Look! People!

So, I was at the London Blogmeet last night.

D and I met up after work and headed to a nearby sandwich shop to grab a bite to eat, knowing that alochol would likely be consumed and having something there to absorb it might lessen the chance of a falling down incident.

So we finish eating, and we're bored, and we decide to head off to the pub, via Eletronics Boutique.

We get to the doors of the pub, take a deep breath, and push open the doors, to be greeted by what looks like the dregs of at least three separate office parties. Frantically, I scan the crowd for anyone who looks like they might be a blogger (this is a more difficult task than you might imagine).

Seeing no-one who looks likely, we make our way to the bar, and order drinks. It occurs to me that this is like the blind date from hell. So we sit, and we sit, and we sit, and I'm watching the door, hoping that someone I recognise will come through it.

Then a couple come in, and they wander up and down the pub, and I think "are they looking for people or chairs?". So I surreptitiously watch them, and I can't decide. I think it might be Mo Morgan, but I'm not sure, and I'm sure as hell not going to walk up and introduce myself. Oh no.

So we sit.

And we sit.

And we move from our place at the bar to a place near the door with a table.

And we sit.

And I watch the door.

And we look around, and I tell D to check upstairs to see if they're up there. After a small argument he comes back and tells me it's closed for a private function. Good. Less chance of sitting around like an arse all night in the wrong bar.

So we sit a bit more, and then the door opens and three or four guys walk through, and suddenly, there's a flash of recognition. Oh! That was Tom! Right. Where is he going.

Straight over to that couple.

Ah. That'll be Mo Morgan then.

So we go over, and stand about for a bit on the periphery feeling vaguely foolish, and eventually D taps Mo on the shoulder and says "Excuse me, is this the blogmeet?".

The answer is yes, and the introductions are made. Mo introduces his other half Katie (who I link to, despite not being able to load her site right now), and I think Cal appears at this point.

We chat a bit, I geek over Katie's EOS 300 camera, and embarrass D by pulling out the Coolpix. Cal shows off his tiny and rather sexy IXUS camera, and various candid shots of people drinking and Mo's middle finger are taken.

There are several moments of utterly surreal conversation with Dan. D and Katie bond over Mariocart on his Gameboy Advance

Then at this point Mike shows up, and we have a chat about various cultural differences, and he buys me a bourbon. A real bourbon. Me having put my foot in it by telling him that I drink bourbon, and then mentioning Southern Comfort and Jack Daniels. He doesn't seem too offended, and patiently explains the difference between bourbon and sour mash.

D is most delighted by an opportunity to talk to Anna and I tell her that I was on Iona in August this year, but didn't email her because I didn't want to freak her out. Anna's standing next to Dave, who's very quiet, but that just might have been the effect of the music, which seems to have gotten louder.

Suddenly a bell rings, and I wonder how it got to be so late already. People start to leave, and as they do, a guy who's been at the opposite end of the crowd from me all night stops to say goodbye to the various people nearby. I turn round and say hi and introduce myself as Ann. He introduces himself as Simon. Ah. Minor 9th says the voice in my head. He leaves, I feel satisfied that I've identified almost everyone here.

The hour grows later, and we eventually tumble out of the pub and head for home via pizza.

The evening is crowned, when I get home to find an amazon package waiting for me. Excited (for I had not ordered anything), I open the package to find one of the Alice Hoffman books I've had my eye on - Blue Diary, and a very sweet note from my Secret Santa.

Who is Simon.

Mortification washes over me as I curse the lateness of the post deliveries which meant that Simon may or may not have made the connection, and may or may not think I was the most rude person on the planet for not making more of an effort to surf the crowd and introduce myself. Or even to say thanks. So Thanks Simon, it's really great. I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you much, maybe next time?

And so, to bed, and now, to work.

P.S. Pictures will be sorted through and uploaded later.