I'll be there 6 months, and I'll be looking for a job and a place to live. Those advices are most desired, but ANYTHING you can think of would be totally sweet.
I had friends who have done well with flatshares for short term stays in London, doing research. I don't know exactly what agency or what they used, but there are a lot of options if you google flatshares or look on student travel websites. My friend's main advice - get one with a television, especially if you spend all day in the British Library. Okay, maybe not everyone does that, but it helps with the boredom/loneliness potential in a new city.
A monkey meetup, you say? I like the sound of that
http://moveflat.com is good for finding a room and free.
What sort of job you after?
Craigslist London.
because i'm just that helpful.
sorry i cant really offer any more.
When would you like to meet up?
Oh -please- let's meet up at a time I can finally make it. Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease!
I think Dreadnought just offered to organize it.
It's his own fault - he gets too disorganised to make it down from Cambridge. "I have to pack" "I have to meet with my advisor and do important stuff like try to stay enrolled" - such a whiner.
But he's stuck in the UK until late June, so that should be long enough, EVEN for Dreadnought.
I will be in the UK from late September/October on, until Fall 2006.
I will be in the UK unless that nice Michael Howard ejects me and all my immigrant kin!
Quick, everyone vote for Howard
I will definitely be here till late June/ early July. Not sure when I'm going home for a visit before my dissertation is due, might be mid-July to August. I'll try to stay here till mid September at least. If I can't find a job here by then, I'll have to start work in Singapore 29th September.
Why don't we put Curious George on CG posts any more?
Fear
Meeting Alnedra would be a very good reason to get my act together and make it to the UK by early September. That, and I might not have any housing in the States past August 31 :)
*blushes*
Right my lovely London monkeys, how's about a meety-uppy on Monday 23rd May? Any takers?
I'm up for it. *raises hand*
I'm down.
Are any of you *Theatre* London monkeys? That would be my ideal job, but I'll take whatever.
What kind of theatre job?
I welcome any general advice
In Britain, they call a nap a "wank." So if you're tired, you should tell your hosts that you're going to go back and have a nice wank. Or, when you meet people for dinner, you can tell them that you're alert because you just had a power-wank.
Hence why it's quite appropriate to call someone who's particularly on-the-ball a "wanker".
Right my lovely London monkeys, how's about a meety-uppy on Monday 23rd May? Any takers?
Monday? Monday? Oh, Lord, does it have to be a Monday? Couldn't it be a nice, happy Friday or Saturday?
Weezel, I have the following pieces of general advice:
1) Do not live in the place called "Elephant and Castle". The unwary might well be seduced by the fact it has a silly name. Avoid this.
2) Neither should you live in the place called "Dalston".
3) Go no further than Zone 3. Nobody will ever visit you if you are beyond Zone 3. Also, it is an unholy place and you will turn into a witch.
4) In London, we have an esoteric, noble and ancient tradition that, while it may appear strange and confusing to an outsider, you would do well to respect. It is known as "beer".
5) If ever a journey on the Underground should take you via "Edgeware Road", add approximately 25 minutes onto your journey time, and remove approximately 1.3% of your soul.
6) If going for a flatshare, try to get a boring flatmate. The one you think seems like a really fun, exciting person the first time you meet them, will become the object of your homicidal rage after 9 days living with them.
7) Use the word "quaint" in connection with any aspect of British life only if you wish to have certain body parts removed free of charge.
8) STAND ON THE FUCKING RIGHT AND WALK ON THE FUCKING LEFT.
9) What they said about the wankers.
10) Oh yeah, and... Loot.Moveflat.Gumtree. All useful, bordering on indispensable.
There's something outside of Zone 3? shudder
Rule 8 will save your life. Standing on the left at 8:45 in Liverpool Street is the only legal grounds for murder in the UK.
Top London Fact: The Grenadier Guards outside the palaces keep swimming trunks inside their bearskins. (Honestly. They get free access to the pool at the RAC club if they're in uniform, and the only place to keep a pair of trunks is in the hat. Really. You can ask them.)
...nice, happy Friday or Saturday?
You mean Friday when everywhere reasonable is packed solid, and Saturday when I'm not actually in London anyway? Give me Monday any day...
*hugs whingeing git*
Please, not Friday. I have seminar on Fridays. It's the only night of the week I have a regular engagement.
Paging kitfisto (who I thinks is in town 18/19 May) to the thread. Paging also Pallas Athena. Paging also THE CAROLINGIAN.
Also, I may have to murder dng and befoul his corpse - but in a nice way.
"And that is why we must all vote Conservative. These foreigns are frightful and uncivilised beasts" - The Daily Mail
I'd rather not a Friday either, travel in and out of London is a pain most of the time, and twice the pain on Fridays.
Paging also: dickdotcom (how's married life?), zimf, flameproof, tannhauser, land of green ginger...
In Britain, they call a nap a "wank." So if you're tired, you should tell your hosts that you're going to go back and have a nice wank. Or, when you meet people for dinner, you can tell them that you're alert because you just had a power-wank.
You all are evil.
Good sites flashboy - are there any Cambridge equivalents?
jb - brettward was useful to me when I had to find a place to rent in Cambridge.
*goes back to lurking*
Damn-- on Monday 23rd, I'll be in Oxford. Have fun, power-wankers.
As a frightful, uncivilised beast, I don't get to vote on Wednesday; the ejection of quid, Alnedra and myself from British soil must rest in the hands of native British monkeys. Remember, we only came here to take your jobs and deflower your offspring.
*votes for Pallas Athena*
You two seem to be watching a rather weirder and nastier election than the somnolence over-kill show I'm intermittently aware of.
*falls asleep again*
How serious is the Conservative position on immigrants? Where do Labour and the LibDems sit?
