Oxonmoot 2006

[narfforc]

Are any Barrowdowners going?, if so your favourite Half-orc will be there and would like to take the opportunity of buying you a pint of Orcbrew or whatever your poison is, this is of course to get you drunk and later rob you.........

Sorry for the overenthusiasm this of course should read 2006

[Estelyn Telcontar]

2007? Are you already planning a year ahead, narfforc?

To answer your question, no - I won't be going to Oxenmoot. Since I'm a member of the German Tolkien Society, I'm going to the Society get-together this weekend. It'll be smaller than the British moot, but I look forward to it. Alan Lee will be there to present his artwork!

I'm not sure you could tempt me with promises of Orcbrew - now miruvor, that's something different!

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Now look what you two did!

Must join Imladris. . . . (The Danish Tolkien Society)

[narfforc]

Everyone must join there national Tolkien Society, it is only there that you get to meet face to face others with the with the the same brain wave lengths, these get togethers are by on large great moments in ones life, so Esty please enjoy the German Society Moot, and Bjarne's Son don't hesitate in joining Imladris

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

That is not entirely true, I for one met Spawn and Lommy the other day. But you are right, I will join soon.

[Lalwendë]

D'OH! I just asked this on the Tolkien 2005 thread. Here.

I just hope they serve Magners in th'Eagle (sorry, but the Eagle & Child of my youth was th'Eagle; this Bird and Baby business just will not catch on with me). I must go in there before the pleasure of pub smoking is snatched away from us forever.

[Bêthberry]

Lo! Here I was going to tell narfforc that I am planning ahead farther than him--looking ahead to a 2008 visit--and now he's gone and editted the 2007 invitation to read 2006.

Oh well. It's the thought that counts.

I'm tired of hearing all about the Eagle and Child. (But I have to admit that I laughed uproariously seeing the sign, thinking immediately of Gandalf and the eagles, or Frodo and Sam.) And we drank there, twice, Esty n me n Squatter. And had dinner at The Mitre. I want to hear about Tolkien's other favourite pub, the one across the street from the Eagle, the Lamb and something?

I'm expecting a full report from at least narf about any kind of brew it has.

[Mithalwen]

My beau de jour called it something cruder .... but we preferred the (then) less "refurbished" Lamb and Flag across the road. When is the Oxenmoot? It isn't that fiendishly expensive thing is it?

[Lalwendë]

The middle of September. And no, it's dead cheap. It's about £100 for a room for two nights and about £30 to register. Though we might skip the Friday meal as that's a bit pricey! We'll have to go and find Mrs Miggins' Pie Shop or something.

[davem]

Oxonmoot

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Friday 15th - Sunday 17th September, 2006

Friday 15th September. The day that The Silmarillion was first published. (I, of course, only know that because it's written on my Tolkien calendar).

If I don't have any lectures on the Friday or Monday of the week before and after, I'll defiantly go! I wear my silly hat.

[narfforc]

Hooky let me know if you are going, I will have to inform the authourities, as two lunatics in the same room can be a fire hazzard, and I will have to quaff many Orc-brews to make me immune to combustion.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Good luck to you two. I definitely envy you.

There are relatively few smials of the Tolkien Society in the U.S., and Texas does not have one. Just curious, but is any Yank out there a member of one of the state smials? I have always wondered how those work. I know there's a very active one in New York State.

For most of us in the U.S., the closest thing to a "national" organization is the Mythopoeic Society , which is devoted to the writings of the Inklings. I am a member of that. They have their conference in August at the University of Oklahoma (a place definitely not as interesting as the Oxenmoot ) Next year's conference is at Berkeley.

[Mithalwen]

That is tempting especially since it is a weekend ..

[the guy who be short]

Hmm. I note accomodation is optional. I could, I suppose, take a sleeping bag and sleep rough in Oxford for two nights. I think I'll give it a miss 'til I'm earning, but it's definitely something I'll have to attend sometime in my life.

