I met a fellow BDer!!

[A Little Green]

Finally, all seven of us after too many sleepless nights.

[Oddwen]

Six Downers on a cannon

Wait, 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?

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

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

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

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

Tell me about it.

Originally Posted by A Little Green

Thankfully Agan already made a summary of what we did so I'm spared of that bother.

Indeed 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 ). 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.

Originally Posted by Brinniel

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.

Originally Posted by Legate

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 ( 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 ) 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...

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...

[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. Rune and Leggie, I bow for the mead.

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.

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

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

Originally Posted by Volo

But first....

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

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

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Volo

this and this, 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.

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.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Volo

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

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.

Originally Posted by Hookbill

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!

[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...



Tiny edit:

Originally Posted by Lindale

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

*waves*

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Lhunardawen

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.

Originally Posted by Legate

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?

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]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

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?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Lhunardawen

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.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

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

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

[Lhunardawen]

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

* collective groan*

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

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

Usually those things are directed to me.

And so that this post wouldn't be completely off-topic, here's yet another meeting picture, this time with eight downers in total.

[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.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

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!

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.