Giant Elephants and separated people at Trafalgar Square

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:42 am

Excellent. Great photos. Well worth waiting for. Wish I could have stayed longer. C'est la vie. I can only add that the only thing better than the photos is having been there and met these amazing, beautiful people in the flesh.

[Wind, wind, wind the key.:sneaky: ]

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:10 am

Anyone else noticed how the lovely minks looks like Ali Mcgraw?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:24 am

Open is rubbing it in!:p

Astra · Post by **Astra** » Wed May 10, 2006 10:51 am

So glad you all had a great time..but why did it have to rain???? Lucky you to have seen the elephant..saw about it in the newspaper and thought how strange it would be to come across it unexpectedly!! the piccies are great..nice to know what you all look like now!

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:24 pm

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h295/ ... donEye.jpg

Maxi_Uno · Post by **Maxi_Uno** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:34 pm

Great pictures Minks, It looks like you are having a great time. Which one is Betty Boop?

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:41 pm

Ok everyone listen up I am only going to type this once, here in order of appearance is the list of FG'ers on the group shot in front of the pub.

L to R Front

Weeder, Voodoo, Raven

L to R Back Row

Spot, Rapunsal's Faeries, Thiea, Arnold, Bez, Betty, Minks and Chris

L to R in door way

Open Mind and Rapunzal.

I hope that clears it up for you all.

I have to apologize for the pics En-Mass, Spot just took them and straight posted them off my camera. So duplicate's and shakey pics are just a result of us hurrying up to get more pics to you all.

Today was a bit of a sad day, After we went to the London Dungeons, and Buckingham Palace we walked through Hyde Park to Paddington Station where we bid farewell to young Chris. Spot came along with us as well then we returned here for Coffee and eats. We had great sunny, warm weather. And loads of chuckles.

We got word Chris made it home safe so rest easy we did not abduct him.

Cheers till tomorrow

M

Maxi_Uno · Post by **Maxi_Uno** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:44 pm

minks wrote: Ok everyone listen up I am only going to type this once, here in order of appearance is the list of FG'ers on the group shot in front of the pub.

L to R Front

Weeder, Voodoo, Raven

L to R Back Row

Spot, Rapunsal's Faeries, Thiea, Arnold, Bez, Betty, Minks and Chris

L to R in door way

Open Mind and Rapunzal.

I hope that clears it up for you all.

I have to apologize for the pics En-Mass, Spot just took them and straight posted them off my camera. So duplicate's and shakey pics are just a result of us hurrying up to get more pics to you all.

Today was a bit of a sad day, After we went to the London Dungeons, and Buckingham Palace we walked through Hyde Park to Paddington Station where we bid farewell to young Chris. Spot came along with us as well then we returned here for Coffee and eats. We had great sunny, warm weather. And loads of chuckles.

We got word Chris made it home safe so rest easy we did not abduct him.

Cheers till tomorrow

M

Thanks lol, I think they are great, I'm going back to the picture to look.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed May 10, 2006 7:28 pm

Oh Minks, the pics are great. Spot did a wonderful job putting them together. It was great to see everyone! And you went to the British Museum, and I knew all the famous pieces as they came by the screen. Oh, I am very jealous now!

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:30 pm

Hi guys. Aren't the photos great ? I'm so glad everyone is enjoying them. You were all there in spirit...

Have a great day today Minks, Raven and Voodoo

....back to reality Chris...

I'm off to work now and the sun is shining....rain at the weekend again...* sigh*...

Catch up with you all tonight and hope to hear about your adventures :-4

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:25 am

Weeder Theia and Betty hope you have a lovely :-6 day in Truro you lovely piskies. :-4

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:35 am

Bez wrote: Hi guys. Aren't the photos great ? I'm so glad everyone is enjoying them. You were all there in spirit...

Have a great day today Minks, Raven and Voodoo

....back to reality Chris...

I'm off to work now and the sun is shining....rain at the weekend again...* sigh*...

