . :p
I was suprised that they were both pretty talkative, wich was not how I had expirienced most finnish people until then. We spend most of the time talking about the barrow downs and gossip about other downers :p . . . In all it was a wonderful afternoon with two wonderful girls.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The hospitality of the Rivergranddaughter is all that a visitor could wish for and more! The food was not only delicious enough for any Hobbit but indeed worthy of a King's table - and a Telcontar knows of what she speaks!

Though I'm afraid the marks we left on the sandy shores of yonder shores are rather transitory, it was a fitting close to a delightful visit. This was not a first meeting, but a very personal and enjoyable second one.

I defy any Downs member to challenge my record - if I haven't forgotten anyone on my list (which goes back over four years, so my memory may have missed one or two!) I have met 14 of ya'll. And all have survived the encounter!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

It is my plan to atleast try to breake that record although it will probably take some years. . .

If anybody wants to help me do this and live near Manchester (England), please PM me.

[narfforc]

hEllo, eXcuuuSe mE EstY I HAveN't REcoveREd YeT, THe mEn iN WhitE cOaTS BROUgHT mE A niCe CoaT WitH loTs oF StRaPS anD tOLd My MothER To GivE mE piLLs:

THREE PILLS ARE GIVEN TO KEEP ME SO CALM
SEVEN IS TAKEN TO MAKE MY HEAD STONE
NINE I TAKE TO KEEP ME FROM HARM
ONE PILL I SWALLOW SO I AM ALONE
IN MY NICE JACKET WHERE I CAN'T MOVE MY ARM.

Other than that I am perfectly sane.

No I'm not.

Yes I am.

Not.

Am.........................................

[Mithalwen]

I suppose we could make do with always wearing fluffy slippers to emulate excessive foot hair - sounds nice and comfy so I wouldn't be averse to it.
;)
....


Oh yes I would go for that, I have some nice panda slippers .... :p

[Lush]

I might jump ship and move to Britain next year. Canada is also a distinct possibility. Ya'll know what that means, don't you?

There will be no excuse not to meet me. ;)

[Mithalwen]

It is my plan to atleast try to breake that record although it will probably take some years. . .



Well you will be doing better than me - the number of barrow downers I have met has decreased by 50%..... :(

[Lush]

The footprints are very post-modern. :p

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Well you will be doing better than me - the number of barrow downers I have met has decreased by 50%..... :(
Huh ?

[Durelin]

This summer, I'll be in London on July 2nd or 3rd through the 4th or 5th this summer, and then in Oxford and then Stratford after London. Then it's on to Ireland and then Wales...

Of course, it is one of those *educational* trips, and so I will not have much just 'free time' in London, but, I'm sure I'll have enough time and freedom to at least say hello and *hang* for a bit.

If anyone's brave enough to say hello. :p

And to any East Coast US BDers who'd be interested: I plan on going to Otakon (http://www.otakon.com/default2.asp) this year, if anyone would like to go and perhaps meet up for a bit.

[Kitanna]

I actually met Orominuialwen back in August.

I had headed up to Madison, WI. to help a friend move into her apartment and I was able to break away from my friend for a bit and set up a meeting time with Oro.

Though time wasn't on our side we ended up having a nice long conversation about school and friends and stuff of the like. It was so much fun to meet a fellow Downer, especially one as fun and funny as Oro was. Even though our meeting went well I found out later her parents were convinced I was a middle-aged man who was out to abduct her, after she didn't pick up her phone.
In any case it was wonderful to meet someone off this site. It gives real personality to her posts now.

[Thinlómien]

I forgot to tell about my meeting with Spawn and Lommy earlier this summer.Hey, we forgot it too... :rolleyes: Though, I'm about to do something to it, even later than you...

We had a lot of fun and Rune told us about a freaky Finnish woman he had met while working in Roskilde Festival (I hope he didn't assume me and spawn be like her).

It was really great and Rune and spawn were both really lovely. Spawn is not as scary as she sometimes seems to be here, though I assure you she's as friendly and funny.

Rune talks a lot (and that's a good thing) and is almost as crazy as here. (Though he's maybe somewhat hmm... kinder and calmer than here... :p) RL-Rune and BD-Rune are quit similar, but I still can't help imagining Rune (when I see his avvie) as a Karl Marx -looking guy.

It was quite odd to meet fellow 'downers, but only positively so. They were both so nice people that I'd like to see them again sometime. Spawn lives quite near (in the neighbouring city) so I hopefully will see her in the future, but I might have more difficulties with seeing Rune...

And I envy you all brits who get to meet everybody... :)

[Mithalwen]

Huh ?


The Downers I met were Lalwende and davem.....

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

But Davem decided to return. . .

Edit: I have been informed that Davem is "gone" again, quite upsetting

[Mithalwen]

It is .....well I find it so, especially having encouraged him to return when we met. I still can't quite believe he is banned. Seems such an unlikely turn of events all in all.... :(

[Lalaith]

Yes. Quite baffling.

[Saurreg]

Yes. Quite baffling.

x 2. What's going on?

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

My guess is that someone's hooked up an improbability drive to the forum's bandwidth.

[Saurreg]

My guess is that someone's hooked up an improbability drive to the forum's bandwidth.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy FTW!

[Volo]

Anybody who would dare to meet me living in Berlin?

[Brinniel]

I'm happy to announce that I've just been accepted into my college's Kasteel Well External Program. This basically means that from January to April 2008, I get to live and take classes in a castle in the Netherlands. Not only that, but we're required to visit two other cities (I'm not sure which ones yet) and are encouraged to travel abroad to other countries in Europe as well- thanks to 3-day weekends and 2 week long breaks, this is entirely possible.

Now I know that Spring 2008 is still pretty far away, but I definitely hope during my stay in Europe that I will have the opportunity to meet some of you European Downers. I've never been overseas before, so this is really exciting for me. :)

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I will try to remember that. . .

From what I have seen here and on LJ you seem like a person I would like to meet and since Holland is not that far away and fairly cheap to go to. . . well it is definitly a possibilty.

[Laleena]

oh!oh! I know someone cuz we go to the same school in Berlin, CT. Legolasfan1 is my Best Friend!! :D

Anyone else live here?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I have met yet another Downer, though only the few who have been around as long as I have and who have frequented the chat room in the past will remember her: goldwine. I visited her on a trip to Australia, her home, and enjoyed our meeting very much! She is a great hostess and a lovely person, with whom it was a joy to converse, as we share many interests. I feel privileged to have gotten to know her personally.

I'm always open for opportunities of meeting Downs members who live or visit in Germany/Europe - just let me know when you'll be where and I'll try to make it possible, though I can't promise success in advance...

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

As I type this, I'm sitting beside a fellow BDer.

And no, I'm not related to her. Perhaps not closely, that is.

yavanna II was browsing the Downs in some computer place here in the University of the Philippines, while I, fresh from a French class, was looking for a computer, and I saw her, and worked up the courage to talk to her, and then we ended up chatting like friends. :D

This is sooo heady!

[Rikae]

Well now.

I have to type this quietly, because someone who just traveled through six time zones is sleeping upstairs.

I picked Macalaure up at the airport yesterday evening. Not quite long years; nor Nan Elmoth, but some spell seems to have caused us to have miss several hours since.

*bliss*

He is simply the most wonderful person in this world.

[Nogrod]

Rikae & Mac!

That's just so beautiful!

Enjoy and live!

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Well, with this year's Oxonmoot came some strange occurrences indeed. Yes, I went there and met some quite disturbing people. I also met some Downers.
Estelyn and Guinevire were at the Eagle and Child and we had many adventures! Squatter arrived a little later complete with trilby and waistcoat of doom. Narfforc, in true Northerner fashion, arrived drunk and beating the living daylights out of a small child... Or at least, something like that.

[davem]

Well, with this year's Oxonmoot came some strange occurrences indeed. Yes, I went there and met some quite disturbing people. I also met some Downers.
Estelyn and Guinevire were at the Eagle and Child and we had many adventures! Squatter arrived a little later complete with trilby and waistcoat of doom. Narfforc, in true Northerner fashion, arrived drunk and beating the living daylights out of a small child... Or at least, something like that.

Hope you had a great time. I'm envious. Did you get to hear Alex Lewis singing at the 'Ents'? Lal is particularly upset to have missed the Dealers' Room. I was going to go down myself - told Lal I'd send her some pics back from me phone, but for some reason she insisted I had to be around 'in case something happens'. :rolleyes:

[Lalwendë]

Hope you had a great time. I'm envious. Did you get to hear Alex Lewis singing at the 'Ents'? Lal is particularly upset to have missed the Dealers' Room. I was going to go down myself - told Lal I'd send her some pics back from me phone, but for some reason she insisted I had to be around 'in case something happens'. :rolleyes:

Rotten old goat :P As it happens if we had booked to go we'd have wasted a few hundred quid as I was detained in the hospital til 6pm on Friday for obs. I must have foresight...or maybe a pessimistic outlook?

I'm not sorry I missed the 'Ents' though. Meh. Last year I was almost crushed to death in the rush to exit the marquee as they began...the best 'Ents' were narfforc's recitations from News of the World on Sunday morning. I trust he was on form? ;)

Photos are demanded - go direct to your blog Mr Hookbill...if you please. :D

[Mithalwen]

Alex Lewis wasn't there you can imagin how controllable my grief was Lal, ...... but there was a lot of truly dreadful poetry, some folk singing - which was fine but basically the same tune regardless of subject matter and the truly wonderful "Sound of Mumaks" presented by the Cambridge Tolkien Society...... All together now "How do you solve a problem like Moria?" ....

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Right, if you want a nice little report about Oxonmoot, I got one on my blog.
http://hukbillgoomba.livejournal.com/67249.html#cutid1

Mithalwen, you were at Oxonmoot? Why didn't you try and find the rest of us? Think yourself too good for us, eh? :p ;)

[Mithalwen]

The reverse if anything.... it took me all day to introduce myself to Lal who I had chatted with quite a bit from PMs etc and that was only when she was on her own, to intoduce myself to Lal and Dave together would have been too terrifying. Then I literally didn't know what I was doing as regards how long I was going for until Wednesday or when I would arrive ... and then it was too late and I left it to fate and fate said "No"....

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I should like to say that the Tolkien Society did us proud, and that although davem and Lalwendë were missed, we managed to soldier on in their absence. Owing to a combination of road closures and my own incompetent navigation, I arrived at dinner on Friday just in time for the main course and had to wait until we were filling in the corners before looking for the other Downers. I caught up with Estelyn, Guinevere and Hookbill just in time for the Cambridge Tolkien Society's rendition of their combined homage to Tolkien and Spike Milligan, The Lord of the Goons. Narfforc was in evidence, but he and I didn't actually have a proper conversation until Saturday afternoon, so for now we must leave him.

Having known Guinevere through various quiz threads and Hookbill through his editorship of The Downer, it wasn't difficult to strike up a suitable conversation, which I must say was so interesting and engaging that I can't remember any of it. Perhaps my regular trips to the bar can explain my aberrant memory. In retrospect I didn't spend as much time speaking to Guinevere as I should have liked, since in person she speaks less than Estelyn, Hookbill and I; but hopefully she didn't feel ignored. Estelyn and I have, of course, met several times already, so we picked up where we left off. She was, as usual, the person who made introductions, dispensed Tolkien memorabilia, collected signatures and arranged group photographs, which would never happen if it were left up to me. She also enforced the forum regulations with an iron fist throughout, although I did make that bit up. Hookbill proved to share my delight in the subtle art of absurd comedy, much as one would expect from a perusal of his newspaper; but we also discovered that we've both watched Withnail and I rather more times than is good for us. Since he's undoubtedly reading this, I'd just like to say: "I have a heart condition."

Saturday began unwontedly early with a suitably enormous breakfast. I then attended more lectures than I did in my entire first week at university (four), sometimes with one or other of the Downers, sometimes not. In one of these, Hookbill demonstrated that he actually participates when the lecturer asks for audience participation, and that he doesn't need his books to talk about Tolkien (I clearly do, since I couldn't accurately remember a single quotation for the whole weekend). I finally caught up with Narfforc at the last lecture of the day ('The Goths and Huns revisited'), where our conversation about early medieval mythology was rudely interrupted by the guest speaker's insistence on delivering her lecture.

We all met up at one table for the Ents on Saturday night, where the first set of Downs group photographs was taken before I could get completely drunk. We then adjourned to the bar, where further madness ensued, before taking in the utter lack of entertainment that was the Tolkien reading group (not one reading that wasn't part of CRT's HME commentary, and mostly a single bore monopolising the entire event - no names, no pack drill). Estelyn, Hookbill and I all went, but all of us made excuses after a very short time. Of all of these, only Estelyn's was genuine, since Hookbill and I claimed tiredness, but actually went to a party on the roof of the block where I was staying.

I'll say this for the TS: they know how to drink, and by 'drink' I mean anything and everything that they can lay their hands on. The roof was one swinging event, where many members of the committee and several performers from the Ents letting their hair down with a vengeance. To give you some idea of the evening, I was discussing with a TS member from Holland how Joseph's Wright's comments as quoted by Tolkien [1] explained the high prices charged by Oxford colleges for use as Oxonmoot venues, while the two of us drank some Dutch mead that he'd brought and Narfforc taught two people the basics of unarmed combat directly next to us. It was, in short, the sort of drunken shambles that I particularly enjoy. I went to bed at twenty to five in the morning, got just over two hours' sleep and missed the morning walking tour. We were represented on that excursion by Guinevere and Estelyn, who had neither stayed up all night nor drunk themselves silly.

I shan't be too flippant about Enyalië, being that it's a respectful ceremony of remembrance. That leaves me little to say about it other than that it was the diametric opposite of my first visit to Tolkien's grave (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=4544). A speech was made by the TS's outgoing president, Namarië was sung and another Downs group photograph was taken by the grave. Afterwards, we headed off to the Nosebag in Oxford for tea and cakes (and in my case a mountain of other food to settle my churning stomach). There we met up with other T.S. members and continued to talk about various subjects until the Return of the Bore. Eventually, at about three, Hookbill and I had to leave, since we weren't staying in Oxford for the extra night. We managed to have another chat about various subjects on the walk back to Lady Margaret Hall, and I drove him to the station, during which time I discovered that he's completely uninterested in cars. For this failure to show due slavish appreciation for my convertible, I kicked him out and charged him five pounds for the petrol, although not really.

