Avalon - the Event, part the third

[catspaw]

Next up, the photo session. But before that - a bit I'd forgotten from the tea party. RDA mentioned that he'd had surgery to his throat: his dentist had discovered a lump which had to be removed (no details on the diagnosis, but it seems it wasn't sinister, phew), so he'd been treated to surgery under local anaesthetic and had four internal stitches, which he said wasn't that happy an experience :-( Oh, and added, 'I was told I shouldn't be talking' - this with the typical RDA 'go figure' eyeroll. So I'm hoping he's feeling much better now.

Okay, the photos. We were called table by table, so we had to wait quite a while. The queues were *very* strictly controlled and everyone there was totally fangrrrly and squeeing, but in a pleasant, comparatively subdued manner *g*. Also a very entertaining convo for me with a lady called Laura from Des Moines. She was very self deprecating about 'loud Americans' and I rushed to reassure her that Yanks are amongst my favourite people, that I'd never found them anything other than universally pleasant and easy to chat with, either personally or professionally. She seemed quite pleased by that, but it's nothing more than the simple truth.

I thought I would have been nervous as all hell, but as it turned out, I was fine :-) He'd lost the jacket by this time and was just wearing the black tee. God! Arms! Arms and that watch!

As I walked up to them, I remember saying, 'You guys. You're bound to be utterly knackered by this time." And then it suddenly struck me that he wouldn't know what the hell I was on about, so I said to him, "Oh, I'm sorry. I mean very tired," and to AT, "although I guess you know what I mean by that." RDA replied - '"Oh, I know knackered, I understand that," and followed it up with an impression of Alan Freeman (Brit DJ of pretty elderly vintage) in an atrocious approximation of an English accent LOL. AT put her arm around me - and SO DID HE! Yowza :-D I was standing there thinking, as I slid my arm around his waist, just what a nice fit it was LOL. Seemed very natural, somehow :-D This first pic didn't come out so good I guess - the photographer was excellent and quite determined for everyone to get a good pic with the two of them and we were told to hold on while he checked. Anyway, we had to have a rerun. I loathe getting my picture taken and usually come out looking as stiff as a board and about as natural :-( However, getting back into position again wasn't such a chore ;-) Arms went back around waists again - and my hand was resting just on the love handles OMG! I was standing there thinking to myself, 'don't stroke! Don't stroke! *Definitely* don't squeeze! Just keep your damn hand still!' LOL! Consequently, I've now got a pic of myself with him that ain't too shabby at all, for a picture of me, if you see what I mean! I can bear to look at it, even if I have got a totally goofy fangrrrl expression on my face! I'll maybe even go so far as to scan it in and post it flocked, so you can all point and laugh at the silly old mare (i.e. me *g*)

As I was walking away, I said thanks to them both for coming, and really meant it. And made some inane remark to RDA about good luck with the languages download (referring back to the Q & A). He said yeah, he needed it, he was learning Spanish alongside his daughter and it was hard! I told him I knew that one, the language thing, as I was struggling with Turkish. They both said at the same time, "Turkish?" in a kind of 'what tf *for*?' kind of voice and I said 'yeah,Turkish. And it's a pig, so I feel your pain,"' or something equally banal. And thanked them again, and that was it.

Man, I *floated* out of that room :-D Luckily there was an elderly sofa in the corridor outside, fangrrrls for the collapsing on while they recovered their wits LOL.

And now I'm keeping an eye on the word count - and this bit has hit about 700, so I guess the auction will have to wait for the next one. Which won't be for a while as I have to go start actually doing things before everyone gets back in for dinner. More in a bit.

Comments

[alphekka-alpha.livejournal.com]

I was standing there thinking, as I slid my arm around his waist, just what a nice fit it was

I see... So it wasn't gales we've been having, just a bunch of squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeing Jack gals having a blast! ;-)

Glad you had a great time. ::colour me green:: {BG}
--

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

*g* not gales, no - more in the nature of an oestrogen tsunami ;-)

[skater-g8r.livejournal.com]

this is so awesome Cats, thanks for your fabulous report.

:;waits patiently for auction bit::

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :-) More and more details are coming back as I'm sitting writing these things. I guess it was quite lucky, in its way, that the camera didn't work, it gave me more time to concentrate on what was actually *said* when I wasn't faffing around trying to get decent pictures *g*.