Catch up with you all tonight and hope to hear about your adventures :-4

Yep that's right Bez, here I am back sat at home using my own computer to post once again. It does seem strange, and yet it does seem so normal, (I hope that makes sense hahaha )

Though I am really glad to be back with my family, who have missed me so much, but of course I miss the good times that I have shared with all of you over the last week. But I am thinking positive, I mean we are not going to forget this ever, and here is hoping that we will be able to do this again soon. I hear that the US contingent is trying to plan a meeting, that sounds really exciting for you all!!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:15 am

We're off to Rochester today. Castle climbing, cathedral (gob smacking) and Charles Dickens! Gosh we miss everybody! It's most strange not looking around asking 'where is chris?' :wah:

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:21 am

Raven wrote: We're off to Rochester today. Castle climbing, cathedral (gob smacking) and Charles Dickens! Gosh we miss everybody! It's most strange not looking around asking 'where is chris?' :wah:

:wah: Well at least you know you won't have to keep looking over your shoulder for little old me, and when it comes to climbing places, I would probably be so far behind you all that you would end up having to stop every minute wondering where I was!!

I hope that you take some great pics of the castle, because I would love to see what it looks like. I bet you are so excited!!!

Post by **spot** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:50 am

Raven wrote: Gosh we miss everybody! It's most strange not looking around asking 'where is chris?' :wah:Or gazing ahead saying "we should have put Spot on a lead, he's a danger to traffic".

Spot is now back in his kennel, but he had a great week romping around.

Enjoy Rochester, tell us all how it went.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 4:56 am

spot wrote: Or gazing ahead saying "we should have put Spot on a lead, he's a danger to traffic".

Spot is now back in his kennel, but he had a great week romping around.

Enjoy Rochester, tell us all how it went.

Oh are you not going with the others today Spot, I thought you were, my mistake. Thank you for all your help yesterday, I'm sorry about the mis-understanding about the time my train left, but I'm glad that I was able to get there with time to spare. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I really learned a lot, so thank you.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:12 am

mrsK wrote: This is the best thread I have read & looked at for ages.

Love all the pics & the great stories on here.

Would love to have been on the trip:-4 :-6

I'm glad you enjoyed the stories and pictures MrsK, we all had a blast, and the least we could of done, was to share it all with you. Can you imagine how amazing a world meeting of some kind would be?? I know that that is impossible, but oh we would have the best time ever!!!

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:23 am

chrisb84uk wrote: I'm glad you enjoyed the stories and pictures MrsK, we all had a blast, and the least we could of done, was to share it all with you. Can you imagine how amazing a world meeting of some kind would be?? I know that that is impossible, but oh we would have the best time ever!!!

We would have to have electronic tags so that we could find each other when we got split up...Imagine 30 odd 'gardeners' trying to keep together through Trafalgar square....we couldn't manage it with 12...

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:37 am

Bez wrote: We would have to have electronic tags so that we could find each other when we got split up...Imagine 30 odd 'gardeners' trying to keep together through Trafalgar square....we couldn't manage it with 12...

:wah: Well that all started because you where just to fast for the rest of us. I mean we all knew that you wanted to see the London Eye, but boy were you rushing there in a blaze!! :p

Though you are right, the more people, the greater the chances of us all losing each other, but you have to admit it would be sooooo much fun. But if we did end up splitting into groups, each would have to have a leader of sorts, that knows their way around the area, but it here again or in the US. I'm sure that another event would go down even better than this last one, that I'm certain off!!

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:47 am

chrisb84uk wrote: :wah: Well that all started because you where just to fast for the rest of us. I mean we all knew that you wanted to see the London Eye, but boy were you rushing there in a blaze!! :p

Though you are right, the more people, the greater the chances of us all losing each other, but you have to admit it would be sooooo much fun. But if we did end up splitting into groups, each would have to have a leader of sorts, that knows their way around the area, but it here again or in the US. I'm sure that another event would go down even better than this last one, that I'm certain off!!

I blame Arnie....God was he on a mission....Betty, Theia and I were running to keep up with him.....Spot went through China town for an extra bit of sightseeing....at the end of the day it was the elephants fault...but it was so much fun and added to the adventure .

( bit like one of those corporate team building exercises)

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:52 am

Bez wrote: I blame Arnie....God was he on a mission....Betty, Theia and I were running to keep up with him.....Spot went through China town for an extra bit of sightseeing....at the end of the day it was the elephants fault...but it was so much fun and added to the adventure .

( bit like one of those corporate team building exercises)

Hahaha oh you do have a point, I mean when the five of us where trying to get to Trafalgar square, he nearly lost us within 2 minutes of taking that short-cut under the subway. I just managed to keep track off him!! :wah:

But yes if in doubt blame the elephant. Do you remember how long we waited and waited in the rain wondering what was going on, and when finally that band arrived on the open-top bus, we decided to leave after standing there for ages soaking wet. And then you all went off by taxi, and I didn't even realise, so got stuck with Minks's suitcase on the trek across London Bridge, hahaha boy was that an experience!!