Oh my frickin' Lord - the Conservatives want to quit the UN convention on refugees? What kind of bloody maniacs are they?! What do they plan to say: "So sorry you've been a target of genocide or political oppression, but we're a wee bit cramped here in this extremely rich and comfortable country which might have invaded yours a century ago leaving behind the seeds of disruption and unrest that is causing so much trouble now, but you just tottle on back to that lovely war-torn home of yours"?
And they want to scrap the Supreme Court? I don't know anything about the British Supreme Court, but most countries seem to have one. What do they propose in its place/function?
Have the conservatives actually been replaced by puppets being controlled by the Raving Loonie Party doing an over the top Thatcher impression?
----
That said, Labour is on the right track by just getting rid of all the hereditary peers in the HofL - if I can't be made a hereditary peer, there's really no reason for me to defend their ancient rights.
Reading the platforms, it seems like some kind of compromise between Labour and the LibDems would be optimal - sometimes the LibDems have better ideas, but I don't know if they really have thought out the implementation.
(No, I can't vote, I'm just pontificating.)
Was there a proposal at one point about making tuitions fees etc payable after graduation? That seemed like a very good idea.
It's not that they want to scrap a Supreme Court, jb: they want to scrap Labour's plans to create one in place of the Law Lords.
Ah, I see. I am woefully ignorant of British law (I remember reading something about a Court of Star Chamber or maybe Kings Bench, but I think that might be out of date now). So Labour wants to scrap the Law Lords, and replace them with a Supreme Court.
Are the Law Lords judges who have been made peers (now life peers) because of their long legal experience? If so, how do they differ, other than in name and honour, from a supreme court as in Canada or the US, with their life (at least to voluntary retirement) appointments?
Yes, the Law Lords are exactly the kind of people who would be Supreme Court judges if we had one, and they function in a similar way. I don't know what the point of the change is - it has an improvised air - and the idea of dropping the whole thing may not be all that bad. The Law Lords are, of course, the last court of appeal for various former British territories around the globe, so in principle there are implications beyond the UK, though I don't know if anyone else has been consulted.
We really ought to have this discussion over here, and let Weezel have his London thread back...
I will be back in sunny Liverpool on the 23rd. I will be in town on 18 & 19th (attending a web usability conference on 19 / 20 for work. if anyone else is going we can sit at the back and make fart noises). I will be staying in south London with elder sister, if that makes a difference at all.
Hi Plegmund and all ... married life really rather good ... only been back from honeymoon for a week and have been rather busy since ... hence radio-silence.
midweek for a meetup much better than friday ...
What about Wednesday 18 May?
OK
Ugh. I'll try to make, I really will. But I have five deadlines that week, and it's not looking so good. I'll RSVP closer to the date. Sorry, guys.
May 18 sounds good to me.
Can I plead for a Thursday 19th? I can't make Wednesdays, ever, at all, for the forseeable future (unless my newspaper goes bust, that is), but Thursdays are just fine and dandy.
But have fun on the Wednesday if yous can't do Thursday.
Some of us have a little date with a certain Darth Vader on the 19th. This is so complex!
How about I go review the film beforehand, and tell you if Anakin turns into Vader or not?
(My guess - the twist will be that it's not Anakin who becomes Vader, it's Greg Proops' sport announcer from Phantom Menace. That would be awesome.)
I find your lack of extra heads disturbing.
*low bass rumble, chokes flashboy with mind*
We could all go and see 'the movie'...
Mind you, I bet you'd need tickets in that there London...
Can't do the 18th or 19th, or indeed any date but the 23rd, unfortunately; however I'm back in the metrop. sometime in July or August, so hopefully see y'all then!
(and congrats, dickdotcom!)
How about 19th and the 23rd?
How about 19th until the 23rd?
... not Anakin who becomes Vader...
How about I go review the film beforehand
What fucking film? I said I have a DATE with a guy called DARTH VADER. I'm gonna get LAID, dude.
*low bass rumble, chokes quidnunc's chicken with mind*
There is a disturbance in this thread.
I have a bad feeling about this.
This also have I bad feeling.
How about you all do the 19th when kitfisto is in town, if that's generally agreeable, and then have another in July or August when mothninja is there, I'll be arriving sometime in September, so I'll probably propose another sometime between then and Christmas -
perhaps there needs to be someone with more programming knack than I have, to make up a little calendar, where people could enter what days were good for them. You probably can't ever get everyone, but you could go for a critical mass, with special attention to people in town for only short times.
Off topic a little, but where is BBF? I haven't seen him posting in a while. Perhaps he has more of a life than I do.
Sounds like a great idea :) Could we do up something in our spanking new MofiWiki?
Is this any good? I've probably got the details wrong. If you want to be added or have dates changed, edit the wiki yourself. Or just say so here, I suppose...
*hearts* Pleggers! Thank you so much for doing that!
Plegmund got game!
Yeah boyz!
Two meetups (18th, 23rd) is good for me. They let me out of the hospital and even give me back my clothes.
wait wait - there's spanking in the MoFi wiki now?
Ahem. Is this it, then? Where are we going??
Thanks to Fuyugare for beautification of the table.
I can come on any of those evenings (although probably not all)
I tried to add my changes to the wiki page, but they don't seem to have shown up. I can make it on the 18th and 19th... and the 23rd if I have to, but that's less convenient.
Plans? Have we plans?
Would it be ok if I bring some non-monkeys to the meetup on the 23rd, if indeed there is a meetup on the 23rd?
It appears we have no plans. I reckon the best way forward is for you to dictate the time and place to suit yourself, mothninja. Personally I don't see any problem with you bringing other friends - they may not strictly be monkeys, but I'm sure they'll have the essential simian qualities.
