Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

So lithium_doll and Doc, her hubby, arrived in WGC at 1pm, only mildly delayed by slow trains and the wrong kind of cow on the line (no, really. Go ask her). I whisked them away to Rainham where we visited little Aunty Eve. She was thrilled when LD and Doc presented her with a small hamper of choice foodstuffs. She was less thrilled with the DVD player I gave her. I'm hoping it's just technophobia (she was the same when she first got her video) but the whole reason I got her one was she said she'd like one and when I offered her my old player, she said that would be good. The only reason I didn't give her my old player is that it's not terribly user friendly and not as reliable any more. Ahh well, maybe she'll be happier when she gets the hang of this. I just have to get her to understand it does everything like a video and she needs the same buttons on this remote as the remote for the video, which she uses perfectly well. I also got her some dvds to play, with some good movies.

We went for lunch at a local pub, where Doc amazed and impressed us all with the skillful dissection of half a chicken. I mean, seriously, short of actually boiling the bones, he couldn't have picked the carcass any cleaner. It was fun to watch :) We nattered over coffees then went back to Aunty Eve's where we nattered over tea and biscuits for a while, before we finally took our leave after 6pm. The traffic home was not good - we had to bail off the M25 at the M11 because the warning signs advised that there were major delays ahead. However, this time I didn't get lost in Harlow so it only added about 30 minutes to the journey. Could have been a LOT worse.

When we got back, we nattered for a little while but were so shattered we didn't stay up long and by 10pm we were all tucked in our respective sleeping spots. For verily, we had to be up early the following day. Ugh.

I slept poorly so was Not Pleased when the alarm clock finally dragged me from my slumber. However, we managed to be ready in time to catch a taxi to the station and make the 9.20am train into King's Cross. Stocking up on food, we then scampered to the Circle Line and caught the train to Kensington High Street. Happily, the Town Hall was clearly sign posted from the station and, at the Hall, we simply followed the crowd of geeks to the registration desk. lithium_doll and Doc were dispatched to find Yshala, who had my e-ticket confirmation, as I was, and am, unable to print anything *pauses to kick knackered printer*.

I should explain what Dragoncon is - it's an RPG convention, held every year. Gamers from all over the country come to meet other gamers and take part in table top games of every shape, size and description. Jusnoctis or LbN (London By Night) had 3 tables at the convention and the Brit STs were going to run a total of 6 games, one for each major system. lithium_doll was going to run the final game, with one survivor from each previous game taking part.

So we met up with the LbN crew and gradually people started signing up for games. However, given that the three of us weren't playing and the final game wouldn't start until 3.30pm, we soon sidled off and went and found the nearest pub, joined by two three other folks who were currently game-less. therealsherbs 's other half, Rich joined us after half an hour or so, and later on, so did Sherbs. There was booze. And some food. But mostly booze. Every time LD made noises about needing to get back, we talked her into another round *grins*

We did finally get back and then LD ran an excellent cross-system session, that was fun and dramatic. Damn, but I miss her as an ST. Not as much as I miss her as a player, but that she can do slightly more often these days. Anyway, she didn't kill every character, just two of them, though to be fair, the characters/players were doing a darn good job of killing themselves off :)

As soon as the game wrapped, there was a mass exodus to the restaurant, where 19 of us inhaled vast amounts of seriously good Italian food. So good, I've decided we're eating there next weekend for the RAM gathering :) I like being the organiser who gets to choose the restaurant. Heh heh heh. Anyway, there was much yakking, drinking and eating, though the cider I had was so horrible, I didn't finish it. It may have been less horrible without the ice and the lemon, but I'm not convinced....

Nobody stayed late, everyone needed to get home, so we left the restaurant just after 10 and the three of us were safely installed on the train home by 11. As soon as we got in, we just crashed out. It was a good day but a long one :)

Today has been about playing Settlers of Cataan (which I only ever play with LD and Doc) and eating pizza, before I had to take my guests to the station so they could *waaah* leave and go home. *sniffles* I don't see them often enough - I need to move to Exeter or something :) The cat's bereft too - for two days, he had more fuss and attention than he knew what to do with *grins* No, that's a lie, he knew exactly what to do - turn into a furry ball of purr :P

It was a fun weekend, great to see lithium_doll and Doc, and I had a good time. Hurrah! :)