I met a fellow BDer!!

[Bêthberry]

I was so envious of New Finland Moot going to see the Hobbit movie together. I figured that has to be the quintessential experience, seeing the movies as a Downer coven.

I've been told I could come as Lobelia, with a bit of change to my Missus Maggot costume, but I'm hankering after coming as one of Radagast's rabbits, a huge rabbit, possibly a pink bunny if that isn't stealing the Pink Wizard's meme, maybe called Hef.

That's if I can make it.

[Mithalwen]

And if you can't make it in person you can go as Harvey ..

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Okay I suppose I'll write up a little report on the moot from my perspective!

It was a very different gathering to others, it was very relaxed, very calm, and very sick! At Britainmoot we were doing fun stuff every fifteen seconds, travelling here, there and everywhere, which was a lot of fun but exhausting! This moot was more about hanging around together and generally just being crazy, geeky people together.
We probably would have gone and done activities but a strange illness stuck us down one by one and by New Year's eve I think at least three of us were not very well. I certainly wasn't!
All the same, it was fun! We watched the movies, both Jacksons and the animated ones, played games, sung songs and were very respectable Wights... Well, sort of.

Aganzir met me at the airport and was as strange as ever! She was a fine friend throughout and even kept me company when I fell to the pestilence! That was most kind and moving. *wipes away tears*

A Little Green was like a magical pixie, popping in and out of the moot, but whenever she arrived it was great! Silly noises and hilarious jokes, she is always one of the smartest and silliest people in the room. And given the competition, that's saying a lot!

Thinlomine is owed many thanks from me! She was kind enough to read the draft manuscript of a book I'm writing and she gave me insightful and helpful criticism that I am eternally grateful for! Also, she was always lively and cheerful, though I think she's given up on trying to make Agan civilised.

Oddwen brought with her a dark and terrible game that we played until we were all dead from laughter. She's always fun to have at a moot and can do a wicked Orlando Bloom impression!

Squatter, my fellow countryman, was soon brought around to the ways of the Dwarves and digging holes. A man who knows (or at least drinks) his alcohol and can still hold witty dialogue afterwards! Always worth dragging to a moot!

Nogrod is a chef of the highest order! I wish we'd gotten to have more discussions, but what we did talk about was always interesting and I still think he needs to write a book of some sort! I don't know what it would be about, but I think it would be great. Also, if he offers you pancakes with cheese and mushrooms, take it! It's amazing!

Pomegranate I've only met three times and yet she seems already like an old pal! One of the Downs' crew! Even when fawning over AZOG, she brings life to the party! And if there isn't a party, she'll still bring life to whatever's going on.

Volo is a wizard. He just needs a pipe and a wide hat. He's a man who thinks about his words and picks them well. And this time he wore shoes!! I was so shocked I nearly fell out of my chair!

I think that's everyone! Sorry if I missed you. But thank you to everyone for making this a wonderful Barrow Moot! Even if it did turn into sick moot!
Last of all, special thanks go to the googly eyes.



They made the whole moot much better. Well, they made Agan and Lommy's flat a lot better, anyway.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

And if you can't make it in person you can go as Harvey ..

Only if Hooky agrees to be James Stewart.

[Pomegranate]

I shall be there watching more hobbitey-and-dwarvey stuff with you all either in person (if I can drag myself away from the faraway place where my life will have led me by then) or, if not, as a slightly-bigger-than-livesize photo print that's got me dressed as Kili. I am aware that you might prefer a print version of me I will still try my best to actually be there.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Are there any plans on a BIG Barrow Downs moot this year? I remember Deutschland being suggested, but nothing was set in stone.
Or will this be the year of many mini moots? That, too, can be awesome!

[A Little Green]

If there was ever an unlucky 'Downs moot, it would be this one.

For one thing, Hookbill and Squatter seemed to bring the British weather with them; it was beautiful and wintry the day before the Moot, but the day they came it was raining and it remained that way for most of the Moot. So much for getting a taste of the northern winter.. What was more, a highly contagious something took over and inspired us to rename the moot as Sickmoot (even Elijah Wood vomited!). My own participation was further disturbed by work and, for the last couple of days, a sad thing happening and occupying most of my thoughts.

But if there is something to be said for all these misfortunes, it would be the realization that somehow, we've become such good friends that it doesn't matter if you're sick or tired or sad because you're not obliged to be busy entertaining guests and planning things if you simply can't. You can just hang out at home and play cards and have a whale of a time anyway.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I figured that has to be the quintessential experience, seeing the movies as a Downer coven.

It was. The rest of the audience laughs at the 'obvious' stuff - Bullroarer Took inventing golf and Rhosgobel rabbits and so forth. We laugh every time someone says "You know of what I speak" or Fili swaggers or Benedict Cumberbatch appears on screen or Thorin gives bedroom eyes, etc.

I've been told I could come as Lobelia, with a bit of change to my Missus Maggot costume, but I'm hankering after coming as one of Radagast's rabbits, a huge rabbit, possibly a pink bunny if that isn't stealing the Pink Wizard's meme, maybe called Hef.

Hahaha! I vote for Lobelia though, she's awesome! Unfortunately for you, we have no silver spoons.

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

She was a fine friend throughout and even kept me company when I fell to the pestilence!

That's how I made up for throwing up behind your back myself.

I think she's given up on trying to make Agan civilised.

It's Greenie who wields the whip these days. (And, as she pointed out, I'm at my best if I get to play a lion mother on a leash.)

Pomegranate I've only met three times and yet she seems already like an old pal!

The truth is, I haven't met her that much more, but I tease her as if I'd known her for years.

Originally Posted by Pomegranate

me dressed as Kili.

More tips for doing it perfectly:

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

Are there any plans on a BIG Barrow Downs moot this year? I remember Deutschland being suggested, but nothing was set in stone.
Or will this be the year of many mini moots? That, too, can be awesome!

I vote for Deutschland! I vote for Pitchwife's farm!

Originally Posted by A Little Green

But if there is something to be said for all these misfortunes, it would be the realization that somehow, we've become such good friends that it doesn't matter if you're sick or tired or sad because you're not obliged to be busy entertaining guests and planning things if you simply can't. You can just hang out at home and play cards and have a whale of a time anyway.

Ditto.
These are people I feel comfortable to be sick in the same room with. ♥