Post by **spot** » Thu May 11, 2006 5:58 am

chrisb84uk wrote: ... and I didn't even realise, so got stuck with Minks's suitcase on the trek across London Bridge ...I never heard that snippet before, Chris - you mean you'd got rid of all the other players and you still had the suitcase with you? You could have headed straight for Mornington Crescent and won the entire game at that point!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:09 am

SnoozeControl wrote: Was anyone tempted to just snug up in a pub with some ale?

You guys all look great, and Chris? You've had several of the ladies in here say they want to pinch your cheek.

Hahaha ah yes this I have heard.

Though why anyone would want to pinch my cheek is beyond me!! :p :-4

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:12 am

Because you are a cute young guy, Chris!:)

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:13 am

chrisb84uk wrote: Hahaha ah yes this I have heard.

Though why anyone would want to pinch my cheek is beyond me!! :p :-4

We were saying how cute you are!! :-4

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:13 am

spot wrote: I never heard that snippet before, Chris - you mean you'd got rid of all the other players and you still had the suitcase with you? You could have headed straight for Mornington Crescent and won the entire game at that point!

Well when our group consisting of myself, Theia, Betty, Arnold and Bez caught up with OM and Rapunzel's family, everyone decided to go to the LOndon Eye via taxi. But as I said, I was probably too busy getting annoyed about the rain to realise. OM and Arnold decided to walk the way, and I just started following them, only to realise that they were walking and not catching a taxi as I had thought. Of course I was still with Minks's suitcase, so that was a pain, but Arnold kindly offered to take it for a large portion of the trek, for which I am eternally greatful for, as I probably would never of made it otherwise.

And bare in mind that I have no knowledge of London what-so-ever, (I'm sure you noticed that yesterday Spot hahaha,) so I just went where-ever Om and Arnold went, and just went on their sense of direction. Thankfully they knew the way, and it only took us about 10 minutes or so to reach the Eye where we met Spot on arrival.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:15 am

SnoozeControl wrote: Was anyone tempted to just snug up in a pub with some ale?

That would be my favorite thing to do!

Some yummy pub food and a few pints of Heineken or Guinness!! :-6

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:17 am

:wah: hahaha are you sure that you were staring at the right guy!!!

But thank you, your kind words are greatly appreciated. :-4 I think we took quite a few pictures yesterday of myself, Minks and Raven together, and I laughed when the thought of jealousy croped up. Surely no-one would be jealous of them for being near me right, I mean that is simply madness!!! :wah:

Post by **spot** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:20 am

sunny104 wrote: Some yummy pub food and a few pints of Heineken or Guinness!! :-6I did feed Minks some warm flat English beer before we went in search of Jack the Ripper. Not like anything she'd had before, she said. She's very polite too, I noticed that.

footnote for the experts: a pint of Abbotts. "Flat" and "Warm" are used here in a comparative sense, not as a criticism of the brewery or the pub.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:22 am

SnoozeControl wrote: Was anyone tempted to just snug up in a pub with some ale?

Well from my point of view at least, I wanted to try and see of much of London as possible, and we had loads of time to chat on the trains, tube journeys and at Raven's house, so I really wasn't that tempted to spend time in a pub. But there where times when the legs got heavy, and we wanted to just lie down and have a nap, regardless of where we were hehehe!!!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:25 am

spot wrote: I did feed Minks some warm flat English beer before we went in search of Jack the Ripper. Not like anything she'd had before, she said. She's very polite too, I noticed that.

footnote for the experts: a pint of Abbotts.

Oh I know Minks is one of the most politest, kindest and funniest people I have ever met. That Jack the Ripper tour was excellent wasn't it. Our guide, Steve I believe his name was, gave such an interesting and informative insight into the events that took place. Though he still wasn't going to tempt me with those jellied eels being sold, not a chance!!! :wah:

Post by **spot** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:28 am

chrisb84uk wrote: Though he still wasn't going to tempt me with those jellied eels being sold, not a chance!!! :wah:Tubby Isaacs will be mortified. He's the apex of the artform, where jellied eels are concerned.

http://www.sublimephotography.co.uk/eas ... /tubby.htm

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:29 am

:wah: Jellied eels and warm beer. I am sure Minks was very polite!