Thus ended my first Oxonmoot, and a roaring good time it was too. I recommend wholeheartedly both the event itself and the meeting there of other members of this forum, who are for the most part neither cannibals nor zombies. I look forward to meeting more of you next year at the extended edition of the moot.

[1] "'What do you take Oxford for, lad?' 'A university, a place of learning.' 'Nay, lad, it's a factory! And what's it making? I'll tell you. It's making fees. Get that into your head, and you'll begin to understand what goes on.'" Reported in Letters #250; 1 November 1963, to Michael Tolkien. The interposed answer was Tolkien's own.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

For this failure to show due slavish appreciation for my convertible, I kicked him out and charged him five pounds for the petrol, although not really

Yes, all he really did was throw me out of the car and then run over me thirty six times. Hence the rather cobbled together nature of the latest Newspaper... Although, thankfully, they are all cobbled together and so no one noticed. ;)

But I'm making time!

[Lalwendë]

Alex Lewis wasn't there you can imagin how controllable my grief was Lal, ...... but there was a lot of truly dreadful poetry, some folk singing - which was fine but basically the same tune regardless of subject matter and the truly wonderful "Sound of Mumaks" presented by the Cambridge Tolkien Society...... All together now "How do you solve a problem like Moria?" ....

Now I'm really angry that I missed the one year that was not blighted by the 'singing' of Mr Lewis.

Although I did miss a chance to annoy by starting an argument about how folk music is actually good :D

I'll say this for the TS: they know how to drink; and by 'drink' I mean anything and everything that they can lay their hands on.

Yes, it's the English disease ;) I spent a long time after the last Oxonmoot worrying I had made a plonker of myself with Joanna Tolkien because I was introduced to her while sitting on a park bench in the darkness (to which we had retreated so as to swear copiously about the Ents without directly hurting anyone's feelings...and so that we could still see in and laugh at a certain singer), well oiled with cider and stinking of an excessive consumption of cigs and cheesey Nik Naks. There was a roof party (of sorts) last year - unfortunately this happened above my room on the Friday, one of several designated as the 'quiet' block - I trust this was not the case this year or our esteemed pal Alan may have had to spend a night sleeping on a bench in the quad once more and I don't think it did him very much good - I shall have to get davem to ask him...I believe last year Mr narfforc was so drunk he went to sleep at teatime and woke up at 4am on Sunday morning looking for the party ;)

Did you know that at the Birmingham event the TS had drunk the local pub quite literally dry by Sunday night - but being troopers, everyone went and sat outside the pub anyway.

Next year we may or may not be able to bring the newest Downer of all. This depends on how good the cider harvest has been though.

[Bêthberry]

Next year, if they do a Pythonesque Beren watching Luthien dancing in the forest, I'll be there.

Gollem: "I'm so hungry I could eat a fish called Wanda."

Frodo: "It's only a flesh wound."

Gimli: "What makes you think she's a witch?"
Boromir: "Well, she turned me into a newt."
Gimli: "A newt?"
Boromir: "Well, . . . sort of."

Shadowfax: "I don't use coconuts"

[narfforc]

You are quite correct Lal I was drunk last year and did miss The Ents. I had a great time this year though, managing to get to most of the lectures I wanted to. It was very good to meet Hooky, Squatter and Guinevere for the first time, and Esty once again, I hope you will all come again, along with some more Downers maybe. This is my umpteenth Oxonmoot, so I will let the enthusiasm of The First Timers speak for itself, and Squatter has done a fabulous job of that. I will close by saying that some of us Elder Mooters have decided to try and organise a Yulemoot in Leeds, watch this space.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm quite disappointed that Mithalwen was there and we didn't get to know her! I kept looking on Saturday, but since I had no idea what I was looking for, it was no surprise that I couldn't find her. Did you recognize any of us, Mith? Most of us had our nicks on our badges.

I think we already set a record for most Downers in the same place at the same time, what with five of us together at the party, but six would have been even better! We shall see what next Oxonmoot brings.

I really enjoyed meeting Hookbill for the first time; he really is as crazy in person as he seems when he's prowling around Mirth, yet he is also very intelligent, an interesting conversationalist, and a gregarious companion. His Tom Bombadil costume was greatly applauded at the party.

I've already met Squatter on several previous occasions, so I looked forward to seeing him again. He is brilliant and hilarious, very knowledgable on more than just Tolkien, and a snappy dresser besides. His all-black outfit on the first evening was a model of stylish individuality. Though not actually a costume, we convinced him that the black shirt and tie which he wore with the equally black jacket and very elegant vest made him look like a Ringwraith at a business meeting!

Narfforc knows so many people, being a long-time Oxonmoot attendee, so we didn't see him as often, but he was as funny as ever when we did. He had exciting news about his finished parody (which he manages to quote almost as often as I do the REB!), and in my opinion, he looked better in his blue wizard costume without the white wig and beard.

The Downer I saw most while in England was Guinevere. We met in London earlier in the week because we both wanted to see the LotR musical. (Review soon to be posted on the thread concerning the musical.) We enjoyed each other's company right from the beginning, had a lot of common interests to talk about, and saw a lot of London on foot, since the weather was too gorgeous to tempt us down into the Tube when not absolutely necessary. We had picnic lunches in the park and on Trafalgar Square, looked at the memorials in Westminster Abbey, and popped down to Brighton to see the Royal Pavilion before going on to Oxford.

Guinevere is a person with many interests, well worth getting to know in depth, though not a person who puts herself into the limelight. She has read so widely that I ended up writing down a lot of book recommendations, is fluent in several languages, and knows more plant and flower names than I do (as I found out when we went to the Botanic Gardens in Oxford), so I was able to profit from her knowledge.

My personal impressions of my first Oxonmoot:

I thought the people were very friendly, in general; it wasn't difficult to strike up a conversation with them, whether newbies like myself or old-timers. The time schedule was a bit cramped, with art and dealer's rooms open only during the same times when lectures and workshops were held, for the most part. My favourite lecture was the one on the meaning of laughter in Middle-earth: a fascinating topic, researched by a US professor and his students and to be published in the future. Highly recommended!

My favourite activity was listening to the Cambridge Society's reading of parts of the BBC's LotR script. I had already heard them in 2005, knew from two whom I had seen at the German seminar this spring that they were coming to perform, and had looked forward to that very much. It was wonderful, both funny and moving.

The Art Show had some excellent pictures; Anke Eissmann was there to show her wonderful paintings, and I was very impressed with several of the artists' works. My "Leaf and Star" wall hanging was also displayed.

I don't yet know if I will plan to come again next year, but I would certainly enjoy the opportunity. Perhaps we can break the record we set this year!

[Mithalwen]

I may have seen you disappearing into a building the other side of the Quad on friday evening when I was waiting to register if you were wearing a grey trouser suit , I now realise I was in the bar at the same time as Squatter and Narfforc .. but I wasn't sure that Narfforc was Narfforc without the Father Christmas beard and I had no idea that Squatter was there or what he looked like. I think Hookbill may have attended some of the same lectures but I didn't make a positive ID till the masquerade which was rather late in the day and since I was with someone who had just bought me a pint I couldn't really break away... My eyesight is good but I can't read 10 point fonts at a distance.

[Guinevere]

As usual my account is belated...:(

As you could gather from Esty’s report, we already met in London on Monday. Although it was the first time we met, we immediately got on splendidly and had a great time together. She is a wonderful person, very outgoing and friendly and we share many interests, (in addition to Tolkien.) I feel I have found a real friend in her!
We went to see the LotR musical which I enjoyed very much ( I had been a bit sceptical about that, but Nafforc’s excellent review had convinced me that it was worth seeing.)
We did a lot of walking in London und saw a Shakespeare play in the Globe on the second evening. (It was “Love’s Labour’s lost” and fortunately I had prepared myself and read it beforehand.)
We then spent a day in Brighton where we visited the Pavilion and walked along the sea and in the old town. It was interesting, but I like Oxford much better.

Before going to the Oxonmoot we waited in the “Bird and Baby” for Hookbill who proved to be a very interesting and nice young man. He showed us then the way to Lady Margaret Hall, which I found to be a beautiful place.

After dinner (which I found delicious) we met Squatter – I’d been looking forward to meeting him in person, since I have for years very much enjoyed and admired his brilliant posts on the Downs. I therefore was at first rather awestruck. But he turned out to be very nice and friendly (and handsome, not looking like Cardinal Richelieu as I had been picturing him for ages ;) )
As he mentions I talked very little, but then it was interesting enough to listen to all those fascinating people, and I was intent on understanding everything.
I hadn’t been in an English speaking country for more than 30 years and so am more used to reading and writing in English than to speaking it.

The various lectures I attended on Saturday were interesting and I had no problems understanding them, but I admit I got very little of “the Lord of the Goons” and some of the “Ents”.
Nafforc whom we met later, was also very nice, and had a gorgeous costume at the party.

I also enjoyed the Art Show very much, especially Anke Eissmann’s beautiful pictures and Esty's lovely quilt.

On the whole I had a very good time in England, and I hope to go there again before long.

[Mithalwen]

I met Poison Ivy on Saturday. She lives about a mile from me and over coffee and splendid chocolate biscuits we discussed many Tolkien related topics. I am sure we will meet again if I didn't scare her too much :D

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Oh, how nice! I got to know Poison Ivy at Oxonmoot, and she is a lovely person. I'm sure you both had plenty to talk about!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

OK

This summer I met Brinn, Di and Encai. . . It was all good fun allthough it was not Tolkien that was the major conversation subject.

I also met Laitoste on a trip to York a few weeks ago, it was very lucky that she by chance was passing through at the same time I was.

Anyways these where all very nice people that I would love to see again, but it would be fun to meet a male downer as well.

[Macalaure]

Last Saturday, we (Rikae, who was visiting me, and me) met our first Downer (apart from each other, of course):

We've been meeting with Esty - in the city she lives in and I come from.

Over some coffee/tea/cocoa in a café next to the city fountain we spent time chatting about life in Germany and the US, talking about the past and present of the Downs, and gossiping about Barrowdowns couples - known and suspected future ones. We also had the honor to sign our screen names beneath the illustrious Guinevere, Squatter, Hookbill, and narfforc.

As many other Downers already had the pleasure to be able to notice, Esty is a very nice, charming, and outgoing (which was very helpful, considering that both Rikae and me belong more into the introverted department) person, who one simply enjoys spending time with.

Pictures of us may or may not appear on the photo thread, depending on whether we happened to take one which does not feature me looking goofy. :rolleyes:

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Let me add to Mac's report: I had looked forward to meeting Rikae and him - I love to get together with any Downers, but a BD couple is something special indeed! They were so cute together :Merisu: , and we ran out of time, not out of conversational subjects. I do hope we will have a chance to get together again in the future to "fill up the corners"; I know we have much in common and would enjoy finding out more about a romance that was precipitated by werewolf playing! :eek:

I'll check out the photos to see if there's at least one on which all three of us look good!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I can actually write on this thread... it seems so strange! It's very hard for me to actually realise the black-and-green something I am posting this message on has anything to do with the real person I spent last two days with. It is only a few hours since Brinniel has left Prague. Her coming here was really unpredicted - while I knew that she is coming, her plans got changed several times and I was not expecting her this time. But now, all of a sudden she told me she's going to come this weekend. So it was all made on spot, but in the end I think it turned out well. We met on Sunday morning, and then I accompanied her all the day, visiting monuments and other things. The same on Monday.

I think my mind has not yet fully understood what actually happened. Maybe my brain is in something like a shock, and only very, very slowly it is becoming able to reflect past events. I can't actually find words to describe how I feel about Brinn, as she suddenly became a person so complex to me that I simply can't. But one thing I can say for sure already: this was a great experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Brinniel]

Geez...it's taken me long enough to post on this thread. But things can get quite insane when one travels somewhere new every weekend... :rolleyes:

Anyways, yes I did meet Legate on Easter weekend. I had originally planned to travel to Italy that weekend but there were some complications and that trip got cancelled. So I decided at the very last moment to bump up my trip to Prague and go that very weekend instead. I felt a bit guilty to so suddenly change my plans on Legate, but we managed to get in contact and plan things out despite the last minuteness of it.

Overall, my trip to Prague went wonderfully...it's a very beautiful city. I admit I was rather nervous about meeting Legate, but he was pretty easy to talk to and I think any awkwardness quickly faded away. For the record, Legate is very nice and polite (as one would expect). I found it extremely kind of him to spend almost two whole days with me doing all sorts of touristy stuff. He was a great companion to have and his company really did help my weekend to become a fantastic one.

--------------

Eh, okay I just realised I never wrote here about my meeting with Rune...so perhaps it's time I do that. Anyways, as he mentioned awhile back, Rune came to the US and visited me for several days in Boise. We had lots of fun and I took him around doing what little there is to do in Idaho. How do I describe Rune? Hmm...well Rune is just...Rune. :p Ha, but really, he's a delightful person to have around and definitely very amusing to talk to. Since he did visit my hometown, my parents of course insisted on meeting him....I was surprised how well they got along. Rune is just that outgoing. My first experience of meeting a Downer was a wonderful one and it certainly was one of the highlights of my summer.

And a little over a month ago, I decided to return the gesture of Rune visiting me and I visited him for a weekend in Copenhagen. It was a great weekend and I enjoyed having another opportunity to hang out with Rune again. We did plenty of touristy stuff and I learned a lot from him about his home country. With two experience behind me, I must say it's quite awesome to have a local show you around the city (especially when it's a Downer).

I do have pictures from these visits. Perhaps I should post them?

Anyways, in three days I will meet at least another five more BDers! :eek: I can't believe how soon that is.. *twitches with excitement*

[Nogrod]

Anyways, in three days I will meet at least another five more BDers! :eek: I can't believe how soon that is.. *twitches with excitement*No less than five... :p

Welcome Brinn!

[Nogrod]

Okay.

If no one else starts this I will then do it.

It was great to meet you Brinn! You were just as lovely - or even more so - as I thought! It was a pleasure to have you as our guest here in Helsinki. I hope you enjoyed your stay. And it actually looked like you did.

