fiat_knox | renfield286's Birthday

I needed to take my mind off things, so yesterday I headed off down to Birmingham to visit

renfield286 and wish him a Happy Birthday. Me and a handful of

renfield286's Companions: Adam and Kat, to begin with, then Charlotte - who had to go to work and begged off early, sadly.

Celebrations began in the Bowlplex in Broadway Plaza. I'm rubbish at bowling. Craig despaired. I didn't.

We moved on from there to the Subway, thence back to the Bowlplex, where we spent the time playing video games. Well, I say "we." I sat there and watched this danceoff thing with the underfoot pads and the dancing and thought "I'm not avoiding. I'm delegating."

Other highlights of the day included:-

• Craig's latest miniature - Battlecat;

• the amusing sight of the look of curiosity on Craig's face when I showed him what my trousers belt was made of, and of course the familiar belt pouch he remembered from when I used to wear it near-constantly in my trips to Brum when Dungeons & Starships used to be around.

• My utter inability to bowl;

• The fear in Kat's eyes when I realised that the two words that would really, really scare her right there and then were "Overhead. Pitch." *weg*;

• The lively chat about Hunter: the Vigil, and the even more lively speculation going on among this little group;

• The Malt House on the bank of the canal.

I really like that little group of Cam, and former Cam, friends of Craig's. I think I'd like to go back there again soon and pay them another visit. That would be nice.

Oh, and I talked about the Traveller item I submitted to Mongoose Publishing and the Traveller fiction I also wrote, "Crisis of Illumination." The verdict, based on my narratives alone: "Cool."

I even told them about the relic blue police boxes I included as a cameo in the article. :)

On the way home, I enjoyed an hous and a half of silence and solitude. For once, I managed to get something done on my geomancy project, putting together something for a basic tutorial on essential divinatory geomancy. Not for any particular reason, like creating a series of lessons or anything. Just for my own benefit for now, something I'll be able to write down in a journal.

I want to put together something that looks like a cool journal, like River Song's in that recent episode of Doctor Who. (and yes, I'd buy a notebook, diary or FIlofax organiser that had a blue box cover like that one from the story. Without hesitation.) The one I'm prepping will start with geomancy. Then move on to something else. But it's time I put something like this together, if not for my own use - because it's already in my head - but for others to pore through in time to come, and dispel their cynicism, and re-engage with their sense of awe and wonder. But I digress.

A good time was had by all. I haven't met

renfield286 in ages. It was good to get back to him, and to meet new friends along the way.

Tomorrow's my turn.

Oh, and I taped Doctor Who last night without problems. That it taped at all just rocked. I love this little DVD recorder. However, the TV highlight last night for me was ... ah, but I'll tell you in the next post.