A2K London Meet

Walter's "Thank you ecard" to all the parcipitants of the A2K-London-meeting

Well, dlowan, how often do you meet people from three different continents*, you really know quite good but only by viewing their writings on the monitor, live in pub and a Indian restaurant?
*America, Europe and The British Isles.

Come on tell....what was unusual?
Did Gautam goose the waiter? (BTW, gautam, you'll never lose your female following)
Did Walter have an encyclopedia in his rucksack?
More about the curry....
What did you all drink in the pub and what snacks did you have?
Where in London were you?
Did you just spend the evening together or did any of you go sightseeing together?
Where was Margo in all this? I thought she was going to be there.
DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

London Meet
I'd better come clean - this isn't Mctag but me Mrs Mctag free loading on his nom de plume!

Where shall I start? As an intruder, an interloper I felt quite apprehensive meeting the in crowd but I can honestly say I was made to feel very welcome and I had a really super time. It was great meeting people from different parts of the world and walks of life and in Gautam's case, way of life. You looked gorgeous in your specially selected outfit Gautam and you added your own special sparkle to the evening.

The only thing I take exception to is KP's indelicate reference to everyone bar himself and Gautam being OLD! Thanks!!

The pub was interesting if a little noisy and smokey - well that's given my age away hasn't it, but it had a great atmosphere and it felt very cosmopolitan. Alan, oops sorry, Mctag tried valiantly to persuade all the young things to walk to the restaurant, but they just couldn't hack it so we gave in to a taxi. I have to say I was grateful cos it was a long way to the Bombay Palace. A very nice meal and interesting conversation ensued. I was a bit cheeky cos as an outsider I was able to ask them all to come clean on how they viewed the meeting and each other after having communicated with each other via the net. I have to report they were all gentlemen to the last.

Well Gautam, I did hint that I might join the group but I don't know if I will be able to get on the computer. Alan is on it so much of the time which is why I see myself as an internet widow. I guess if you can't beat them join them so I might just do it. Don't forget what I said about Manchester Gautam. We have a great City in ALL respects you should see it before you desert us for Budapest.

Thanks to you all for letting me join in and making me feel so welcome I hope that if there is another I shall be allowed to free load again!

How does one close? I bet I have broken every rule of the forum book. Next time I write I will have gotten myself my own identity - I never did take too kindly to being someone elses other half.

Love to all,
Fiona

Interloper? My dear Fiona. I think that it is totally awesome that you posted a response here. Wow, like Diane, I would love to have the opportunity to meet you and McTag, also. Good grief, how delightful

Fiona, please come back and post under your own nom de plume! Your description really put me there with you all.
As for age, I certainly idenify with having difficuty with the smokey rooms and crowds, even though I would go there any time to meet all the great a2kers.
One of the best features of a2k is the age range. I love being able to discuss the world with people young enough to by my children as well as with my peers.

Waiting patiently for pics.

How strange that I should run across Diane. My goodness. What a small world.(and what a trite phrase)...

and where is that saucy Gautam? Ah, how depressing that someone who loves "A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square" should be so selective. Just doesn't fit, somehow.

Hey, KP....Angels always dine at the Ritz.

Hi All, Finally got into my front door after traveling less than 18 hours door-to-door from my hotel room in Picadilly Circus. We live in the best of times. It was fantastic meeting up with all you 'gentle' people! Great meet. Next time, you'll have to come to San Francisco. c.i.

Glad you had an easy journey, although it was much longer than my 55 minutes, c.i.

Hello Fiona! Finally someone who knows how to transport a detail-hungry reader. (NOT to knock Gautam's and KP's efforts.)

I look forward to seeing you 'round A2K more. Welcome!

c.i. - glad you made it home safe and sound. When you get a chance, please post your thoughts on the plays you saw in London - I'm looking forward to hearing all about everything, actually!

where are the g.d. pictures?

C.I. was in London?

LittleK...yes...where are those GD pictures? They made it all up...right?

Hey, if they can stage a man on the moon...they can stage a London gathering...

Hey, Sooz, neat thing.

Diane

I was never going to be at this meeting.

They deliberately decided on this date, especially to avoid me . There is a small possibility I will be in London in June, so each of them have made plans to be in far distant places then!


Like Lil K said - wherez da fotos???

Hey, Letty!

Margo, WAIT! Can you come again next year? I'm really planning on getting over there next year if the Bush administration hasn't started WWIII.

Soz and Diane - dahlings !! No, I did not goose the waiters - in the pub there were none and at Bombay Palace, well, I am an epitome of decency. But the primary reason was that I was too engrossed in the charming company I had to pay attention to anyone outside our group, except for a brief moment, when my eyes wandered around the pub, where there were several men who would qualify as eye candy. But we all have our moment of madness yeah ???

Walter, thanks for yr ecard. I notice that the people in the card spell out "a hunk toy" before the Thank you. I believe that this was a reference to me Like everyone, I am waiting eagerly for the pics - ofcourse you will show them to us first, so that, as I said before, censor !!!

Diane, Can't remember the menu fully but in the pub everyone had beer, except me who continued drinking vodka and tonic. At the Bombay place - KP had chicken cooked with red chillies and onions, I had cottage cheese with cashewnuts cooked in a tomato and onion gravy, Walter had fish (the only mild dish we could find), Steve had lamb, So did McTag - his was cooked with fenugreek (I think) and Fiona and CI were too far away from me to see what they were eating, though by the expression on their faces I could see that they were enjoying the food !! All this polished off by some great wine, beer and vodka. Did not notice the rugsack carried by Walter - but he sure had a big....errrr..emmm....camera

McTag, glad you had a blast. It was lovely meeting you !!

CI hope that the rest of the shows/sightseeing was atleast as pleasurable as meeting us, if not more. Will defi look you up if I am in yr part of the woods !!

Fiona, you lovely woman - finally you made an appearance !!! And thank you for noticing my clothes, it just goes on to prove that (straight) men notice clothes only when the length of the skirt on a woman fails to reach double digits (and in centimeters!!) Thanks for coming and meeting all of us. You fitted right in, not even for one moment it felt like that we are talking to you for the first time. This is more due to yr openess and friendliness than ours !! And yes, I will definately keep Manchester in mind - after all, how can I not lured by the city whose name starts with a "Man's Chest" Look fwd to seeing more of you on A2K, under yr own name !!!

Margo, pls pls do try and make it to London during this summer - I promise you an evening which you will never forget.

Diane - can't wait for next summers to arrive when you are here. If I am not around, I will fly down back to London to see ya !!!

Fiona - Good to see you online. It was probably a little indelicate of me to mention age (feeling decidedly guilty!), but there was undeniably a slight difference in time elapsed in the respective lives of the group, and thought it did not separate us in any noticeable way, the group dynamic was informed by this factor, among others. Or maybe just because I'm not used to it!

Letty - Angels dine at the Ritz? That's one of my favourite songs (to sing as well as to hear), but it's not often that the streets of town are paved with stars, either!

Margo - if you're in London in June, I'd second Gautam's invitation for an evening out. The same goes for any others reading this.

Walter, c.i. - glad you got home safely. It was a pleasure to meet you both.

Three cheers for Fiona! More! What do you mean "they were all gentlemen" when you asked them about the meeting? Were KP and Gautam as funny and charming in real life as online? More detail!