I met a fellow BDer!! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalaith · 09-22-2012, 05:33 AM

Well yesterday was a red-letter day for me as not only did I go to my first ever Tolkien event, but I also had my first-ever RL meet-up with a Downer.
Mith kindly offered me a spare ticket to the 75th anniversary Hobbit talk at the British Library.
We met up early so that we could first see the Writing Britain exhibition, also the BL. It was amazing. My only complaint was that we only had an hour and I would have liked to have spent at least twice that time there. Some highlights for me were (of course) Tolkien's watercolour of Hobbiton, a beautiful manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, Jane Austen's notebooks and the A4 notepad on which JK Rowling wrote the Philosopher's Stone.
The event was excellent. Brian Sibley (much to Mith's delight) also Alan Roberts, who was a really engaging speaker - he talked about the two versions of the Hobbit (and prefers the first) - plus Jane Johnson and David Brawn.
There was also chap from the Inner Magic Circle who did a very dramatic reading of Gandalf's rescue of Bilbo and the dwarves from the Great Goblin. I did hope, childishly, that he would do some wizardry for us as well, but the magic was purely of a literary nature. It was interesting to see too what a mixed crowd made up the audience, shows what a wide demographic Tolkien reaches.

We then had something to eat on the South Bank before Mith set off back to the south coast - unfortunately it was a journey of tortuous diversions and delays (which she may share with you). As I said to her, I hoped it hasn't put her off visiting the metropolis again. It was really lovely to spend an actual face-to-face evening with someone I've spent so long cyberchatting to over the years.

Mithalwen · 09-24-2012, 12:49 PM

I can only second Lalaith's sentiment on the last point (and a few others). The exhibition was fascinating. Tolkien's picture has the vibrancy of an illuminated manuscript whicb you don't quite get in reproductions and it was fascinating to see the different working methods displayed by the various authors from Stalla Gibbons' scrawled on scraps , JK Rowling's cheap A4 loose leaf pad and biro and the bound proof that Jane Austen wrote on little slips of paper (A6 approx) that she could slip under her blotter if disturbed... and her handwriting is tiny and precise.

I was ridiculously excited to hear Brian Sibley and he read marvellously from the book and while I enjoyed the other speakers and particularly seeing the various illustrations some of which are "new" to most, that was the real highlight. Apart of course meeting Lalaith herself who is lovely and funny and considerately fierce (no I have saved that seat for my friend - she has a stick!) and patient as I hobbled after her bright feet.. she was the perfect companion and I hope we will meet again somewhen.

Oh yes... I do see rather doomed by transport problems when meeting Downers.... the journey up was fine this time but someone had driven a tractor into a rail bridge at Basingstoke rendering the line unsafe.. which meant the train I caught was theoretically the one of an hour previous and didn't leave even so for a further twenty minutes, was packed until Woking where they had a train that would go to but not through Basingstoke leaving the few destined for the West heading East to Guildford and Havant before heading back in the right direction picking up a relief crew at Southampton for the onward journey. I had taken the train a couple of stops up the line to give myself a wider choice of train and so then had a half an hour drive but at least my car was warm and comfortable. I got home at about quarter past two in the morning and it should have been just after midnight... but well worth it.. though

Bêthberry · 10-01-2012, 03:50 PM

Galadriel55 and I were Ladies Who Lunch today and that gave me an opportunity to hand deliver some very important Shire Mail for her from Mithalwen.

She loves her wolf cub!

PS. Lunch was lovely too and we had a fantastic time catching up on Downs and Tolkien news since had last mooted. I'm so glad Galadriel lives in the same city as me.

Mithalwen · 10-01-2012, 04:02 PM

Hurrah!! Thank you for Shirriffing again.(The wolfcub was acquired on the Southfarthing Minimoot visit to the Wildlife park .. and since Galadriel and I werewolfed together it seemed apropriate).

Galadriel55 · 10-01-2012, 06:15 PM

*G55 huffs and puffs as she drags her legs - eyes? - to the thread*

As Bb has already said, we have met today and talked about Downs, Tolkien, and everything, and since Bethberry has been to half a dozen cool places with ten times as many cool people since our previous moot, I pestered her about them, and she *gasp* didn't even mind!

Also, she gave me some very lovely mail.

Look at that little cub. And now look at me. Can you see the resemblance? Don't we just have the same face? Right? Right? When we're gonna grow up we're going to be as vicious as MamaWolf and we're going to feast on Seers every Night.

Mithalwen · 10-01-2012, 08:54 PM

Just try not to get caught so easily my cub...

I note that the sophisticated wolf-about-town appears to be drinking blood with lime this Autumn..

Bêthberry · 10-02-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I note that the sophisticated wolf-about-town appears to be drinking blood with lime this Autumn..