Er... I may not be able to do 23rd myself, though... *looks embarassed*
My guess is that an earlier meetup of some sort is also viable. Maybe that scouse bloke would like to suggest something that suits him? So long as he promises not to show us his black bogeys. (Makes him sound disconcertingly like a character out of Thomas the Tank Engine.)
My black bogeys will be available for veiwing by request only, in order to spare the delicate constitutions of the more flower-like monkeys.
My plan for the day on the 18th is to arrive in old Londinium at approx 6pm (Euston station).
I will be staying in S London, so will be travelling down through the bright lights and 'across the river'. I've absolutely no idea where people may want to meet, as the only pubs I know with any certainty are either in Clapham, Streatham or that pokey back street behind Hamleys toy shop (where I had the pleasure of working a few years ago).
I can get to london by about 7.30 or 8.
What say Clapham? I live there. The Alex at Clapham Common is OK I think, umm but Clapham Junction might be easier for those who get trains however.
I'll be on the London Underground Tube Railway System, if that makes any difference...
Mk, in absence of other official monkey plans, I'll arrange to see some non-simian mates at Garlic and Shots on Frith Street in Soho (same place where we went a couple of meetups ago) from 7 o'clock onwards on Monday 23rd, and hopefully any of you guys that are free will come along too. (hope that's ok with everyone)
I'll be there (if that's cool).
Freeloader.
Your stupid meetup for London jerks is 2 days before my birthday. I want a shoutout dammit.
yay quiddy! of course it's cool, you silly eejit :P
Oh you'll get a shout out alright, don't you worry...
*glares menacingly, creating an air of mystery and foreboding about the whole thing*
/trembles in fear
*laughs menacingly, glares some more, forgets what he was doing and pets a passing puppy*
Darn!
Wow, quid. That was ... Just ... um ... wow.
AUM to you and your myriad undergarments and your terrifyingly fertile imagination.
The word you're looking for is "pathological".
"scatological"
That too!
Oddly, I saw a gig at a place in Camden last night called Koko. It was quite lovely on the inside, as I presume is Koko.
I used to live in Camden, but not the one where you are (and not New Jersey either, blech). On my inside, there's lots of sticky stuff and guts, was it like that there?
I will come on the 23rd, too, if thats alright
also, I can make next week too, if we decide on somewhere
Hurrah dng! Of course it's alright! More = merrier.
Decide on somewhere we must...
Clapham Junction is easy for me (but it has no tube station).
If I may complicate the decision by adding further alternatives, an option requiring little thought or originality would be to meet at the Spice of Life again and then head up to Chinatown.
May I second both mothninja and Plegmund's plans because I am really lazy? I'll really try to finish my coursework in time to go both on 19th and 23rd :)
19th?? Thought it was 18th!
hello - don't know any of you but I live in London - do y'all know as little about one another as I do about you? (aside from having seen your contributions here, of course)
Yes. Sort of.
And we'd love to meet you on the 18th (and 23rd too).
Oh...18th... I can't, I'm sorry. My housemate got midnight tickets to Stars Wars that night. Really sorry.
Cool, we can compare notes on the 23rd.
For the 18th, I second Pleggers suggestion - let's meet at the Spice of Life and then go get some Chinese.
Spice of Life (link courtesy of flashboy from a previous meetup thread).
Be warned, the pub has a basement level, so if you don't see any monkeys, try downstairs as well.
Sorry about the redundant link, campus PCs are absolute shite when it comes to refreshing.
What time though? Shall we say 7.30?
OK. I can do 7.00 if it suits Kitfisto or others. Are you still with us, others? Where's Weezel? Does this merit a further FPP IDC?
I can do about 7.30 (maybe 8)
Well i'm in town from about 6, so by the time I've swapped the family cow for some magic beans, met up with a talking cat and started a small fire in a bakery, I suppose it'll be around 7, 7.30 anyway.
someone better be wearing their t shirt, cos unless mine arrives in the next few days I'll never recognise anyone. I can only imagine how surreal it will be to walk up to a bunch of virtual strangers and say "Hello, I'm kitfisto".
Has it come to this?
We'll all be holding bananas.
I'll be wearing the shirt.
I'll be wearing a T-shirt of envious green.
I'll be in my office.
Can we call you when we're drunk and laugh and call you names such as "office man" and "office-loving lad" and "boy no-beer, captain of his office"?
I'll make sure MoFi is down on the night. Unless Koko gets her birthday shoutout in sparkly stars and sequins, preferably involving interpretive dance.
I'll pay cash money to see a very pregnant Monkeybashi doing an interpretive "Koko good, good Koko" dance.
I insist that my shoutout be directed by Spike Jonze.
So the 18th, at the Spice of Life, around 7:00? Sounds good to me!
So uh...other than mothninja and me, is anyone else showing up on the 23rd?
Well, Jones is my (real) last name, so you're halfway there for your Terpsichorian Shout Outs, kokey...
Quid and dng have said they'll be there on the 23rd, Alnedra (plus Moth's other pals of course). Several others have not finally declared for either 18th, 23rd or both. I can't get at the Wiki at the moment - it keeps asking me for a password in order to enter the WordPress realm.
I'm officially declaring for the 18th.
I'll try to be at the 23rd, as well. I'd love to meet as many of you lovely British monkeys as possible.
kitfisto talks funny.
And moves in a saltatorial manner.
And fucks goats.
Oh yeah, and that too. I'll give a goat-fucking masterclass for you on Wednesday. Word down on the farm is that you need a few tips.
LOL!
Yeah, that's what every northerner says: "Ooh I wanna go down to London and teach them all how to fuck goats properly". Well we're all to cool for that down here and nowadays we all molest geese. Beat that shit.
Bloody Londoners! Think you invented farmyard frottage. Well let me tell you, you don't live so close to Wales without learning a trick or two!
