Tolkien Events 2009 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 09-27-2009, 01:35 PM

Come on then you lot. What 'went down' at Oxonmoot. Spill!

Hookbill the Goomba · 09-27-2009, 02:11 PM

Rune murdered everyone.

EVERYONE.

I just got in after an arduous train journey of many delays and unscheduled stops, so forgive me for being brief and wanting to sleep and edit a silly newspaper...

Friday was cool. Met Rune and Narf in the Lamb and Flag where upon we had a massive political debated of tremendous insanity. Well, what did you expect? We met Esty and headed off to LMH. There we waited for Squatter, Bethberry and Edward the Confessor. Sadly, Ed never made it as he was busy inventing the word 'if' and selling jellied eels to orphans. But I digress...
I'd never met Beth before, so that was nice. We had some brief Doctor Who discussions, naturally. I mean, that's what Oxonmoot is about... isn't it? Anyway, Squatter, Rune and I managed to weird everyone else out a lot and I think we drove them away. Or, at least, drove them to the bar.
The Welcome dinner was very BIG and made me want to explode. Which was... um... not actually that uncommon for me at the moment.

Saturday was full of the good, the strange and the "WHAT THE ANGBAND IS THAT!?" kind of things. I'll give a detailed account of the lectures when my brain is working properly. But Esty did us all proud in her talk. Woo!
The party was great too! I especially liked Rune's costume.

Esty's Iroeth costume was amazing! I really liked the detail on it and thought the tea was a perfect touch. But then, I may be bias towards tea... Poison Ivy also came dressed as Beruthiel with two small cats of the stuffed veriety.
Esty, Ivy and I won awards for our silliness.

I've uploaded my pictures to FACE BOOK, yo. My camera was a little... rubbish and the batteries were not good. So you may want to wait for the others to bring more photos of good.

Lalwendë · 09-27-2009, 05:33 PM

Just so long as Rune's murdering spree involved high explosives during the Springle Ring that's fine by me

And ta for the photos

Laurinquë · 09-27-2009, 11:02 PM

Looked to be another brilliant year that I missed. Here's to 2011, my intended year of attendance (if that makes any sense!

). I plan to dress as Radicand the Pink With Little Blue Flowers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookbill

Rune murdered everyone. EVERYONE.

I'm sorry I missed it! It's not often you get to see someone die for a second time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookbill

Anyway, Squatter, Rune and I managed to weird everyone else out a lot and I think we drove them away. Or, at least, drove them to the bar.

Another successful escapade I take it! Good work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

It's a shame that none of my family or RL friends are interested in Tolkien, otherwise I'd love to go to Oxonmoot.

Bah. You should have gone anyway. RL friends are for uh, real people. Which we are emphatically not.

Hope you decide to go in 2011!

Estelyn Telcontar · 09-28-2009, 09:39 AM

We didn't manage to get a photo of all nine Downers (The Nine were abroad!) at once; Guinevere and narfforc were missing at the Tolkien graveside ceremony on Sunday morning. Here are: Esty, Faramir Jones, Poison Ivy, The Squatter of Amon Rûdh, Hookbill, Rune, and Bêthberry.

We all enjoyed having a group with which to spend time, and once again managed to adopt a first-timer and (hopefully!) convert her to joining us here. Random comments: The weekend was definitely too short. The food was fantastic. The weather was lovely. The talks were quite varied in subject, style, and quality. I really enjoyed Caspar Reiff's recordings (both sound and picture) of pieces from the Tolkien Ensemble's new Hobbit musical, which is in the works. The big hit of the evening entertainments was the Slovenian Society's hilarious comic film of the tale of Turin.

I always love seeing the various costumes - the imagination and work that people put into them are fantastic. And I'm always inspired to future costume planning and making when I've been there - my next one is going to be great fun! But "shhh" to those of you who were there and heard about my ideas - not a word in public, please!

Hookbill the Goomba · 09-28-2009, 10:51 AM

Well, I said I'd do this, so I did. A completely NOT photoshopped picture of ALL the Downers at Oxonmoot... Maybe...

narfforc · 09-28-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

Well, I said I'd do this, so I did. A completely NOT photoshopped picture of ALL the Downers at Oxonmoot... Maybe...

I'm suing over image rights, anyway it isn't me, so there.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 10-01-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Bah. You should have gone anyway. RL friends are for uh, real people. Which we are emphatically not.

Hope you decide to go in 2011!

Oi! What about me? I'm not worthy enough to be your friend anymore?

Bêthberry · 10-02-2009, 02:27 PM

Having returned home just last night (if I'm going to pay all that money to fly across the pond, I'm going to stay for more than a weekend), it appears I am the last one to post about Oxonmoot. This was my first Oxonmoot and a thoroughly enjoyable, fantastic time it was, a great delight in being amongst so many Tolkien enthusiasts. Lady Margaret Hall, although a bit of a hike from the centre of Oxford, provides an idyllic setting amidst its gardens, excellent fare, and none too shabby student accommodations.

I will be posting on the "I met a fellow Downer" thread, but to complete the picture of Oxonmoot I thought I'd post a few more photos of the festivities.

Before the masquerade party we enjoyed a barbeque on the garden terrace. Some of us are missing, but I'm not going to photoshop anyone in--that's Hooky's speciality. Here's Squatter, Poison Ivy, Hookbill, a Downer-in-training, Faramir Jones, and Estelyn.

