Many thanks to Arachne and Gervase for organising such a friendly and enjoyable get-together in Manchester yesterday and for allowing me to gate-crash it for my research. Could I also thank the 16 volunteers who bravely took part in my word-game tests? I collected more data in one day than I had managed in the whole of April, and I’m immensely grateful. You were all very good sports and I’m conscious that you very kindly broke off from more convivial pursuits to help out. Finally it was good to put a face to so many names I’ve come to know over the internet: what a lovely bunch of people you all are! Hope to meet up with many of you again (and not just when I need data).
Best wishes
Kathryn Friedlander
Yes, a very friendly and enjoyable gathering, with good food and good beer. Although I wasn’t able to stay very long, I was glad I made the effort to get there. Thanks, Gervase and Arachne.
I was expecting, by now, to have seen appreciative comments on the original S and B Announcements thread but this is the most visible one now so perhaps it’s the most appropriate one to use.
It was very nice to meet you, Kathryn, having taken part in your previous questionnaires. [I don’t think there can be any such thing as a ‘gate-crasher’ at an S and B do – and you’ve identified yourself as one of us, anyway.] Your ‘games’ initially seemed a little bit scary but good fun in the end. Glad to hear they can be of help – I hope to see you again.
What a lovely gathering – yet again. Great to meet so many ‘old’ faces and also some new ones, who had plucked up the courage to join us and found, I hope, that we aren’t too intimidating. I hope that you [you know who you are 😉 ] will soon be commenting!
Huge thanks to Sarah and Geoff for so graciously hosting a most enjoyable occasion. [I think it may be time for me to be nagging Peter. 😉 ]
Just to say I really enjoyed yesterday’s event and it was great to see so many new faces.
Thanks to Arachne and Gervase for their hard work in organising everything.
Colin
Many thanks to Sarah and Geoff for arranging a splendid S and B!
It was great meeting everyone and thanks to all the setters who were there and also to the ones who set puzzles for the day. Thanks to John for the quiz – it was good fun even though we were pretty hopeless.
Thanks Kathryn for the ‘games’ – we were pleased to be able to take part.
Yes, another great crossword event.
Many familiar faces, some new ones.
I was very keen on offering a drink to the first one I would meet. Lancastrian Bluenose (brilliant pseudonym, you should set a puzzle :)) was the lucky one. Nice to have met you, mate!
Share your views on Johan Cruyff!
And it was Sylvia’s birthday. Hurray.
I was also very pleased to see Tom encouraging Amy to contact 1 Across.
Go for it, girl!
Kathryn’s Dad (no, not the Kathryn above) left the building without a black eye – Donk forgave him.
I liked his ‘White Dress’ though, as did Nick.
And, yes Nick, life is so complicated – also referred to by the Kinks who, on the Village Green Preservation Society album said that all their friends were there. As were yours.
Nice to meet Monk, one of my favourite setters.
A pity that Rufus couldn’t be there.
It was a long journey from and to Cambridge (with a 45 minutes delay on the way back), but worth every penny .
Quite a lot of pennies though.
Many thanks to Sarah and Geoff.
And to John for another pub quiz that defeated me.
I was pleased to meet you, Kathryn, and was intrigued by the test – hope it will be useful in your research.
A lovely afternoon, just sorry I didn’t get round to seeing everyone. From this and previous get-togethers, I’ve realised what a friendly and welcoming crowd crossword people are.
Many thanks to Geoff and Sarah for organising this one.
Yes many thanks from me to the organisers and to the most convivial company.
Many thanks to Geoff and Sarah for their sterling work in organising the do — and what a do it was. I’ve never known six hours go so quickly — well not since my date with Wigan’s Elle Macpherson. I should have never let her go: terrible table manners. It was great to meet you too Kathryn (sorry for repeatedly calling you Kathleen) and good luck with the research; it would be great to see the final paper (not that I will understand it).
Neil
Hi Sil
Good to meet you and thanks for the drink !
Sadly I don’t think I’ll be ever up to compiling a crossword.
I enjoyed the quiz: thanks for that John
Colin
I would just like to endorse all the favourable comments. It was all very enjoyable and everyone was very welcoming.
Many thanks to Sarah & Geoff.
Norman
I endorse everything that has been said above. It was great to meet Monk again after a long gap — probably ten years since we both attended a Listener dinner, and Anax, John and Jane, especially. Great to meet so many bloggers and solvers too for the first time. And yes! Amy do send some puzzles to “1 Across” and thanks to Sil for your kind comments.
I wonder if Big Dave has successfully homed in on the five thematic Ninas in my last Toughie — which (I am delighted to say) seems to have passed every blogger by, according to what BD told me.
Kathryn’s word associations tests were great fun — though I am still kicking myself for failing on so many of the “TRAFFIC/POT/STRAWBERRY leading to JAM” puzzles. John’s quiz was great fun too.
Roll on the next get-together and thanks to Sarah and Geoff for all their planning and hosting.
A really lovely afternoon
Many thanks to Sarah and Geoff for a great afternoon. It was good to meet up again with friends from 15 Squared, and with Isobel. Who made the crossword cake? That was a nice surprise. Still struggling with Elgar’s fiendish crossword (but then it IS by Enigmatist)!
Ditto to all the above! A GREAT day. Thanks again to Arachne and Gervase.
Very clever but sadly it defeated me !