And I'm quite dissapointed that I had those crucial choir-rehearsals both Saturday and Sunday (7 hours a day) so that I couldn't join the trip to Suomenlinna or stay to follow you when you left. But I think you had nice company without me... possibly even better. :rolleyes:

That also meant we never get to take a picture of all of us six together which is a pity (I kind of guessed that when we talked on Saturday evening that we could take them on Sunday morning...).

I'm not sure how well this records in the "most 'Downers meeting ever" -list but I'd believe it's quite high in there. Sadly we couldn't get Spawn to join us to make it seven... and even more just because it would have been nice to meet her in the first place (she lives just about twenty minutes bus-ride from my place and we have never met!). That should be corrected as well!

What should I say? Brinn's a lovely person. A bit shy perhaps to begin with (or was it just me?) but the ice breaks easily - and she's ready to take up challenges like playing mafioso (live-werewolf) with unknown people or to jump into recording an audio-feat just like that. And her smile and laughter are just incredibly catching. I do hope this was not the last time we met! Just wait Brinn, one day we will be banging on your door in Idaho - or wherever you live some day! :eek: :D

We'll be sending you some pictures anyway - or Lommy / Greenie / Volo will be doing that. Either here or in the photo page thread...

[Finduilas]

If you ever get close enough to bang on her door, inform me so maybe we can have you bang on ours.:)

[Gwathagor]

That would be rather jolly, wouldn't it? Meeting other Downers, that is.

[Thinlómien]

Yes, Brinn was here and it was awesome. :D She, Agan and Volo stayed the whole weekend with Noggie, Greenie and me in Noggie's place. We had absolutely wonderful time, especially when visiting the fortress of Suomenlinna, but also doing all kinds of fun stuff in the evenings and all the other nice things... Brinn is a lovely person and I will be very very sad if I never meet her again. Truly, I just had one of the best weekends for a long time. :D

PS. The camera-people (Brinn, Greenie and Volo) might post some rather scary pictures soon...

[Aganzir]

Maybe I should post something, too.

So, Brinn is a lovely person and it was wonderful to spend a weekend with her. Apart from all that usual stuff (being in museums, walking around Helsinki etc), we did everything else nice; played live werewolf (which was not nice, though :(), teased the wooden horse & rider (who is better known as Théodred to us ;)) and recorded some passages from Lotr. And we also spent some time in Moria, on the Barrowdowns & Dead Marshes and by the Mirrormere.

I'll come to knock your door when I travel around the world some day. ;)

[A Little Green]

I suppose there is not much that I can add. Just wait for the pics... :smokin: There's some rather scary ones there. *smirk* Maybe I should add that we experienced not only the Barrow Downs, Moria, and other nice places, but also some very contemporary art.. The weekend was one of the best ones in a very long time, and I am very disappointed with my life if I'll never meet Brinn again.

:D

[Brinniel]

My trip to Helsinki was one of my better planned trips and was something I was looking forward to for some time. And I had such a great time, I'm sad it's already over. Anyways, I've got so much wonderful things to say, I just don't know if I can put it all into words...

Lommy and Aganzir were the ones who greeted me at the airport. Lommy is just as much of a sweetheart as she is online and I must say, she's got a wonderful smile (and you should see her face light up when you mention penguins...). Aganzir seems to be happy and serious and silly all at the same time (if that description makes any sense whatsoever...). I sense an adventurous streak in her and there's something about Aganzir that makes me think she definitely belongs in Middle-earth.

An hour after we arrived at Noggie's place, Noggie, Greenie, and Volo arrived from school. Noggie is just as talkative as he is on the Downs. We had some interesting conversations and I enjoyed discussing with him as well as learning from him. I envy the students who have him as a teacher, as I could imagine it must be great to be in his class. It's just a shame he was unable to hang out with the rest of us during the day. I didn't know Greenie very well before I met her, but I've discovered she's got a great personality. She is a very cute girl and most definitely an actress (as those who have heard some of her audio clips might alreay know). She also has some really wonderful facial expressions. Volo is just as funny and weird (of course, in a good way) in RL as he is on the Downs. I found him quite easy to talk to.

All five are equally silly, which I loved. Their enthusiasm helped me break out of my shell and I was happy to join in on the craziness and fun they partake in. As for what we did, I think the others gave everyone a good idea of that..

A bit shy perhaps to begin with (or was it just me?)
No, that's not just you...I am known to be a shy person. But as I said, everyone's outgoingness really helped me break out of my shell.

played live werewolf (which was not nice, though )
That's only because Aganzir became a Fenris Wolf.. :p

Anyways, pictures should be coming soon...hopefully no later than late tonight. I'm sure they will amuse many. :D

And if any of you come knocking on my door, whether it's in Boise or Boston or wherever else I may live, I will gladly welcome you. :)

[Lalaith]

This all sounds marvellous fun.
In other news, I'm thinking of starting a thread entitled "I've never met a fellow BD-er". :confused:

[Volo]

That also meant we never get to take a picture of all of us six together which is a pity (I kind of guessed that when we talked on Saturday evening that we could take them on Sunday morning...).
Yes, it was a pity... But I claim that a sound recording is more valuable than a picture! ;)

Brinn was no exeption to the Downer's I've met. Like the rest of them she's a wonderful person! At first I had problems understanding her American accent (I don't think I've actually met an American person before...), but got used to it over the weekend and didn't have any problems close to the end. We had interesting discussions and generally had great fun (like you haven't noticed by now). Now that I think of it, I'd have really wanted to get to know Brinn better. Hope to see you in the future!

While you're waiting for photos (there will be loads of those if I may decide), have a look at this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=bU9nTMlt9Ek). That's an example of what we did - in a museum of contemporary art.

edit: What happened in Barrow A 24 (http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/ih8mcdonalds/Barrowdownsphotopage/ALittleGreen.jpg)? :O (note: the victim doesn't really look like that)

[Brinniel]

You know you want to see it...

Five of us at the train station (I'm still sad we got no pics with Nogrod):

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687583_7159.jpg

Revisting Theodred....Aganzir teases him:

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687507_1623.jpg

Poor Theodred...

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687513_3253.jpg

More photos coming...

[Brinniel]

My new boyfriend:

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687518_4684.jpg

I convinced Lommy that sticking her head in a cannon would be a good idea...

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687545_4477.jpg

Volo dies in the barrow:

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687555_7650.jpg

[Brinniel]

Aganzir the dwarf:

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687564_590.jpg

Crawling out of the barrow:

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687567_1627.jpg

The monsters are revealed!

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687569_2327.jpg

[Brinniel]

On the Barrow Downs:

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687552_6644.jpg

And a cute photo of the girls:

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v236/90/70/13005338/n13005338_31687581_6456.jpg

There's so many more photos I'd love to add, but I won't flood this thread too much..

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

That's really nice. :)

[Brinniel]

Oh, and I thought I should mention...

From April 29 to May 7 I will be in London alone with no set plans (yet). If there are any Downers that live in or near London who are interested in meeting, feel free to PM me. I'm afraid I won't be online very frequently in the upcoming days, but I'll try to check my messages at least once a day. :)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Guinevere and I will be meeting at the German Tolkien Seminar in Jena this weekend. Should any Downers chance to be nearby, do drop in! The lectures on The Hobbit will be very interesting, and there's no charge for the seminar itself. Just find a cheap place to stay; food need not be expensive in a university city.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The seminar in Jena was wonderful, and before it even started, Guinevere and I met while crossing the street! (A similar incident occurred at our last meeting in London - we met a couple of blocks away from our designated meeting place, on the street while walking there.) It was a pleasure to see her again and to meet a member of her family who was with her. What's more, she brought me some lovely fabrics, antique laces and embroideries for my patchwork collection - a special treat! We had lunch together before the event began, which was a good thing; after that, the program and lots of nice people there kept us very busy.

[Brinniel]

I just got back to London last night after a weekend in Oxford. I stayed there for three nights in tgwbs's dorm, and even though he was pretty busy for part of the time, we still had lots of fun doing a various amount of things. It was a great experience being toured around the city by a student, plus I got a peek into what Oxford student life is really like (quite insane, really :p). I also met Anguirel and Amanaduial the Archer who are also Oxford students. It was great talking to them, though sadly our meetings were briefer than I would've like (though I can't blame them with their busy schedules).

I also visited Tolkien and told him how awesome he really is...though unfortunately I didn't get much reply as one usually doesn't when talking to a tombstone... :rolleyes:

[Brinniel]

On Friday, I met Laitoste in London and we hung out for the day venturing to the Science Museum to play with cool science stuff. But the main event took place in the evening when we headed to Covent Garden to see the Lord of the Rings Musical. I had a wonderful time and seeing the play with a fellow BDer really enhanced the experience. :)

[Lalaith]

So what's your tally now, Brinniel? Have you beaten Esty yet?

[Brinniel]

I've met eleven Downers so far, though after tomorrow that number will reach twelve. So no I haven't beat Esty yet...I don't know how many she's met (at least 16?), but I think it may take awhile to accomplish such a feat... :rolleyes:

[Kath]

Well, I believe I was Brinn's number 12 as we met yesterday in London. It was such great fun. We started by getting lost and going the wrong way round Regent's Park which was my fault and is a good way to start the day, learning to work together. :D But we eventually found London Zoo and spent about 5 hours in it! Such a fun time and we found the otters at the end who more than made up for the entry fee. We stood watching them for about 40 minutes I think because they were playing and looking out for their food which finally came. I think Brinn has about 30 pictures of them!

After we eventually dragged ourselves away (helped by the keepers who were trying to shut the zoo!) we went to Hamley's toy store where we played with pretty much everything, Brinn proved herself a far better racing gamer than me, and we found the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and everything else sci-fi on the fourth floor. There was some amazing stuff but it's all so expensive! Again we stayed until kicking out time because we were so taken with all the things.

We then went off to have dinner at this little place Brinn knows that does the most amazing desserts. Never mind about the actual meals, go for pudding! They did these amazing ice creams. Like, they had spaghetti made out of ice cream, and huge knickerbocker glory's. Ah, I was impressed! I was also impressed with the speed at which Brinn can eat ice cream. She'd finished when I'd only just got through the cream on the top! :D

Once we both felt our stomachs had been suitably coated with ice cream we wandered for a little while to find a bar and then ended up going to one Brinn had been to with Laitoste. Was a lovely little place with an even lovelier barman who kept giving us free drinks! We'd intended just to get a drink each and a shot as Brinn was introducing me to tequila, and we ended up with three extra shots completely free.

So, a slightly tipsy trip back to Victoria ensued! We spent a happy half hour waiting for my train and having a good old chat and then I disappeared onto the train and Brinn hopefully made her way home. I say hopefully as I haven't heard from her since! But then she is busy.

Overall then a very enjoyable day! As for Brinn, she was absolutely lovely. Nog may have thought her shy but then perhaps he is overly exuberant. :p My own shy nature meant I found her fantastic company and we got on really well which was good! Would love to meet her again someday, maybe when I've earned enough to get all the way to Idaho!

[A Little Green]

Sounds really nice!

(And by the way, having met them myself, I can but agree with you about the otters of London zoo. They are lovely. :p)

[Brinniel]

I think Kath summed up our day's adventures pretty well. It was all quite fun and we were lucky it was such a beautiful day. I found Kath extremely easy to talk to...it's a shame we only hung out for one day as I really did enjoy her company. The three free shots were a bonus that evening (making up for the high prices of the ones we actually paid for)...I actually think it was because of those drinks that Kath went home an hour later than planned! It also meant I was rather tipsy and drowsy by the time we parted ways and I...stumbled back to the tube station. :D

Anyways, I realise aside from my meeting in Finland I have yet to post any pictures of my meetings up. I will eventually do so...promise.

My meeting with Kath was my last Downer meeting...at least for now. I've returned home from my European adventures, which is quite sad really as there's not much to do in Idaho (though I do need a job..). I had a great time with everyone I met and I hope to see them all again someday. There were also opportunities to meet Downers that I sadly missed...if only I had more time (and money). Hopefully I'll get another chance the day I return to Europe. For now, perhaps I should find a chance to actually meet Downers in the US...which can be difficult since I'm not traveling for awhile. But if anyone visits Boston from September and after... or to Idaho this summer (ha, what are the chances in that), be sure to look me up. :)

[Kath]

I found Kath extremely easy to talk to...it's a shame we only hung out for one day as I really did enjoy her company.
Same! I thought it would be a bit awkward to start with but we did seem to get on incredibly well!

The three free shots were a bonus that evening (making up for the high prices of the ones we actually paid for)...I actually think it was because of those drinks that Kath went home an hour later than planned!
They were indeed, and I would likely have gone clubbing with you and headed home the next day had I not had an interview to go to I was having such fun. Oh, and I must place the blame entirely at your door for my being very taken with tequila now. I am steadily introducing others to it, so any drunken behaviour on our part is entirely your fault. :p

[Formendacil]

I'm pretty sure I speak for the vast majority of Downers in saying I'm "green with envy" (which is funny since... Downers are supposedly always green). To add a peculiar irony to my own situation, if I were to make a concerted effort with the resources of time and money available to me this summer, guess who's there on the short list of 'Downers within plausible reach? Yup, Brinniel.

How about it, Brinn? Care to make me lucky #13* in your quest to pass Esty?:p

*Offtopic, and random, but which dwarf was the unlucky #13 in Thorin's company? I've always thought Bombur, but maybe I'm prejudiced by his character. Hmm... maybe a good topic for Mirth.

[Gwathagor]

For now, perhaps I should find a chance to actually meet Downers in the US...which can be difficult since I'm not traveling for awhile. But if anyone visits Boston from September and after... or to Idaho this summer (ha, what are the chances in that), be sure to look me up. :)


Where in Idaho?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I'm pretty sure I speak for the vast majority of Downers in saying I'm "green with envy" (which is funny since... Downers are supposedly always green).

Some are just a little green.

(really couldn't resist :) )

[Brinniel]

How about it, Brinn? Care to make me lucky #13* in your quest to pass Esty?
Go on then. After all, it's only a 16 and 1/2 hour drive. :D

Where in Idaho?
I live in Boise. Hmm...actually I am traveling to Oregon this summer for a wedding...but it's to Ashland, which I think may be kind of out of your way...

[Ainaserkewen]

Small freakin' world. A fling of my boyfriend's told him that she'd seen me here. Turns out it was MadBaggins! Have yet to meet her though.

