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My Works in Progress

Thursday 31 January 2008

Meeting New Friends

Wow!

Despite butterflies in my tummy and the heart-stopping panic I felt when waiting outside WH Smiths at Euston station for Kev and Mercedes the Wannabe Meet-up was everything I thought it would be, and more.

This morning, the experience has left me kneeling at the feet of the power of the written word more than ever before.

None of my fellow bloggers looked like their photos, and I don't suppose I did either. I now realise that photographs are two-dimensional images and no more; it takes the talent of a real artist to bring them to life. However, the multi-dimensional, multi-faceted and multi-coloured human personality can be captured precisely by the power of the written word.

Caz, Denise, Fiona, Jane, Lane, Linda, Mercedes and Mother X were every bit the lovely women I admire in blogland and in Sunday chats for their skills in showing us, through words, aspects of life we can all identify with and yet never seem to see for ourselves. Their personalities exactly mirrored those I had conjured up in my mind, even though I don't think anyone looked like their photos. This phenomenon can only be down to one thing, and that is their considerable skill in manipulating the written word.

Kev is the only man I felt I had come to know through cyberspace - as, poor bloke, he is outnumbered by us nattering women in blogland and in the chat room. I recognised him immediately from his photo, and yes, he was every bit the perfect gentleman I imagined him to be. Quiet and yet perceptive and creative, he came out with some little gems during the day.

Liz, Barry, Wayne and Mike I'd never communicated with before yesterday, either in blogland or in the chatroom. By the end of the day I felt an incredible affinity with them, because, just like all of us, they were writers.

I don't know how to say thank you to all of you for the lovely day I had yesterday. I only hope I didn't talk too much, as once I start I find it difficult to shut up! I hope our friendship endures throughout the coming years and we can celebrate together as we all, one by one, become published authors.

Cheers!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had a fantastic time!! Really Loved meeting you! You were just as I imagined.And I felt like I knew you already!! really cant wait to see you again, Ill have to get you to persuade D to let me go to the writers course with you...PLEASE!

Karen said...

What a lovely post! I'm really pleased you had such a nice time, and agree that a photo only tells half a story! (Thank goodness.) I like the idea of having an affinity through a shared love of something, and it's definitely how I feel, talking to you all in Blogland :o)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for those wonderful kind words, Annie.

I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Lane Mathias said...

What a beautiful post Annie. You're not a writer by any chance are you??!

Yesterday was fab. You're as lovely in real life as you are 'on the page'.

Looking forward to the next one and we can all pick up where we left off yesterday! xx

Denise said...

It was lovely to meet you Annie and I had a fantastic day too. I was only sorry I didn't get to chat to everyone at the other end of the table as much as I would have liked. Next time!

Moondreamer said...

It's so lovely to hear about your fab day, Annieye, and that you have found it so inspiring!

Sorry I couldn't be there, would love to come next time ... sounds like it might be a regular event!

:o)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time together. It's so true what you said about photos, I suppose it's because they don't show the personality of the person.

HelenMWalters said...

Just read Lane's post about this as well. So glad you all had such a great time.

Annieye said...

Mother X: Been looking on the writers' holiday website today. It looks great. It was smashing to meet you too.

Karen: It was really nice and you should come too next time (June).

Captain: That's OK m'duck. Likewise.

Lane: Glad you didn't have too much hassle getting dinner last night. I was shattered and couldn't have faced cooking.

Denise: We'll have plenty of time to chat in June, as you say.

Moondreamer: You must try and make it next time - I'd love to meet you.

Debs: I think some photos can do up to a point, but its down to the skill of the photographer.

Helen: Ditto for you as for Karen and Moondreamer. Hope your car gets better soon.

Moondreamer said...

Definitely, Annieye! And me too! (Let me have as much notice as you can, I have to save like mad to get as far as the Old Smoke!) Thank you for the lovely comment on my blog, it really made me smile! :o)

DAB said...

So glad you had a great time TFX

Fiona Mackenzie. Writer said...

It was the BEST day wasn't it?

You and everyone else were so super and I just wish I could have nattered to everyone.

Next time we should make it a weekend in a country manor!