I met a fellow BDer!!

[Firefoot]

I see Folwren has beat me to it, but I got to meet her, some of her family, and her beautiful horses today. Her horses did not come so close to killing me as she makes it sound, though I have a lovely red scratch across my belly from the oaks. But it was a lot of fun riding them around her property, and I daresay I have some new material to work into my writing over in the Scarburg Meadhall thread, for those of you involved with that.

Having never met anyone from the Downs in person, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it was a really great time. Foley was an excellent hostess and we had lots of things to talk about - the time flew by and I was sorry to leave, but it being the end of spring break I had to get back to school.

[Pitchwife]

At last, I too have something to post on this thread! The Might and I got together this Friday at a Tolkien reading in Karlsruhe (photographic evidence to be presented shortly).

We met in front of the bookshop where the reading was to be held and, thanks to the photo page thread, recognized each other instantly. The reading, organized by the local section of the German Tolkien Society, was a rather informal affair - about a dozen people tucked into a passage between a bookshelf and a book display - , but nonetheless quite enjoyable. Various passages from LotR as well as from Letters and Roverandom were read, giving a nice impression of the broad spectrum of styles and registers our Professor wielded. I especially loved the rendition of A Long-Expected Party, delivered with gusto by an excellent reader who brought all those gossiping hobbits to life perfectly.

Afterwards, we retreated to an Irish pub and talked Tolkien (and one or two other things, but mostly Tolkien) to our hearts' content over a few Guinnesses (at least for TM, while I, having to drive home, confined myself to what we call a radler in German). Time flew by, and I'm sure we could have gone on for a while still, if not for me having to leave in time to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. TM is an amiable chap, and his German is incredible considering he's only been living in this country for five years. It was fun to talk to somebody about the Downs in RL who gets all the references - a new experience for both of us, and I'm sure we'll repeat it sometime or the other (preferably when I haven't got such a bad cough - I'll take your advice, Miggy, and try to find some athelas!).

[The Might]

I can only second all that has been posted above!

It was great to finally meet another Downer and be able to talk about Tolkien lore without feeling out of place.

I am now looking forward to attending the monthly meeting of the Tolkien section in Karlsruhe and hopefully I can bring a couple of them to the Downs into the realm of the undead!

As promised here is the photographic proof of our meeting:


Looking forward to our next encounter Pitch and to enjoying some good wine from the Rhineland/Dorwinion!

[Folwren]

Your visit sounds really fun! I think it'd be a lot of fun to go to a Tolkien reading...

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

It was fun to talk to somebody about the Downs in RL who gets all the references - a new experience for both of us, and I'm sure we'll repeat it sometime or the other (preferably when I haven't got such a bad cough - I'll take your advice, Miggy, and try to find some athelas!).

Ha! I know what you mean. When Firefoot and I met, towards the end of our visit, we started talking a lot about the BD. At the time, I stood at my horse's head while my farrier shod her. Pretty soon, the farrier popped his head up and said, "I'm completely lost. What are you talking about?"

[Pitchwife]

Miggy, that pic wouldn't look out of place in Peter Jackson's Prancing Pony! Two shadowy figures lurking in a dark corner... I suppose the ones with the flash turned out too ghostly then?

I took the liberty to tweak the gamma correction a little with Irfan View and make not quite as Rembrandtesque:

[The Might]

Yes, the flash ones were worse and the other one without was way too dark.
Nice work with the tweak, looks a lot better!

[The Only Real Estel]

So....it has been quite awhile since I've stopped in and I apologize ahead of time if this isn't the proper place for this question, BUT...

I'm an actor now and I'm a finalist for consideration of a role in a film that would take place overseas - namely in London. The film has a smallish budget, though, so anyone who has a place to stay so they don't have to put all their actors up for the duration of the shoot has an advantage (however small, an advantage is an advantage!).

SO, I'm inquiring of my fellow Downers...anyone located in London that would like to "meet a fellow Downer" ( hence the topic I picked to post in ) and allow him to crash for a bit!?

I'm sure any details should be kept to PMs so the thread doesn't get going down that path but, yeah - you all were always such kind, curtious, and generous people when I was frequenting the site that I can't imagine people I'd rather stay with!

-Estel-

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The German Tolkien Seminar was occasion for two Downers to meet once again - for Guinevere and myself, both the event and the meeting are annual highlights! We took an extra day before and after so we could do some sightseeing in Potsdam, which is a beautiful city, the historical summer residence of kings and emperors in days gone by. And the seminar lectures were interesting as well!