[Gwathagor]

I live in Boise. Hmm...actually I am traveling to Oregon this summer for a wedding...but it's to Ashland, which I think may be kind of out of your way...


Oh cool. Boise's nice. Or at least I thought so when I was there last. And yeah, Ashland is a long way from where I live.

[Mithalwen]

Small freakin' world. A fling of my boyfriend's told him that she'd seen me here. Turns out it was MadBaggins! Have yet to meet her though.

Does fling mean something different in your part of the world or are you just very understanding?!!!:eek:

[Kath]

Does fling mean something different in your part of the world or are you just very understanding?!!!
This is what I thought when I first read it!

[Formendacil]

Does fling mean something different in your part of the world or are you just very understanding?!!!:eek:

As someone native to the aforesaid "part of the world", I'll answer as I think it is meant between your context and hers:

For Ainaserkewen, a "fling of one's boyfriend" would be a short relationship had with another woman at a time other than that during which he was her boyfriend. Contextually, I would say before he was her boyfriend.

The English interpretation of the statement is that WHILE he was her boyfriend, he was off having a fling with another woman.

Have I got that right, or am I barking up the wrong tree, and everyone really means by fling "the action of throwing or the object thrown," in which case it might be appropriate for me to make a joke to the effect of "nobody flings a Dwarf!":p

[Mithalwen]

Ah I see.. thanks Formy ..that is our interpretation though I think it would be more usual to refer to the relationship rather than the person as a fling ie it was just a fling rather than s/he was just a fling ..unless you were being extremely dismissive... :p

[Brinniel]

I'm pretty sure I speak for the vast majority of Downers in saying I'm "green with envy" (which is funny since... Downers are supposedly always green). To add a peculiar irony to my own situation, if I were to make a concerted effort with the resources of time and money available to me this summer, guess who's there on the short list of 'Downers within plausible reach? Yup, Brinniel.

How about it, Brinn? Care to make me lucky #13* in your quest to pass Esty? :p
Funny how things work out. When a simple comment becomes something real...

Last weekend Formendacil took that 16.5 hour drive and came to visit me all the way from Edmonton. Even better, he arrived just in time for my birthday so I got to celebrate with a fellow Downer. If Formy wants to share a link to his blog, he make a pretty good summary of the events that occurred over the weekend (which included miniature golf, laser tag, visiting the zoo, watching Prince Caspian, and going to a play).

I admit I was a little more nervous about meeting Formendacil mainly because I didn't know him quite as well as some other Downers and suddenly here I was taking him into my home and letting him meet my parents. But no need to worry- like all other BDer meetings, this one went exceptionally well. Formendacil is a very polite young man and laid back. I could tell he was nervous at first, but that didn't last long. We got along well and had no problem having conversations on just about anything. My mom commented that she thinks Formendacil will make an excellent priest and I 100% agree. Also...for my birthday, he gave me this nice metal sign personalised with my screenname and a fairy. It was so wonderful and thoughtful, I can't help but thank him again for such a great gift. And I'm happy to hear that our meeting has revived his thirst for the BD. :)

I'm sure you all want to see a picture (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/MichaelsVisit018.jpg). (Note: I thought it'd be funny if I put on the ever-so-famous hat. Gotta keep up with tradition. ;) )

[Formendacil]

I was most definitely nervous by the time I reached Brinniel's place, and I blame the long car ride, since I wasn't nervous beforehand, but rather excited instead. However, there's something about being alone in a car, in a foreign country, going somewhere I've never been, for more than half an hour or so, that seems to draw out my paranoid side... by the time I reached Brinniel after a long (but otherwise enjoyable, aside from the paranoia) drive, I was practically shaking. Of course, I also hadn't eaten much...

It was indeed an awesome weekend. Brinniel is quite the concerned hostess, and made certain that at no point would I have been justified in saying I was bored. She was unable, unfortunately, to schedule in weather other than scorching hot, but that ended up not being too much of a problem.

It is decidedly strange to be talking with one's mouth rather than one's fingers about things like Werewolf and RPGs, especially when my normal response from people is one of edging away awkwardly.

Of course, now I want to meet as many 'Downers as possible, but finances and time (to say nothing of my location, which is certainly remote enough--though not that bad if one had the aforesaid time and money) make it rather unlikely this year... though I'm percolating with ideas for next summer.

All in all, a highlight of the summer. Reading this thread in the past, there's always been a palpable sense of how fun it is to hang out with like-minded, kindred spirits, and also of how genuinely nice 'Downers seem to be in person. Meeting Brinniel certainly proved both these impressions true.


Oh, and my blog isn't too hard to find... one just needs to swipe their cursor over my signature.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I want to meet someone from the Barrow-Downs, I have started compiling a list of who I would like to meet... another thing that I want to do that will probably never happen...:rolleyes: Anyway, the only Downer I've ever met is Laurinque... But that is because she is my best friend. Of course the only reason she is a Barrow-Downer is because I told her to do it... and I succeeded!:D

[Nogrod]

As teasers I will send you three short clips of our 7-Downers meeting in Finland. I'm sure there will be some pics & such pouring in soon... :)

It all started well and people were so cute as you can hear (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/923912575083/audio.html).

But then it started getting ugly and the fights started brewing, like this one (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/439b32575084/audio.html) between Greenie and Legate.

But in the end it all went out of control as one might have guessed... I mean all those werewolf-players in a same small hut in the middle of forest for that long time. Well this (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/0e7d02575075/audio.html) sure was inevitable - although I'm not so sure as to what happened in the end. It sounds like they became like even more terrible monsters from the times before time and creation... :D

[Kath]

Is it me ... or does anyone else think that if you ever did plan to go to Finland and meet these nutters you'd have to lose your inhibitions pretty fast?! :D

[Lindale]

I think there's a bio major in my school who's a very rabid fan of BD. *off to cyberstalk*

Honestly though, I don't expect to meet too many here in this country that does not even know too much about British lit except Harry Potter.

[Gwathagor]

As teasers I will send you three short clips of our 7-Downers meeting in Finland. I'm sure there will be some pics & such pouring in soon... :)

It all started well and people were so cute as you can hear (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/923912575083/audio.html).

But then it started getting ugly and the fights started brewing, like this one (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/439b32575084/audio.html) between Greenie and Legate.

But in the end it all went out of control as one might have guessed... I mean all those werewolf-players in a same small hut in the middle of forest for that long time. Well this (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/0e7d02575075/audio.html) sure was inevitable - although I'm not so sure as to what happened in the end. It sounds like they became like even more terrible monsters from the times before time and creation... :D


Blast...the TARDIS doesn't seem to be translating for me today. I can't understand a word of this - especially that last clip. ;) There were words in that cry.

[Brinniel]

Ha, that last clip especially made me crack up. It sounds like it started off as wolves and gradually turned into monkeys and apes. Then at the very end, I think a tiger might've eaten a wolf...or maybe it was a hyena. Apparently whenever Downers are placed into the Finnish woods, they turn primitive... :rolleyes: ;)

But really, listening to those clips made me miss all seven of you a million times more. I have to go back, and I'm looking to see if there's any possibility that I can within the next year...

Btw, I'm hoping to see tons of pictures soon, either here or on Facebook. :cool:

[Aganzir]

So, as some of you might know, Rune and Legate just spent about a week in Finland.

Lommy and I came back to Helsinki a day after Legate arrived. The first night we spent at Nog's, then we went to Volo's house since his family was away. We had to wake up terribly early, but everybody wanted to come to fetch Rune (who arrived on Monday) from the airport anyway. In the end there were seven of us in one car, and it was neither quite comfortable nor legal.

Most of the time we (Nog, Lommy, Greenie, Volo, Rune, Legate, me and a friend of ours, Annina) were at Nog's family's summer cottage in the middle of nowhere: we played an RPG in which the characters got minor calf wounds and fell off trees and broke their bones all the time, fought with staffs and other interesting weapons (in one of the clips Nog posted, Greenie and Legate were just fighting and accidentally broke a glass), played cards, pushed Lommy's nose, played live werewolf, misheard things &c. It was great fun.

We returned to Helsinki on Saturday, pretty tired - I don't think we ever went to sleep before five o'clock in the morning. On Sunday we met also dancing spawn and had therefore a meeting of eight downers. Rune and Legate left on Monday.

Rune almost broke my nail, but otherwise he was very nice. :p Also, his sense of humour was great, but that was what I expected anyway.

Legate was smaller (and stronger) than I had thought him to be, and he provided us with a lot of amusement by pronouncing Finnish words.

Also spawn was sweet - it's a pity that she hasn't been more active lately.

Anyway, it's less than 24 hours since they left, and I miss them already (and you too, Brinn).

And we have a plenty of pictures - I'm sure they will be posted somewhere soon.

[A Little Green]

Thankfully Agan already made a summary of what we did so I'm spared of that bother. All in all we had a very good time. I suppose I have to praise the two of them a little now. :D

Legate is very friendly and kind. He always seemed to be on a good mood, enthusiastic about practically everything we did, and smiling a lot to everybody. He is also very open and easy to talk to and didn't seem almost at all shy or awkward even in the beginning.

Rune, as Agan already mentioned, has a fantastic sense of humour. He had a habit of making fun of everyone (though never in a mean way), but he is actually very affectionate and caring. He was also a very good pillow.

What else could I say? They are both true gentlemen (at least at times :p), always ready to offer their help in anything that needed to be done, and looking awkward whenever I held a door open for them. Also, both of them are very learned and clever and both also have really funny facial expressions. Overall, they both are really sweet and good people and I'm very glad I had a chance to get to know them.

I met Spawn only briefly (which was indeed a pity), but she seems like a very lovely person and I'd like to meet her again some day.

I'll flood this thread with a couple of scary pictures once I get those on the computer. Beware.

[A Little Green]

Six 'Downers on a cannon!
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7220.jpg

Lommy and Legate being cute. http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7314.jpg

It's getting better: six 'Downers (and one non-Downer) in a rowing boat!
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7368.jpg

More coming up...

[A Little Green]

The guys waking up at around two in the afternoon. http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7370.jpg

Me, Rune, Volo and Legate doing the dishes. http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7374.jpg

Rune and Legate. (Sweet!) http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7380.jpg

[A Little Green]

Finally, all seven of us after too many sleepless nights. http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/IMG_7402.jpg

[Oddwen]

Six Downers on a cannonWait, that's not part of the canon! (Ho ho, hee hee, ha ha.)

The pictures remind me of camping in the U.P., but you all look much colder.

Seriously - why do those Across the Pond have all the fun? :D

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

OK! Now I'm jealous! I should move to Finland.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Anyway, it's less than 24 hours since they left, and I miss them already (and you too, Brinn).
Tell me about it.

Thankfully Agan already made a summary of what we did so I'm spared of that bother.
Indeed :D Not that there won't be a lot to say about that, but I think you people got a general picture from it. Anyway, from my point of view, I can tell you that not only that Finland is the promised land of Downers, given the numbers in which they dwell there, but also these Downers are very nice people to meet and one week is not enough to spend with them. All of them.

Rune, as Agan already mentioned, has a fantastic sense of humour. He had a habit of making fun of everyone (though never in a mean way), but he is actually very affectionate and caring.
Exactly. I could mention here that Rune actually surprised me with his openness and friendly manner, to be honest, before I met him, I was maybe a little afraid imagining him as possibly a kind of grumpy person. This was absolutely unnecessary and unreasoned idea and I am not even sure where I got this stupid assumption. So, now that I have completely ruined Rune's chances to create air of scariness around his person, I can only salute him, as he provided our week with some of his personality's "spice" which made it even more enjoyable.

Now about the others whom I met during the week (and the number of Downers I met had just increased sevenfold!). Greenie, whom I didn't actually know well from the Downs, turned to be a very nice and amusing girl, her and Volo both being far more talkative than I expected them to be; and Volo is a really friendly fellow with very original thinking. Aganzir is a true personality, as one would expect, and also very intelligent, helpful and cheerful (although sometimes maybe too much :p ). If anyone wondered whether Lommy is as nice and kind and clever and funny as she seems around here, I can tell you well that she is. Also Nogrod is truly as intelligent and funny person as he seems from here; he also was the one who from the largest part provided us with such unnecessary support things like food, transport and accomodation (of course besides of Volo's house) while us crazy people were fighting or doing other silly things (although many of the silliest [sic!] ideas, like the recordings, came from his mind).
I am mentioning the people's good sides, of course, don't think there won't be any bad sides of them which I wouldn't have spotted. I had whole week for that. This is also why I am writing about their good sides... you know, it's easier to point out the things which are not too many... ;)

I met Spawn only briefly (which was indeed a pity), but she seems like a very lovely person and I'd like to meet her again some day.
True; we didn't really have much time to know each other better - my chances of meeting her again are somewhat lesser than the other Finnish Downers', but anyway, meeting her as a fellow Downer is something that definitely counts.

Apparently whenever Downers are placed into the Finnish woods, they turn primitive...
Yes, I think it's been scientifically proved that such things happen. In 89% of cases a Downer in a Finnish forest loses 50-60% of his sanity in two to three days. It remains yet to be verified whether this affects also normal people, turning them into Downers. The large numbers of Downers in Finland (in comparison to its population) support this theory.

I guess this was a long rant, but you know, it was a week...

[Thinlómien]

Well, it was a lovely week.

Anyway, it's less than 24 hours since they left, and I miss them already (and you too, Brinn).
Tell me about it.Wholeheartedly seconded.
Or wait... this might be thirding or fourthing... whatever.

Anyway, as everybody probably wants to know my opinion of our guests, I could say something. They're both lovely people - very funny, kind and intelligent. Wait, that was no news? Then I have to think of something else... ;) Rune has a brilliant Viking smile and his way of making fun of others is great. He also sometimes hides behind plants and sings funny songs. (Including a very cute Danish lullaby he sang to us one night. Legate also sang us a lullaby and it was very sweet as well.) Speaking of him, he's astonishingly good in Finnish (:p just as long as he doesn't mix it with Japanese, though...), has an incredible laugh, keeps repeating funny phrases in funny tones (you can hear his very famous "oh my" on one of the recordings :D) and one could really envy his ability to be enthusiastic about everything and everyone. (Also, you should have seen his expression when Agan and I started listing Czech swear words we had accidentally learned... it was priceless. *smug smile*)

Also, it seems that I need Rune in order to manage to meet spawn. Sadly our meeting was very brief this time, but she was just as sweet as I remembered. This time I'm going to keep my promise and actually meet her again soon-ish...

