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It was a bit of an epic in some ways - blithely assuming I could rely on the satnav on my phone to work my way around - only to find that the signal is crappy in that part of town
but at least I had my trusty compass which I used to great effect and Mal and I made it to FP in time.There was a good turn out for the signing and it was great to see SE at the end of this 10 book series. I had 6 copies of the Crippled God for signing - Abyss, Pathos, Sombra, Cicero - you guys all owe Mal a drink coz those books are big and heavy (along with our own two copies) and he carted them half way round Lunnon Towne with good grace. You will find out shortly why he went half way round Lunnon Towne with 'em.
We headed off to the Porterhouse with SE as he said he wanted to chat with fans - nice place but man, it was really really loud and really really busy - the rugby was in full swing - *facepalm* so no chance of any conversation there. Apologies to Steve for mixing up his food order. It was funny though if you can follow my logic. He said "the pizza looks good - I'll have one with pepperoni" - then Messremb hands him a menu which he peruses and the next word I hear is "Mexican" so I think ok - one Mexican pizza comping up for my favourite author and dash off to the bar to give the order. Barman says "Mexican? you mean Sombrero?" I think yeah that sounds mexican so place the order. Go back to SE and say "pizza is on it's way shortly" and he looks at me a bit funny and says "pizza?". I nod, happy that I have organised some much-needed sustenance for my favourite author. Anyway, food arrives and he eats it - then Mal comes up to me and says "Why did you order pizza for him?" I reply "because that's what he asked for." Mal says "he wanted a Mexican burger!" I am mortified. Didn't hear what he wanted due to the noise. I don't think he minded too much but my organisational skills are obviously sadly lacking as, so far, the venue is wrong and the food is wrong.
Determined to make up for things I ask Toby to recommend a quieter pub and preferably one with no TV and Toby, being the master of all venues in cockney-land comes up trumps and it's only 10 minute walk, so we all decide to de-camp there with our favourite author in tow. Lunnon Towne is very very busy that Saturday afternoon and if I had thought about it I should have brought a rope and tied us all together, another example of my sad lack of organisational skills. So we troop off - about 16 of us plus our favourite author - and Toby sets a cracking pace - and of course the inevitable happens, we find that we've lost a couple of people because everyone's talking and chattering like a bunch of excited hamsters and no-one pays attention to the detail of who is with us. We discover that Brood is missing and Mal and Beliar's mate have gone awol. So we're standing outside the Freemason's headquarters (or it could just have been a pub of that name?) and my phone rings. It's Mal he's by the tube station and needs directions - so I tell him yes keep walking down Long Acre and you'll reach us. So he does - for about 10 minutes - only he's going in completely the wrong direction! Anyway, suffice to say we do eventually find our missing party members, and with our favourite author still patiently in tow, we continue walking, and walking, and walking - by which time we are beginning to wonder at how long a 10 minute walk can be. I'm still wondering if Toby chose that route so he could pick pockets along the way
Mal is beginning to get a bit testy (he's still carrying all those books) and just as he's beginning to head for Icarium territory (I can already hear the keening in my head!), Toby, like the true cockney urchin he is, pulls his trump card and we turn into a haven of peace, calm and tranquility. I shit you not, it was like walking into a warren. The City of Yorke in Lunnon Towne is now bookmarked as a great pub, a real gem. There are no tv's, no slot machines, no music - just good beer, and reasonably good food.
So we had a few beers, some food, some good conversation - even if no-one felt courageous enough to talk to our favourite author too much - I understand how that works, you have stuff to say but don't want to come across as being a dumb-ass - I feel it all the time and then end up doing exactly that
.After our favourite author left, and I hope he found his way back to his hotel but trust that he took a cab (when he asked how close were we to Leicester Square and everyone looked blank, it didn't bode well), we settled into squashy leather sofa's and really began to lay it down. It was great - everyone has so much to say to each other at these meet-ups and I would encourage anyone who attends one of these events in the future to come and say hi and hang out some time. At around 10 Mal and I decide that we really have to get back to the station to get our train. We make it to King's Cross without a hitch, settle into seats on the train - and promptly fell asleep. We woke up just as we were arriving at Peterborough station - (the last stop thankfully!) and about 30 miles further than we should have been. Totally missed all the stops along route and our own stop, where my car is parked. Bummer.
It's midnight and there's no train back until 3.35. The taxi back to St. Neots station cost us £60.00 - but we were blissfully happy nonetheless and had a great day out.
So I would like to thank Toby for his "knowledge" and Steve for being such a trooper - he did say it was good to stretch his legs - and to thank everyone else for making it so much fun. We had a blast and I hope you all did too. Special mention to our party members - Imperial Historian, Brood, Mezla and friend of Mezla (Hi Tim) Dag and Stone Monkey (do I hear the tiniest tinkle of wedding bells in the future?
) Messremb, Tremolo, STd, Beliar (and his funny friend Gary and his absolutely charming girlfriend who must have wondered why the hell she had agreed to come along) but mostly I would like to thank SE for bringing us together and for a massive achievement on reaching the end of this epic, epic, 10 book series.You sir, are a star - a gentleman and one of my favourite people. You have the patience of a Trell, the dignity of a Tiste Andii, the wit of a sapper and I am very very grateful for all your words. Thank you Steve, for everything you have given us.
with love - Hazel.
