Tolkien Events 2007

[Estelyn Telcontar]

My progress report just arrived in the mail this morning! Guinevere's and my name are not yet on the list - I guess we registered after printing. I didn't see narfforc's name either, but since he said he's coming, I assume he registered later as well. I know better than to expect Lal and davem, due to ... circumstances. And I'm happy to know at least a few people on the list from the German Tolkien Society. Among others, Anke Eissmann will be there, and I'm sure she'll bring her folio and some artwork for those interested.

Now that it's out, I can tell you one of the main motivations for my coming - the Cambridge Society's performances! I saw two members at the German Tolkien Seminar this spring, and they told me that they were planning to do both "Lord of the Goons" and the LotR reading. As I have fond memories of both performances from Birmingham in 2005, that was a real incentive! After several days of lectures about Tolkien and his works, I found it refreshing (in Tolkien's own sense of the word) to hear the words of the story itself, and the dramatic reading moved me to tears (no mean feat!). And the parody had me and the rest of the audience in stitches.

The weekend's going to be great! As registration doesn't start till 5:30 pm, Friday afternoon does sound like the best time for an informal meeting of Downers. We could try for the B&B (Eagle and Child); should it actually be too full, we can go elsewhere from there. We'll try to get into Oxford around 3 pm, then allowing for a bit of walking, should be at the pub a bit later. I have no idea what train times will be like, but it'll work out, I'm sure.

It might be a good idea to exchange mobile phone numbers by PM...