Oh, now he's bragging about having sex with Whales! Honestly, all you ever hear from kitfisto is "blah blah blah my massive knob-end".
*begins to get cold feet*
Ahem. Sorry.
Well if you've got it, slip it to a cetacean, that's what I say.
*Offers Pleggy a nice thick pair of socks*
*looks at calendar*
Wow! Look at the time! Yeah. It's almost...almost June, yeah. Think I gotta go, um... go home.
Well. So long.
*books emergency flight back to Singapore*
I blame Quiddy.
WHAT?! Are you meeting us on the 23rd?
Accepts socks gratefully.
If it ever eventuates that quid and kitfisto are the same person, I'm going to give him an award for Best Conversations With Self.
Oh, Pleg, did you get into the Wiki in the end?
Yes, thanks = don't know what the problem was, but it's gone now.
Quid and kitfisto the same person?
*head explodes*
Quidfistokitnunc?
If someone's fisting quidnunc, I want video.
The Amazing Quidfuncto!!
If it turns out I'm also Quid, then kill me now. It'd be like Fight Club crossed with Fantasia...re-imagined for some cable porn channel.
Hold on, that sounds quite good...
Interested peeps can wait a day or two and see photos of kitfisto and me in the same room, thereby removing all doubt that we are actually both janet jackson. Also, I have a good idea for shout-outs. Who has a few star wars figures?
I have a large collection of 77 - 83 originals (with weapons), plus many later figures (mint in box, I'll have you know).
As I'm planning to retire on these items, there is no way I'm taking them to London so you can pose them in 'Luke shagging an Ewok' dioramas.
You sick fuck.
Dude, mint? If more people had your foresight there'd be no pensions crisis in the country. Respect.
You will ALL respect me! Bow down before my magnificence, ye puny monkettes - all will love me and DESPAIR!!!
Ahem, sorry, did actually come out?
Erm....
Damn a thousand damnations-- am in Oxford the nights of the 18th and 19th too. So I will miss any ceremonial boning of Ewoks, cetaceans, farm animals, quidnunc, George Galloway or other innocent bystanders. I will, however, look forward to witnessing any or all of these events at some hypothetical future meetup at which I will be physically present. *sigh*
Bummer.
Same to you.
A callipygian bummer!
If I use it 3 times, it's mine ...
That's what he said...
I hope other lurker and lurkesque monkeys will come meet us up on either the 18th or 23rd. We are all nice friendly people - except for kitfisto who is the horrible son of beelzebutt.
But who does a great Shirley Bassey impression. You don't have to like me, just admire me. And buy me pints of Stella.
I wish I could go to a London meetup. I want you all to know I'm nearly insane with jealousy. At least I think it's jealousy.
We wish you were coming too, so we could make lewd remarks and send you the bar for beer and pig-snacks.
Or engage in intelligent and witty conversation and get to know the real koko. Whichever you prefer.
Both would be fine. I could even bring some Star Wars toys.
sigh
We are all very sorry that we're not seeing you Koko! However, you will have shoutouts and a place in our hearts.
Quiddy and I will fight a duel in your honour.
I've just realised it's almost a year since the first everMofi meetup. After this splendid start, NY has lagged behind a bit for some reason.
Please, no more duels! Unless you're going to use real light sabers cuz that would be wicked awesome.
'more duels'? This happen a lot to you, kokey?
It seems you challenged Plegmund to a duel over his gloating, and there's another one here.
Just thinking about it brings on the vapors! *stretches out on fainting couch, arm over forehead*
What can I say? I have a highly developed sense of honour.
*Struts about swishing his sword to and fro*
You also cried like a schoolboy.
Is Weezel coming to the meetup on the 18th or just the later one?
Yeah, but it just showed I had a sensitive side. Chicks love that.
Weezel is coming on 18th and possibly 23rd too, according to his remarks above. Dickdotcom is just doing 23rd, according to the wiki.
Cool. I'll be at the Spice of Life at 7.30 - you guys aiming for 7?
Probably somewhere between the 2, once I've de-trained and got in the way on the underground.
I believe Weezel and I will be there about 7.00. dng will be along at 7.30 or perhaps later. Dread is also likely to turn up, I think, but I don't know when. Land of Green Ginger will be there, but will sit at another table without identifying himself. zimf will suddenly remember the meetup on the morning of 19th. The Carolingian will stay at home in case it rains. And poor Flash will be in the office.
OK, cool. Thanks.
Pleeease take pictures of dreadnought!
Flash, are you free on 23rd then?
Wish I could go too. *sniff*
I shall be on strike on the 23rd and so available for all sorts of mischief. None involving a lightsabre though ...
You don't have a problem with me stalking you anonymously, do you Plegmund?
Shoutouts with Star Wars figures? London monkeys never cease to amaze me. And also scare me, a wee bit.
Actually, I just wanted to play with star wars figures. We'd do the shoutouts in crayon.
Dreadnought is too much of an idiot to update here, so I have to:
He's very sorry, but apparently he forgot to check back on this thread, and then monkeyfilter was down. He didn't realise it was the 18th and so he scheduled folk-singing group for tomorrow, and can't reschedule. He won't come in here to say this, because he can't find his way around the sidebar.
Anyways, I hope you all have fun tomorrow, and that kitfisto doesn't kill quid or vice versa.
Um... well I was just composing a contrite message, but apparently jb beat me to it. Sorry about this everybody. When I was divvying up my time for the week Monkeyfilter was down and I didn't know when things were happening. I really can't come tomorrow. I've already asked these guys to reschedule twice and I can't move them again at a day's notice.
I've already set asside the 23rd, so I'll definately be there unless war breaks out or something. Very sorry.
Flash, are you free on 23rd then?
Days I can do things in the evening: Thursday - Sunday. You taunt me something cruel with your Wednesday and Monday meetups...
