I'm not very good at meeting people. No really. I'm not good at meeting people and I'm very not good at making friends. People write and leave comments that they are coming to London, and I freeze up. Oh God. You want to meet me. Oh God. Once you meet me you will find how much of a complete and utter dick I am. I am a dork. I am uncool. I am so average, I make average people look like Heidi Klum.

But meet people I do. I've met a few now, and I always have a brilliant time when I do meet up. I met a friend for drinks and dinner last week, a business writer that could charm the pants off a snake, if snakes were into that kind of thing. I find business writing mind-numbingly dull, but hey-it pays him well and he bought the drinks.

And on Saturday, I got to meet up with some of my longtime friends in the bloggy infertility world. I packed up Nick and Nora and headed to London to meet Thalia, H, Pob, May, H, The Hairy Farmer Family, Ms Prufrock, The Dude, and P,. You might think 5 women, 4 men (Angus was banished to tiling the wet room. When I say "banished", I mean "pleased".), 5 children all under the age of 2.5, one pregnant woman, one woman cycling, and 5 old hands at fertility treatment sounds like a recipe for disaster. But it was, instead, a delight. Bear with me - I must gush a bit now.

And if you read them, then you'll like this because I'm totally outing them.

Thalia (real name: Thalia) is easygoing, a fantastic hostess, and such a calm, loving mother. Her husband H (real name: H. His parents weren't in agreement, they felt it best to leave it at a letter) is a friendly chap who is devoted to Pob (also unfortunately named Pob. She's a Teletubby wanna-be). Pob is stunningly clever, a real charmer, and I raise my fist at God for giving Pob the eyelashes that I have always wanted.

May (real name: Nuts. Seriously, her mum was feeling pretty unkind that day) and her hushand H (no relation to Thalia's H. Talk about coincidences though.) were lovely, warm, funny people. May is the kind of chick you feel you can meet up in a cafe and bitch with. She's in for the snark. She's got a huge heart and you want to ringfence the world from her, to keep people from being mean.

The Hairy Farmer Family were a delight. Mrs Hairy isn't hairy at all, and I swear she's the girlfriend you can ring up at 10:00 at night crying and she'll be by with a bottle of wine and a cake she magicked from the oven, something that tastes of butter and vanilla and light. She'll make you calm down, tell you a story from her own vault that lets you know you're not alone and which is very, very funny, and will never judge you. Her husband is a sweetie and she doesn't know this yet but her son has asked to move in with us. We're looking at where to let him sleep.

The Barren Albions (here's a funny - at first I thought her website was called "The Barren Albino", and I thought: Christ, doesn't her life just suck.) were there. Pru (real name: Prufrock. Don't forget the frock) is gorgeous. Really. Like, Page 3 girl hot. And her rack is spectacular. I love that she sometimes writes me and calls me a whore, because let's call a spade a spade, yes? Her daughter is so polite and friendly, she's a little elf, a little elf who also wants to come live with me, especially when she tells people that "Obama went to Starbucks."

And luckily Nick and Nora were so overwhelmed by the people (and, let's be frank, Pob's toys) that they didn't undergo their usual routine of acting like Baby Thunderdome with each other (two babies enter! One baby leaves!) and the other mothers hopefully didn't feel the need to shake their heads and think: That's why animals eat their young. And in Helen's case, why the infants should eat the mother.

On Monday I met the fabulous Suzie, her friend Amy, and the gorgeous and so amazingly, completely, 13-going-on-33 Emily (you can see the three of us here). I wanted to steal Suzie's daughter Josie, now I want to kidnap Emily too. This house is going to be full.

And I've loved meeting everyone. So here's a thought: Mrs. Hairy Farmer and I want to arrange a get-together in London in April-ish time frame. If you're around and in, let us know. And, uh, she's the organizer, because seriously, I can't organize my way out of a paper bag.

Anyone in?

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 10:57 AM | Comments (23) | Add Comment
Post contains 817 words, total size 5 kb.

1 I would absolutely love too!! But not sure my 36-40 week pregnant body will be up for the journey south from Chester! I'm a bit like you, I get really nervous meeting people, I always feel like I won't know what to say! But I would love to meet up with you guys, maybe next time??? Hopefully, there will be a next time!? Sounds like you had a lovely weekend, meeting up with everyone, glad you enjoyed it!

Posted by: Suzie at January 28, 2009 11:51 AM (zJPh8)

2 How fun! Too bad I'm trapped in the States. And also kind of terrified of meeting people myself.. but if I were local I'd certainly (pretend to) consider it before I (pretended to) get a migraine preventing me from making a fool of myself in public. Seriously though I'll be sorry to miss it.

Posted by: Erin at January 28, 2009 01:34 PM (IPMSz)

3 Envious! Miss you.

Posted by: BeachGirl at January 28, 2009 02:10 PM (U+oUO)

4 What an accurate description of our festivities! Well, with the exception of me as a Page 3 girl. I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted, haha. I'd like to clarify for anyone familiar with Page 3 girls that I'm a bit less fake than those whooo-rrrs. Anyway, the BBC - big time stuff! I trust we (or at the very least, me) will be informed of where this information can be obtained?

