Wednesday 14 October 2015

Guess Who I Met Last Weekend!

We'd been planning it for months, and the day finally came!

I think we first talked about it in May; it was so hard to find a weekend we could all make... so, on October 10th, I went to Sheffield to meet four friends from Rosie Amber's Book Blog ~ I was so intrigued to meet the lady for whom I've been reviewing books since last Christmas, the mysterious Rosie (!), along with three others: Cathy Ryan (from Between The Lines book blog), Barb Taub and Alison Williams.  Before this post gets too filled up with links, I'll just say that a click on their names leads to their Twitter pages and all links to blogs that I haven't already included, etc!

Sheffield, why Sheffield?  We chose this city because it was mid way between us all - we were coming from as far north as Glasgow and as far south as Hampshire.

Barb travelled on the same train as me and we met the other three outside the hotel.  I knew what Alison and Cathy looked like from their Twitter photos, but Rosie?  I was looking for a lady in pearls with a big hat, a trug filled with roses, and a pair of secateurs...  

....but here they are!  Barb, Alison, Cathy, and ~ Rosie! 

Rosie Amber's Review Team #RBRT!!

We lunched at an Italian place and then spent a great afternoon in the hotel lounge/bar over coffee, discussing Rosie's blog, blogging/tweeting in general, reviewing, books we've read, plans for #RBRT, such as annual book awards and a new hashtag (more to come!); the hours flew by and I was so surprised to look at my phone and see it was 5.45 (nostalgia alert ~ do you remember when everyone used to consult watches for the time, rather than phones?).  What struck me most was this: how lovely it is to make new friends so late in life ~ we range in age between 46 and 61.  I've become a lot less sociable in recent years, my attitude being 'right, I've got enough friends now', and I often find I can't be bothered to socialise, looking forward to going home when I'm out.  Saturday, though, made me realise it's all about being in the company of people who are obsessively interested in the same things as you.


We left the booking of the dinner venue to Barb, who was threatening to go elsewhere on her own for her favourite sushi ~ Rosie, Cathy and I hate it (I totally love all fish, but I like it to be at least on speaking terms with a grill, or any other cooking appliance).


I've long been interested in the dynamics of groups of people; my mother used to be a therapist who led many group therapy sessions, and said that there is always one who directs which way the conversation goes; I'd say that was Barb, though Rosie and I were pretty vocal, too (well, we're both Leos!) while Alison and Cathy listened more and talked less.  Mum told me there is usually a group 'clown' and sometimes an antagonist, too ~ I am not sure who wore those hats (or maybe I just don't like to consider it!!). 

Barb and me ~ clown/antagonist/group leader?


Cathy and Alison ~ listening to Rosie, Barb and me doing most of the talking!

Our partying days all being over, we were back in our hotel rooms by 11.30 ~ aaaah!  I very much enjoy staying in hotels on my own - I don't hang anything up or put stuff away, I just lay my clothes out on the sofa, and have my phone, glasses, iPad, etc, next to me in the empty space.  Out like a light and slept really well.  I'm not saying that my husband's snoring wakes me up during the night, of course, I just happened to have a really good night's sleep on my own....  

Me when I got in ~ you can tell my drinking days are over, too; 
look at my unaccustomed-to-wine eyes, and the slant of the camera!!

An early morning call enabled me to have several cups of coffee and play several games of 'Plague' on my iPad (you have to destroy all human life on earth by means of virus, bacteria, etc, I'm totally addicted).  And so to breakfast, which was fabulous, the meal I enjoyed most!  Couldn't you just sit there all day with those buffet breakfasts?  I had muesli with all sorts of stuff on, and eggs and tomatoes, and fruit, and a ton more coffee...

I love this picture of Barb and Rosie!

And then it was nearly time to go....

Must get some lowlights in that hair, I look like Lucius Malfoy...

To sum up ~ it was great, we all thoroughly enjoyed it and got on so well, even though we're all quite different.  Shows how similar interests can bring people together so successfully.  We're planning another meeting, in Spring next year, if all goes well.  There's so much still to discuss!


(We're wondering whether to call the review team 'Rosie's Angels'...!)


 

38 comments:

  1. It sounds wonderful, Terry - the magic of the internet, eh, this is one of the great advantages of it. I would love to join you next time, please!

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    1. Indeed it is - because you veer towards people who have the same interests as you :) (And yes, you can go on the list!!)

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  2. Thanks Terry, if this ever gets popular enough with reviewers and supporters of the wonderful job all you reviewers do, we'll book a bigger venue and everyone can come.