[Lalwendë]

We're going to be in Oxford from the Tuesday before Oxonmoot in order to do some exploring, so if anyone's going and is going early, watch out for us! It was horrendous finding somewhere to stay until Friday and the beginning of Oxonmoot though - finally found a student residence/hotel at the top of Iffley Road, near Magdalen and the Botanical Gardens, for a decent price. I hope this is a pleasant area!

Recommendations for must-sees would be appreciated. Not punting though - that's just not funny.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

We're going to be in Oxford from the Tuesday before Oxonmoot in order to do some exploring, so if anyone's going and is going early, watch out for us! It was horrendous finding somewhere to stay until Friday and the beginning of Oxonmoot though - finally found a student residence/hotel at the top of Iffley Road, near Magdalen and the Botanical Gardens, for a decent price. I hope this is a pleasant area!

Recommendations for must-sees would be appreciated. Not punting though - that's just not funny.

I'm sure we will all be expecting to see a photograph of davem leaning against a certain pinus nigra in your flikR photojournal, Lal. I've given up waiting for a certain person to put pictures of you online.

Perhaps you could stop in for a chat with Phillip Pullman? He's very pleasant entertaining visiting journalists.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I'm sure we will all be expecting to see a photograph of davem leaning against a certain pinus nigra in your flikR photojournal, Lal. I've given up waiting for a certain person to put pictures of you online.

Perhaps you could stop in for a chat with Phillip Pullman? He's very pleasant entertaining visiting journalists.

I wouldn't mind dropping in as I hear he writes in a shed in his garden, and I'm a bit of a Sheddie; I'd be talking about roofing materials and that instead of theories of fantasy literature though.

I hope the famed tree is signposted?

Was it Addisons' Walk where Tolkien and Lewis had their famous conversation about God?

[narfforc]

I am planning on being in Oxford for about 10.30am on Friday 15th, once I am sorted with my accommodation and admin, I could meet you both in The Bird and Baby for 10.31am, or it may be closer to 12.00, depending on mundane matters, keep a beer warm for me, or is that a seat.


P.S They do a beautiful pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar across the road so don't get comfortable, and warn Davem not to bring his rubber legs with him, it's gonna be a longgggggggggggggg weekend.

P.P.S I hope you both have a costume to wear, I don't want to see Davem's Holbytman again.

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Curses and crushes my precious!

I've just found out that I can't go this year!
My university induction day is on the 16th of September.

Avast!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by narfforc

I am planning on being in Oxford for about 10.30am on Friday 15th, once I am sorted with my accommodation and admin, I could meet you both in The Bird and Baby for 10.31am, or it may be closer to 12.00, depending on mundane matters, keep a beer warm for me, or is that a seat.


P.S They do a beautiful pint of Theakstons Old Peculiar across the road so don't get comfortable, and warn Davem not to bring his rubber legs with him, it's gonna be a longgggggggggggggg weekend.

P.P.S I hope you both have a costume to wear, I don't want to see Davem's Holbytman again.

Mmmm, Old P. They do a cracking pint of that in the Middle-Earth Tavern (chilled in the cellars by the harbour), so that's going to take some beating. They better have some Magners ready for me or there will be trouble.

I am not sure about having to traverse New Street Station with weapons, though I did have a mad idea for a costume if I can get round to it.... I wonder will anyone turn up as Gandalf The Grey...Uncloaked!

Originally Posted by Hookbill the Goomba

Curses and crushes my precious!

I've just found out that I can't go this year!
My university induction day is on the 16th of September.

Avast!

Did you get your results today? I hope you did well! And no, you cannot miss Freshers' Week because its something you'll look back on all your life - well, what you can remember of it that is...

[Hookbill the Goomba]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I wonder will anyone turn up as Gandalf The Grey...Uncloaked!

My older brother says he would.

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Did you get your results today? I hope you did well! And no, you cannot miss Freshers' Week because its something you'll look back on all your life - well, what you can remember of it that is...

Yes I did. (English = A, Geography = C, Media Studies = B)
I don't know. The course I'm taking (Imaginative Writing) sounds pretty sweet altogether. Lots of trips to castles and mountains etcetera.