[Nogrod]

Haha.

I was just listening to some of the "secret" recordings from our roleplay while searching through my school-papers... :)


I must agree to things said by others on Rune and Legate. They are both charming guys and very much open to our "northern madness" as well. At some occasions Rune even beated us on it - and yes, Legate's laughter just sticks; I mean I can still hear it ringing in my ears...

It's funny to think of it now in this way, but even if they were quite different personalities there was something strikingly similar as well... maybe it's the "Downerism" of them (a different syndrome from what someone outside the forum might think of), or the weird sense of humour so much appreciated up here? Maybe the ability, quoting Kath here: if you ever did plan to go to Finland and meet these nutters you'd have to lose your inhibitions pretty fast?!to do exactly that... :D

From outside Finland I have now met three 'Downers (Brinn, Legate and Rune) and they have all being great personalities and nice people whom it has been a pleasure to get to know in person.

Thanks guys for your visit! It was a perfect way to end one's holidays!

Btw. I also met Spawn the first time so I totally agree with Lommy that it seems we need Rune to trigger us into seeing her. So Rune, you should visit us more often then... or then we should just be able to do it ourselves - and after meeting her I know we really should. She felt like a really nice person indeed even if the meeting was shortish. And she dances salsa admirably... :cool:

[Volo]

*thinks good things about everyone* I'll just say that everything/one was a very pleasant surprise. Deep and honest thanks to our three hosts, for the idea, for the courage, for the success and a job well done. Lily and Noggie, especially much respect and thanks to you for all the food (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/Fishpie10.jpg). Rune and Leggie, I bow for the mead (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Mead.jpg).

That's it, but if somebody wants to hear positive things about any of us, ask me yourself. Negative things about us are restricted to me. :p

Surprisingly the meeting resembled the Downs very little, but I still got an overdose of the Downs for the moment, I'll take a few more days of rest now and rather go to school.

But first....

this (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/HannivsMaria3.jpg)and this (http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/?action=view&current=Pressthenose.flv), after which I was thrown out of my own house. :rolleyes:

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

But first....

this (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/HannivsMaria3.jpg)and this (http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/?action=view&current=Pressthenose.flv), after which I was thrown out of my own house. :rolleyes:Oh dear! That was a really weird movie...

[Formendacil]

I too feel very distant and alone out here on the edge of all things, though I have to wonder if that might not be preferable to the insanity that seems to be overtaking the Finnish forests.

:p

Nah, I'd rather be insane...

I might be, too, since looking at those pictures my first thought was "looks a lot like a family reunion".

Not that you all look alike, but there's definitely a visibly tangible community feeling there that borders on familial.

Maybe one of these years I'll make it out to the "family reunion".

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I too feel very distant and alone out here on the edge of all things, though I have to wonder if that might not be preferable to the insanity that seems to be overtaking the Finnish forests.
Yeah, living in Alaska... there is not many BDers here, 'cept me and Lauri...

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Oh dear! That was a really weird movie...

It was from before I arrived, I would ofcourse not have tolerated that level of sillyness!


Anyways it was a very good downer meeting, I had of course already met Lommy and Spawn two years ago. . . but back then we only met for an afternoon.

Everybody was very nice, all with their own kind of madness. It is hard for me to say how Greenie was compared to here, as I have had no interaction with her on the downs. Volo was kind of how I expected him to be, but he needs to put his foot down once in a while, otherwise those girls will surely walk all over him or at least drive him even madder.;)

Legate was somehow more quiet than I imagined, not that he was actually quiet. . . anyways I was really happy to see him picking up our crazy stories and continuing them, at times he even started them.
I think it was him who started the story about the Czech window cleaners, who could not live if they got seperated from their windows.

Both Aganzir and Nogrod was quite like their online selves, at least they where the kind of people I thought them to be. Of course it helps that I seldom go into details when I imagine how people are. Basicly Aganzir is a former KGB agent and and Nogrod is the human answer to Tom Bombadil.(this is good)

It is too bad Annina is not a downer as she is really a funny girl, but she will probably stick to stalking the werewolf games. (Alas)

I think this will do. . . I was not disapointed about any of the persons I met, infact this trip was greater than I could have hoped for.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

It is too bad Annina is not a downer as she is really a funny girl, but she will probably stick to stalking the werewolf games. (Alas)

Yes, actually, I could second this and... maybe I should add... Annina! I know you are stalking this, so now stop that, just go and register! Now!

[Lhunardawen]

Whoa.

*speechless with envy*

I should have allowed Rune to carry me away with him to Denmark if I had known this would be happening... :(

:D

Tiny edit:
I think there's a bio major in my school who's a very rabid fan of BD. *off to cyberstalk* *waves*

[Aganzir]

I should have allowed Rune to carry me away with him to Denmark if I had known this would be happening... :(
Be careful with what you wish for. I've heard that he has the habit of sending girls to Volo after using them, and he will put them in the freezer. ;)

I am mentioning the people's good sides, of course, don't think there won't be any bad sides of them which I wouldn't have spotted.
Why do I have the feeling that that was directed to me? :eek:

Thanks for posting the pics, Greenie & Volo. Actually, the situation in the pic of Lommy and me arguing can be seen also in the video clip Volo posted.

[Lhunardawen]

Be careful with what you wish for. I've heard that he has the habit of sending girls to Volo after using them, and he will put them in the freezer. ;)
But Rune would never do that to me.

Uhhh...right, Rune?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Why do I have the feeling that that was directed to me? :eek:

No idea! Do you have any reason why you think it should be directed to you? ;) :p

[Lhunardawen]

Uh-oh, it's starting to look like a battle of the ex-es... :D

* collective groan*

[Aganzir]

No idea! Do you have any reason why you think it should be directed to you?
Usually those things are directed to me. :p

And so that this post wouldn't be completely off-topic, here's yet another meeting picture, this time with eight downers in total.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki%202/8Downers2.jpg

[Nogrod]

Nice picture Aganzir!

Now let's challenge other 'Downers to gather more into one pic... :)

[Groin Redbeard]

Excellent picture, Aganzir, it looks like y'all were having a great time!:) Though I can't decide if Nogrod or Volo looks like Andy Serkis. :D

[Formendacil]

Nice picture Aganzir!

Now let's challenge other 'Downers to gather more into one pic... :)

On the assumption you mean actually shooting a single picture of several people, that could be difficult. Otherwise, tell Hookbill to fire up Photoshop!:p

Maybe the following should go under "You Know You're Addicted to the Barrow-downs when..." but looking at the picture I have comments to hand out to just about everyone...

Rune looks older to me. And more like a viking than usual.

Lommy looks younger every picture I see of her. Which is weird, since she's supposedly getting older. You're not related to Merlin by any chance, are you, Lommy?

Every picture I see of A Little Green, my first thought is: "that can't be Lommy's sister. They look nothing alike!" Then I look again, and change my mind.

Aganzir, in this picture, looks shockingly like a girl I graduated with. Which is especially shocking given that my grad class only included two girls...

Legate did not previously make me think "Elf!", but he does now. And since he's wearing glasses, the "Near-sighted Elves Society" or whatever their name was, has been conjured from some very, very foggy memories I'd forgotten I had.

Nogrod is entirely too short and does not look enough like his old avatar. I think this may also be the first picture I remember seeing him in (the Photo page loads slowly for no obvious reason on my computer, so I visit it rarely... and thus am not really sure if he's on it...)

No comments for the front row... not sure why... it's not that you look strange or anything...

And if the above critiquing of Downer pictures as though they were fine cheeses or some such discernible species of varying vintage is not enough to convince you that I spend too much time on this site and its inhabitants, consider that I had to remind myself NOT to use "real life" names, backspace, and type in the usernames.

It's almost like being bilingual.

Okay, I'm done now.

[Gwathagor]

Finland: the Heart of Downerdom on Earth.

Someday...someday I'll visit there, too...:(

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and the photos with us! Eight Downers at once is indeed a record, and I foresee that my record of meeting the most Downers personally (usually singly, doubly or triply at best) is in grave danger of getting broken. The only solution - I need to come to Finland too! ;)

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

But Rune would never do that to me.

Uhhh...right, Rune?

Of course I would not do that to you. . . almost everybody else, but not you.

[Lhunardawen]

And since he's wearing glasses, the "Near-sighted Elves Society" or whatever their name was, has been conjured from some very, very foggy memories I'd forgotten I had.
Did someone mention the Nearsighted Elves Society? ;)

Too bad it's practically dead now - I think. Unless Maeg and the rest are still quietly lurking somewhere...

Wow, it's so nice to see dancing spawn in that photo. :)

[Groin Redbeard]

Someday...someday I'll visit there, too...:(
Yes, someday when I have money to blow I'll go over their. Maybe I can get my Volvo then. :)

[Mithalwen]

My hands are itching - I think I have been possessed by the spirit of a late great aunt who cut the hair of the man sitting in front of her on a bus with her nail scissors as she thought it was too long (he was asleep and didn't notice... ) ;)

[Aganzir]

Okay, so still flooding the thread with pictures, but these are probably the last ones from me.

Here's how our car looked like, without Nogrod. Lommy is sitting behind Greenie.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/7Downersinacar.jpg

I was told to post the following picture. These guys played the elves in our RPG. They did much work to get into their characters.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Yo-Tsa/Thedrunkenelves.jpg

[Groin Redbeard]

Goodness that car looks small. Let's see how many more Downers you could fit in the car before they all fall out! :D

Rune is beginning to look like he's had one to many. ;)

[Thinlómien]

Lhuna, Gwath, Groin, Esty and others too - you are of course more than welcome visit us any time! ;)

Rune looks older to me. And more like a viking than usual.He looks weirdly very old in some of the pictures. He was tired, though...

Lommy looks younger every picture I see of her. Which is weird, since she's supposedly getting older. You're not related to Merlin by any chance, are you, Lommy?I don't confess anything. ;)

Every picture I see of A Little Green, my first thought is: "that can't be Lommy's sister. They look nothing alike!" Then I look again, and change my mind.That is funny, because everybody says either "you look so similar!" or "one would never guess you're sisters!" and no one ever says anything "yeah, you look a little similar".

Legate did not previously make me think "Elf!", but he does now.Having actually met him, I can elaborate on the subject. ;) Sometimes he looks really (rilli?) Elvish, there are certain expressions... especially when he is sceptical or something like that. Most of the time he looks like a normal human being though, or just a little Elvish.

Nogrod is entirely too short and does not look enough like his old avatar. He's really not short - just of average height. (180cm or about 6ft or maybe 5'11".) It's Rune standing beside him that makes him short.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

It's Rune standing beside him that makes him short.

So, you're saying... Rune has his own gravitational pull? :eek: If he comes to Oxonmoot, we'll have to watch out for that!

[A Little Green]

Aganzir, in this picture, looks shockingly like a girl Sorry, couldn't resist. :smokin:

[Durelin]

So cool. :D Looks like lotsa fun was had!

My friend and I have been hoping to *study abroad* in Finland. This friend has visited before and loved it, and thinks I would love it, as do I... I guess we'll see what happens... ;)

From reading this thread it looks like we might soon be hearing reports of Finland's tourist industry growing rapidly for reasons unknown... :p

[Hookbill the Goomba]

this (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/HannivsMaria3.jpg)and this (http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/?action=view&current=Pressthenose.flv), after which I was thrown out of my own house.

The blasted video won't work. Oh well.

Consider yourselves on the next front page, whatever happens. :eek: ;)

I think that it is high time you Finlandians all came to Blighty for a visit. Or we should arrange a meeting of Downers in some random place... How about... Antarctica? The Penguins will be happy.

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Or we should arrange a meeting of Downers in some random place... How about... Antarctica? The Penguins will be happy.I was talking with Lauri yesterday and I think we agreed that somebody should arrange a BD get-together. And we should film a movie while we do it...

[Groin Redbeard]

this (http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/HannivsMaria3.jpg)and this (http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u350/zmetku/Helsinki/?action=view&current=Pressthenose.flv), after which I was thrown out of my own house. :rolleyes:
I still can't figure out what you guys are doing in that video. Could someone explain what y'all were doing with Thinlomien hitting that ducted tape pole with her head. ;)

How about... Antarctica? The Penguins will be happy.
I'm sure Thinlomien is thrilled by this idea, but I'm afraid that my warm Dixie blood would freeze before we got there. How about we meet halfway, I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year!:D

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

I still can't figure out what you guys are doing in that video. Could someone explain what y'all were doing with Thinlomien hitting that ducted tape pole with her head. ;)


I'm sure Thinlomien is thrilled by this idea, but I'm afraid that my warm Dixie blood would freeze before we got there. How about we meet halfway, I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year!:DHow 'bout we meet in Alaska, I hear that it is very nice this time of year.:p Last time I heard, it was raining though...

But answering the first question, Lommy was simply protecting herself from the evil pole monster that comes out of the hands of random people at random times at random. Wow, I think that I used the word 'random' a bit too much in that sentence...

[Mithalwen]

Are you sure that is a good idea?

They might all disappear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_Triangle).

[Groin Redbeard]

But answering the first question, Lommy was simply protecting herself from the evil pole monster that comes out of the hands of random people at random times at random. Wow, I think that I used the word 'random' a bit too much in that sentence...
Thanks, Lady Great! Because I thought I heard something about Thinlomien saying that her nose was soft and that kind of through me for a loop. :rolleyes: The sound on my computer was really bad, so I couldn't completely hear what they were all saying.

Are you sure that is a good idea?

They might all disappear.
Dangit!:mad: OK, option number two: we all chip in and go on a cruise together around the Atlantic (actually that's not a bad a idea)! :smokin:

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

OK, thank you! Because I thought I heard something about Thinlomien saying that her nose was soft and that kind of through me for a loop. :rolleyes:


Dangit!:mad: OK, option number two: we all chip in and go on a cruise together around the Atlantic (actually that's not a bad a idea)! :smokin:YOU STOLE MY IDEA! I already thought of going on a cruise, we could probably go to Finland while on it too... maybe if the BD cruise was during Oxonmoot time, we could go to England too... always wanted to go there...

