My emotional jet lag is still half on after almost a week. It was a real treat to host a bunch of such amazing people. Among my favourite moments during the Moot were the mornings at the cabin, waking up in a room full of sleepers and thinking, ”My biggest problem in the world at the moment is how to get out of this room without stepping on a 'Downer.” Needless to say, I miss each and every one of them and would trade my current dilemmas for that one any day.
Esty (Grandma) was warm and open and lovely, genuinely interested in everything and everyone. I miss our few serious discussions about life and music (want more of those!!), as well as not being the only hopeless quote-machine with a song or a quotation for everything anyone says.
Hookbill ((Dead) Horse, Jim Snow, Wurst McWurst or Tyhmä) was both more and less crazy than I had thought, kind and sweet and entertaining and an essential part of our group. I miss our slow mornings of making tea and talking about serious stuff or random stuff or not talking at all.
Kath (Dog-dog, Mutterwurst or the Normal Brit) is a cuddly sweetheart, lovely to everyone every single minute of every single day! She is the ideal person whether you want a hug, a serious talk or a moment of hilarious banter. I miss our tired airport afternoon of baked potatoes and gossip.
Mac (Evil Papa, can't remember if he was nicknamed something else as well) is kind and helpful, but has also a very evil laugh and a lovely, quiet, sardonical sense of humour. I miss his hilarious facial expressions, whether at the baby or just in general.
Oddwen (Malice, Manfred, Horace, Manflesh, Keine Wurst or Mew-mew) is reversed. No. She is wicked and hilarious, easy to get along with, an amazing singer and just generally awesome. I miss her way of flashing a really happy grin whenever our eyes met.
Pitchwife (Tom Bombadil) got more hilarious by the day, and his performance in the Erotic Cherry-Eating Contest provoked
Legate to shout ”I can't watch!” He is also very kind and helpful, always volunteering to lend a hand in whatever needed doing. I miss his catching voice and the unexpected dirty jokes that always took us by surprise.
Rikae (Evil Mama, she, too, probably got some other nickname as well but I can't remember any!) is gorgeous. There's just no other word. She also brings me in mind of an elf and has a lovely laugh. I miss our brief conversations about forests and writing on the back seat.
Rune (Sad and Unpredictable Piece of Danish (Quality) Meat) turned up too which was only appropriate as a Finlandmoot is not really a Finlandmoot without him. He was great with the baby which was cute, and I miss trying to read his Danish newspaper over his shoulder: ”A man was stoned on the beach?” ”Yes.” ”Yay, I know Danish!”
Shasta (Evil Dragon, Dinner, Kinderwurst or Ee-ee) was just as much of a darling as I remembered though he did climb trees instead of rocks this time. He is charming and cuddly, and I miss playing with him in the swing or on a seesaw, as well as our random fights (I usually never fight with anyone!) and shared outbursts of Danny Boy.
Skip (did he ever receive an unflattering nickname? If so I can't remember it
) too provided us with no surprises but continued to be his smiling and good-natured self, among other things playing ”Twinkle twinkle little star” countless times for the Wereduckling. I miss
Nog and his jamming sessions that were among the cutest moments of our time at the cabin.
Squatter ((Dead) Horse) is a lumberjack with a really nice voice. He is hilarious and entertaining as well as kind and polite, and I miss how all our talk turned, in the end, to dissing either Scotsmen or Mel Gibson or both.
Last but not least, the
Wereduckling was adorable, and provided us with much entertainment and entertaining nicknames (a good part of those mentioned in this post are given by her). It was concluded that every 'Downs gathering should include a toddler. I agree; she brought such cute sides out of people! I miss her giggles and her singing, and yes, even her tugging at my earrings in the car.
Naturally, the Moot also featured the Finns and more-or-less Finns, ie.
Nog (Evil Man or Vaterwurst),
Legate (Messy or Wurst Ja!),
Volo (the phantom),
Agan (Bad Monster, Pixiewurst or Penguin-penguin),
Lommy (Evil Egg or Darth Wurst) and myself (Mean Dragon, Autowurst or Evil Papa Fish).