Wish I could make it, but I just can't get out of the office these evenings. Especially since I'm now out of the office a lot during the day, hobnobbing with George Lucas and The League of Gentlemen and whatnot. George says "hi", by the way.
But hey - I'll try springing a surprise appearance. You never know. In this ever changing world in which we live in.
♪ makes you give it a cry ... ♫
*shoots self*
I won't be able to come tomorrow but i will be there on monday
Aww...Koko.
Tell you what, give me your home addy, I'll send you postcards (^_^)
Rain hurts
Are you meeting us up, The C?
I am aiming for the 23rd. Not able to make it on the 18th or 19th.
OK, but you won't get the chance to fondle kitfisto's jawas.
Yeah! Well, I'm gonna go build my own jawas. With blackjack and hookers! In fact, forget the jawas!
Wait till you see my 'Imperial Guard', if ya know what I'm sayin'...
You don't have a problem with me stalking you anonymously..?
On the contrary, LoGG, I might be relying on you to call for help. If Weezel fails to show up for any reason, it seems I'm off to a meetup consisting of two unbalanced goat-fondlers, both with pathological envy/resentment complexes about there being only one Mofi t-shirt in the whole of Europe. And what am I wearing today...?
I feel a disturbance in the force, heading your way...
If you don't take pictures of Plegmund in his T-shirt, I'm going to start slicing body parts off! My housemate has a real light sabre! It makes the most amazing noises, just like in the movies!
Just to see that, I'm taking the batteries out of my camera now...
Oh please try and come Alnedra. Just for a short while...
I really can't :( really, really wish I could, but London's 90 minutes away, and the train ticket's way too expensive for me to just hop in and out in a couple of hours.
And I still have two deadlines. The pain. The pain.
Fucksocks.
I'm coming, I'm coming!
"that's what the goat said," screams kit and quid in unison
I'll be there 7ish. I'll be looking for a MoFi tshirt (even though I've never seen one). You can find me by my Hoodie of Geekiness +3. It's big, it's black, and you'll see what I mean when you see it.
Viva la Meetup!!!
Never seen one! This is what it looks like (though I, er fill it out a bit more...) There are several other examples on Flickr.
Sweet. I couldn't afford one, so I didn't even tease myself. I'll be on the lookout.
Now you can mercilessly hunt him down with the rest of us. It'll be like Jurassic Park.
Except in a pub.
I'm leaving to catch my train now. Remember, stay spread out - one man - a waste of ammo, five men is a target.
I'll see you on the beach.
Have an excellent time tonight, chaps. Drink much beer, seduce many goats, take lots of pictures. (and shoutout to Koko!)
Good luck, and good hunting.
I wonder if Kitfisto realises that the place we're meeting is a bondage club? Oh well I guess he'll work it out when he sees us. I'll bring a spare gimp mask for him.
Look out, kitfisty, they're gonna get medieval on your ass.
Oh, good! I was worried I'd be out of place in my work clothes...
*wanders in*
*looks around at the vast empty space*
I'm still in the office, if that helps.
*leaves*
To: MoFi Retrointelligence Corps
From: Agent quidnunc, stupidity squad
Attended MoFi meetup at given co-ordinates on 180505. All monkeys found to own expected numbers of arms, legs, heads etc; and later revealed themselves to be beautiful, superintelligent beings composed of the ethereal golden half-light of a dewy spring morning - all except kitfisto, a black-hearted scoundrel who bludgeons little baby kittens to death with little baby zebras. Will also attend meetup II on 230505, which is already shaping up to be a poor sequel with none of the unexpected charm of the original and less fart jokes. quidnunc out.
KOKO LOVE TOP TRUMP SHOUTOUT THINGY!!!!
That is so goddamn cool. Can I put it on the Top Trump Page?
KOKO LOVE TOP TRUMP SHOUTOUT THINGY!!!!
That is so goddamn cool. Can I put it on the Top Trump Page?
Happy Birthday (tomorrow?), Koko. I've put a link on the Top Trump page, like the one kitfisto has for his card.
second what quid said. except for the part about beating baby kittens with baby zebra. kitfisto actually uses baby swans for the beating. he goes through a lot, but I think that's part of the charm.
anxiously awaiting posting of the pictures...
Next week, actually. Best early birthday present ever!!!11!! It's even better than that bag of weed I found that one time!! ((((((((!!!!
baby swans
Cygnets. Pictures of meetup will be forthcoming, dependent on whether I survive my deadlines tomorrow.
Weezel has the most awesome pullover. I am green with jealousy.
For those who can't see, my Hoodie of Geekiness +3 has an enourmous White Tree of Gondor on the back, and it has my name in Sindarin (the Evlish common tounge) on the front. And a couple of secret stash pockets. I love it.
It's made by Altered Statements, friends of friends of mine. They make great stuff. Buy some! You know you want it...
I don't think you've added them to the pool, have you?
I was not at my scintillating best that evening. On arriving I asked Kitfisto if this was his first visit to England. When Quid arrived and asked if he could "squeeze in", I told him mine was a pint. If I were deaf I might have some excuse...
I don't think you've added them to the pool, have you?
Wuh? Can you not see them?
I can see them quiddy, and they're lovely. Splendid work on the Top Trump cards too!
I can't see them unless I navigate to "quidnunc's pictures". The link takes me to the pool, where the latest one still appears to be one of Mandyman's. Am I being stupid again?
Plegmund, not your fault, there was a bit of a lag time. The third time I check the Pool, the pics were up. Try again, or refreshing (^_^)
Plegger's top trump card has big "card design" and "lag time" scores ;)
Refreshing doesn't seem to help, Alnedra. It seems I only see quid's pictures in the pool when I am logged in to Flickr. Something similar happened with mothninja's Florentine pictures, IIRC.