[Gwathagor]

Count me in for the B-Downs Cruise. :cool:

[Brinniel]

That is funny, because everybody says either "you look so similar!" or "one would never guess you're sisters!"
Heh, I have to laugh because that happens to be the same thing everyone says about me and my sister...

Or we should arrange a meeting of Downers in some random place... How about... Antarctica? The Penguins will be happy.
Ooh..an excellent idea. And Antarctica sounds nice...my dad went there and he loved it. :D

How about we meet halfway, I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year!
Are you sure that is a good idea?

They might all disappear.
That's what I was thinking...

Though if you really want a halfway point between European and North American Downers, Greenland would be our best bet. But that wouldn't exactly be fair to our friends from Australia and the Phillipines. Figuring them into the picture, where should we go? Perhaps central Africa.... :smokin:

Even better, I was thinking since we all seem to have such great chemistry....wouldn't it be wonderful if a bunch of BDers moved to some remote location and founded our own colony? It could work... :D

[Gwathagor]

Even better, I was thinking since we all seem to have such great chemistry....wouldn't it be wonderful if a bunch of BDers moved to some remote location and founded our own colony? It could work... :D

We could buy an island, cut off communication with the outside world, and then teach our children Middle-earth myth as fact.

[Volo]

Even better, I was thinking since we all seem to have such great chemistry....wouldn't it be wonderful if a bunch of BDers moved to some remote location and founded our own colony? It could work... :D
While some have "Spectre of Capitalism" in their personal titles and others pictures of Karl Marx in their avatars. Hmm... interesting. :D

[Formendacil]

Personally, I'm just waiting for our first BD wedding, so I can *sort of* justify travelling far and *undoubtedly* spending too much money.

Rikae & Mac?
Eomer & Cailin?

Any takers?

:D

He's really not short - just of average height. (180cm or about 6ft or maybe 5'11".) It's Rune standing beside him that makes him short.

That make Nogrod my height...

*attempts to visualise*

Okay, even if I can wrap my mind around that... how on earth do you get used to a fire-eyed demon in the family?

(See Nogrod in the last pic...)

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Rune is beginning to look like he's had one to many. ;)

I am still wearing clothes and it is even my own, so clearly I did not have too many. :cool:

[Hookbill the Goomba]

this and this, after which I was thrown out of my own house.

Okay, I managed to see the video. This bit intrigued me;

Legate: I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Downer article...
Lommy: OH NO!!! :(

... When did I become some sort of notorious bogyman? :confused:

I think us Downers going to Oxonmoot are going to have to have triple the fun just to compete with this...

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Okay, I managed to see the video. This bit intrigued me;

Legate: I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Downer article...
Lommy: OH NO!!! :(

... When did I become some sort of notorious bogyman? :confused:

I think us Downers going to Oxonmoot are going to have to have triple the fun just to compete with this...
Who doesn't like to be in the Downer? I know I would pay money to have an article written about me or have my picture in the news...

But it'd be nice if I could go to Oxonmoot and meet other BDers...

[Thinlómien]

Okay, I managed to see the video. This bit intrigued me;

Legate: I'd be surprised if there wasn't a Downer article...
Lommy: OH NO!!! :(

... When did I become some sort of notorious bogyman? :confused:You missed the half-amused tone of voice... ;)

[Lalwendë]

Aganzir, that group photo looks like it could be of a Viking Metal band or something. I'm trying to resist the urge to photoshop it

I just can't think what the band would be called. They'd be a bit more like Nightwish rather than Tyr or Finntroll I think due to the contingent of lasses. Maybe.......Barrowtroll, or Wightwish....*groan*







I just posted this as davem and had to swiftly edit...bummox!!!! So no, davem has not suddenly developed an interest in metal, he mostly has to endure it :D

[Volo]

I'm trying to resist the urge to photoshop it
Please don't! :D

[Lalwendë]

Please don't! :D

All you need are some capes and guitars....maybe a bit of eyeliner.....mua-ha-hah! ;)

Though you could be just resting 'in the green room' of course :D

[skip spence]

Wow, that seems like a lot of fun!

Some of those pics (esp. post#398 and #400) look like they could've been the album-cover for some 70's progressive rock band haha.

I also recall picking a fight with Rune some time ago. Boy am I glad i didn't go throught with it, that man's a behemoth... :eek:

Nice pictures!

[Hookbill the Goomba]

At this year's Oxonmoot there was a great meeting of Downers. A record 9! Here is a picture, stolen from Esty, of 8 of us...

http://x74.xanga.com/1cdc943652330213357191/m166628545.jpg

From left to right: (front) Finwen as Beleg Cuthalion and myself as the Professor; (back row) Estelyn Telcontar, The Squatter of Amon Rudh, Rune Son of Bjarne, Kath, Poison Ivy, and Guinevere. Narfforc was ill, apparently, and so was not present. But he was there in spirit. I believe it was gin.

Finwen is the one who got me onto the Downs all those years ago. Her account lies dormant at the moment due to the forgotten password. We've known one another for years, though, off the Downs, and spent far too much time watching Doctor Who and spotting Tolkien references.
I'd met Esty last year at Oxonmoot. She's always very cheerful and I remain intensely jealous of her artistic abilities. Her lecture on Musical Instruments in Middle Earth was excellent.
Squatter I had also met the previous year. He was very much the same old weirdo with a liking for waistcoats. We shared many ridiculous jokes about things like 'Sky deemed boring; government blamed'.
Rune was a fellow I'd not met. Gosh, what an odd person he is. When he wasn't accusing me of being a mushroom, he made pleasant conversation. I was frustrated with him in the quiz, though. ;) :p
Kath was a surprise. I'd not heard she was coming. So it was nice to meet her. She was very pleasant and engaged in our ridiculous jokes with gusto. Which is always nice.
Poison Ivy, much like her Barrow Downs activity, was more of a lurker. At least with me any way. I didn't get chance to have any real conversations. Which was a shame.
It was nice to meet Guinevere again, thought we did not talk an awful lot. Which is always sad.
I met Narfforc once or twice over the course of the moot. He was, as usual, bizarre and twisted in his humour. Which I loved. Continuing the 'Aragorn and Gandalf went in the van' joke for no real reason at one point.

That's all I can think to say at the moment...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

At this year's Oxonmoot there was a great meeting of Downers. A record 9! Here is a picture, stolen from Esty, of 8 of us...
Ah no. Here goes the record.

But anyway, it looks like you had fun. I say anyway that Downers' meetings should be organised more often, and these Tolkien meetings and festivals are a good reason for that. Or this BarrowDownsCon, or how should it be called, it's been talked enough times to actually indeed make it... :)

[Brinniel]

Oxonmoot! Hookbill, I must admit your pictures made me miss Oxford so much. It's a beautiful city....and of course the perfect place for a BDer gathering. :)

Ah no. Here goes the record.
Now you know how I felt when you guys managed to break the previous record that was made last April. :p

But don't worry...we can beat those Oxonmooters again. Perhaps another summer gathering in Finland? With even more BDers, of course. Because we all know Finland is where the Barrow Downs is really located. ;)

[A Little Green]

Oh no, nine! You evil people broke our record :(
But don't worry...we can beat those Oxonmooters again. Perhaps another summer gathering in Finland? With even more BDers, of course. Because we all know Finland is where the Barrow Downs is really located.So true. It would be awesome to get some Downers here also next summer. I think I can speak for all of us silli (sic) Finns when I say that everyone willing to come is very welcome. :)

I'll try advertising a bit... Come to Finland! We are not evil nor scary. At least, we don't show it if we are :Merisu:

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'll try advertising a bit... Come to Finland! We are not evil nor scary. At least, we don't show it if we are :Merisu:

Plane tickets to Finland aren't cheap... poor college student... If the invitation remains open for a few years and doesn't exclude me... :cool:

[Gwathagor]

No, they certainly aren't cheap. Upwards of $1000 from Chicago to Helsinki round-trip.

[Bêthberry]

Perhaps another summer gathering in Finland? With even more BDers, of course. Because we all know Finland is where the Barrow Downs is really located. ;)

Finland, Finland, Finland, has it all. :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

No, they certainly aren't cheap. Upwards of $1000 from Chicago to Helsinki round-trip.

I found $898 if I fly out of Boston. But still... Ouch.

[Brinniel]

Indeed, a flight to Helsinki can be quite pricey. But then again, a flight to anywhere these days is rather expensive. But if you really want to go somewhere, you just have to save up your money and patiently wait until you have enough. Take that advice from someone who has no money and still can't get a job. :rolleyes: But I determined...

Hmm...I wonder what I have to do to convince some BDers to visit Boston....

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Hmm...I wonder what I have to do to convince some BDers to visit Boston....

Take one of two routes:

1) attempt to coordinate schedules

2) wait patiently until next summer when I intend to move to Boston

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Oh no, nine! You evil people broke our record :(
So true. It would be awesome to get some Downers here also next summer. I think I can speak for all of us silli (sic) Finns when I say that everyone willing to come is very welcome. :)

I'll try advertising a bit... Come to Finland! We are not evil nor scary. At least, we don't show it if we are :Merisu:

hahaha!
(I feel wonderfully wicked even though I was also part of the previouse record, surely I am still a swine in your eyes)

Anyways is it not obviouse that the downers of the Oxonmoot and of Helsinki should join forces and personaly I think they should meet on the half way. (Denmark)

Actually I would also be up for a meeting in Boston. . . I need to visit some friends in the states before too long and I really want to experience Fenway.

[Brinniel]

Take one of two routes:

1) attempt to coordinate schedules

2) wait patiently until next summer when I intend to move to Boston

1) Coordinating schedules could work, depending on when of course. It's always makes things more difficult when you have school to worry about. :rolleyes:

2) There's a good chance I'll be living in Boston next summer, and I'll definitely be here in the following fall.

Actually I would also be up for a meeting in Boston. . . I need to visit some friends in the states before too long and I really want to experience Fenway.
Yes! You must come see Boston, and soon (by soon I mean no later than spring 2010). I actually haven't seen a Red Sox game yet (shocking, I know), so perhaps we can experience Fenway together. :cool:

[Thinlómien]

Lommy's handy list of attracting Barrow-Downers to your home city/country

1) Convert all your friends and family to Barrow-Downers. This way, the ones you seek to lure to your lair are attracted by not only the thought of meeting just one lovely person, but many lovely people.

2) Invite people personally and tell them you'd love them to come. Also, give them good reasons why they'd want to come.

3) Once you manage to lure one person, it becomes easier to lure others to come too. Downers get jealous easily...

These tactics have proven succesful... :smokin::D;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

1) Coordinating schedules could work, depending on when of course. It's always makes things more difficult when you have school to worry about.

Precisely. I could make it over in late November when I'm on Thanksgiving break, but would you be there, or would you be on your own vacation? December as well, Christmas break, I could probably make it, but my break generally falls exactly at the worst time for anything...

2) There's a good chance I'll be living in Boston next summer, and I'll definitely be here in the following fall.

Much easier. Every grad school I'm looking at it is in or around Boston. So unless something major changes in the next eight months, you can find me in Boston for the year or two following my graduation.

[Brinniel]

Precisely. I could make it over in late November when I'm on Thanksgiving break, but would you be there, or would you be on your own vacation? December as well, Christmas break, I could probably make it, but my break generally falls exactly at the worst time for anything...

I won't be here for Thanksgiving...I'm actually heading down south the Raleigh of all places. As for winter break, it's hard to say since everyone's breaks are different. Mine starts December 18 and goes on until mid-January...I'll probably be home for most of that, though nothing is set just yet.

Much easier. Every grad school I'm looking at it is in or around Boston. So unless something major changes in the next eight months, you can find me in Boston for the year or two following my graduation.
Perfect. Then I can count on meeting you at least sometime within the next year. :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Perfect. Then I can count on meeting you at least sometime within the next year. :)

Yes.

Now if only we could get the phantom to travel eastbound... but he so firmly believes that this is where shadows lie...

[Aganzir]

I met Mithalwen, Kath and the guy who be short on Sunday.

Despite some confusion with the times, we eventually managed to find one another. The day was sunny and incredibly warm (22 C according to the weather forecast, but I bet it was more), so mostly we just walked around London. We found a shop that sold foreign candy, and I forced the Brits to try salted liquorice (which is kind of a classic in Finland). They had fun reading the Swedish package labels. In another shop Mith bought fortune cookies. I have lost my own fortune and don't remember the others either, but at least tgwbs's was funny. And when the park we were sitting in was closed, we went to a pub and sat there for the rest of the evening.

They were all very nice people and it was great to meet them. Only I was really tired after a night of four hours of sleep (preceded by a week of seven hours of sleep a night at most, usually not even that much) so I wasn't as social as I might have been otherwise.

Mith was really funny and talkative and sweet, and she brought us white chocolate raisins, yay! :D She made me laugh more than once.

I had never expected Kath to be quiet, but (and now I join the ever increasing number of people who say this) also she was somehow more talkative than I had thought. She was very nice and funny and easy to talk to. But hey, it's not that difficult to say Hanni! ;)

I didn't know tgwbs very well, but he proved to be a great personality, really funny, a bit crazy and such. He should start visiting the Downs more often again.

[Mithalwen]

Mith was really funny and talkative and sweet, and she brought us white chocolate raisins, yay! :D She made me laugh more than once.



It is a bit worrying that I can still be described as talkative when I had lost my voice!!! Clearly I overdid it because on Monday I literally could not speak a word... I am still somewhat silenced...blessed relief for all around no doubt...

[Kath]

But hey, it's not that difficult to say Hanni!
Yes it is! :p But I'm glad you don't think I'm too strange. :D

So I guess it's my turn to say what I thought!

Agan was really lovely. She is one of those 'Downers I've had a little less interaction with so I wasn't sure how well we'd get on but she was so easy to talk to. She was a little quiet when we were walking around but then it was noisy and the poor thing had been waiting for us for hours, and when we got to the pub where it was easier to chat we were all talking away quite happily. She is another of these Finn's with fantastic English as well.

Jay is one of those who I've planned to meet for ages, we've just never got round to it! He was just as mad, funny and sweet as he seems online so it was great to meet him. We have hopefully managed to convince him to return to werewolf as well!

