Wait, that's not part of the canon! (Ho ho, hee hee, ha ha.)

The pictures remind me of camping in the U.P., but you all look much colder.

Seriously - why do those Across the Pond have all the fun? :D

OK! Now I'm jealous! I should move to Finland.

And now something from a visitor...
 

Tell me about it.

Indeed :D Not that there won't be a lot to say about that, but I think you people got a general picture from it. Anyway, from my point of view, I can tell you that not only that Finland is the promised land of Downers, given the numbers in which they dwell there, but also these Downers are very nice people to meet and one week is not enough to spend with them. All of them.

Exactly. I could mention here that Rune actually surprised me with his openness and friendly manner, to be honest, before I met him, I was maybe a little afraid imagining him as possibly a kind of grumpy person. This was absolutely unnecessary and unreasoned idea and I am not even sure where I got this stupid assumption. So, now that I have completely ruined Rune's chances to create air of scariness around his person, I can only salute him, as he provided our week with some of his personality's "spice" which made it even more enjoyable.

Now about the others whom I met during the week (and the number of Downers I met had just increased sevenfold!). Greenie, whom I didn't actually know well from the Downs, turned to be a very nice and amusing girl, her and Volo both being far more talkative than I expected them to be; and Volo is a really friendly fellow with very original thinking. Aganzir is a true personality, as one would expect, and also very intelligent, helpful and cheerful (although sometimes maybe too much :p ). If anyone wondered whether Lommy is as nice and kind and clever and funny as she seems around here, I can tell you well that she is. Also Nogrod is truly as intelligent and funny person as he seems from here; he also was the one who from the largest part provided us with such unnecessary support things like food, transport and accomodation (of course besides of Volo's house) while us crazy people were fighting or doing other silly things (although many of the silliest [sic!] ideas, like the recordings, came from his mind).
I am mentioning the people's good sides, of course, don't think there won't be any bad sides of them which I wouldn't have spotted. I had whole week for that. This is also why I am writing about their good sides... you know, it's easier to point out the things which are not too many... ;)

True; we didn't really have much time to know each other better - my chances of meeting her again are somewhat lesser than the other Finnish Downers', but anyway, meeting her as a fellow Downer is something that definitely counts.

Yes, I think it's been scientifically proved that such things happen. In 89% of cases a Downer in a Finnish forest loses 50-60% of his sanity in two to three days. It remains yet to be verified whether this affects also normal people, turning them into Downers. The large numbers of Downers in Finland (in comparison to its population) support this theory.

I guess this was a long rant, but you know, it was a week...

I guess I'm supposed to say something as well...?
 

Well, it was a lovely week.

Wholeheartedly seconded.
Or wait... this might be thirding or fourthing... whatever.

Anyway, as everybody probably wants to know my opinion of our guests, I could say something. They're both lovely people - very funny, kind and intelligent. Wait, that was no news? Then I have to think of something else... ;) Rune has a brilliant Viking smile and his way of making fun of others is great. He also sometimes hides behind plants and sings funny songs. (Including a very cute Danish lullaby he sang to us one night. Legate also sang us a lullaby and it was very sweet as well.) Speaking of him, he's astonishingly good in Finnish (:p just as long as he doesn't mix it with Japanese, though...), has an incredible laugh, keeps repeating funny phrases in funny tones (you can hear his very famous "oh my" on one of the recordings :D) and one could really envy his ability to be enthusiastic about everything and everyone. (Also, you should have seen his expression when Agan and I started listing Czech swear words we had accidentally learned... it was priceless. *smug smile*)

Also, it seems that I need Rune in order to manage to meet spawn. Sadly our meeting was very brief this time, but she was just as sweet as I remembered. This time I'm going to keep my promise and actually meet her again soon-ish...

Haha.

I was just listening to some of the "secret" recordings from our roleplay while searching through my school-papers... :)


I must agree to things said by others on Rune and Legate. They are both charming guys and very much open to our "northern madness" as well. At some occasions Rune even beated us on it - and yes, Legate's laughter just sticks; I mean I can still hear it ringing in my ears...

It's funny to think of it now in this way, but even if they were quite different personalities there was something strikingly similar as well... maybe it's the "Downerism" of them (a different syndrome from what someone outside the forum might think of), or the weird sense of humour so much appreciated up here? Maybe the ability, quoting Kath here: to do exactly that... :D

From outside Finland I have now met three 'Downers (Brinn, Legate and Rune) and they have all being great personalities and nice people whom it has been a pleasure to get to know in person.

Thanks guys for your visit! It was a perfect way to end one's holidays!

