Minions in MonkeySpace

An

Neil, Whirl, Jane, Robin, Polenth, John

I'm not going to say that we met up "in real life" because online relationships are real too. Charles Stross in Halting State uses the phrase MonkeySpace for the place where we can see each other and hear each other and when we hug it's tee shirt to cardigan and not simply a kind thought.

It was wonderful to hear Whirl's amazing voice. He really does sound that good all the time! Polenth entertained us with tales of a pet cockroach, Robin made sure we got the best table in the place even though it meant moving three times, and Jane kept us laughing. My Beloved (Neil) and Robin's husband (John) performed essential support and paparazzi roles.

The minions: Robin, Whirl, Jane

Polenth, Gina (me)

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I had to leave early as usual (stupid CFS). I thought Jane was telling me she was legless when she said she couldn't stand up but she was simply wedged between the bench and the table. I can't guarantee no one was legless by the end of the day.

Those of you who couldn't make it: we missed you. Maybe another time?

Edited to add:
Whirl's hysterical account of the event is here.
Jane's more accurate recounting is here.
Evil Editor has posted another photo here.
And Robin has a photo here.

Landmark

This is the landmark that my Beloved used as part of his directions for how to get to the minion's meet last Sunday. In his words "When you get to the taxi humping a vacuum cleaner, you're nearly there". You see why I love him?

Thanks to Sylvia for the photo as I didn't get one.

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.