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    1. I was just thinking that it might end up as something of a convention - maybe for the writers we review regularly too!!

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  3. What a great gathering!! Totally envious of your meet up but incredibly impressed that you managed to with everyone's hectic schedules - terrific post T :-)

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    1. Originally it seemed so difficult that a couple said, shall we leave it until the spring, but I remember both Alison and I said that if we didn't sort it out and make it happen, it never would! So pleased it really did, though :)

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  4. Sounds wonderful! Glad you all had a good time. I fall into that age group and am aware that I don't make as many new friends these days - lovely to know that people who meet online can have so much fun when the meet in the flesh!

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    1. Oh yes, I don't bother at all these days - I've lived where I am now for six years and, apart from the people my husband knows, have made 0 new friends! But I enjoyed this more than I sometimes enjoy seeing old friends - because these people are relevant to me now, I suppose. :)

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  5. What great idea - Rosie deserves a medal for all she does to support authors :)

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    1. I still can't believe we actually did it, Tony!

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  6. A terrific occasion. It must have been really special to meet up for the first time, and what a great idea to make an overnighter of it and have a breakfast get together too.

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    1. Thanks, Val, it was brilliant! I wish it could be you as well one day :)

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  7. Great post, Terry :) Can’t wait to do it all again!

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  8. Oh it sounds like an amazing outing! Just the sort of a gathering I wouldn't miss for the world :-) (love, love, love such 'girls outings'!)
    Great pictures. You all look lovely and it is so clear how you all enjoyed this meeting (and yes I admit, I also expected Rosie to wear a big hat, roses and be armed with big shears :D)
    Thank you for this post. it was such a pleasure to read and you made me feel as though I met all of you as well :)

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    1. Ah, what a lovely comment! Thanks, Zoe - you never know, one day we might meet, too :) xx

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    2. You took the words out of my mouth Zoe. Love my girlfriends. And that's how I expected Rosie to look.... Plus massive sunglasses! Ha ha!!

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  9. Hi Terry - I loved reading about and seeing your photos of your get-together ... I can quite imagine it was loads of fun ... and great you're going to meet next year. Gosh incredible distances you all travelled ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary! Yes, took some planning and commitment - would have been so easy just to say, oh, shall we do it next year, and not actually pin each other down to a day. Rosie and Barb were great organising it all, along with a 6th who was, sadly, unable to come at the last minute. xx

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  10. Really interesting to see all those nice ladies who've been so kind to me via twitter, they're just as I imagined them to be, and I bet their company was fun. Also really good to put faces to names, now you've brought their personalities alive so vividly

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  11. It sounds like you all had a wonderful time Terry. I agree that time flies when you're with people with similar interests, and there's always room for more friends of that caliber.

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    1. One day it will evolve to become a yearly get together with EVERYONE, Norah! xx

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  12. It's great to finally meet people you have so much in common with. I was talking to someone recently about how I never expected to make new friends at my age (like you, I felt I had enough) but in the last couple of years I've made friends with so many lovely people, it's been amazing. I now wonder how I got by without my best writing buddy, Tracy, who I only met two years ago.

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    1. I think it's because when you start writing all the time it absorbs you so much, and so it's lovely to meet others for whom it's the same - seems like stating the obvious, I know! But some of my old friends don't even ask me about it; I ask them about their lives but I think that they think it's just some little hobby that I do now!!! And you keep on changing throughout life, too xx

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  13. Hi Terry. Thank you for sharing this blog post with us. I appreciate how digital can allow us to access the simple pleasures of analogue - like connecting with new friends. Have a great week. Fred

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  14. Oooh... isn't it fun when you meet people 'in the real world'..reminds me of a certain get-together in Newcastle last year....

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  15. The power of social media if used correctly. Thanks for sharing

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    1. Couldn't have put it better myself! :) Thanks for reading.

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  16. You really must do it again. I always feel a night out with the girls is such a tonic. A few of us played 'Come Dine With Me' recently. It took us years to finally get around to doing it. And it will definitely be an annual event from now on. I'm looking forward to real-life meeting my first ever Blogger & Twitter friend Shelley Wilson. When she comes to the West of Ireland :-) in the near future I hope!

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    1. Oh, that must have been fun - and you must tell us all about when you meet Shelley! :)

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  17. Oh my gosh, how FUN! And that shot of y'all posing like Charlie's Angels still has me giggling! :D

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    1. Oh, it was, it was, Tui! So glad we actually made it happen! I've bagsied be Farrah Fawcett, btw :)

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