As for Mith, she was just as lovely as last time and it was really nice to see her again - plus she gave me more raisins! :D

[Mithalwen]

. But hey, it's not that difficult to say Hanni! ;)



I am going to second Kath on this .. it is absolutely impossible :

(after about 7 failed attempts) -

Aganzir "Han-ni"

Mith *whimpering* "Lommie"

Jay was much better but then he is an Oxford linguistician... :p

After I read Agan's comment at lunchtime I happened to read Treebeard talking about Entish and I think Finnish must be related - "a lovely language, but it takes a very long time to say anything in it". I did feel like I was doing a Treebeard impersonation, sinking into chest voice to get the long pure "a" sound. It doesn't help that most of the languages I have studied are "hastier".

[Aganzir]

She was a little quiet when we were walking around but then it was noisy and the poor thing had been waiting for us for hours
Haha, I was only one hour too early. :D Better that than to be on the train a day too early though, I guess... ;)

"a lovely language, but it takes a very long time to say anything in it".
I suppose that's why we have developed so many slangs which shorten the words terribly.

Anyway, here's the pic Mith took of tgwbs, Kath and me in the evening.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y62/Aganzir/london.jpg

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

that anything said by Brinn or Mira about me getting us so spectacularly lost en route home from the airport last week that a fifteen minute car trip down NY-17 took over an hour and a half... is utter rubbish.

They are inventing it all. Yes, they may include many believable details, such as, "she missed the exit and decided to take back roads instead," or "I tried to called Kelly in a panic, but by then Fea had driven out of range of cell phone service!!!" but as I said before, these things are simply untrue.

Any mention of the pretty deer that we had to stop for, any discussions about how we cheered when we met with roads that had painted lines again... should be met with a raised eyebrow, as we all know that I - Fea - never get anything wrong.

Of course then we got home, and more or less settled in.

For about fifteen minutes.

At which point my only non-Barrowdowner room mate (how did this happen!? Kelly is Nienna now!) ran outside to greet her father and sister; her sister (age 14) would be staying with us for the weekend.

A few hours after Nienna and Lari got off of work, more of our friends arrived for the weekend! Brinn took it like a champ, I'd merely like to add: when I first invited her down for spring break, I had no idea we'd be splitting the bathroom eight ways over the weekend.

"It'll be insane until Sunday afternoon," I said upon learning how many people would be here,, "and then it will die."

And lo! On Saturday Night of the first weekend, we went to my favorite pub, and that was good.

It was hard getting us all to behave long enough to hold still for a tasteful photograph that barely involved tequila in any way, but - from left to right - Lari, I, Mira, and Brinn (http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038527567054_1341465438_30144948_2650608_n.j pg) did in fact manage to hold still for photographer-Nienna while our various friends looked on in amusement.

It wasn't long after - a few hours at most, of french fries and cocktails- that I went to the bar to buy a drink for one of the girls, only to return with two drinks in hand! The flannel-clad smoke-scented drunk fellow at the bar had insisted I try what he was drinking.

Eyebrows raised upon my return. Why did Fea have this spare double shot of bourbon in her left hand? She already had a concoction that tasted - cloyingly - like bubblegum. I briefly explained.

Have you heard of awkward turtle? Well, it was a bit more awkward than awkward turtle... With nine young women around some pushed-together tables in a pub with a band and a spiky haired bartender, this uninvited and thrice-declined drink signaled the commencement of an awkward hurricane (http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038527687057_1341465438_30144951_2950196_n.j pg), in which awkward turtle (me), awkward palm tree (the as yet unintroduced Libby), and awkward balloon (Nienna) all get blown around in an awkward storm!

The next morning, we made art.

As is typical for a Sunday in the Household of the Peredhil, we went to the ceramics studio on campus and made things out of clay. Nienna, Mira, and I went straight into teacher mode, as Brinniel and all three of our non-Barrowdowner companions had never thrown clay on a wheel before!

As Nienna wandered and taught widely, I moved in closer for more tailored teaching. Elbows in, girls. Show that clay who is boss! A little bit wetter, that's the trick. And then, once I'd satisfactorily thrown a few porcelain cups of my own, Nienna settled in next to Brinniel (http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038527807060_1341465438_30144953_7165575_n.j pg)to trim a bowl and to offer aid that was barely needed. Brinn learns fast. She's certainly better at bowl-making than I was when Nienna first taught me.

And then... well, then the week exploded, as school weeks are inclined to do. With all of us busy but Brinn, the apartment exploded a bit as well. There were some classes skipped, some groceries purchased, some meals cooked (you'll have to ask the others for a review of my cooking), until on Friday I brought Brinniel to the Corning Museum of Glass, mostly so that I could take pretty pictures of her making things.

A visit to the Peredhil Household, you must understand by now, means obligatory art making. You see this very brave gloved hand (http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038527927063_1341465438_30144956_1943110_n.j pg)? That was a Brinniel hand that was working with glass that was hotter than lava! You read that right: when that molten glass came out of the oven, it was over a hundred degrees hotter than your average lava flow.

Which leads me to Friday night, once we'd returned from Corning.

Early in the week, Brinniel had noticed Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, DVD Edition sitting on one of our bookshelves. Friday night, we sprawled on the living room floor for a nerd battle of epic proportion.

"It's not the Misty Mountains..." you might hear hesitantly thought aloud.

"Ered Nimrais, guys, Ered Nimrais!"

"I can't remember," the occasional Barrowdowner would groan, at which point another might yell out, "The answer is 'doubt'!"

One of my favorite moments was surely Mira joking that she ought to do herself in for not knowing the answer to a question we all obviously knew but her: the answer was Denathor.

I doubled over in my chair in a fit of giggles, "Are you going to do it while on fire by throwing yourself off a cliff?"

I tell you all this, yet the highlight was certainly yesterday's road trip to visit Rikae and half of Mac's genetic material.

We packed up our various purses and items of import, doubled back for a forgotten iPod so that we need not listen to Cindy Lauper on the radio, and followed the applicable Finger Lake north for a little while.

Upon arrival, we thought it best to acclimate our favorite little 'Downer-in-training to the terror that is Glaurung. She is a braver one even than Brinniel, who faced an art making process that burned hotter than the fires of Mount Doom! The child feared the avatar of Glaurung not even a little. (http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038528847086_1341465438_30144957_6944865_n.j pg) Not even when it began to sing!

Of course a group photo with SkypeMac was obligatory, particularly given the amount of time we spent teaching him about awkward turtle. In honor of Lommy, Mac is now the world's leading expert on awkward penguin. I consider it a great tragedy that I did not manage to video Bubbles as he performed each awkward movement we described for him.

In effort to show you how difficult it is to organize a group photo of such proportion, I humbly offer my favorite of the batch (http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038529087092_1341465438_30144963_3700568_n.j pg), in which we are not all looking at the camera.

Of course in such instances wherein people must cram together as Nienna admonishes them to hold still, certain close relationships develop: Mac and I (http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038529127093_1341465438_30144964_1184907_n.j pg), it appears, shared a few accidental longing glances. I happen to believe, and others perhaps agree, that the most appropriate caption for that image is, "Fea haz cheezburger! Big Mac no haz cheezburger." This is, of course, subject to debate.

And now, I leave the details to the others...

[Lariren Shadow]

that anything said by Brinn or Mira about me getting us so spectacularly lost en route home from the airport last week that a fifteen minute car trip down NY-17 took over an hour and a half... is utter rubbish.

They are inventing it all. Yes, they may include many believable details, such as, "she missed the exit and decided to take back roads instead," or "I tried to called Kelly in a panic, but by then Fea had driven out of range of cell phone service!!!" but as I said before, these things are simply untrue.

As I am neither Brinn nor Mira I can be trusted with what I say. She did get them horribly lost. Yet it turned out to be a circle. For about an hour. During which Mira freaked out a lot and Brinn actually, apparently, took it in stride. I was only there for the frantic phone call to Nienna.

And lo! On Saturday Night of the first weekend, we went to my favorite pub, and that was good.

And thus followed the first and second commandment of the pub: thou shalt do tequila shots and thou shalt consume massive quantities of french fries.


The next morning, we made art.

As is typical for a Sunday in the Household of the Peredhil, we went to the ceramics studio on campus and made things out of clay. Nienna, Mira, and I went straight into teacher mode, as Brinniel and all three of our non-Barrowdowner companions had never thrown clay on a wheel before!

Since when did it become the Household of the Peredhil? Twoish other Downers live there as well (I say twoish because Mira generally tends to spend more time in our cottage than in her own room). There are plenty of other names to call it! Besides Benjamin 1!

And then... well, then the week exploded, as school weeks are inclined to do. With all of us busy but Brinn, the apartment exploded a bit as well.

Stupid History of England paper...and senior sem paper...crap I need to work on that. I plan to die in the following week.

Early in the week, Brinniel had noticed Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, DVD Edition sitting on one of our bookshelves. Friday night, we sprawled on the living room floor for a nerd battle of epic proportion.

"It's not the Misty Mountains..." you might hear hesitantly thought aloud.

"Ered Nimrais, guys, Ered Nimrais!"

"I can't remember," the occasional Barrowdowner would groan, at which point another might yell out, "The answer is 'doubt'!"

One of my favorite moments was surely Mira joking that she ought to do herself in for not knowing the answer to a question we all obviously knew but her: the answer was Denathor.

I doubled over in my chair in a fit of giggles, "Are you going to do it while on fire by throwing yourself off a cliff?"

Now Mira's selfesteem is crushed even more. And it is my game. Because I need to state that. And it was hilarious playing. It should be done more often.

I tell you all this, yet the highlight was certainly yesterday's road trip to visit Rikae and half of Mac's genetic material.

We packed up our various purses and items of import, doubled back for a forgotten iPod so that we need not listen to Cindy Lauper on the radio, and followed the applicable Finger Lake north for a little while.

I get it! You don't like Cindy Lauper and I should have given you my iPod sooner! I was half asleep at the time!

Upon arrival, we thought it best to acclimate our favorite little 'Downer-in-training to the terror that is Glaurung. She is a braver one even than Brinniel, who faced an art making process that burned hotter than the fires of Mount Doom! The child feared the avatar of Glaurung not even a little. (http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038528847086_1341465438_30144957_6944865_n.j pg) Not even when it began to sing!

And then it had to be hidden from Mira, who kept trying to attack people with Glaurung and not amuse the 'Downer-in-training.

Of course a group photo with SkypeMac was obligatory, particularly given the amount of time we spent teaching him about awkward turtle. In honor of Lommy, Mac is now the world's leading expert on awkward penguin. I consider it a great tragedy that I did not manage to video Bubbles as he performed each awkward movement we described for him.

Yes, it was fun teaching SkypeMac the awkward movements. And I think we should use awkward penguin all the time. Hehehehe Bubbles oh how that is going to be so much fun later.

In effort to show you how difficult it is to organize a group photo of such proportion, I humbly offer my favorite of the batch (http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/2603_1038529087092_1341465438_30144963_3700568_n.j pg), in which we are not all looking at the camera.

But there does exist a picture of all of us looking at the camera, even Bubbles.

It was a pretty fantastic week. I really have nothing else to add, considering I spent much of it either working or doing work for classes.

[Thinlómien]

I'm soooooooo envious. Seriously. :D But I'm glad you had fun. :)

[Kath]

I am ridiculously jealous - but very glad that you all had a great time. :)

[Mirandir]

Now Mira's selfesteem is crushed even more. And it is my game. Because I need to state that. And it was hilarious playing. It should be done more often.

Mira has no self esteem. Mira NEEDS no self esteem. Grr.

And then it had to be hidden from Mira, who kept trying to attack people with Glaurung and not amuse the 'Downer-in-training.

Fantastic job you did hiding it, too. Under the table in plain sight was a bloody brilliant place for it. :p

that anything said by Brinn or Mira about me getting us so spectacularly lost en route home from the airport last week that a fifteen minute car trip down NY-17 took over an hour and a half... is utter rubbish.

You, my dear, are rubbish. But of the very pretty variety, of course.

All in all, a fantastically fun week.

[Rikae]

It was, indeed, tons of fun meeting Brinn, Fea, Lari, Mira & Nienna! Something about Skype seems to bring out people's goofy sides; that plus six downers and a snake-toy, and you can imagine. Or see - I think Fea has a video... :D

They even brought me birthday presents - Brinn made a tasty pie (and I don't mean that in a wolfish, cannibal sort of way) and Fea some amazing handmade (downer made!) bowls. :) They taught me some - er, sign language, and I in turn taught them a little German... *evil snicker*

Lari left out my favorite two photos, so here they are:

Mac (http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5356/barrowdowners23.jpg)realizes he is the only guy among half a dozen women...

- and -

Annika overpowers Glaurung (http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4121/barrowdowners16.jpg) with her hypnotic gaze.

[Thinlómien]

Rikae, those photos are priceless. :D

[Rikae]

Fea's photography, if I remember right. :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Yes ma'am. It took all of my will power not to post the Mac one. I thought we teased the poor man mercilessly enough without subjecting his prolonged glee to public scrutiny. :cool:

I truly only wish we had awkward penguin on video... The odds of getting him to do it again...

Next time, my camera will be prepared. :smokin:

[Mirandir]

I absolutely adore that picture of Annika staring down Glaurung, Rikae! Half of Mac's Genetic Material certainly has a future in dragon slaying. :p

A couple other notable points from this past week:

Nienna doesn't know how to pronounce Minas Tirith. Well, after spending some time playing LotR Trivial Pursuit, she just started mispronouncing it just to annoy the rest of us.

There was something else, but alas, it is time to close the library and Mean Nasty Boss Lady Tor has distracted my poor feeble brain by forcing Fea and me to shelve DVDs against our will.

[Brinniel]

Finally I have time to post, though I am very exhausted...

Fea pretty much summarized the events of last week, though I suppose I can add on in my own perspective.

After an easy couple plane rides, I arrived at the tiniest airport ever to be greeted by Fea and Mira. After our first initial contact, we headed to the car and took the "scenic route" to Elmira. And by scenic I mean we drove through scenery that resembled something of a horror film; we were waiting for the axe murderer to jump out of the trees any time. Though Mira was having a panic attack in the backseat, I was more amused than anything. Meanwhile, Fea insisted that we were not lost and that if we kept turning left we'd eventually find a bigger road, though I think for awhile they kept getting smaller. We did make it back to Elmira...an hour later. :D

Later on after meeting Lari and Nienna and dropping off Mira (who had somewhere else to be), we ate dinner at a school restaurant (yes, their school has restaurants). Throughout the evening it became more and more hectic with someone new always arriving, but the craziness was fun and during it all, we made cocktails.

