June 30, 2006

• London Monkeys, ho! Sounds good to me. Any of those dates.
• You guys smell.
• And no, I'm not sulking.
• We smell an awful lot like flowers.
• Like pretty pretty flowers. I am so there. Shall we try Wednesday 23rd as a possible date to work with?
• murmurmurmurmurmurmurmurmur... Just for this, I hope your Eng-Land loses the quarterfinal.
• How DARE you, Sir! *dons comedy German helmet*
• I'm in! hi ninja!
• You guys, like, suck. Yeah, that's right, take the hit, suckers.
• Argh! I am in Scotland from 20 August to 2 September. Take many photographs.
• I will have been daan saarf and come back oop north by then. Sorry! I will of course be with you in spirit, like a seeping bog-gas miasma.
• *lights match*
• Man, I hate you people that are always having meetups... oh. Nevermind, then. Carry on.
• What is this 'quarto-finial' of which you speak? Meetup wiki page here
• The convention is in Hinckley. This must surely be a Loughborough alumni thing. Who else would go to Hinckley? Instead of, say, Oban. Which I could get to...
• Shit! I'm going to be in Winnipeg that day! Damn damn damn!
• Mm. So this is what they call sarcasm, hm?
• i'll be in barcelona those dates. cheap holiday = catsitting.
• So this is what they call sarcasm, hm? Nooooooooo. We think it's great that you're all getting together while we wallow in our own feces and weep uncontrollably and masturbate to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and sing Jim Croce tunes because we don't get meetups. Have a good time.
• Hey, talk for yourself, mct. I don't know any Jim Croce tunes.
• Damn.
• Plegmund, gosh I'm sorry I'm gonna miss you. You have a good time in Scotland! It's actually the third time they're holding the Convention in this hotel in Hinckley. I could have sworn it had something to do with the river it's situated next to, but for the life of me I can't find the link now. Oh well. 23rd sounds good. How's it, fellow UK monkeys?
• Any day is fine with me. See you there!
• I think Dreadnought and I can make the 23rd. To be honest, we don't usually plan that far ahead. I had been thinking I'd like to go to the convention, but a whole weekend away will be a lot (since Dreadnought is in the last stretch of writing his thesis), and it looks like it will be quite expensive. Conventions are a great deal of fun - I used to go to a couple of sci-fi cons in Toronto. Do you have a friend(s) you are going with?
• 'fraid not, jb. I'll be all on my lonesome there, although I have arranged to share a room with someone. My FPP about Discworld Con did not find any more participants, alas. Yes, it is all rather pricey *looks at her swiftly depleting bank account* . If you can, there's going to be a mini-Discworld con taking place in Germany sometime next February, and it's two days, and only 47.50 GBP for accomodation, dinner and breakfast (as opposed to 50 pounds for just being able to step foot into the Con). And it takes place in a real German castle too! I would go for that too, but it's too close to Chinese New Year. And yes, I would love to meet you! Please, please please you and Dreadnought and Alliterated Arithmancer blank out that day for a meetup!
• Hinckley is also the home of the fellow who converted his flat into a replica of the bridge of the Enterprise-D, and then promptly declared himself bankrupt. How do you repossess an impulse drive monitor? Ahem. Anyway. I'm half-monkey at best - rather like John Lynch in Chimaera - but would be lovely to see people again/at all.
• I'm sorry you didn't find more people - and I feel guilty that I said I would come then. Things have just gotten a bit crazier since then - My inlaws arrive for 3 days in July, and we're suposed to organise an anniversary party -- and craziest of all, Dreadnought is suposed to finish up (draft by September). But we will definitely come to London. Do you need a place to stay for a few days? If you do, and have time to come to Cambridge, you would be welcome. We won't be in the Grantchester house until Aug 25 or so, but we have an extra bed in the college rooms we are staying in. AA is actually moving to Sussex for the summer, but I could ask him if he'd like to come to London on the 23rd.
• Any day is fine with me. See you there! posted by ThreeDayMonk at 06:14PM UTC on July 01, 2006 ThreeDayMonk you MeetUp whore you!
• I'm half-monkey at best Mmh. Who did you bribe to get in, eh? :)
• Oooh, that might be an idea, jb! My big bro (not blood related) is also a Cambridge alumnus, and has promised to bring me to Cambridge sometime. I'll see if he can arrange something and we can both go down for a couple of days (^_^)
• Looks like 23rd is the date. Anyone else? Stick yer names on the old list: gawd blimey Pallas, what dates can you do? And any suggestions for venue?
• Just a quick reminder to resurrect this thread. Everybody still available on the 23rd? Where shall we all meet?