Posted by: MsPrufrock at January 28, 2009 02:12 PM (6Mr1k)

5 I generally am fine meeting people (I've got a great blind date story from a couple of weeks ago that might make you laugh til you cry), but I've gotten so comfort-driven that I seem to prefer wearing sweats and curling up on the couch with a book rather than actually leaving the house. Have a lovely meet-up! I'm in the state, so it isn't likely I'd be in the nieghborhood... BBC - big stuff! Hope it goes fabulously, and if you can share, would love to know more.

Posted by: suze at January 28, 2009 02:21 PM (0doyF)

6 I've met up with a few "Internet People" so far and the experience has been pretty nice. It's cool to meet the people you've been talking to for 10+ years, people you never would have known before the internet. I wish I could be there in April... it sounds like WAY too much fun. Good luck with the interview! x

Posted by: Marian at January 28, 2009 02:36 PM (76MlW)

7 Meeting new people tends to be way outside of my comfort zone, so I prefer to have my wife along so I can hide behind her. When that's not possible (like right now, when I'm 900 miles away), I just fake it the best I can. The worst part is later on I replay any such meetings in my mind and mercilessly pick and criticize every word, every gesture I presented to the point where I'm convinced that I made a total idiot of myself. Needless to say, it was hell on my dating life growing up. Which is why I'm still married, I never want to play the dating game again.

Posted by: diamond dave at January 28, 2009 02:44 PM (ALMFG)

8 Hmm, maybe I should hop a flight to London. I've never been to England.

Posted by: Jen R. (aaron-n-jen.com) at January 28, 2009 03:23 PM (OpFYt)

9 I'm crap at meeting people, too. I'm horrible at making small talk, so I just come off as being uninterested and unfriendly. Funny, since once you get me talking I can't seem to shut up.

Posted by: amy t. at January 28, 2009 05:07 PM (3dOTd)

10 Is this open to anyone? I mean i read Mrs Hairy Farmer but i don't comment there. I have totally over commented here for years though! Good grief, how scary to meet people! Abs x

Posted by: abs at January 28, 2009 05:52 PM (pejJ8)

11 Sweetheart, you could never be average if you tried and tried and tried and tried for a hundred years. You shine out like a seriously bright fucking light! What is more, I have to take serious issue with this bizarro idea that you are not funny. Not only are you so funny that YOU MADE HUBBY LAUGH, (kids, I told you to go for the WALLETS!) but you are so quick with it too. Your crack about the people May's H works with was just... beautiful. Hubby and I officially love you.

Posted by: Hairy Farmer Family at January 28, 2009 06:20 PM (xWhE5)

12 ummm I have met you and call bullshit. you are as lovely grand and gorgeous in person as online. me on the other hand

Posted by: stinkerbell at January 28, 2009 07:16 PM (skXGo)

13 Soudns the best meet - up!! The BBC ... get you?? Where, when, where?

Posted by: Moira at January 28, 2009 07:51 PM (UGBIN)

14 Right well thats the rest of my evening sorted - coming the BBC for articles that could possibly be about you! Your meet sounds like it went fabulously. If you are Ok for a free for all I would definitely join in - bad blogger but pretty consistent commenter - does that count?

Posted by: Betty M at January 28, 2009 10:03 PM (CkzBP)

15 Well you are flattering but I have to admit pob has excellent eyelashes. Of course you don't do yourself or your lovely children enough justice, I particularly enjoyed Nora's secret smiles when she thinks she's getting away with something naughty (and of course it's not naughty at all). I'd love to do another get together. I'm away for bits of April so let's pick a date soon. And where on the BBC? I"ve just looked and can't find you.

Posted by: thalia at January 28, 2009 10:12 PM (5ViEG)

16 OK, so I've never commented here before, but I like you. I just have to mention that "at first I thought her website was called "The Barren Albino", and I thought: Christ, doesn't her life just suck" is like the funniest sentence I've ever read.

Posted by: PiquantMolly at January 29, 2009 12:07 AM (juRFy)

17 I usually don't feel comfortable meeting new people and especially hanging with a large crowd. I much prefer a small crowd with my most trusted friends. Glad to hear you had a great time this past weekend. Have you considered doing a Flickr meet?

Posted by: Ernie E at January 29, 2009 02:19 AM (M5eRN)

18 Meet-up? In April? Helloooo! Where? For I shall go and camp out at Chosen Locale NOW, and then I won't miss a minute.

Posted by: May at January 29, 2009 05:14 PM (3jesX)

19 I had a comment. Where did my comment go? Damn. To recap, am so hysterically excited at idea of meet-up in April that I want to know the venue NOW so I can go camp there NOW and not miss a single second.

Posted by: May at January 29, 2009 05:17 PM (3jesX)

20 I had a comment. Where did my comment go? Damn. To recap, am so hysterically excited at idea of meet-up in April that I want to know the venue NOW so I can go camp there NOW and not miss a single second.

Posted by: May at January 29, 2009 05:17 PM (3jesX)

21 Count me in, that's if I can manufacter a trip to the big smoke. Keep me posted chica.

Posted by: Bee Cee at January 29, 2009 09:37 PM (EKnX7)

22 Um, you seem to have outed yourself and the twins... can open,real names all over the web...

Posted by: steve at January 30, 2009 11:02 PM (BdC3G)

23 Late April, please, am back middle of the month. Or early May would be even better.

Posted by: Katie at February 04, 2009 12:43 AM (UaL+O)

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