Btw. I also met Spawn the first time so I totally agree with Lommy that it seems we need Rune to trigger us into seeing her. So Rune, you should visit us more often then... or then we should just be able to do it ourselves - and after meeting her I know we really should. She felt like a really nice person indeed even if the meeting was shortish. And she dances salsa admirably... :cool:

*thinks good things about everyone* I'll just say that everything/one was a very pleasant surprise. Deep and honest thanks to our three hosts, for the idea, for the courage, for the success and a job well done. Lily and Noggie, especially much respect and thanks to you for all the food. Rune and Leggie, I bow for the mead.

That's it, but if somebody wants to hear positive things about any of us, ask me yourself. Negative things about us are restricted to me. :p

Surprisingly the meeting resembled the Downs very little, but I still got an overdose of the Downs for the moment, I'll take a few more days of rest now and rather go to school.

But first....

this and this, after which I was thrown out of my own house. :rolleyes:

Oh dear! That was a really weird movie...

I too feel very distant and alone out here on the edge of all things, though I have to wonder if that might not be preferable to the insanity that seems to be overtaking the Finnish forests.

:p

Nah, I'd rather be insane...

I might be, too, since looking at those pictures my first thought was "looks a lot like a family reunion".

Not that you all look alike, but there's definitely a visibly tangible community feeling there that borders on familial.

Maybe one of these years I'll make it out to the "family reunion".

Yeah, living in Alaska... there is not many BDers here, 'cept me and Lauri...

My Turn
 

It was from before I arrived, I would ofcourse not have tolerated that level of sillyness!


Anyways it was a very good downer meeting, I had of course already met Lommy and Spawn two years ago. . . but back then we only met for an afternoon.

Everybody was very nice, all with their own kind of madness. It is hard for me to say how Greenie was compared to here, as I have had no interaction with her on the downs. Volo was kind of how I expected him to be, but he needs to put his foot down once in a while, otherwise those girls will surely walk all over him or at least drive him even madder.;)

Legate was somehow more quiet than I imagined, not that he was actually quiet. . . anyways I was really happy to see him picking up our crazy stories and continuing them, at times he even started them.
I think it was him who started the story about the Czech window cleaners, who could not live if they got seperated from their windows.

Both Aganzir and Nogrod was quite like their online selves, at least they where the kind of people I thought them to be. Of course it helps that I seldom go into details when I imagine how people are. Basicly Aganzir is a former KGB agent and and Nogrod is the human answer to Tom Bombadil.(this is good)

It is too bad Annina is not a downer as she is really a funny girl, but she will probably stick to stalking the werewolf games. (Alas)

I think this will do. . . I was not disapointed about any of the persons I met, infact this trip was greater than I could have hoped for.

Yes, actually, I could second this and... maybe I should add... Annina! I know you are stalking this, so now stop that, just go and register! Now!

Whoa.

*speechless with envy*

I should have allowed Rune to carry me away with him to Denmark if I had known this would be happening... :(

:D

Tiny edit:
*waves*

Be careful with what you wish for. I've heard that he has the habit of sending girls to Volo after using them, and he will put them in the freezer. ;)

Why do I have the feeling that that was directed to me? :eek:

Thanks for posting the pics, Greenie & Volo. Actually, the situation in the pic of Lommy and me arguing can be seen also in the video clip Volo posted.

But Rune would never do that to me.

Uhhh...right, Rune?

No idea! Do you have any reason why you think it should be directed to you? ;) :p

Uh-oh, it's starting to look like a battle of the ex-es... :D

* collective groan*

Usually those things are directed to me. :p

And so that this post wouldn't be completely off-topic, here's yet another meeting picture, this time with eight downers in total.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u.../8Downers2.jpg

Nice picture Aganzir!

Now let's challenge other 'Downers to gather more into one pic... :)

Excellent picture, Aganzir, it looks like y'all were having a great time!:) Though I can't decide if Nogrod or Volo looks like Andy Serkis. :D

On the assumption you mean actually shooting a single picture of several people, that could be difficult. Otherwise, tell Hookbill to fire up Photoshop!:p

Maybe the following should go under "You Know You're Addicted to the Barrow-downs when..." but looking at the picture I have comments to hand out to just about everyone...

Rune looks older to me. And more like a viking than usual.

Lommy looks younger every picture I see of her. Which is weird, since she's supposedly getting older. You're not related to Merlin by any chance, are you, Lommy?

Every picture I see of A Little Green, my first thought is: "that can't be Lommy's sister. They look nothing alike!" Then I look again, and change my mind.

Aganzir, in this picture, looks shockingly like a girl I graduated with. Which is especially shocking given that my grad class only included two girls...

Legate did not previously make me think "Elf!", but he does now. And since he's wearing glasses, the "Near-sighted Elves Society" or whatever their name was, has been conjured from some very, very foggy memories I'd forgotten I had.