• My house!
• I'm still in! Yay meetup! *looks at bus route from London to Koko's house, frowns*
• *continues seething, not like anyone is noticing*
• C'mon, there's only ... one ... two ... twenty-seven transfers!
• okay - times? places? it's getting awfully close.
• Well, there are two suggestions on the Wiki, and I quite like the sound of them two, although Tooting sounds a bit far for me - but I'm willing give it a try. Preferences anyone? Shall we make it a tentative 7pm? Anyone would like to join me for dinner before that?
• I'm afraid I don't even know where Tooting is. Our preferences (quite selfish) would be for something in the West End (not too far from King's Cross Station - we'll have to get back to the station for the train at 11:00 or 12, and the closer we are, the less early we have to leave. Also, something roomy and quiet would be nice (or with an outside area - outside areas are often quieter). I really liked the Anchor(?) Pub we went to on the south bank for the only London meetup I went to (back in like 2004) - because it had a very large outside patio and a great view (St Pauls and the river).
• I trawled through beerintheevening.com and came up with these. Veddy, veddy close to St. Pancras/King's Cross Stations: The Lamb, Bloomsbury Skinner's Arms, King's Cross Pakenham Arms, Clerkenwell Still fairly close: Princess Louise, Holborn At the risk of overwhelming you all with choices, I found a pretty nifty website called Fancyapint, which seems more up-to-date than beerintheevening. Check out the top ten pubs every month, I think there quite a few mentioned that are near King's Cross. I'm not suggesting this one, but I thought the first review was...weird: Institute of Education
• It's not so much that we would like to be right beside King's Cross, just in that quarter of the City (Westminster, Picadilly, Bloomsbury, etc), preferrably able to get the tube without switching too many times. The Anchor was gutted inside, so has little atmosphere there - but outside was very nice. I think I'm just not much of a pub or bar person (though I like the odd half-pint of a nice ale) - I'd rather be somewhere with the atmosphere of a cafe or quiet restaurant. I didn't go in the Anchor much (since I drink very slowly) - it was loud and crowded inside, and they had gutted the ancient structure. I like the map function on fancyapint, and the reviews are clearer. It also reccomends The Lamb (highly) and the Pakenham Arms, but doesn't like the Skinner's Arms so much. The Princess Louise was voted the prettiest pub (especially the men's toilets). The Dolphin apparently has dinners from £5.50, which is good. This rather loyal backstreet pub sounds quiet. The Lincoln Lounge has couches (which is comfy) and is rated well, but also has a DJ (and thus might be too loud).Dreadnought would approve of the name of the Ship Tavern (and it's well rated). This old pub also sounds interesting, but potentially very crowded. What are other people looking for? I've just been bold and said I would like a) quiet, b) within a short tubes ride or walk of King's Cross and c) nice and quiet. Cheap would be nice too :) But I don't know how much other people care about having good beer or a pubby atmosphere or what. (I'm picky on beer, but I don't drink much). ---------------- I'm happy to come down early and get dinner; I would be also happy to come down for the day (since once I'm into London, I might as well make use of the trip), if anyone else wants to walk around or visit museums or anything. I still haven't seen the inside of St Pauls, and I've been wanting to for sometime.
• *waves hand* Me! Me! Chances are, I will be in London, possibly even from the day before, so a museum trip partner(s) would be very welcome. (actually... hmm... would I be remiss to ask if I might come to Cambridge the day before and stay overnight? If space is a problem, I'll book a bed and breakfast, no worries (^_^) I go back to Birmingham from the Discworld Convention to wash my clothes and recover a bit on Monday (21), and will be a little at loose ends the following day, as my big bro has to work very long hours almost the whole week. I thought of going to London for two days, but going to Cambridge again would actually be a more enjoyable option. I didn't get to see enough of the lovely town the last time!)
• Would that be August 22? That should be no problem - in fact, it would delightful to have you. We're not in Grantchester right now - we're in Leckhampton (part of Dreadnought's college), but we actually have more room than we would in Grantchester.
• Yes, 22nd. I will probably arrive early afternoon. Looks like I will have to stay in London an extra day after all, as my big bro isn't free on the 24th. So I'll probably stay overnight in London after the meetup and travel back on the 24th late evening.
• Hello all! The pub in Tooting wasn't a serious suggestion, it's just 100 yards from my house ;) As far as choice of pub is concerned, The Lamb or the Ship Tavern (both linked above) get my vote. "Don't go into The Fog!"