Next day we went shopping and did the typical girl stuff. And in the evening we went to the bar and had plenty of fun with drinks and fries. Fea was kind enough to get me a mint chocolate martini, which basically tasted like mint ice cream...it was like heaven!

Sunday I got to learning how to make pottery. I started off completely clueless, but enjoyed it as I learned and covered my clothes in clay. It'd take much practise for me to actually make anything decent, but I was a bit proud of what I did manage to make...though I'm not sure what happened to it...

Once the other guests left, things did begin to quiet down and the girls went off to do homework and attend classes. With their busy schedules, I was left in the apartment most of the day, which I didn't mind since it gave me a chance to sleep in and relax. Plus, I got really good at Wii. In the evening, the girls would take turns cooking dinner, all of which tasted wonderful and of course we'd take some time to chat. Thursday I did my part to help out by doing a lot of dishes, then making a frozen peanut butter pie (something my family loves to eat though I've never made it by myself before).

On Friday, Fea took me to the Corning Glass Museum where we spent plenty of time talking about and admiring glass. Then I got to shape glass myself which was strange, but fun. Though I quickly realised I'd never do well with making glass since the glass cools too quickly for a perfectionist like me. But now I have a pretty purple flower sitting on my dresser, which makes me happy. We were originally planning to see Coraline for Friday night, but those plans were quickly dashed when we discovered that the film had left the theatre. So I suggested we play LotR Trivial Pursuit and drink daiquiris and tequila instead, which was a much better plan I must say. Trivial Pursuit was complete insanity, though we never actually finished the game since Nienna hit the wrong button on the dvd player. :p But it was an excuse to bring out the alcohol, which we did. Mmm...daiquiris...

We made our road trip to Rikae's on Saturday, where we spent an hour and a half in the car singing to songs. This time we did not get lost (since Fea wasn't driving) and we safely arrived in Geneva, where Rikae and the baby greeted us. After spending a couple hours chatting and gooing over Annika, we relocated to the computer to greet Mac. Those last few hours were rather nutty and I can only imagine what it was like for poor Mac on the other end. :p

Visiting Rikae pretty much marked the end of my visit since after we returned to the apartment, I packed and then left in the morning. It was so much fun and I was sad to have to return to my isolated hotel dorm in Boston...

So my impressions...

Fea was shorter than I expected. Somehow I imagined her to be tall, but she's more like my height. She really is just as crazy as she is on the Downs, though perhaps less scary. ; ) I can see why Fea loves having Nienna as a roommate, as she is a great girl that you want to be around and very helpful too. Lari is very much like what she is on the Downs...she's very sweet and also a bit quirky in a cute way. She is a romantic and loves Tudor England. Ask her about it, and I'm sure she'll have plenty to say. Mira surprised me a bit. I think I expected her to be a bit like Lari, but she's much louder and perhaps crazier. She's also a big Star Wars and sports fan. I'm sure that in the next game tp and Boro are in, she'll be the first to join in on their discussions of football. : D While I had imagined Fea as tall, I also imagined Rikae to be short...though I don't know why since I think she indicated in memes on LJ that she is tall. She was quiet at first, probably from the initial shock of having five BDers walk through her front door. Though it didn't take long for her to open up and I found her very easy to talk to. And little Annika is so adorable. We all teased that by five years old, she'll be playing werewolf and trying to get her parents lynched for not giving her dessert. : P Though we didn't meet Mac in person, we had a lot of fun chatting with him through Skype. He can be quite the silly one, especially when sleep deprived. Hopefully I will get to actually meet him in person someday soon.

Coming to Elmira for Spring Break was definitely the best choice I made, as it was a great experience. And interesting to stay at a different college for an extended period of time...though also a bit weird since my school has the same colours and initials; the memorabilia seemed strangely familiar. Though Elmira is much more obsessed with purple; doors are painted purple, even the tractors and construction equipment are purple! And I heard plenty of complaining from the girls about purple graduation robes (poor things).

I have more to say, but I shall put it in another post since this one's long enough...

[Brinniel]

Some pictures:

Fea (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2017.jpg) holds up a miniature Galadriel on Trivial Pursuit night.

Mira (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2047.jpg) and Glaurung.

Yet another photo of Annika (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2050.jpg) and Glaurung.

Yes, we all can look at the camera.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2061.jpg)

Next time, my camera will be prepared.
Oh, surely you must take a video when you meet him in person. :D

For all those who are jealous, all Fea had to do was follow Lommy's guidebook:
Lommy's handy list of attracting Barrow-Downers to your home city/country

1) Convert all your friends and family to Barrow-Downers. This way, the ones you seek to lure to your lair are attracted by not only the thought of meeting just one lovely person, but many lovely people.

2) Invite people personally and tell them you'd love them to come. Also, give them good reasons why they'd want to come.

3) Once you manage to lure one person, it becomes easier to lure others to come too. Downers get jealous easily...

Though instead of luring more Downers to Elmira, I say we lure them to Boston as that's where some of them will relocate to soon. Finally I will have BDers living in the same city. Yes, all BDers should visit Boston sometime before May 2010... :Merisu:

[Rikae]

It's too bad you guys didn't get to see Coraline. Mac and I watched it a couple days before he left, it was excellent - best horror flick of the century. ;) (Seriously, I don't think my almost-nine-year-old could have handled it - it's good we went alone!)

It occurred to me - you all escaped the purple campus only to end up in a purple kitchen. My plan all along - mwahahaha!

Yes, we all can look at the camera. (http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2061.jpg)

All but the Sagittarians. :p

I, for one, would love to visit Boston before it's drownded (drownded?!!)- long road trips rule. There'll also be a downer wedding in this region... sometime... somehow... and I expect you all to attend and, with Mac, perhaps reach critical 'downer mass and drag the Finns to NY as well. :D

[Estelyn Telcontar]

...I in turn taught them a little German... *evil snicker*
Now wouldn't I like to know just *what* you taught them! :eek:

Annika is absolutely adorable - but then how could she not be, with those genes! What's to be seen of her parents looks pretty good, doesn't it?!

As a matter of fact, the rest of the Downers look very good as well...

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Now wouldn't I like to know just *what* you taught them!

:Merisu:

I would also like to make mention of the fact that I am a bit like Gandalf and Galadriel in the height department- I seem much taller when the mood strikes. :)

[Mirandir]

Yes, we all can look at the camera.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/Brinniel/IMG_2061.jpg)

Except Annika. But she's just so darn cute it would blind the picture taker. Sort of like the basilisk in Harry Potter. Except cute. Oh man I need sleep. :p

[Oddwen]

...I convinced someone to join, but as she hasn't posted yet I don't suppose she counts yet...


Montana u bagronk sha pushdug Mordor-glob bubosh skai...

[Lariren Shadow]

Later on after meeting Lari and Nienna and dropping off Mira (who had somewhere else to be), we ate dinner at a school restaurant (yes, their school has restaurants). Throughout the evening it became more and more hectic with someone new always arriving, but the craziness was fun and during it all, we made cocktails.

The school only had two "restaurants". It did, the evening. We had a whole lot of people there, probably more than we've ever had.


Once the other guests left, things did begin to quiet down and the girls went off to do homework and attend classes. With their busy schedules, I was left in the apartment most of the day, which I didn't mind since it gave me a chance to sleep in and relax. Plus, I got really good at Wii. In the evening, the girls would take turns cooking dinner, all of which tasted wonderful and of course we'd take some time to chat. Thursday I did my part to help out by doing a lot of dishes, then making a frozen peanut butter pie (something my family loves to eat though I've never made it by myself before).

We do have horrible schedules...I still need to write my big paper. Boo paper. Yay Wii and you were really good, like really really good. And thanks for the dishes and pie! The recipe is currently on the fridge.
Trivial Pursuit was complete insanity, though we never actually finished the game since Nienna hit the wrong button on the dvd player. :p But it was an excuse to bring out the alcohol, which we did. Mmm...daiquiris...

Yes you won. And we all were having fun trying to remember movie things as opposed to book things. I did like some of the random stuff (who is never shown eating in the movies?).

Mmm...daiquiris...

She is a romantic and loves Tudor England. Ask her about it, and I'm sure she'll have plenty to say.

Aw and...its so weird because I didn't think I said anything that would make me seem like a romantic even though I am. Yay Tudors! Maybe I should change my avatar...

All but the Sagittarians. :p

I am looking at the camera! I just look really weird! It's Annika who's looking at Mac!

Now wouldn't I like to know just *what* you taught them! :eek:

*giggles*

[Mirandir]

I am looking at the camera! I just look really weird! It's Annika who's looking at Mac!

How dare she look at her daddy! Shame on her! :p

[Lariren Shadow]

How dare she look at her daddy! Shame on her! :p

I was just contesting the plural. A Sagittarian is looking at the camera weirdly and the other is looking at her daddy.

[Brinniel]

Except Annika. But she's just so darn cute it would blind the picture taker. Sort of like the basilisk in Harry Potter. Except cute.
Of course. How else would she have defeated Glaurung? :p

Yay Wii and you were really good, like really really good. And thanks for the dishes and pie! The recipe is currently on the fridge.
Heh, only because I had plenty of practice. And now Fea will have to work to get back her top scores. :D

And yes, it was no problem. I enjoyed keeping myself busy, even if it meant sticking my hands in yucky dishwater. And it was partly my mess too. It was quite messy when I left though; I felt a bit bad that I didn't get a chance to help clean since a lot of that was due to the aftermath of tequila and daiquiris night.. I almost forgot to write down that recipe, then remembered Glenys requested it. Now you guys can make frozen peanut butter pie on your own (yay).

I don't think I ever properly thanked you all for taking me in. I was there for a good nine days which is the longest I've ever hung out with a Downer. It can be difficult to have a guest for an extended period of time when you all are so busy with school...but I don't think was much of a burden (or at least that's what I hope!). But even with the busy schedules, it was fun and I wish I could've stayed even longer. So, thank you. Definitely the best Spring Break ever (I mean, who needs Cancun or Florida when you've got BDers). :)

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I guess it is a bit early for me to write this post as I migh have another downer meeting soon. . .anyways I thought I better take advantage of having free internet acces.

Last thursday Esty came to Copenhagen for a concert with the Tolkien Ensemble, a concert i did not mannage to get tickets for. Anyways we met in the evening at a traditional danish bar called "Her Er Ro" (Here be calm/quiet) formerly known as "HERO", here I attempted to scare her off by talking non stop about danish history and ranting about how evil the Swedes, English and Germans are. . .

Actually we had a good talk about everything from the subject of: Squatter and Sight seeing, to drinking culture.

Now it is not the first time I have met Esty as we both attendet the Oxonmoot last year, but it was the first time I really had time to sit down and talk with her. It was actually just what I needed to take my mind of things. (I have been very stressed lately)

What did you end up seeing in Copenhagen and was the concert any good?

This monday I took the plane from Copenhagen to Manchester, where I took a train to Sheffield. Here I met up with Davem, Lal and little Alfred. Unfortunately for our meeting we where all really tired the days I was there and of course Lal and Davem had work as well. . .It ment that talk did not become as lively as I know it could have been and that there was moments of silence. (those who have met me knows that I seldom stop talking)

Obviously they are nice people and Alfie is just lovely, even though he is lazy! Basicly I had to carry him everywhere. Anyways I am sure that we will all be alot more talkative when we meet at the Oxonmoot ;)

Right now I am in Lancaster with some mates, I might meet up with Kath in Manchester later on, but nothing is certain yet.

[Kath]

No indeed Rune nothing is certain, for I need to know when you are actually free otherwise I can't organise anything with my parents! PM or text me fool. :p

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I very much enjoyed the evening I spent with Rune in Copenhagen! He's a great conversationalist, intelligent and well-informed on many subjects. We chatted about everything from Downs gossip, to what sights to see in the city, to history. I was both entertained and informed.

Rune, I did manage to see quite a few sights on that Friday - the Museum of Arts and Design, Rosenborg and Amalienborg palaces, the Marble Church, and the Round Tower, to mention the most important. And yes, while I was waiting for places to open, I did walk up to see the little mermaid.

The concert was good; there were quite a few of us from various international Tolkien Societies, and those of us who were costumed (I was one of them) gave the very proper Danes something crazy to look at! Hearing Christopher Lee's voice live (he was the narrator) was a real pleasure.

Oh, and the new costumes worn by the female members of the Tolkien Ensemble were designed by one of our German Society members and sewn by her and her friends - we were very proud of them and heard lots of stories from backstage, where they spent 2 - 3 days fitting and altering the costumes.

[Mithalwen]

No indeed Rune nothing is certain, for I need to know when you are actually free otherwise I can't organise anything with my parents! PM or text me fool. :p

As long as I don't end up being intermediary again ;).

[Lalwendë]

Heh, Rune met us at at bad time there, seeing as nasty illness was about to strike round here!!! No wonder we were all tired, Alfie came down with Chicken Pox the day he left, and then my leg fell prey to these flesh eating aliens!! Such are the workings of fortune... :(

Mind you, he was lovely, it was nice having him here (though I don't think he liked being got up so early, sorry!!!) and I was really sad to see him leave - I thought he'd talked the hind leg off a donkey, so the saying goes, so I don't know how Rune can be more talkative, you must have to pin him down and gag him to get a word in if he's not tired :p

King Alfred misses his Uncle Rune's Human Taxi Service right now because his mum cannot carry him round the house. This has had the bonus that he has suddenly decided to stop being bone idle and learn to walk in the past couple of days, yay!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I actually thought I was being a bit quiet at times. . .

Getting up early was not something I enjoyed much, mostly because I was so tired when I arrived. In fact I ended up falling a sleep in a pub and even though I took a nap I also fel a sleep in a bar in the evening, but then somebody threw a lime at me and I went to bed.

I guess walking is a worthy alternative to being carried by me, anyways it was clear that he just about to start walking when I was there. . . I might have delayed the process a bit though.

Anyways I hope to see you guys at a better time and I promise to talk less if Davem talks a bit more ;)