Derby

I always picture Stormy as looking a bit like Doug McLure from such movies as "The Land that Time Forgot" - or else a bit like an RAF fighter pilot from a WWI movie.... Now if you want moustaches, check out Jozef Imrich - he's got one that Tom Selleck in his Magnum PI heyday would have secretly envied...

I've met Tom Selleck - hahaha that man is HUGE.

Both hands?

Seems like fish's poem went down well - is it on the boards, furthermore will I be old enough to read it? Jeff - I'll get down to Derby sometime I hope...would be a nice day out (chuck?!)...hehehe

I'd love a copy of the pics, George and the full length DVD when it comes out. Can you send them this way.... ta. I seem to remember I was looking the other way but there you go!

often and fondly... hrmm... aww. september is great timing for the next bash (new student loan arrives). Cant wait!

The September do will probably be in the Outer Hebrides, now they've got the 'travel bug'. Liana - will you lend us a fiver in September?

of course... will be very flush.

awwwwwww Am skint at moment, huge surprise plumbing bill, holiday over, neither of us get holiday pay... work looms large...damn So your fiver'll probably be going into my credit card bill...

September sounds good for Derby... I might even break my cherry and get up and 'HAVE A GO." (A virgin at my age... Sheezzz ... it just aint desent!) That way all those people I marked as a M***** A***, who didn't attend the last one can jolly well get their own back on me. I've got rhino skin, and I just dunna give a fig!!! Plus I have a pile of rejection letters to prove just how bad I CAN BE!!! BRIAN says, "Almost funny when a certain amount of alcohol has been consumed!"

No sign of the pictures yet. Any chance, George?

wow September, count me in. ;)

Liana you pay a days pay fer me n jan n We'll turn up darlin!!! Posted by Jans fella Bri...

it was sracastic humour is all... following your wifes initial post where SHE called people who couldnt attend Derby do "misery arses" and "not able to be bothered" when we couldnt attend for exactly the reasons you outlined... Not all black and white is it Jans fella me duck?

Hey Karl, wanna dance?

Have a wonderful time at the 'Do'... I cant attend, damn - my shifts don't allow it this time. Thinking of you

Reading this thread has made me all excited about the do in London next week. Can't wait. Only three days now. We leave on Tuesday night.

Well, you misery arse, is all I can say. Cant be bothered to turn up eh? t'choh...

Liana, it seems he has met his match!!! Go for it gel... About time is all I can say... Oh! n just so you know... Whispers, He's a yorkshireman. (not that it makes him any less sarky, you understand.) and we aint married. Don't bloomin well wish that on me - please...

Glad you enjoyed it, Snaphappy and welcome to abc. Were you and Jen sat behind Dan and Alex (LHS of room from the readers viewpoint)? Meanwhile, in the absence of Stephen Gardiner I lay temporary claim to the title of Shirt. Mine was easily the loudest in the room. Jeff Prince will, henceforth, be referred to as The Tie.

In the shirt stakes, Colin, you are a mere boy, you lacked flamboyance, the offending item somewhat resembling a blank crossword, and Matt's tie looked as though it was worn in deference to the death of a wanky Windsor. Somebody should tell the lad that when properly 'tied' both tails should be the same length. Your performance though, was Ralph Richardson standard. The video will very likely be available as part of a DVD I am currently working on.

Well, I married a Yorkshire woman. Just wait 'till I find who made that wish. Double jeapordy! Nah, she's nice really.

Sorry to have to report this, but my sentence is looking like it's going to be very, very long. I'm allowed leave for the Bloomsbury thing though.

Have a great time in London Town all - knees up! :)

Hmmmmm, wonders... Is that just the Tie???

Yes, and should "it just aint desent!" be "it just ain't decent!"??? heh heh heh :-) Ralph Richardson is dead. What are saying george?