• 100 yards from your house might be a good reason (especially if you are offering couch/floor space to tired monkeys), but seriously, where is Tooting? :)
• Hi all. I'm happy to join any museum-hopping excursions over those few days. My preferences for atmosphere and such are pretty much the same as jb's. I do like the Anchor's outdoor bit; as a smoke-avoiding singer, I'd vote for somewhere with outdoor seating. I'll leave the decision to wiser heads than mine, though. Looking forward to seeing you all, especially mothninja! Hurrah.
• My vote is for wherever.
• Check the London Underground map, jb. You'll see Tooting Broadway on the Northern Line (black), right at the bottom of the map.
• Ah, the Northern Line. Good times, good times. I'm still not coming, OK? So stop hassling me!!
• Tooting is where I live. Surely that is enough. Also made famous by the dreadful sitcom 'Citizen Smith'. Tooting is also a crater on Mars. Some might say the lack of atmosphere and desolate appearance may cause confusion between the two.
• My Yank ears can't help thinking that "Tooting Broadway" sounds like an awesome Cole Porter show...
• "They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway, They say there's always magic in the air..." Trust me, they're not, there isn't, and it ain't. But it's home, and I like it.
• /hassles kitfisto
• I'll stop recomending pubs after this, but I just found out about the The Old Mitre from a friend of mine, who says it is quite nice. It also has the advantage of being in London and in Cambridgeshire at the same time, so I can walk home!
• There hasn't been some action here for a while, so I will start again. I'm officially voting for the Mitre, due to the good review from my friend and the Bishop of Ely/Cambridgeshire connection. But the Lamb or the Ship would be okay for me too.
• The Mitre looks good to me.
• I agree, Mitre looks all right. *Currently enjoying the free internets in Dubai*
• Mitre gets my vote too - it's got a tree in it!
• Mitre's cool with me too.
• I hate the feckin' Mitre, beer tastes like piss, the jukebox is full of crap and landlord's a Nazi...oh wait, I can't come. I hate you all instead.
• I have to wonder what a BJ meetup would be like.
• I . . I'm sorry, I was typing something - you were saying?
• Are we settled on the Mitre? What time?
• 7ish at the Mitre? late enough that people can eat before, but early enough to have a good long conversation before people have to start heading off. That said, I'm totally good with meeting earlier. I think Alnedra, Dreadnought and I might head down from Cambridge earlier (have to ask her what she wants to do when she gets here).
• Sorry to disappoint you Pete. It was shorthand for Beijing. But, what the hell?
• Let's say 7, and everyone get there when they can? I will try to leave late (I need to go to Margate, and the last train leaves at midnight; but then I will arrive at 2am at my friend's, which would be a little bit hard on her), but hopefully not so late that I will be comatose on the train and end up in Portsmouth or something....
• Uh... does anyone know how I can get from te Mitre to London Victoria?
• Old Mitre at 7ish this Wednesday the 23rd, you're on. I'm really looking forward to meeting, and apologising to, some fellow monkeys. Alnedra, hop on the Tube at Chancery Lane, take the Central Line westbound, then change at Oxford Circus (3rd stop) to the Victoria Line southbound to Victoria (2nd stop).
• 7ish on Wednesday at the mitre. Dude.
• I reconfirm my standing demand for shoutout.
• I'm going to be a bit late I'm afraid, around 8-8.30 or so. If you decide to move elsewhere, could someone send me an sms (Pallas? MonkeyHaus?) to let me know? Ta! See y'all tomorrow.
• Have a lovely time. Really. Don't mind me, I'm just over here in the corner, waiting around for my meetup. One day, it'll happen for me. I'm keepin' the faith. In the meantime, you monkeys just go on and enjoy yourselves.
• Mickey, I'll send the Learjet over for you. Stand in the garden with a flashlight, they'll find you. Printing a banana now...
• I have emailed my mobile number around - to mothninja, muteboy, Pallas Athena and some other guy. Text me or call if you are having any trouble finding us, or if you would like to join us. I'm with Alnedra, and we are coming into London this morning. We are starting a bit slow, so probably won't be in London until after 12, but you should be able to reach us anytime (I love Britain and its tinyness and good mobile coverage).
• To paraphrase that kid in 'The King And I': "Britain is the biggest country in the world!"
• You bastards have a good time. Don't mind me stuck in cloudy Liverpool, in work. And anyway, I'm going to Burger King for lunch. Better than any meet-up anyway. Pah! *still wants shoutout*
• I hop ewe duds kick asp.
• I also demand a shoutout. And that a spotted dick or some other oddly named British foodstuff be eaten in my hono(u)r.
• Toad in the hole? Bubble and Squeak? Granny's Beef Flaps? (I made one of those up)
• I'd like a shoutout also, but please leave Granny's Beef Flaps outta there!
• Have fun!
