Too Much Free Time

A blog of random thoughts and rants from nobody's favourite, Alaric.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

SiF Mini Meeting Write-up

'Twas a glorious spring morning as I awoke in my room. As I spent the time checking various websites and making sure there were no sudden cancellations, I was rudely disturbed by The Caesars singing 'Jerk It Out'. Or rather, my phone. It was Rhys and Rhod, or as I shall now call them, the Vulcans. Don't ask. Anyway, they'd rang to check when we should meet. I said at the Underpass at 10 (Underpass, not Bus Station. Get it right Rhod!), because that was the only sensible option.
After that, got myself ready, grabbed some money from the cash machine and went to the Underpass at about 10 to 10. Being so early, I figured it'd be best to just meet the two en route. So I went to wait for them outside Spar. And waited. And waited. When they did show up, they had the audacity (And I'm not talking about the audio software) to take a different route! The fools, the utter fools!
Oh well, gave me a chance to sneak up on them at the cash machine.
It was actually a good thing that they were late, because it meant I could see off my friend before he left. Because Vulcans enjoy walking, we had to grab a bus going to town, and not one that would take us straight to the station. Yes, let's just ignore all the advances in travelling technology and use those things that dangle from our hips (Not a double entendre. Well, not entirely). So got to town, walked to the station and grabbed our tickets. Because I prefer cold, emotionless machines to interacting with humans, I managed to show the Welsh lads the amazing advances in ticket-buying. Also managed to get my ticket cheaper than theirs, because I was the only one smart enough to have a railcard. Hee hee!
The train ride itself was pretty uneventful. Mostly just us talking. You'll see it on the video. Rhys of course was all 'Better save the camera footage for the meeting!', whilst also recording just about everything we passed by. Rhod managed to distract him with Blue Pioneer's redub, but that might have been a mistake. The boy laughed so loud I had to escape to the other side of the train, just to escape it.
Apart from that and Gitchigumi, nothing much happened.
So we got to Ravenglass and headed for the ticket shop. Who do I get a call from a few scant minutes later? The man in the hat, Ryan. Timed that very nicely, didn't we? And then who arrived a few minutes after that? Eliot! Oh what luck.
Whilst others looked at the Magic Railroad script, I bought a hedgehog and some mint cake. The mint cakes was very nice. I kinda named the hedgehog 'Mr. Hedgehog' on the day, but now I think I'll call him Hedgey. Then we went outside and got pictures in front of Esk. I probably posed.
As Rhod, a.k.a Idiot Boy, went to get some food (Bacon Sandwiches! The Fat Controller would definately approve), Ryan, Rhys and I followed Eliot's work buddy Ben to the maintainance shed, or whatever it was called. We saw things that would make your head asplode, so I won't relate them.
Then 'twas time for the train. As Ryan got on the footplate and we went to the coach, I actually spotted Truro on the other platform. This is a transcript of what happened.

Me: Truro! Hey, Truro!
*Truro doesn't notice loony shouting man*
Me: Look, Rhod! It's Truro! Over there! Look!
Rhod: Looks like Truro's missed the train then.
Me: What are you talking about?! He's right there! Look! Look damn you!

No one listens to me.
Beautiful countryside was the scenery of our train journey. Apart from one bit, which was just trees. Neverending trees. The journey was caught on film, so I won't relate much of it now.
At Eskdale we joined up with Truro and went into the shop. I was distracted by a vibrating Shaun the Sheep. And I talked to a young kid. And we made fun of Margaret Thatcher. That's pretty much it. Then, as we went to get dinner, a shocking sight fell on my eyes. They sold Schweppes Lemonade...in a can! What a beautiful sight. Portable Schweppes Lemonade.
Oh, I had a burger if you're interested.
We then went outside and explored the old line. On our way we spotted Japanese students and a sheep. Also, many stiles were used. Then we reached the Village. As Patrick McGoohan ran past us, we made a circle back towards the station. Oh wait, first we spotted a telephone box with e-mail and text options. I was amazed a place like this even knew what an e-mail was. Then something hapened which I'm not going to relate because Truro would kill me. Also, singing.
Back at the station, we had a picnic! Well, we sat at a picnic bench, which is like having a picnic, except without food. SiF stuff was discussed, things about the next meeting, the one after that, who we liked, who we didn't etc. We talked so much that the train arrived far too early. On the way back, Ryan took a short cut through the station. Eliot told the rest of us not to. I shouldn't have listened to him, but I did. Mea culpa.
*Ticks off 'Type "mea culpa" into a sentence* off a list*
After a bit of a shaky start, we were on our way back down the line, with Rhys having a footplate ride. The rest of us talked, and by rest of us, I mean Ryan, Eliot and me. Possibly Ryan, Eliot and I. I'm not too sure as to the grammatical make up of that sentence. What about, you ask? Random stuff really.
Back in Ravenglass, Eliot's dad's mate was ready to pick him up, so off he went. The rest of us hijacked some motorbikes and took of to make a raid on the Bank of England.
Wait...no, that was something else. Sorry.
We actually went to a pub and had some drinks courtesy of Truro, then had to go catch a train. Fond farewells were given to Ryan as the rest of us boarded the train. I took one last look back at Ryan. He looked at me. Our eyes met in the middle, each of us yearning to go back, but knowing we could never, ever be together.
Wait, sorry, I got confused. Let me start again.
We actually went to a pub and had some drinks courtesy of Truro, then had to go catch a train. Fond farewells were given to Ryan as the rest of us boarded the train. There was no romantic chemistry involved.
There we go.
Went to Barrow in Furness (Not 'Upon Furness'! Stupid Vulcans!), went to Lancaster, went home. No wait, went to Uni, got some chips, then went home. Rhys', to be exact. My stay was brief though, since I'd promised my friends I'd hang out with them one last time before Easter. And I did. Scrubs was involved. And fruit juice. Well, for me anyway. Wine and Fosters for them.
I love being the sober one.