Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Evil Editor's minions meet

Jan, Robin, Gina (me), Neil, Jane, Sylvia

Place: Giraffe, outside Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank of the Thames.
Time: 12 noon Sunday 19th April 2009
Present: Robin, Sylvia, Peter, Jane and me (Gina) plus my Beloved (Neil) and Robin's sister-in-law (Jan).

Jan, Robin, Neil, Jane, Peter, Sylvia

Neil and I got there early due to his nagging encouragement and Jane found us shortly after. Robin and Jan took a table outside and after a few missed phone calls we found each other, then Peter arrived followed by Sylvia not too long afterwards.

It was wonderful meeting these people in the flesh when I feel that I know them so well already. There was a curious sense of, "So that's what you look like!" I felt comfortable with them straight away.

Robin

Terms of endearment were flung around. The waiters seemed quite happy to be called "sweetie" and there was talk about calling them "babycakes". There was lots of drinking and laughing. I knew I wouldn't have the stamina to stay for as long as the others so I was trying to get as much in as quickly as I could. It was fun.

I had to leave at 3.30 because I was flagging but the party went on a lot longer.


Sylvia

We did think about absent friends, so if you're wishing you could have been there, we missed you too.

Edited to add: If anyone doesn't like having their photo up here, please let me know and I'll take it down.

29 COMMENTS:

Polenth said...

You must live closer to me than I realised. *has cunning plots to steal kittens*

Whirlochre said...

This looks like such fun and I must endeavour to make the sequel.

One question — did Sylvia survive the attack of the killer condimentmobile?

fairyhedgehog said...

Polenth: you leave those kittehs alone! I live in Epsom, is that near you? Jane is in Sussex, so by global standards we're next-door neighbours.

Whirl: They were talking about a sequel in San Francisco but I'm not sure I can make it there. We could always organise ourselves another UK meet though.

I have no idea what was going on with the condiments but it makes a good picture. I hope Sylvia doesn't mind.

Bevie said...

A wonderful group. I hope you at least gave us left-behinds a toast?

fairyhedgehog said...

Bevie, we certainly spoke of you other minions. I was drinking tea which makes toasting rather unusual.

To Those Present: I thought I'd checked that people were happy to have their pictures up here but judging from Corner Kick blog that may not in fact be the case. Eek! If you want me to take your photo down, please let me know.

pacatrue said...

Wonderful to see you all!

Stacy said...

THANK YOU for posting these! Looks like y'all had a great time, and I'm thrilled you got to meet each other!!

BTW, it's really polite and sweet of you to offer to take down photos. I get photos taken of me all the time and thrown up on Facebook, and it annoys me to no end. Probably I should ask people not to do that, but it could cause a little consternation, so I don't.

writtenwyrdd said...

Hmmm...I have a timeshare in San Francisco. Might be possible to cram a few minions into it for a visit, including me.

I'm glad you had fun, with I were there, and why aren't there any pictures of you, FHH?

Ms Scarlet said...

You look like you're having a great time and a lovely day to have a meet.
Off-topic, thank you so much for the Green & Black's chocolate... I think this is going to be a whole new dunking experience! Thank you again - and for the card.
Sxx

fairyhedgehog said...

Thanks, paca.

Freddie, I did ask before I took the photos but something pjd said made me wonder if everyone was OK with it. I think everyone has already posted photos of themselves online though.

Writtenwyrd, I'm in the top photo at the back on the left. There aren't more of me because I took most of them!

Scarlet-Blue, I'm glad the chocolate arrived safely. You can't dunk it though! Not Green & Black's! Seriously, I hope you enjoy it.

JaneyV said...

I'm totally fine with it too. We do look very happy. I'm fairly sure everybody did say "no worries" but I'm also sure that I lost several brain cells that afternoon. All in a good cause!

Whirl I'm up for another meet more locally any time. maybe you me and Gina (and Neil) should have a lunch!!!!

fairyhedgehog said...

Jane, I'm glad that's your recall too. I don't have many working brain cells at the moment so it's just as well I stuck with tea.

It would be great to meet you and Whirl some time. I have a feeling Neil would like to come along too.

sylvia said...

I had a GREAT time. Still on the road and typing this from a laptop but I saw the title of your post in my updates and had to come look! Then I felt I had to comment to say that yes, there was no physical damage from the condimentmobile although I've been nervous around English mustard ever since!

(I kind of feel that if I make it very obvious that I am taking a photo of you and talking about posting it online, it's up to you to tell me that you don't want that to happen - but if anyone IS unhappy, let me know and I'll make sure not to post photos of them)

fairyhedgehog said...

It was such fun meeting you, Sylvia. Neil really took to heart what you said so I have hopes of him taking flying lessons.

Oh, and thanks for the advice on the pictures.

Robin B. said...

Oh Good Lord - Robin looks drunk and crappy. Oh yeah, that's right- she WAS drunk. (But not crappy, of course.)

Polenth said...

I live in Sussex. So you're about two and a half hours away by train. The kitty plan is coming together...

I hadn't actually realised you were in the UK. That's what I get for not checking profiles.

fairyhedgehog said...

Robin, you were definitely not crappy. Not even particularly drunk when the photo was taken...

Polenth, feel free to email me at anythingyoulike.fairyhedgehog@recursor.net as long as you are NOT coming to kidnap the kittehs. Or should that be catnap? catnip? None of it sounds right.

Anonymous said...

And not a single pitchfork in the lot...

Scott from Oregon

fairyhedgehog said...

Damn, I knew I forgot something!

ril said...

Looks like you had a great time! Also looks like a very crowded place your were at!

Anyway, next time you're all in Tokyo...

fairyhedgehog said...

Ril, you were one of the absent friends.

I'm not sure I can make it to Tokyo but maybe some of the others would like to pop over there...

PJD said...

Sorry if I put any angst into the posting-photos thing. I am pretty sure everyone said OK to it too, but I couldn't actually recall.

Loved getting together with those in attendance. Whirl, wish you could have been there. (I forget who else is relatively nearby that I also wish could have been there, so please don't feel offended if I don't call it out specifically here.)

I certainly do hope we do a similar gathering in San Francisco. Also, Las Vegas has great potential, particularly if it's an off week there; the rooms are very cheap, and there are a few timeshares in town that might be exchangeable (hint hint WW).

fairyhedgehog said...

No worries, pjd. I did enjoy meeting you

Sarah Laurenson said...

I've got a timeshare with a location in Vegas though it's not my favorite place to visit. Lots of desparate people hugging their slot machines and looking for someone to give them more change. Whatever. But there's great food and shows.

I love San Francisco which also has great food. It's amazingly good exercise, too, with all the walking up and down hills.

*sigh* Wish we could've been there. It sounds like you guys had a blast.

fairyhedgehog said...

I wish you'd been there too, Sarah.

If the next one is in the States then I'm going to be the one missing it.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Somehow I've got the "It's a Small World" lyrics running through my brain. I'm sooooo jealous! Glad you guys had such a blast!

fairyhedgehog said...

Thanks, Phoenix. Maybe next time you'll be there...

McKoala said...

How about one down here...

fairyhedgehog said...

That would be cool McK!

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