Not quite! The restaurant was Middle Eastern, so the "drink" is pomegranate juice mixed I think with a bit of cranberry.

09-22-2012, 05:33 AM	#1
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Well yesterday was a red-letter day for me as not only did I go to my first ever Tolkien event, but I also had my first-ever RL meet-up with a Downer. Mith kindly offered me a spare ticket to the 75th anniversary Hobbit talk at the British Library. We met up early so that we could first see the Writing Britain exhibition, also the BL. It was amazing. My only complaint was that we only had an hour and I would have liked to have spent at least twice that time there. Some highlights for me were (of course) Tolkien's watercolour of Hobbiton, a beautiful manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, Jane Austen's notebooks and the A4 notepad on which JK Rowling wrote the Philosopher's Stone. The event was excellent. Brian Sibley (much to Mith's delight) also Alan Roberts, who was a really engaging speaker - he talked about the two versions of the Hobbit (and prefers the first) - plus Jane Johnson and David Brawn. There was also chap from the Inner Magic Circle who did a very dramatic reading of Gandalf's rescue of Bilbo and the dwarves from the Great Goblin. I did hope, childishly, that he would do some wizardry for us as well, but the magic was purely of a literary nature. It was interesting to see too what a mixed crowd made up the audience, shows what a wide demographic Tolkien reaches. We then had something to eat on the South Bank before Mith set off back to the south coast - unfortunately it was a journey of tortuous diversions and delays (which she may share with you). As I said to her, I hoped it hasn't put her off visiting the metropolis again. It was really lovely to spend an actual face-to-face evening with someone I've spent so long cyberchatting to over the years. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

09-24-2012, 12:49 PM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I can only second Lalaith's sentiment on the last point (and a few others). The exhibition was fascinating. Tolkien's picture has the vibrancy of an illuminated manuscript whicb you don't quite get in reproductions and it was fascinating to see the different working methods displayed by the various authors from Stalla Gibbons' scrawled on scraps , JK Rowling's cheap A4 loose leaf pad and biro and the bound proof that Jane Austen wrote on little slips of paper (A6 approx) that she could slip under her blotter if disturbed... and her handwriting is tiny and precise. I was ridiculously excited to hear Brian Sibley and he read marvellously from the book and while I enjoyed the other speakers and particularly seeing the various illustrations some of which are "new" to most, that was the real highlight. Apart of course meeting Lalaith herself who is lovely and funny and considerately fierce (no I have saved that seat for my friend - she has a stick!) and patient as I hobbled after her bright feet.. she was the perfect companion and I hope we will meet again somewhen. Oh yes... I do see rather doomed by transport problems when meeting Downers.... the journey up was fine this time but someone had driven a tractor into a rail bridge at Basingstoke rendering the line unsafe.. which meant the train I caught was theoretically the one of an hour previous and didn't leave even so for a further twenty minutes, was packed until Woking where they had a train that would go to but not through Basingstoke leaving the few destined for the West heading East to Guildford and Havant before heading back in the right direction picking up a relief crew at Southampton for the onward journey. I had taken the train a couple of stops up the line to give myself a wider choice of train and so then had a half an hour drive but at least my car was warm and comfortable. I got home at about quarter past two in the morning and it should have been just after midnight... but well worth it.. though __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 09-24-2012 at 01:29 PM.

10-01-2012, 03:50 PM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Shire Post Delivery Galadriel55 and I were Ladies Who Lunch today and that gave me an opportunity to hand deliver some very important Shire Mail for her from Mithalwen. She loves her wolf cub! PS. Lunch was lovely too and we had a fantastic time catching up on Downs and Tolkien news since had last mooted. I'm so glad Galadriel lives in the same city as me. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

10-01-2012, 04:02 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Hurrah!! Thank you for Shirriffing again.(The wolfcub was acquired on the Southfarthing Minimoot visit to the Wildlife park .. and since Galadriel and I werewolfed together it seemed apropriate). __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

10-01-2012, 06:15 PM	#5
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,509	G55 huffs and puffs as she drags her legs - eyes? - to the thread As Bb has already said, we have met today and talked about Downs, Tolkien, and everything, and since Bethberry has been to half a dozen cool places with ten times as many cool people since our previous moot, I pestered her about them, and she gasp didn't even mind! Also, she gave me some very lovely mail. Look at that little cub. And now look at me. Can you see the resemblance? Don't we just have the same face? Right? Right? When we're gonna grow up we're going to be as vicious as MamaWolf and we're going to feast on Seers every Night. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

10-01-2012, 08:54 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Just try not to get caught so easily my cub... I note that the sophisticated wolf-about-town appears to be drinking blood with lime this Autumn.. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 10-01-2012 at 08:57 PM.