Looks like a real classy joint. I'm surprised they let you guys sit there.
I couldn't see them until I was logged in to Flickr. Hmph.
Once again we entirely failed to leave the pub. I think Kitfisto swung it with the argument that "Beer has food value, but food does not have beer value".
Uh...not kitfisto, Plegmund. It was Weezel who said it.
*Makes unearthly keening sound as the last shreds of sanity rip away...*
fish tick's right. You can't see them unless you log in. I don't think they're public. Great pics, tho.
You need to log in, and if they still aren't displayed you may want to click the link for the "monkeyfilter pool" that's actually on the flickr page.
*pats Plegmund gently on the shoulder*
Quote of the night, by Alnedra to a nervous looking pleggy sitting between goat-fuckers extraordinair me and quid - "you're not a sagitarius are you..."
Will post some of my pics there soon...
But ... Sagittarius is the archer ... Capricorn is the goat. My mom is a Capricorn. Stay away from my mother, you goat-fuckers.
Koko, that comment was right on target!
sorry, had too
Goddammit. I feel stupid.
quidnuc, I can't find your pictures. I'm new to flikr, so what do I have to do?
Ah, HAH! Got 'em! Nice!!!
Oops. Sorry. My bad :)
Ok, I'm dumb too. Can somebody explain how to get the pictures? I just see a bunch of pictures by mandyman and when I click on most of them it tells me that I don't have permission. I'm very confused.
Dreadnaught - the pictures of the London meetup weren't made public (probably because quid is very secretive, or just didn't know about public vs.private.) To view them, you have to register as a member and be logged in. It's not a scary registration. Go for it.
When [ictures are hidden
from common view
o wot should a paranoid
monkey do?
= pictures
koko - nobody likes a smart arse...
except us, obviously
I'd rather be a smart arse than a dumbass!
So, where is the 23rd meetup?
are we going to the Spice of Life again? i'm down...
I vote for somewhere cheap and easy to find.
I thought it was the Garlic & Shots yous were going to?
Garlic and Shots was the plan, yes, on Frith Street in Soho. It's very easy to find: 5 mins walk from Piccadilly, Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road tubes; it's on the same side of the street as Bar Italia, more or less opposite Ronnie Scott's, it's got a big window, and the front is painted black with little decorative garlic bulbs. Can't miss it.
Go into the bar and walk through the restaurant bit to the courtyard/garden area at the back. Looking forward to seeing y'all!
The Garlic and Shots, then. That sounds like an interesting combination. Further Londonania, here I come!
When will people start turning up?
Well...
*glances over shoulder to check boss isn't looking*
...I'll be popping in at about 8-ish, for a short while, after attending a film screening and before heading back to the office. But, shhhh, don't tell anyone I'm sneaking off for a cheeky half. It'll be out little secret.
i'll be there between 7 and 8
I'll be there are 8.
It'll be just great.
I will not be late.
Unless I am prevented from attending by the myseterious whims of
fate.
I know you won't. I won't be there, and I know you fell in love with me, even though I could (and will) never reciprocate.
You make me sick!
Ha! I have already constructed a robotic facsimile of you out of papier-mache and some pipe cleaners. I keep it in my bedroom, where it provides me with hitherto forbidden sensual pleasures as well as pastry goods and baked snacks.
The Crack of the Clones?
I feel violated.
Attack of the Scones.
A Lack of Real Bones
Attracted to Jones.
Can't blame anyone for that
Alone Making Moans.
Can't blame anyone for that either
A klaxon trombones.
A Taught Shiny Dome
An Itty-Bitty Home
i wanna play too!
Then you must be slightly more suggestive...
A Breath Down the Phone
Ak, futzed small up
A lack of hormones
Ass Pummelled by Stone.
But what of the gnomes?
Have a good evening, everybody.
No, I won't! Nyaah!
Then you're gonna get lit like a Jedi at a Clone Trooper birthday party.
Wow... a shoutout for me and jb! I'm all choked up! Thanks guys!
Saying Hi to TheBone
Showing My Tone
Licking a Cone
better?
D'OH!
kitfisto, you're futzing is contagious
He's futzing our zone.
My aunt's name is Joan.
Bollocks
I have only just finished work, and won't be able to make it in time. Gah!
Sorry everyone
I do my drinking alone.
rumor has it you do a lot of things alone, mct!
Hello! I'm back at the office now!
I suppose the fact that kitfisto took a photo of quid counts as conclusive evidence that they are not the same person.
*wipes hand on furniture surreptitiously*
Sorry chaps ... got diverted elsewhere and couldn't make it. Sorry to miss you. Hope you had a good time!
I suppose the fact that kitfisto took a photo of quid counts as conclusive evidence that they are not the same person.
Except, notice whose picture is missing.
/eerie music
Only we who were there the other evening know the truth.
/eerier music
And if we told you, you probably wouldn't believe it...
/eeriest damn music you ever heard
Anyway what's the news from the garlic bar? Pictures? Anecdotes? shout-outs...
The camera has yet to be invented that can do justice to my glorious visage *cough*
I was pictured with koko's promised shout out, but the evil quid hasn't posted it, as he knows he'll lose his 'most handsome monkey' crown.
Just got back. Put up 8 pics on Flickr before my mobile phone blitzed on me. Will post more after I get some sleep.
Mothninja very blonde and tousled, like modern Norse goddess. Felt very honoured to have had her company for the afternoon.
Dreadnought very English, and superbly handsome when smiling (merely very handsome otherwise). Good catch, jb (^_^)
Weezel did not wear awesome hoodie. Apparently needs to be washed. Was a little disappointed.
