I met a fellow BDer!!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Pictures! I want pictures! And lots of stories.

[Lariren Shadow]

And lo about a week later I am relating the story that is the meeting of Lari, Kath, and Mira.

It begins with the Downs not be as cooperative as one hopes and delaying the day from Thursday to Friday. Which was all right with all those involved, and that meant that Mira and I found the epic pancakes when we were looking for where we were actually going to go the next night.

Then there was the fun text/call/make sure everyone knows where to be game. I had bought a cheap(really cheap) cell phone in London because I learned that a) I actually had no money on my calling card, b) that London pay phones didn't like it when I tried to use it, and, c) that when planning to met up with people texting/calling is always the best thing to do/have.

Met up with Kath at the Baker Street station and waited for Mira to come. She was late from Waterloo station where she had been in line trying to get a seat to and from Wales, but really what's more important is that she came from visiting Hampton Court Palace which is awesome.

Anyway, Kath and I talked by the payphones about everything while waiting for Mira who then came up behind me like she likes to do. Off first to Regents where Mira was staying so I could deposit my stuff so I wouldn't have huge bag with me the whole time(changing where I was staying that night). Then we double checked where we were supposed to go for food(it promised waffles which I knew to be good from before).

Headed back to the tube to head over to where we needed to go. A change of lines later(and me learning that the tube map is laid out with the top being going north and such) we found where we had to be. And we were all hungry. We turned right out of the station...walked a ways and learned that really we should have turned left. Lesson learned: always turn left with Barrow Downers(unless its with Fea and a hill is involved).

Found the restaurant after passing a bunch that would have been acceptable if we couldn't find the intended one. We pressed on for the waffles. In the restaurant we moved from the bar area to where they actually served food and then ordered.

Food came and there was much wonderful conversation. Then came the waffles which were also amazing. Sadly I don't think we have any pictures of the food.

And then we had fun with the coasters. We also played the game where you have to flip the coaster off the side of the table and catch it in your hand. I epic fail at it where as Kath and Mira are amazing and can get all of the coasters on the table and flip them and catch them.

We then made our way back to the tube, where we had to weave through people on the street and it was fun. Then, upon Fea's request I'm pretty sure I said "PICTURES!" So I took a nice picture of Kath and Mira(so yeah, the restaurant is by the Holborn station). And then I tried to take a picture of the three of us and this was the best of the three.

Then we headed back to Regents where we played on the free internet there. I was also trying to get in contact with my cousin so I can sleep on her floor. When I got in contact with her and Kath also realized that she needed to catch her train we headed out. And on the way out Mira also stopped for a picture with the kitty.

Kath and I headed back to the tube and said by when I had to change trains. It was really fun and she is an awesome person!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

That was a very well told story.

Sounds like a nice cosy evening, something Kath is a master of, as long as you don't start talking about history. . .

What was it that brought you guys to London?

[Kath]

Sounds like a nice cosy evening, something Kath is a master of, as long as you don't start talking about history. . .

I coped for a while! I'm glad you have something you're incredibly interested in ... I just got history'd out!

Mira was in London on a school trip. Lari though just decided to come at the last minute!

[Lariren Shadow]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

That was a very well told story.

Sounds like a nice cosy evening, something Kath is a master of, as long as you don't start talking about history. . .

What was it that brought you guys to London?

Heh...yeah I realized, but I was really good at not talking about it too!

I literally decided that I was going to go at the last minute because I could and because I wanted to see all the Henry VIII stuff on display everywhere. Yes, and now I am talking about history.

Originally Posted by Kath

I coped for a while! I'm glad you have something you're incredibly interested in ... I just got history'd out!

Mira was in London on a school trip. Lari though just decided to come at the last minute!

I understand! And I totally stopped talking about it most of the time! Really I can talk about it a lot ask Fea, Nienna, Mira, and, Brinn.

[Kath]

Rune and Lari sitting in a tree ... talking non-stop about history!

[Mirandir]

Things we have learned:
*EPIC PANCAKES OF EPICNESS ARE EPIC.
*Fea fails at directions. (Not that that's news )
*Lari is much easier to communicate with when she has a functioning phone.
*Mira is fantastic at finding awesome hostels.
*Playing WW with three Downers in the same room talking to at least three more is an interesting experience (to say the least)
*Kath is awesome.
*We need to find dinner places closer to where we are at any given time. Directions should not be necessary.
*Coaster flipping is one of the most awesome things ever and should be made a national sport.
*Wild boar sausages are never a good life choice (for Lari).
*Waffles are yummy.
*We fail at taking pictures.
*Mira epic fails at knowing what doors her key lets her into.
*Yelling at people is an awesome way to make them do what you want.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Mirandir

*Fea fails at directions. (Not that that's news )

Not even fair! I wasn't there!

[Lariren Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mirandir

*Lari is much easier to communicate with when she has a functioning phone.

It's true. I also learned I can't function anymore without a cell phone. This is not a good thing to learn.

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Not even fair! I wasn't there!

She's just still mad about that unexpected detour from the airport.

[Mirandir]

Originally Posted by Lariren Shadow

She's just still mad about that unexpected detour from the airport.

"Mad" just doesn't cover it. *eye twitch*

[Boromir88]

Oh please tell me in the kitty picture that is not a Romo jersey! I think I am going to be sick

[Lariren Shadow]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

The portents of woe began frightfully early in this particular tale. I almost didn't make onto the connecting plane in Toronto (yet again, my abject apologies, Bêthberry, but perhaps it is best, in the end, that you were not entangled in the Doom of the Noldor), for as I was going through U.S. customs to get onto my second flight I was cross-examined by a U.S. Customs agent wanting to know my business in the USA.

I think that might be something new for Barrowdowners meeting. I was asked a bunch of question when I went to London. Though, to be honest, I was probably more suspicious because of the whole spur of the moment thing.

As mentioned by Fea in her preview post, I did, indeed, have a tie on. I can't really say that I recall her saying anything about it beyond asking if I always wore one (I don't quite...), but perhaps, being a man, I missed out on all the delicacy of delicious denotation in her query. It would be consistent with the tone of the visit for her to have been insinuating I'd overdressed for the occasion, or that I might be weird (I am, but that's not the point).

I know what Fea means about ties...

We were totally on the cusp of going in not-the-absolutely-wrong direction. I also aver that, while it was raining while we were on the train, it was not when we arrived. Unless, of course, you were walking under trees with water on their leaves, going in the wrong direction.

I blame Fea.

Things learned: Fea can't do directions. Also, probably when any of us(that would be Mira, Fea, Nienna, or I) are involved in a Barrowdowner meeting there will be the act of getting lost. It seems to be the welcome thing we bring to any occasion.

Of course, that particular Barnes and Noble has nothing on the location alleged to exist at Chestnut Hill. I blame the completely absentLariren Shadow for that, since she actually phoned them (well, phoned someone who said they were them) and ascertained that they were hiring, and as it was on the way to Fea's grad school, she and I decided that while we were on a jaunt to see how far the campus was and what it looked like, we would check out the wisdom of that location.

Hey! I did talk to someone! Its far from where you guys are! And they are hiring! They do exist they even had the annoying phone message when you called them that tells you the times the store is open! I would also like to know how I get blamed for something in Boston when I am in California.

On another note, I have never seen Barnes and Noble underlined. And I work there. I don't even think its underlined on the business cards...its not I just checked.

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

You couldn't possibly have posted more unflattering pictures if you'd tried.



That being said... You weren't supposed to tell anybody I got us totally lost en route to Chestnut Hill!!!!!!

Now nobody will ever believe in my competence.

Aw but it wouldn't be right if he didn't say so.