We went to Oxonmoot

[wellinghall]

Last year, we went to Oxonmoot, the Tolkien Society's annual get-together in Oxford. This is a long-standing annual fixture for us; this year was my seventeenth in a row, and adaese's thirty-second. This year - as last year, and in 1997 - it was in Lady Margaret Hall.

We arrived mid-afternoon on Friday, collected our room key, and checked in. We were lucky enough to get a twin room; as this was actually a single room with an extra bed shoved in, it was cramped for two, but no smaller than many hotel rooms. The shower room was minute, though.

Then adaese had a nap - she proved later to be coming down with a heavy cold - and I went downstairs to see if I could help. This I did, in an admittedly desultory way, by helping ExMemSec to set up Ops; then putting up posters for muuranker; and telling various people where to go.

Later on, I registered for both of us, and then adaese came to find me. We met up with pellegrina, and we went for dinner at the Gardener's (apostrophe?) Arms, for a beer and a vegetarian dinner. And back to college; a brief trip to the bar to talk to jane_somebody; and to bed.

On Saturday, we necessarily got up early, and breakfasted, then I went to find the Deneke room for my paper on Vikings and their westward voyages. This proved to be a small room, with limited capacity; but what seats there were were all taken, and a few people stuck their noses in the door, saw the room was full, and left. I think my paper went down well.

Later on that morning (technically afternoon, but still pre-lunch), I was the auctioneer. With thanks to ExMemSec, bouncy_elf, the Teen, and everyone who bidded, we raised £462.something for the CDML fund.

After a picnic lunch (which worked quite well, tho' possibly only because it was fine), I - and many others - watched the excellent fan film Born of Hope http://www.bornofhope.com/.

Dinner that evening was at an Italian in Jericho - Mamma Mia, I think - with jane_somebody, skordh, prince_eldarion, frodo_lad, the_marquis, na_lon, malaheed, pellegrina, P, and parrot_knight. Then back to college for the party; we didn't stay long, as adaese was feeling really quite rough.

For the same reason, we left early on Sunday, and missed Enyalie. Instead, we headed straight for the station; but there were few trains around, so it took a long time to get home.

It was great to see so many people; I'm only sorry I didn't get chance to talk to more of you. It was nice not spending any of Oxonmoot behind a sales desk - that doesn't happen very often!

You will be pleased to know that adaese is now feeling better than she was, but still rather tired, and with a persistent cough.

Finally, methinks a certain boy had better buck his ideas up, otherwise he might just find his next present stays here instead ... ;-)

Comments

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to know adaese is doing better.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)