Estelyn has sewn a book to collect her Tolkien adventures and souvenirs and it includes a page for Downers' signatures. Here's a look at that page:

Enyalie at Tolkien's gravesite commemorates not only The Professor but the friendships we have formed from sharing our enthusiasm for his work. This year we also paid respects to someone who has ably supported that thirst for information and understanding. Humphrey Carpenter's grave is a short walk away from Tolkien's. If ever I am able to attend another Oxonmoot, I will remember to bring flowers to his grave.

I had met Estelyn and Squatter five years ago--five years!--but this year it was a great delight to meet other Downers--Guinevere, Rune, Poison Ivy, Hookbill, Faramir Jones, narfforc. Kudos to the Tolkien Society for providing such an opportunity.

09-27-2009, 01:35 PM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Come on then you lot. What 'went down' at Oxonmoot. Spill! __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-27-2009, 02:11 PM	#2
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	Rune murdered everyone. EVERYONE. I just got in after an arduous train journey of many delays and unscheduled stops, so forgive me for being brief and wanting to sleep and edit a silly newspaper... Friday was cool. Met Rune and Narf in the Lamb and Flag where upon we had a massive political debated of tremendous insanity. Well, what did you expect? We met Esty and headed off to LMH. There we waited for Squatter, Bethberry and Edward the Confessor. Sadly, Ed never made it as he was busy inventing the word 'if' and selling jellied eels to orphans. But I digress... I'd never met Beth before, so that was nice. We had some brief Doctor Who discussions, naturally. I mean, that's what Oxonmoot is about... isn't it? Anyway, Squatter, Rune and I managed to weird everyone else out a lot and I think we drove them away. Or, at least, drove them to the bar. The Welcome dinner was very BIG and made me want to explode. Which was... um... not actually that uncommon for me at the moment. Saturday was full of the good, the strange and the "WHAT THE ANGBAND IS THAT!?" kind of things. I'll give a detailed account of the lectures when my brain is working properly. But Esty did us all proud in her talk. Woo! The party was great too! I especially liked Rune's costume. Esty's Iroeth costume was amazing! I really liked the detail on it and thought the tea was a perfect touch. But then, I may be bias towards tea... Poison Ivy also came dressed as Beruthiel with two small cats of the stuffed veriety. Esty, Ivy and I won awards for our silliness. I've uploaded my pictures to FACE BOOK, yo. My camera was a little... rubbish and the batteries were not good. So you may want to wait for the others to bring more photos of good. __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

09-27-2009, 05:33 PM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Just so long as Rune's murdering spree involved high explosives during the Springle Ring that's fine by me And ta for the photos __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-28-2009, 09:39 AM	#5
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	We didn't manage to get a photo of all nine Downers (The Nine were abroad!) at once; Guinevere and narfforc were missing at the Tolkien graveside ceremony on Sunday morning. Here are: Esty, Faramir Jones, Poison Ivy, The Squatter of Amon Rûdh, Hookbill, Rune, and Bêthberry. We all enjoyed having a group with which to spend time, and once again managed to adopt a first-timer and (hopefully!) convert her to joining us here. Random comments: The weekend was definitely too short. The food was fantastic. The weather was lovely. The talks were quite varied in subject, style, and quality. I really enjoyed Caspar Reiff's recordings (both sound and picture) of pieces from the Tolkien Ensemble's new Hobbit musical, which is in the works. The big hit of the evening entertainments was the Slovenian Society's hilarious comic film of the tale of Turin. I always love seeing the various costumes - the imagination and work that people put into them are fantastic. And I'm always inspired to future costume planning and making when I've been there - my next one is going to be great fun! But "shhh" to those of you who were there and heard about my ideas - not a word in public, please! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-02-2009, 02:27 PM	#9
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Having returned home just last night (if I'm going to pay all that money to fly across the pond, I'm going to stay for more than a weekend), it appears I am the last one to post about Oxonmoot. This was my first Oxonmoot and a thoroughly enjoyable, fantastic time it was, a great delight in being amongst so many Tolkien enthusiasts. Lady Margaret Hall, although a bit of a hike from the centre of Oxford, provides an idyllic setting amidst its gardens, excellent fare, and none too shabby student accommodations. I will be posting on the "I met a fellow Downer" thread, but to complete the picture of Oxonmoot I thought I'd post a few more photos of the festivities. Before the masquerade party we enjoyed a barbeque on the garden terrace. Some of us are missing, but I'm not going to photoshop anyone in--that's Hooky's speciality. Here's Squatter, Poison Ivy, Hookbill, a Downer-in-training, Faramir Jones, and Estelyn. Estelyn has sewn a book to collect her Tolkien adventures and souvenirs and it includes a page for Downers' signatures. Here's a look at that page: Enyalie at Tolkien's gravesite commemorates not only The Professor but the friendships we have formed from sharing our enthusiasm for his work. This year we also paid respects to someone who has ably supported that thirst for information and understanding. Humphrey Carpenter's grave is a short walk away from Tolkien's. If ever I am able to attend another Oxonmoot, I will remember to bring flowers to his grave. I had met Estelyn and Squatter five years ago--five years!--but this year it was a great delight to meet other Downers--Guinevere, Rune, Poison Ivy, Hookbill, Faramir Jones, narfforc. Kudos to the Tolkien Society for providing such an opportunity. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 10-02-2009 at 04:45 PM.