Nogrod is entirely too short and does not look enough like his old avatar. I think this may also be the first picture I remember seeing him in (the Photo page loads slowly for no obvious reason on my computer, so I visit it rarely... and thus am not really sure if he's on it...)

No comments for the front row... not sure why... it's not that you look strange or anything...

And if the above critiquing of Downer pictures as though they were fine cheeses or some such discernible species of varying vintage is not enough to convince you that I spend too much time on this site and its inhabitants, consider that I had to remind myself NOT to use "real life" names, backspace, and type in the usernames.

It's almost like being bilingual.

Okay, I'm done now.

Finland: the Heart of Downerdom on Earth.

Someday...someday I'll visit there, too...:(

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and the photos with us! Eight Downers at once is indeed a record, and I foresee that my record of meeting the most Downers personally (usually singly, doubly or triply at best) is in grave danger of getting broken. The only solution - I need to come to Finland too! ;)

Of course I would not do that to you. . . almost everybody else, but not you.

Did someone mention the Nearsighted Elves Society? ;)

Too bad it's practically dead now - I think. Unless Maeg and the rest are still quietly lurking somewhere...

Wow, it's so nice to see dancing spawn in that photo. :)

Yes, someday when I have money to blow I'll go over their. Maybe I can get my Volvo then. :)

My hands are itching - I think I have been possessed by the spirit of a late great aunt who cut the hair of the man sitting in front of her on a bus with her nail scissors as she thought it was too long (he was asleep and didn't notice... ) ;)

Okay, so still flooding the thread with pictures, but these are probably the last ones from me.

Here's how our car looked like, without Nogrod. Lommy is sitting behind Greenie.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...nersinacar.jpg

I was told to post the following picture. These guys played the elves in our RPG. They did much work to get into their characters.
http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u...unkenelves.jpg

Goodness that car looks small. Let's see how many more Downers you could fit in the car before they all fall out! :D

Rune is beginning to look like he's had one to many. ;)

Lhuna, Gwath, Groin, Esty and others too - you are of course more than welcome visit us any time! ;)

He looks weirdly very old in some of the pictures. He was tired, though...

I don't confess anything. ;)

That is funny, because everybody says either "you look so similar!" or "one would never guess you're sisters!" and no one ever says anything "yeah, you look a little similar".
Having actually met him, I can elaborate on the subject. ;) Sometimes he looks really (rilli?) Elvish, there are certain expressions... especially when he is sceptical or something like that. Most of the time he looks like a normal human being though, or just a little Elvish.

He's really not short - just of average height. (180cm or about 6ft or maybe 5'11".) It's Rune standing beside him that makes him short.

So, you're saying... Rune has his own gravitational pull? :eek: If he comes to Oxonmoot, we'll have to watch out for that!

Sorry, couldn't resist. :smokin:

So cool. :D Looks like lotsa fun was had!

My friend and I have been hoping to *study abroad* in Finland. This friend has visited before and loved it, and thinks I would love it, as do I... I guess we'll see what happens... ;)

From reading this thread it looks like we might soon be hearing reports of Finland's tourist industry growing rapidly for reasons unknown... :p

The blasted video won't work. Oh well.

Consider yourselves on the next front page, whatever happens. :eek: ;)

I think that it is high time you Finlandians all came to Blighty for a visit. Or we should arrange a meeting of Downers in some random place... How about... Antarctica? The Penguins will be happy.

I was talking with Lauri yesterday and I think we agreed that somebody should arrange a BD get-together. And we should film a movie while we do it...

I still can't figure out what you guys are doing in that video. Could someone explain what y'all were doing with Thinlomien hitting that ducted tape pole with her head. ;)

I'm sure Thinlomien is thrilled by this idea, but I'm afraid that my warm Dixie blood would freeze before we got there. How about we meet halfway, I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year!:D

How 'bout we meet in Alaska, I hear that it is very nice this time of year.:p Last time I heard, it was raining though...

But answering the first question, Lommy was simply protecting herself from the evil pole monster that comes out of the hands of random people at random times at random. Wow, I think that I used the word 'random' a bit too much in that sentence...

Bermuda?
 

Are you sure that is a good idea?

They might all disappear.

Thanks, Lady Great! Because I thought I heard something about Thinlomien saying that her nose was soft and that kind of through me for a loop. :rolleyes: The sound on my computer was really bad, so I couldn't completely hear what they were all saying.

Dangit!:mad: OK, option number two: we all chip in and go on a cruise together around the Atlantic (actually that's not a bad a idea)! :smokin:

YOU STOLE MY IDEA! I already thought of going on a cruise, we could probably go to Finland while on it too... maybe if the BD cruise was during Oxonmoot time, we could go to England too... always wanted to go there...

Count me in for the B-Downs Cruise. :cool: