minx2012's birthday get-together last night. As last year, we were at The Bunker in Earlham Street. Good fun, with all Renegades but Alex present. Minxy and WP (belatedly) liked their presents and cards (I'd found one for WP with a quote from Benjamin Franklin). Sadly the Freedom Lager was off, but their dark lager wasn't bad.

Met up with most of the London Renegades on Friday, as yokospungeon had presents for us all.  Hefty, heavyweight hexagonal parcels, beautifully wrapped.  We think they might be patio slabs.  And she'd made us up compilation Christmas CDs of offbeat, and pretty cool, tracks.  I was pleasantly surprised to find Patty Loveless's "Blue Grass, White Snow" - thought ( Read more... )

Met up with Yokospungeon and silverjet_Allie on Thursday, as we were meeting Pengman, a Greek BookCrosser, and also lizmopuddy. Pengman's a really nice bloke. Sadly, I had a prior engagement so didn't get to talk with him as much as I wanted, and also left before Liz got there. Went on to the pub quiz.  We won cryptic second part, after narrowly missing out on first place in ( Read more... )

Met up with the Renegades on Friday, to welcome visiting BCers elhamisabel from Germany and Molly18 from Hawaii. Had a good evening. Thanks to Molly for the chocolate covered macadamia nuts, and for recommending Max Brooks’s World War Z. Talked to Pete and Allie about their ideas for the next Burn Soo Bright club night. Should be fun ( Read more... )

Last night was a London Renegades meet-up at the Volunteer for Emperor_Fool and her partner who were visiting London.  Also present were sirroy (over for the weekend for the Man U game) and WD.  Good fun, with books and gifts exchanged.  I received via E-F a wonderful gift from bookczuk - a copy of Sydney Anglo's Martial arts of Renaissance Europe.  Thanks so much for that ( Read more... )

I took Monday off to give myself some free time this weekend after the umpiring course. Did the washing, went to charity shop and picked up a load of cheap books, went to Sainsbury's in Streatham and stocked up on supplies (it is such a pain not having a proper supermarket within walking distance ( Read more... )

Dashed from pub to pub on Tuesday night. Gave wascally_weasel the money for our Prague trip next week.
Wednesday, met up with BC gamers (minus Fred & Darel) at Five Bells. Did their quiz - came third, by 1/2 a point.
Yesterday was yokospungeon's birthday. We went to a roller disco.
( Disco inferno )

My softball bat finally arrived at work today. I'd ordered it from a Dutch company, specialising in US sports, Forelle. They sent a 23 oz fastpitch bat by mistake, so I had to send that back, but the 30 oz one I ordered has now turned up, with a "one big sorry" apology. I was arriving at work just as the courier turned up with it ( Read more... )

Nice to meet up with Renegades & other BCers on Wednesday, including FloraFloraFlora from the US (and good to know that her screenname was influenced by this movie).
The "old firm"  core of the Scum Off the Port Bow won the quiz on Thursday, walking away with a princely £2 each.  Lucky we don't do this for the money.
Went to the Cittie of Yorke for ( Read more... )

Good get-together for Renegade drinks on Thursday, when thebiblioholic was over from NY.  As well as the usual suspects, RikkiDD from Dresden, Vauxhallcrosser, and myopicmeringue turned up.  I missed the pub quiz and ended up staying at the Stammy all evening - that always seems to happen when Biblio comes over ( Read more... )