I
slept like a log last night - it is amazing how I do that after two
night shifts and a tad too much ale. Over brekkie I reflected on
last
night's geo-meet.
I had a good time chatting with old friends and meeting several
(potential)
new friends but I found myself taken aback by the comments left
on-line by one person. They wrote: "I
attended but did not feel welcome. As a newbie to this activity and
making my first visit to a gathering I was surprised that there was
not a welcome desk or a signing in register to record details of
attendees. It just looked like a group of friends having a drink in a
pub and as a lone individual I was not comfortable to just butt into
someone else's conversation. Put me off going to this type of event
in the future unless it is made more welcoming"
I
was rather taken aback by this. Leaving aside the fact that there
*was* "a signing in register to record details of
attendees", I could
have understood this attitude (partially)
had we secured a private venue. But last night's event was in an
open bar in the pub. For everyone walking into the place for the
geo-meet there were half a dozen normal people coming in for a pint
and/or a meal.
You can't randomly
effusively welcome absolutely everyone to a meeting they aren't
attending. I've hosted five geo-meets and I have made a point of
approaching anyone who looks as though they are lost and/or lonely
but in the majority of cases these people were nothing to do with the
meet and I scared them off.
Having said that I met
several people last night who were at their first geo-meet. All
seemed happy and friendly enough to me.
I
can't help but feel that anyone turning up to any new social
situation has got to make something of an effort themselves. I'm
not unsympathetic; I must admit that I was rather nervous when I went
to my first geo-meet, but I found everyone welcoming. It's probably
true to say that if there wasn't such a really friendly and
welcoming geo-community I would have long since packed up with the
hobby.
However
I have been to geo-events (out of the local area) where people
weren't quite as warm and effusive as the Kent crowd. In those cases
it is realistically up to the individual; you can either go home and
sulk (as this person clearly did), or make a point of joining
in. I made a point of joining in. But then I'm the sort of person
that does.
"My Boy TM"
phoned immediately after brekkie. The plan for today had beeen to
finish off the last section of fencing. But it had been raining all
night and was still raining. So we thought bettter of fencing.
Instead I braved the elements and took "Furry Face TM"
round the park. There was an embarrasinng incident when he tried to
mount a staffie belonging to one of OrangeHead's posse. I wouldn't
have minded quite so much had it been anyone else. And with staffie
mounted we came home to dry off. We were out for about half an hour
and got soaked.
I set the washing machine
to do its thing to a now-overflowiing laundry basket and then did the
monthly household accounts (ouch!) and sorted out the astro
club's money after last Friday's meeting.
Over a spot of lunch I
watched last night's "Gotham" and last week's
"Jericho" whilst my dog snored on my lap. I had a
vague plan to spend the afternoon carrying on cutting back next
door's clematis, but the rain hadn't let up so I thought I'd spend a
few minutes putting the finishing touches to a Wherigo I have had on
the drawing board for some time.
"A few minutes"
became four hours. It is now ready for field-testing. I shall do that
later in the week.
Being Tuesday the clans
gathered; this time in Arden Road. We had a rather good evening
talking and bandying insults and watching an early episode of
"Gotham". Mind you it is a little while since I'd
been round to Chris's. I'd forgotten just how low the sofas are.
It hurt to get down and
then get up again.
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