• Shan't! Nyer!
• Then I shall come and MAKE you.
• Ooh! Ooh! I wants a shout-out too! 'cause thinking of London still makes me weepy... ...and thinking of Quid makes me touch myself. In the eye.
• *checks calendar* *realizes there's still almost two months to go*
• I don't want a shoutout. Because you all smell.
• But thanks for the birthday pressie! *blows kisses*
• Pictures?? Shouts-out?? Hello????
• Sorry, we couldn't take any pictures because we were all invisible at the time. Yeah, I dunno what happened but we all just started only reflecting light in the non-visible spectrum all of a sudden. And we did all these great shout-outs but Muteboy ate them all. Never seen a guy eat so much paper before - he said he wasn't getting enough fibre in his diet, so we just let him go for it. Great guy, by the way - but don't let him anywhere your notebook or priceless collection of 15th century manuscripts. Then Monkeyhaus sucked the memory of the entire night out of our minds with this huge tentacle-like appendage that came out of his back. When I first got there I thought, "Hell, dude looks human enough!" - but I guess I was wrong. Still, whatchagonnado?
• Always the same old excuse.
• You! . . Maniacs! . . . You blew it up!! Damn youuuu!! Damn you all to hell!! *sobs*
• You do realize we live for this shit, right?
• What Mickey said.
• This thread is useless without pics. No, really.
• Rip.
• Pics!
• Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
• It was a fab evening. Everyone is completely lovely and clever and witty and charming and loads of fun. Wonderful to see old friends again and great to meet jb and muteboy. Meetups rock. More shoutouts to come from jb and Dreadnought I think - many apologies to those we managed in our ale-fuelled haze to forget to shout to, but you were all with us in spirit.
• Yeah, that 'spirit' you could smell by the bogs, that was me. Ah. Aren't you all loverly.
• I'm not.
• This makes me wish we did PS contests here. Oh, the possibilities. Thanks for the shout-out, y'all.
• Yuk.
• quiddy, you are a damn handsome man and lovely to boot. Shush now.
• yes, quid, you are ugly, yuk yuk yuk. why didn't you make a shoutout for me on yr ugly body?? (I;m all about the shoutout lingerie!)
• *head assplodes*
• Rome was very nice, by the way.
• *skulks off, disappointed at missing meetup*
• mothninja, clearly a grand time was had by all. Thanks for those delightful pictures and the shoutout!
• Scanned in shoutouts and more pictures are coming, but have been delayed by moving house (we packed all thursday). But we did find a scanner in our new house, so that's cool. We missed you, flashboy. Though now I'm jealous.
• *basks in afterglow of shoutout*
• Quite the quidfesto! Good work you sexy French bastards!
• Mothninja, quid, cheques are in the mail.
• *basks in afterglow of shoutout validation* Mercy buckets, everyone!
• London Mofites = still a bunch of snubby snubbifying snubbers. /me whines petulantly
• *dangles mct shoutout in front of Fes, does happy dance*
• Up your butt with a coconut!
• Thanks to my really miserable cameraphone, almost all the pictures I took of the meetup came out way too dark. I managed to salvage these two. I promise, I promise, I will bring a decent camera to the next meetup.
• *becomes totally hyper* *soils self* *ruins it for everybody*
• Sorry to broach this, but did someone mention another LondonMonkeyMeet (LoMoMe?) this October? Or were my ears clogged with wit and gaiety?
• That would have been me. Various points in Italy, London and Dublin.
• This is very pathetic, but I have finally gotten slightly organised and posted pictures here. There were lots of shoutouts, but due to moving and Dreadnought and I being terrible and disorganised people, we haven't gotten them scanned in. The good news is that they are with my thesis papers, and thus will not be lost. The bad news is that they are with my thesis papers, and are thus buried. I can't promise when, but I will try to get them out - and then there can be magical shoutouts from the past to the future.
• As always, beautiful photos of beautiful Monkeys having a good time. Too bad we couldn't have all been there. And I have to say that being one of the only two to get a shoutout at this point, and with Chyren being the other, almost made me tear up.
• My quidcrush has been renewed.
• he's mine you dirty canadan dog!
• *idly pencils "Mrs. Louis Quidnunc" on desk*
• Wot's that - smoking indoors in a public place? How veddy, veddy quaint.
• Look at mothy with her lovely long hair! I'm not jealous. I'm not.
• psst, hillbilly: it was all fake extentions and they're gone now! it's back to being short and black although I'm thinking I might dye it blonde again...
• So you don't have super-human hair-growing abilities then. Well, that's too bad. Could have come in handy.
• *Finally realizes when those pix were taken, slinks off*