The CAROLINGIAN showed up, and mostly lurked. But we must have not been too boring, because he stayed all the way through. Was last person to shake hands with me last night. For some ineffable reason, reminds me of Paul McCartney.
Flashboy lived up to name, came and went in a flash. But glad he made it(^_^) New hairstyle suits.
Quidnunc usual frenetic, crazy self. Look freshly schoolboyish in shirt peeping out from pullover.
Many, many mothninja friends, very funny, smart, articulate. Very lovely gathering, had many lovely conversations.
There was a chap listening to loud music through his earphones who came in sometime in the evening and sat down amongst us. Took about five minutes to get his attention and tell him it was a private party. He obligingly sat in the corner. Left sometime later. LandofGreenGinger, if that was you, I'm sorry.
Hope I didn't miss anyone out. Many mothninja friends promising to sign up.
Yay! A negative, inverse shoutout. A mofi first, methinks.
I rock. Like Yoda.
Well done Alnedra.
*Polite cough*
If that _was_ a Monkey in the the corner, he might want to pop back with a mop and bucket...
ew ew ew ew ew ew
if that was you, I'm sorry. you get back here right now!
*brandishes mop and bucket*
The rest of the pics are going to take a while longer. Stupid program keeps hanging when I open it (the Nokia download thingy)
Tannhauser, you liar! I thought you weren't a Mofi user because when the waitress asked to help take the picture, you said you weren't! *blows raspberries*
Just remembered! A very gallant nedrichards kept me company for quite a while in the evening before the other monkeys arrived. Thank you (^_^) You're certainly a gentleman around older ladies.
And no, I didn't bring the sleeping bag so I could sleep at the coach station in London. It was for sleeping in the night before. So I'm not that hardcore.
Bugger. Take two.
A very gallant nedrichards kept me company for a quite a while before the other monkeys came.Thank you (^_^) Are you always such a gentleman with older ladies?
Just to add that Alnedra is officially one of the loveliest people I've had the pleasure to meet. A splendid evening, thank you all. Yay for monkeys!
A couple more piccies in the pool.
Did I? That was inordinately stealthy of me...
Lovely evening, and lovely to meet all. Battle of Jutland - very exciting.
Yes, fantastic times. Love putting lovely faces to lovely people.
Shouldn't have been surprised to find such a good-looking group. Except for quid. Had such nightmares from touching his face
*shudder*
Uncle, if you read this you have to make sure Horn sees his shoutout!
Oh, God, Quid's face. Your hand just sinks in, and then the ineluctable sensation of tugging, tugging - not like a grasping limb, but more like a quicksand or the sucking of a great, gelatinous mouth. You realise as the awful warmth spreads up to your elbow that there is no way your arm could possibly be fitting into what until now you had naively referred to as his skull... that it is somewhere else.
Lovely chap, mind.
Very solid underpants, though.
I believe it was Mark Twain who first uttered these immortal words (whose sentiment I wish to echo): "rumours of my perplexing gelatinous physiognomy have been greatly exaggerated".
very solid. i've never seen anyone put as much effort into getting through underpants as The Carolingian. OTOH, he was trying to help me get my hand out of Quid's face.
I think I'll go wash it, again.
OMG Weezel, is that a Weird Al Yankovik t-shirt you're wearing? UR SUCH A NRRRD LOLOLOL!!!11!!!!ONE!!!
BTW, Alnedra, your postcard's going into the mail today! Sorry I'm such a slacker!
That was not me lurking in the corner Alnedra: I was lurking in Plegmund's garden last night.
No problemo, Koko. Mothninja and I picked out a really cool card for you as well yesterday :) It'll be on its way tomorrow as well!
Oh, LoGG, did you see anything interesting?
I saw the Weird Al t-shirt too, and thought that Weezel himself bore a passing resemblance to Mr Yankovic. Then I thought maybe he's just an Ultimate Star Wars Fan, since it looks like it's the "The Saga Begins" cover.
thx 'neddy and 'ninja ... my postcard will probably be teh suck by comparison, but I do mention Philip Seymour Hoffman on it, so at least it has star appeal
I had forgotton I had worn that shirt. Haven't in a while. Didn't even dawn on me that it would show up in pictures of a bunch of people who might even recognise that. Sweet...
incidentally, Koko, you DID notice the shirt...
Hey everybody! I had a wonderful time; it was well worth the trip. I'm afraid I've never figured out this flickr thing, so I've put my pics online here.
Everyone was really nice and so very funny and so very tollerant as I talked on, and on, and on about battleships.
I arrived late, hungry and tired, having done battle with the railway system and the tube (a special prize to anyone who can explain the Northern Line to me in such a way as I can understand). Not to be put off by my pale, clammy skin, hollow, staring eyes and incohearant babbling about the Japanese intelligence services, everybody took great pains to make me feel welcome and at home. Alnedra, especially, took me under her wing and sat me down and made me eat. She's quite as nice in person as she is in print: sweet and lovely and full of generous joy, as if someone had built a human being out the essence of wild strawberry.
Mothninja, on the other hand, I'm convinced does not actually exist. She seems impossibly tall and graceful, a flash of yellow hair floating high above my head, drifiting among the crowds like a bright cloud. I got the impression that if I looked directly at her, she'd dissapear like a glint in a diamond winking out of sight.
Weezel was sparky and spikey and fascinating: as real as mothninja was ethereal. I found him instinctively likable, and admired the way he kept the conversation flowing and interesting, tapping it on like someone keeping a flywheel spinning.
I didn't get to talk to flashboy much, as he had to leave almost as soon as I arrived (coincidence?... or is it?!). We did, however, have time to commiserate about the grim fate of those who end up stuck in the Other Place. Incidentally, I suggest we set up some kind of humanitarian institution. For only pennies a day, you can help send an Oxonian to a real university!