*I'm shivering for you, girl!*

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:34 am

spot wrote: Tubby Isaacs will be mortified. He's the apex of the artform, where jellied eels are concerned.

http://www.sublimephotography.co.uk/eas ... /tubby.htm

Well I don't recall anyone else deciding to buy some jellied eels, though I think that some people were buying some when we walked past. He did sell some other lovely food though, and if we hadn't had that lovely meal just before then I may have been tempted.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:35 am

chonsigirl wrote: :wah: Jellied eels and warm beer. I am sure Minks was very polite!

*I'm shivering for you, girl!*

:wah: Well I just hope that Minks is alright crossing the roads without someone else to worry with by her side. Oh you should of seen us, especially me, oh how lame was I hahaha. "Oh look here comes a bicycle aggghhh"

Post by **spot** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:53 am

chrisb84uk wrote: He did sell some other lovely food though, and if we hadn't had that lovely meal just before then I may have been tempted.That was the "Whole Lobster tails, only a paand, git yore lobster tails 'ere. Paand a tail fresh off the boat. They're crunchy, they're wunnerful, they're cooked". They were huge, too.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:36 am

Oh, you can hear him calling his goodies, you write it so well, Spot.

*watch out Chris, here comes another bike*

La-de-dah..........................

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:44 am

chonsigirl wrote: Oh, you can hear him calling his goodies, you write it so well, Spot.

*watch out Chris, here comes another bike*

La-de-dah..........................

Hehehe you are being such a meanie tonight Chonsi, taking my white chip cookies, scarying me with another bike, whatever next? :sneaky:

But yep you can ask Minks, whilst everyone, such as Spot happily crossed the road with ease, we just stood there like two little school children!!! :wah:

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:14 am

Oh you guys... this is all so wonderful for some reason it makes me

very emotional!!

Thank you so very much for sharing this time with us!!

:-4

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:16 am

ArnoldLayne wrote: It takes a while Chris. I've trecked through London for God knows how many years. I do it without sight seeing on the way and I know all the pitfalls, after, many years ago, ending up straddled across the handle bars of a motor cycle. Perfectly balanced and travelling for 20 yards like a display team, before he managed to stop. We were both so stunned, neither of us said anything and continued on our way. I left my friend creased up laughing on the other side of the road.

My advice is to keep your eyes on the couriers, both pedal and motor and of course the ubiquitous black cab doing the "U" turn at every opportunity.

I ventured the way I did last saturday, avoiding Leicester Square. The survival instinct kicked in, walking through such tourist traps makes you feel like a salmon swimming up river. At least salmon dont have suitcases

Well I am so glad that I had you as my guide Arnold through London, when we got seperated, as I know that I speak for Theia, Bez and BB when I say that we were placing everything in your hands!!

:wah:

As regards to the traffic, you are right, I'm sure that over time you will familiarise yourself with the layout of most places. Spot was telling me that the London business men, even know where to stand on the tube, as they will know exactly where the carriage stops in relation to the exit. Now I could never even imagine that, heck just getting on the tube at times was a struggle enough. Oh that reminds me of the adventure I had trying to catch my train on the way back, and my tube ticket that didn't even work. Oh I was so mad, I may have even said a naughty word like poo. :p

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:17 am

valerie wrote: Oh you guys... this is all so wonderful for some reason it makes me

very emotional!!

Thank you so very much for sharing this time with us!!

:-4

Not at all, I'm glad that you all are enjoying our accounts. I know that both Raven and Minks took a lot of photo's that aren't up yet of them and myself over the last few days, not to mention whatever they are able to take over the coming week, so I'm sure there is a lot more to come!!

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:48 am

BabyRider wrote:

I wonder how Tombstone and anastrophe feel about all this, knowing that none of it would have been possible if it weren't for FG in the first place?

Great stuff, Spot, keep it coming. Thanks for sharing it with us.

i can't speak for tombstone, but i'm sitting here with a tear welling in my eye (must be the pollen). listening to 'gimme shelter' as i read.

we wuz jes' tryin' to a make a few schillings to click together when we started forumgarden. we're still looking for the schillings, but this is worth so much more.

anastrophe · Post by **anastrophe** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:54 am

OpenMind wrote: I'll have to see what I can do. The Photo Gallery isn't working as Anastasia will confirm.

anastasia doesn't know squat about photo galleries. that's tombstone's bailiwick. but duly noted.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:05 pm

anastrophe wrote: anastasia doesn't know squat about photo galleries. that's tombstone's bailiwick. but duly noted.

You're quite right, Anastasia. I stand duly corrected. It was because I asked you about it. I asked Tombstone and it was he who advised me. Sorry about that.