Oxonmoot 2006 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

narfforc · 09-18-2006, 05:02 AM

Another Oxonmoot been and gone, enjoyed some conversations with Davem and Lalwende, enjoyed even more pints of Theakstons Old Peculiar, there was over 100 people for the reading at Tolkiens graveside. You all have one year to plan for Oxonmoot 2007, try and get to at least one in your life, I have made some great friends there.

Lalwendë · 09-18-2006, 06:20 AM

Anguirel - we were near there on Friday as we went to look at the Pitt Rivers so you may have heard me babbling on about the shrunken heads!

I hope Mithalwen has read all the books she bought (ruddy loads!) - we eventually found her after wandering about all day long and wondering who she might be, and she's very nice! No pink boots though! I hope you'll be there again, Mith, maybe to even stay over and join in the fun, which on Saturday involved a long drunken discussion after we avoided some atrocious 'music' by a member of the Tolkien Society and a famous Tolkien artist. Oh dear it was bad. Anyway, stay there and you'll get narfforc entertaining you on Sunday morning, but just don't stand behind him.

We met some great people, not least of who was Mithalwen! We were also introduced to Joanna Tolkien, though davem doesn't remember as he was drunk

I've just told him about it now! Heard some great stories from the old timers. Watched all the eccentrics wandering about, and come up with a theory that the TS is secretly a Freemasons' recruiting society after noting that there was a bloke in an apron, and watching the Springle Ring dancers who had rolled up trouser legs and ribbons round their arms.

I hope its in better accommodation next year - I've slept for 11 hours last night to make up for it! It got me all grumpy cause I need a good night's sleep so on Saturday I just got hammered so I'd collapse anyway, which I did.

But the grub was good, apart from the Friday dinner. We were being tight and didnt shell out £28 for food we didn't fancy so we ate a picnic instead, and it turned out that there wasnt enough food to go round anyway. So we didnt need to press our noses against the windows like destitute orphans.

I liked the slideshow, which went through art inspired by Tolkien, looking at the good and bad, but was dreading something I liked coming up and being slagged off. Which it did when they got snooty about the art in the Day bestiary. OK so the text is bad in that book, but I thought the pictures were great!

Good show by Bob Blackman who wrote the new book about Tolkien in Birmingham, looking at the local history of the Sarehole area. And another entertaining one about Tolkien, women and oxford, which i listened to while sitting outside as the mic was pretty loud, and it meant I could get in some more smoking. Shop was in the Maggie Thatcher centre, appropriate. I didn't manage to think of anything to deface the sign with, but if I go there again I'll go armed with 'Coal Not Dole' stickers, meh-heh. Shop was excellent of course too, I couldn't decide what to buy....almost, though it took some deciding.

Child of the 7th Age · 09-18-2006, 10:10 AM

Thanks so much for these reports. The next best thing to being there. Sigh....

Is that book by Bob Blackman out yet? I couldn't bring up anything on the UK Amazon. Perhaps it's being locally distributed? The whole question of Tolkien's local and childhood associations fascinates me, and I'd love to get hold of that book if you have any more info.

Mithalwen · 09-18-2006, 10:33 AM

I went to a few other lectures and will transcribe my notes if anyone would be interested?

Feanor of the Peredhil · 09-18-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I went to a few other lectures and will transcribe my notes if anyone would be interested?

Always interested.

Lalwendë · 09-18-2006, 03:21 PM

I didn't get any notes because I left my room without a biro and was damned if I was going to trek back up four flights of the most rickety stairs in England to get it. Especially after three hours' sleep.

Mithalwen · 09-18-2006, 03:22 PM

Well having done my MEI and RPG stuff I will do so tomorrow

Sad really - after so many years of studying I "have" to make notes - a kind of OCD?

Lalwendë · 09-18-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age

Is that book by Bob Blackman out yet? I couldn't bring up anything on the UK Amazon. Perhaps it's being locally distributed? The whole question of Tolkien's local and childhood associations fascinates me, and I'd love to get hold of that book if you have any more info.