I've met quidnunc before - and, of course, read many of his posts here - so I was prepared for his outragious wit. What I didn't expect to be struck by, however, was the dryness of his humour. Very often, in person, he didn't need to say anything at all, but spoke volumes with a strategically raised eyebrow.
tannhauser is new to me, and very, very funny indeed. He said he was a corporate priest, if I heard him correctly. I felt rather too dumb to ask what this was, but google doesn't seem to know either. At any rate, his alternate plot for Star Wars made me laugh so hard I was, literally, ghasping for breath.
Perhaps my greatest regret was not talking more to the Carolingian, who seemed content to sit in silence and evade direct questions about his life and livelyhood. Still, there's nothing wrong with a listener especially when, like me, you have a tendency to talk rather more than everybody else would like.
To all those who attended, I appologise for talking far too much about grinding, serious things when gleeful geekery was afoot. It really was a lovely evening, full of generous laughter and warmth.
incidentally, Koko, you DID notice the shirt...
I certainly did not mean to imply that nerd=bad. I do play an MMORPG, after all.
Very nice, Dreadnought, especially about Alnedra & Mothninja. Now, all of you come to Winnipeg so I can meet you.
No? To hell with you then ... Lousy London jerks ...
I think I'm in love with Dreadnought.
The Other Place ... !!!
I'm not.
Great pictures, everyone - wish I'd been there. Thanks for the shout-out.
LoGG - is your full name "Land-of-Green Ginger Tom" by any chance?
*seethes with jealousy for not being there...*
I seem to be invisible
Oh my God, Dreadnought, you are absolutely adorable! Lovely words, all of them. Thrilled to see The Carolingian, FINALLY! And, lo, do I detect an actual SMILE from quid? I've not seen one before. Geez, I've gotta sit down, I feel faint.
Alnedra, your an unqualified angel! You have the most wonderful smile. I agree with you, too, flash's hair looks great!!
Your all Absolutely Fabulous!
The Other Place ... !!!
I'm not.
posted by beeswacky
*wink*
Heh.
Who could let such blatant provocation pass?
;]
Sorry I'll get on that right away - give me a few hours as I need to nihon-go benkyo o shimasu for a bit.
If that's code for a 'power wank', we don't need to know.
goddam freak...
Incidentlly, I appologise profusely for the completely innacurate 'map' of Callifornia. I honestly couldn't remember what it looked like. Either that or its an incitement for you to just take over Nevada.
I bet an Oxonian could have drawn a decent map of California. But they wouldn't have been able to spell it, either. ;)
Dreadnought, it was a mistake by committee, so no worries (^_^)
And I must profusely apologise to tannhauser. *bow* the one who proclaimed himself "not one of us" was the handsome (but aren't they all?) psychiatrist (Mike, I believe), not you. Blame my alcohol-befuddled eyes.
*takes back raspberries*
sigh!
Apologies to kitfisto - actually a very urbane, charming and handsome fellow - as my camera shutter speed was set to "big", hence his photo is a bit blurry.
However: Koko's shoutout looked, I believe, much like this.
I like the way I manage to come out of those two pics as both blurry and evil. The usual night in the pub, then.
Superb!! You even got the hair right! (((((( + big wet "sisterly" kisses for quiddy!
A little disappointed I can't see Kitfisto. Guess y'all will have to have another meetup. Hop to it now.
You're not missing much, sister!
Oh man now I'm your sister too? What kinda family of preverts is this??
Let's step into the doublewide and discuss it some more...
Just a sec, I'm birthin' baby Chy.
Thank you for the shoutouts - I feel like I have wracked up much shoutout debt. Maybe I'll have a New Haven meetup before I leave, just me and a box of crayons for three hours, making shoutouts : )
doublewide? damn, kitfisto, you livin' in style!
Do they have trailer parks in Britain? (I'm curious.)
Do they have trailer parks in Britain?
*nod nod*
I've seen some while on the coach entering London, and I believe, Birmingham.
Coach? You guys still use horses to get around??
Oh yeah! Livery, bridle and reins, the works! Luggage goes on top, and it's a long, bumpy ride through small windy roads to Victoria Coach station.
That last bit is actually true.
Does anyone in UK have a RSMMC card reader I could borrow? I'm getting way fed-up with my stupid phone. I can't even download the pictures one at a time now! *sulk*
4 more pics uploaded. Damnit, I'm gonna throw this stupid phone into the river tomorrow!
I got the postcard! Thanks Alnedra and Mothninja! I'm gonna put it on the fridge! (((((!!
I got yours too! Winnipeg looks great! Loads and loads of snow (^_^)
Just a quick heads-up. I'll be in London on Saturday, from about 9ish in the morning, to about 8ish (or slightly later) at night. Anyone free for a cuppa during that time?
I won't be able to stay much later than 9 because I now live alot further from the train station than I used to, and walking back is quite out of the question.
I'll be in Germany. Bummer.
Bumming? In Germany?
Mein Gott!
And I'll be in Scotchland, unfortunately, eating haggas
Sorry Alnedra
Man, globetrotting monkeys are teh f1nk5. Not.
Ah, haggis...I had it once and would like to again. It's pretty nice, no matter what some bullheaded heads of states might say.
Haggis is great.
Sorry to be slow responding - looks like I'm tied up tomorrow. Have a good day, anyway.
ditto. sleeping and recovering, something I haven't done in several weeks. I might get dragged to Windsor, too. Sorry I'll miss yah!
No problems, you all. Let's try for another time then (^_^)
I'm sorry.you get back here right now! *brandishes mop and bucket* The rest of the pics are going to take a while longer. Stupid program keeps hanging when I open it (the Nokia download thingy) Tannhauser, you liar! I thought you weren't a Mofi user because when the waitress asked to help take the picture, you said you weren't! *blows raspberries*