Conventions AFP Meets AFPer Map Other PTerry's Theatre Month 2018	Meet Stacie Meet Hogswatch BBQ '08 Camping Meet '15	Updated: 01/05/17

Well, everyone was very much looking forward to meeting Stacie, AFP's very own Professor of English and lit-critter (among other, less official, tags), that when she announced that she would be coming over for this year's Con, and spending a few days in and around the country beforehand, it was relatively predictable for there to be suggested a Meet to meet Stacie.

And so that was what happened. The date was fixed for August 14^th, the venue was The Green Man, the time was 7pm. I finished work at five, and went straight there. The only trouble was ...

... the pub was shut for refurbishment. The peal of laughter over the phone when I rang and told Eric was the best thing I had heard all week.

Never mind. I soon scoped out another pub barely 50 yards away, and told Eric so he could post the alteration. I then hung around keeping an eye out for AFPers. Not knowing by sight all that many of them, and not knowing who would be coming for certain anyway, was probably part of the reason I spent about 20 minutes not ten feet from Random and not recognising each other (I take heart from the fact that I can still apparently pass for a student). In my defence, I must metion that I was expecting her to have more hair, and my hearing is so bad I couldn't hear her numerous over-the-telephone references to the newsgroup.

So, just after 7 o'clock, after not spotting anyone, I went on my own to The Albany, and got started. About ten minutes later, Eric and Random arrived, and we found a bigger table. While Eric went to look for others who may not have seen his update notice, on the way to a cash machine, Random and I talked about Con costumes. It didn't take long for Eric to return with a few people in tow, among them the guest of honour.

With the arrival of more people, the chocolate appeared, as did a toy fish that wolf-whistled when you squashed it, and Eric's surplus Bloodbowl figures. Then came the presentation of the cricket bat, an event which was marred by Eric's disappointment that it didn't need the linseed oil treatment, as it had a plastic protective covering. There was much discussion of Eric's new hat, which was intended to let people recognise him easier at the Con.

He refused to tuck his hair up inside it, to prove that he still had some. The fish was passed round and its' sound effect tested to the limit.

Food was eaten, Stacie experiencing for the first time the delicacy known as Welsh Rare-bit, and also cider. Various people tried on Eric's rather nice hat, including me. I was told I should get one as well.

My present of the cricket bat was rewarded with a pair of origami cranes. I wondered what they were when given the first one, but after being told, it became obvious. I'd always assumed they'd be more assymmetrical than they actually were. More people arrived, and seats were re-shuffled. Leaning back to take a photo, Stacie reached across and tickled my midriff. I let out a rather ridiculous laugh, but even I was impressed with the speed of my blind reflex grab of Stacie's hand, which I held in place while I continued to position myself for the shot.

The evening continued, with discussions of famous comedy sketches and opportunities for playing which music with who. Un-shelled pistachio nuts also featured, and at one point I thought the discarded shells were on fire - but it was only Eric's cigarette in the ash tray where they had been deposited.

Eventually, Stacie decided it was time to go, and Alec (her host) helped her from the building, to a series of "goodbye"s and "see you at the Con"s. Amazingly, she could still remember everybody's name. It was just past eleven when I decided it was time for me to likewise head homeward, so out I went into the rain, to run for the train at Baker Street, nearly getting run over by some prat who didn't believe in indicators.

© Brian Wakeling