Aye proxy Shirt, that sounds like us, I was the tall fella wit glasses (hold on, there was quite a few of them) at the back, Jen was to me right. She loved it too. She was offering Mark a place to stay next time you're up... That's got to be a 'yes' vote! :)

Next time I'll be wearing a kipper.

Can I be cheeky and ask people to let me know what they think of my first posting - or is that bad netiquette? I'm thoroughly inexperienced (!) and I'm gnashing at the bit for my first slagging off... Anyone care to oblige? My offering is at: http://www.abctales.com/story/59053 Ta! :)

A volunteer? It would be rude to refuse such a request.....

I just did this for you because Missi tends to get in a muddle doing links.............bless him

I wasn't going to READ it, just supply the requested slagging!

Do you know what? I'm getting a bit sick and fucking tired of being made to feel like a cheapskate for not attending the latest do's. "Not Bothering to turn up" was not the case for many people who couldn't attend. I'm glad you enjoyed it - wish I couldve been there. I have enjoyed several events so far, and hope to enjoy several more.

Good point, Liana, and well made. Do you know what I get sick and tired of? I get sick and tired of people calling me a "misery arse" at parties because I don't dance. I find dancing fascinating to watch. I just can't imagine what possesses people to get up and do those things with their bodies. It's not that I lack rhythm. I used to play drums, and I am forever tapping my fingers and hands along to music. And I do this anywhere - when I'm driving, at concerts, anywhere, but it seems my rhythm is limited to my hands. Now a lot of people would say I'm missing out on something here, and they're entitled to their opinion. I may equally be of the opinion that they're missing out on something by not going scuba-diving. However, I wouldn't call them a misery arse for not giving it a go. The truth is at parties I enjoy sitting down with a cold beer and good conversation and watching everybody else. I've always been a people-watcher. But I'm not miserable when doing this. I'm quite happy. I just wish that when people want to dance they'd get on with it and leave me alone. And do you know what I also get sick and tired of? People who say, "Can't we put on some decent music that we can have a bop to?" They seem to be of the opinion that if you can't dance to it then it's not decent music. And yet you know full well that there are certain people who could throw themselves all around the garden to the music these people can't "have a bop" to. And then when they finally do get up to dance, all they do is step in and out with one foot while simultaneously lifting their elbows up and down like a chicken! Surely that's not dancing. Rant over, sorry about that.

Yes my arse was trumpeting quite happily this morning i'll have you know, not in the least bit miserable. My face however, well that's is a completely different matter. Derbyshire is miles away from Northants, up in Yorkshire isn't it?

Well I went ! and I met Brownie and her partner - will you thank him again for allowing me to polish his head ... and his nice compliment about my having nice warm hands

What happened Pi? I expected lots of posts to say what a great night it was etc. and stayed awake until 3AM waiting for Fish's promised post or a least a quick post be Matt (Jeff) to say that all had gone well. The response today has been very muted but I can't believe it was a disaster. Is everybody still too hungover to do a decent report?

Yes

I have some pics available to those that want them, not many (just 9) cos I spent most of my time videoing. I haven't had time to view that yet but in due course it will surface. Anyway, if you want the pics, say so here, and leave an email addy if I don't already have one. The one of Bert, (the best pic of the bunch) was taken by Fishyperson, who I think I may have redeemed myself with as a rather fetching one of her is included. (She threatened me with transportation after I inadvertantly sent out a less than flattering piccy over a year ago, and she hasn't forgiven me yet)

Hi Racey - you recovered yet ? It was not a total disaster at all - I enjoyed it and don't care what anyone else says - AND I have a nice new abc mug I met Mark Brown, David(bobblehat), Racheal, Mississippi, Neil the auditor, Matt, Brownie and her partner who allowed me to polish his head (already told you that) Stormy, Fish and Bert Also Alex - (his name was Alex?) - and Dan (who does looks like someone I know but isn't the person I know because I saw him out of his head - I mean asleep on a bench in Bangor when I got back) there where others there who I did not speak to - sorry Hopes Matt took his bit of the beach home with him ... specially after I carried it all the way from Wales The readings ........