The auction will follow as soon as I get my head wrapped around sitting and writing it. Ironing came first though :-(

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

Babe, how thrilled am I for you? I'm just sorry I wasn't there to hold your coat ;o)

*manyhugs*

Ya big fangrrrly you!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

::hugs you:: Awww, thank you :-) And don't tell a soul about the fangrrrly thing, it'll ruin any slight cred I've still got left ;-)

[wadjet-theperv.livejournal.com]

But darlin', as cool as you are, this is *Rick* we're talking about. Even the coolest of cucumbers would be fangrrly over him! There's no shame in it ;o)

[margec01.livejournal.com]

They actually checked to make sure the pictures came out well? So much better than they do at the Creation conventions I've been going to. Again, I'm so envious of you. Thanks for the great reports!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

They did indeed! Some people had to have more than two taken, but the time was taken to make sure everyone came away happy. I really can't fault GABIT from the 'looking after the attendees' point of view.

[carron.livejournal.com]

I'm totally overjoyed for you - I really, really am.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you :-) Fingers crossed he'll do one in the States some time and you'll get the chance to go.

One thing though - I was so overwhelmed at the photo session, I forgot to sniff :-(((

[perfica.livejournal.com]

Give us pics! I'm glad there was a sofa outside that you could swoon on ;-)

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Man, was *I* ever grateful to find a handy piece of furniture *g*

[nangi-akki.livejournal.com]

Hey thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. I love all the details.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome :-) I'm writing the details for me as much as for anyone, I really don't want to forget a single, solitary thing *g*

Oh, icon love! That is fabulous :-D

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEEE!

Thankyouthankyouthankyou for posting!!!

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Hee! You've got an lj :-) I've taken the liberty of friending you, if that's okay :-)

And of course, you're very, very welcome :-)

Hugs!

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

Oops! Didn't I friend you already?? My bad. I don't really post in my journal at LJ though, just use it to read fanfics, reply to other posts about my fav shows, etc.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

I don't really post in my journal at LJ though

No worries - it's just another handy way to keep in touch :-)

[nangi-akki.livejournal.com]

the icon is courtesy of kelliem - who also writes equally fabulous MFU slash which can be found here:
*adjusts pimping hat to a suitably rakish angle*
http://kellie.mrks.org/fic/mfu/mfu.html

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Heh. That hat, tipped at just that angle, suits you :-)

Thanks for the rec, I'll follow that up :-)))

[skater-g8r.livejournal.com]

odd coincidence..but I heard that Alan Freeman died, i think on monday. O.O

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Yes, I heard that yesterday. Shame too, he was a great guy :-(

[perclexed.livejournal.com]

God! Arms! Arms and that watch!

OoooOOOOoooO! I think it's the hands, for me. Too many close ups of Mac trying to fix something, and, well, my mind, it wanders to other applications for said appendages.

Luckily there was an elderly sofa in the corridor outside, fangrrrls for the collapsing on while they recovered their wits LOL.

I think a "fainting couch" is an excellent idea for that! :D And I wanna see the pic! I wanna see the pic! *bounces*

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

It *is* incredible to see those hands (and they *have* to be one of the best known parts of his body) waving around in front of you for real. They launched 1 000 WIPs...

The pic will go up when I get back to work and use the scanner on the fly ;-)

And that reminds me, I have another pic that I absolutely *have* to send you :-) Give me until tomorrow to find it, it's on one of several discs, and give me a poke by email if you don't have it by the weekend :-)

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

It *is* incredible to see those hands (and they *have* to be one of the best known parts of his body) waving around in front of you for real. They launched 1 000 WIPs...

I am a bad, bad, bad, bad girl...my eyes first read "WIPs" as "PWPs."

:-D

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

my eyes first read "WIPs" as "PWPs."

::nods:: Those too, of course.

[ducks-in-a-row.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you let RDA get away unmolested ;-P

And I find it strangely funny that you met an Iowan at the event.

[catspaw-sgjd.livejournal.com]

Yep, sitting next to an Iowan in amongst all those people was a strange, strange coincidence!

And never mind 'unmolested' - I even forgot to sniff :-( That was the *one* thing at the top of my 'to-do' list. Ah well, next time *g*