Here's a
link to the book, which I've had for a couple of months. It's very good, both as a Tolkien book and as a local history book, and would be great for anyone wanting to explore the area in Birmingham. He's put a lot of work into sourcing the old pictures, and had some funny tales to tell about the area, the trespassing adventures of the Tolkien brothers, the White Ogre and a modern day horseman dressed as a Black Rider who found his horse, Equinox, would not cross the river!

09-18-2006, 05:02 AM	#1
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	Oxonmoot 2007 Another Oxonmoot been and gone, enjoyed some conversations with Davem and Lalwende, enjoyed even more pints of Theakstons Old Peculiar, there was over 100 people for the reading at Tolkiens graveside. You all have one year to plan for Oxonmoot 2007, try and get to at least one in your life, I have made some great friends there. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

09-18-2006, 06:20 AM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Anguirel - we were near there on Friday as we went to look at the Pitt Rivers so you may have heard me babbling on about the shrunken heads! I hope Mithalwen has read all the books she bought (ruddy loads!) - we eventually found her after wandering about all day long and wondering who she might be, and she's very nice! No pink boots though! I hope you'll be there again, Mith, maybe to even stay over and join in the fun, which on Saturday involved a long drunken discussion after we avoided some atrocious 'music' by a member of the Tolkien Society and a famous Tolkien artist. Oh dear it was bad. Anyway, stay there and you'll get narfforc entertaining you on Sunday morning, but just don't stand behind him. We met some great people, not least of who was Mithalwen! We were also introduced to Joanna Tolkien, though davem doesn't remember as he was drunk I've just told him about it now! Heard some great stories from the old timers. Watched all the eccentrics wandering about, and come up with a theory that the TS is secretly a Freemasons' recruiting society after noting that there was a bloke in an apron, and watching the Springle Ring dancers who had rolled up trouser legs and ribbons round their arms. I hope its in better accommodation next year - I've slept for 11 hours last night to make up for it! It got me all grumpy cause I need a good night's sleep so on Saturday I just got hammered so I'd collapse anyway, which I did. But the grub was good, apart from the Friday dinner. We were being tight and didnt shell out £28 for food we didn't fancy so we ate a picnic instead, and it turned out that there wasnt enough food to go round anyway. So we didnt need to press our noses against the windows like destitute orphans. I liked the slideshow, which went through art inspired by Tolkien, looking at the good and bad, but was dreading something I liked coming up and being slagged off. Which it did when they got snooty about the art in the Day bestiary. OK so the text is bad in that book, but I thought the pictures were great! Good show by Bob Blackman who wrote the new book about Tolkien in Birmingham, looking at the local history of the Sarehole area. And another entertaining one about Tolkien, women and oxford, which i listened to while sitting outside as the mic was pretty loud, and it meant I could get in some more smoking. Shop was in the Maggie Thatcher centre, appropriate. I didn't manage to think of anything to deface the sign with, but if I go there again I'll go armed with 'Coal Not Dole' stickers, meh-heh. Shop was excellent of course too, I couldn't decide what to buy....almost, though it took some deciding. __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-18-2006, 10:10 AM	#3
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Thanks so much for these reports. The next best thing to being there. Sigh.... Is that book by Bob Blackman out yet? I couldn't bring up anything on the UK Amazon. Perhaps it's being locally distributed? The whole question of Tolkien's local and childhood associations fascinates me, and I'd love to get hold of that book if you have any more info. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

09-18-2006, 10:33 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I went to a few other lectures and will transcribe my notes if anyone would be interested? __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-18-2006, 03:21 PM	#6
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I didn't get any notes because I left my room without a biro and was damned if I was going to trek back up four flights of the most rickety stairs in England to get it. Especially after three hours' sleep. __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-18-2006, 03:22 PM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Well having done my MEI and RPG stuff I will do so tomorrow Sad really - after so many years of studying I "have" to make notes - a kind of OCD? __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 09-18-2006 at 03:28 PM.