I'll go to Oxonmoot next year. Alas. I had planned on printing off and bringing a couple of copies of The Downer and seeing what reaction they got. Not wholly LotR, but there is a vague connection in there somewhere.

[Mithalwen]

I have booked to go a "day girl". I was humming and haaing since I am really not sure it is my sort of thing and so since I wasn't going to the dinner on Friday and the only thing on Sunday seems to be going to the grave which I have done, I decided to save £100 and minimise the loss if I have a panic attack and don't go ...

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I have booked to go a "day girl". I was humming and haaing since I am really not sure it is my sort of thing and so since I wasn't going to the dinner on Friday and the only thing on Sunday seems to be going to the grave which I have done, I decided to save £100 and minimise the loss if I have a panic attack and don't go ...

Ace! Well that's the day they have all the talks and the art room, dealers' room and stuff, and davem tells me Priscilla sometimes turns up too for dinner (lunch I believe its called down Oxford way) We aren't going to the Friday dinner anyway because it was too expensive for things I wasn't that keen on, so it'll be one of St Giles' infamous kebab vans for my meal then. Or crisps from the pub.

Don't you dare chicken out!

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Ace! Well that's the day they have all the talks and the art room, dealers' room and stuff, and davem tells me Priscilla sometimes turns up too for dinner (lunch I believe its called down Oxford way) We aren't going to the Friday dinner anyway because it was too expensive for things I wasn't that keen on, so it'll be one of St Giles' infamous kebab vans for my meal then. Or crisps from the pub.

Don't you dare chicken out!

Well the idea that Brett's burger bar might still be there will lure me as far as the station.... pity the Union will be closed since by a quirk of fate I have life membership.... If it gets too grim and weird I shall adjourn to one of the great cathedrals of my religion (Blackwell's) ....

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Well the idea that Brett's burger bar might still be there will lure me as far as the station.... pity the Union will be closed since by a quirk of fate I have life membership.... If it gets too grim and weird I shall adjourn to one of the great cathedrals of my religion (Blackwell's) ....

You'll find plenty of books in the Dealers' Room too. Worth saving a few quid for. And the Art Room is a good place for a bit of peace (if Birmingham was anything to go by!). Are you going to wear a red rose and carry a Telegraph so we'll know who you are?

[narfforc]

As a matter of interest Mithalwen, if this is your first Oxonmoot, then if Priscilla attends lunch (which she normally does, seeing as she pays for it), you as a newbie get to meet her along with other first-timers. She is a fantastic Lady, when she speaks it is almost like her father talking, I hope you enjoy Oxonmoot, it really is marvelous to be amongst 'Friends'.

P.S I will be the one hitting Davem with a big stick.

[Mithalwen]

Oh bother I have already paid for lunch!!!! Oh dear I am not sure I can cope with that ...what will I say....? It will be like Louis Malle all over again...

Actually I am trying to think of ways to disguise myself so you won't know who I am... but it now seems I will be the one who is either dumbstruck or gibbering when presented to Miss Tolkien... And I probably will have The Telegraph if I can get one before I catch the train..

[Lalwendë]

Alright I'll look out for a woman in pink thigh boots - because I remember you saying you bought some. So let's hope Priscilla doesn't turn up in a pair.

We're going down to Oxford in the morning tomorrow and get booted out of the B&B thing (a student residence of St Edmunds Hall, on Iffley Rd, but a B&B in summer) at 11am on Friday. So we'll get to Somerville and dump bags and then will be found in the environs of either of the two infamous pubs at lunchtime on Friday.

So Mithalwen can look out for some dishevelled folk on Saturday then.

I 'ent bringing me staff or owt like that 'cause we've to negotiate New Street station tomorrow and its bad enough as it is. Not to mention the horror of Virgin trains which have always been overcrowded or have caught fire when we've been on 'em so far this year. I'm wondering who will get Maggie Thatcher's old room at Somerville...