I suppose it falls to me to do the write up for this one then? I had a great time! Jeff Prince did an excellent job of finding us the venue. The Railway Tavern is an excellent red brick coaching house style pub. We had the entire top floor, a long room that came to a point at a lovely curved window. Ivoryfishbone opened proceedings in her usual excellent fashion. Neil_the_auditor treated us to a few poems that he thought he’d try out on us before he took them to his writers group, one of which was the least politically correct monologue taking place in an India restaurant in the history of the world ever. Three live event virgins took the centre spot, Bert, Stormy_Petrel and myself. Stormy gave us a jaw droppingly good performance of some wonderfully observed poems which captured the strangely magical quality of everyday family relations. Bert gave us a story about nicking money from a book-keepers and possibly the best anti-nature poem I’ve ever heard. I did some old nonsense in a Geordie accent and I think I got away with it. Alex and Dan turned up, not having used ABCtales before and took advantage of our open slots to give us poems about death and beauty, and a short story about murder and stalking respectively. David Floyd popped in and out, dropping a few poems here and there as the night went on. It was a good, intimate night. We kept it low key and friendly, myself and David not being the most razzmatazz of showmen. It was just as important to me that everyone got a chance to meet and chat as it was that we had the top quality performances that we did. It all came off wonderfully, which we have Jeff Prince (Matt Purland) to thank for. He did all of the leg work, organising all of the on-the ground aspects in Derby. On behalf of ABCtales I can’t thank him enough. This event has shown me that ABCtales events work best when they are warm and informal and friendly, and I hope provides a template for how we can do them all over the country in the future. We just need a room and some people, then it happens if we do the donkey work of drumming up a bit of a buzz. I had a hearteningly nice time with everyone who came. It was lovely to see everyone, and I’d love to meet more of you in the flesh soon. I had an excellent time, because of all you folks who came. I’ve just got to thank you all, it was great. I'd love to do more of these round the country, I really would.

I'd like copies ta, me e-mail addy is: g.parker73@ntlworld.com, cheers me dears! :0)

Sounds like it was a great night!

awww.. sounds lovely, am really glad it all came together. Hope to make the next one... boo hoo...

It was a very good night. Well done Jeff / Matt! Great readings as always, great to meet new people too. We stayed up 'til the wee small hours and ran up the largest bar bill known in the history of The Derby Midland Hotel. And... Stormy fell over, which was an unexpected bonus (I thought that was just an urban myth, but it isn't)

Me toooooo.

Karl and Liana, I concur absolutely. Was going to go, but certain circumstances made it so as I couldn't. I agree about chatting Karl. It's nice to talk, as you once said to me (a long long long time ago). Shame I missed a good do! Never mind next time perhaps.

Oh, I'm so glad it was a warm and intimate affair - I was soooooo sorry not to be able to come - you know I was in Wales. I do hope it does set a precedent for further such events, I am definitely coming to the London do...having missed this, I feel determined to meet some of you people somehow!! Booking will take place this very night - hope there are some tickets left. *looks round worried - wondering what has been going on this past week* *Blows kisses to everyone, as I've missed you all.*

Glad you all had a grate time, sounds like it went really well.

we had a really good time ... so glad we came ... it was a right hoot ... as mark says it was intimate and friendly ... the readings were all engaging and many thanks are due to matt for organising it ... good to meet pioden too ... i think i liked seeing the performance virgins most of all ... the "would he or wouldn't he" drama of stormy petrel was more gripping than any soap opera ... we can confirm that stormy fell over ... he has grazes on his nose to prove it ... i believe he is telling mrs stormy that it was a manly accident sustained during the opening of my temperamental sun brolly ... that hotel was very nice ... all those crisp white sheets and gallons of hot water ... and everywhere being so clean ... *sigh* ... lovely ...