[Mithalwen]

[QUOTE=Lalwendë]Alright I'll look out for a woman in pink thigh boots - because I remember you saying you bought some. So let's hope Priscilla doesn't turn up in a pair.

[QUOTE]

Only knee high.... I might wear the black ones though... but not terribly good for walking.. given the uncertain weather and the fact I will have to leave the house by a quarter past six I shall be the one in totally inappropriate clothing. Either I will be sweltering in black knitwear or be a drowned rat in sodden chiffon... actually if you think of a tall Miss Piggy you won't be far out My train gets in at 8.32 if it goes according to plan - and I shan't be taking hte national rail website routeplanner's helpful suggestion of taking the "midnight mail" and sitting at Southampton Airport for 6 hours in order to arrive at 8.26.......

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

actually if you think of a tall Miss Piggy you won't be far out .

If you see Statler and Waldorf then that's Lalwende and davem.

[narfforc]

Gonzo will turn up at some stage.................I am almost positive.

[Lalwendë]

So we shall be a right bunch of muppets then?

[narfforc]

Hey just had a great idea The Middle-earth Muppet Show:



It's time to kill some orcse's
It's time to have a fight
It's time to act like corpses
On the Muppet show tonight.

Miss Piggy as Eowyn
Kermit as Frodo
Fozzy as Sam
Gonzo as Gollum
Statler as Theoden
Waldorf as Denethor
Swedish Chef as Gimli
Eagle as Gwahir
Beaker as Suicide Orc at Helms Deep.


Any other idea's, what about Sesame Street or The Magic Roundabout ummmmm.

[Mithalwen]

Originally Posted by narfforc

Hey just had a great idea The Middle-earth Muppet Show:



It's time to kill some orcse's
It's time to have a fight
It's time to act like corpses
On the Muppet show tonight.

Miss Piggy as Eowyn
Kermit as Frodo
Fozzy as Sam
Gonzo as Gollum
Statler as Theoden
Waldorf as Denethor
Swedish Chef as Gimli
Eagle as Gwahir
Beaker as Suicide Orc at Helms Deep.


Any other idea's, what about Sesame Street or The Magic Roundabout ummmmm.

surely ..eeek Farmir would have to be Kermit?
Oooh Magic Roundabout .....

Guess Gandalf is Zebedee
Bomabadil / Radagast- Dylan?
Elrond - Mr Rusty
Galadriel -Ermintrude
Aragorn Brian the Snail
Frodo - Dougal

[Lalwendë]

Aragorn is Brian The Snail?!

I'd have Gollum down as Animal or Zebedee.

Saruman as Dr Bunsen Honeydew.
Sam as Robin.
Arwen as Camilla the Chicken.
Gandalf as Rowlf the Dog.

"Manwe, Manwe,
Doo-doo-de-do-do!
Manwe, Manwe,
Doo-doo-de-dar!"

[Mithalwen]

He has his prissier moments I think....

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

He has his prissier moments I think....

I'd say Aragorn was more like George off Rainbow. Bungle would be Gandalf in his more inept moments, and Pippin is Zippy. With Celeborn, Galadriel and Celebrimbor as Rod, Jane & Freddy.

I might suggest this as a late paper for Oxonmoot. What do you think?

[Mithalwen]

George? I don't think so.......bit clean and pink.. But Bungle is a good choice
for Gandalf what with all that uncloaking and the fact that Bungle is a bare bear during the day but wears pyjamas at night.......

and who would be Geoffrey? Another Gandalf / Pippin combo could be Mr Derek and Basil Brush Boom boom!


And Denethor can be Barney becasue we all want to see him go up in flames....

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Best wishes to all of you who are going to Oxford - have a wonderful time! As I'm travelling to the West this week, I won't be there, but I have fond memories of Birmingham last year. It was a great experience, and has lead to my involvement in the German Tolkien Society (I had to go to England to meet the German fans!) and even to a translating job for a Tolkien studies anthology.

So watch out - you never know where the path takes you once you step out of your door!