The (Mostly) Minions Meet

Well Sunday was very exciting. I took myself off to London to meet up with some very dear friends from Blogland. We met up at Giraffe on London's Southbank at about midday. It's a very nice part of the world. The river was to our left, the London Eye a hop and skip away, the Tower of London within sight and best of all the sun shone so we could sit outside.
(l-r: Jan, Robin, Gina, Neil, me, Sylvia)

So who was there? Well me (obviously), FairyHedgehog (Gina) and her wonderful husband Neil, Robin and her very lovely sister-in-law Jan, pjd (Peter) and Sylvia. We had such a good time. I was an honorary minion for the day.

Because I didn't have anybody to organise but myself, I was, for once, early. But not the earliest. FHH and Neil were there already and had bagsied a table for us indoors. It's funny, I was worried that I wouldn't recognize anyone but as soon as I spotted Gina I knew her immediately. We said many times over the afternoon how it felt like a reunion rather than a first meeting and so it was from the beginning. The first thing I did (after the intros) was order a bowl of spicy wedges because I was starving. Then I proceeded to choke on one. As I mentioned to Gina, this happens a lot to me. I have no idea why but I imagine it has something to do with talking and eating simultaneously and their basic incompatibility. As we got to know each other (and I downed a glass of water while Gina was probably wondering if the Heimlich Manoeuvre was going to be necessary) we learned that Robin and Jan had arrived and nabbed a table outside. It was such a lovely day that we moved lock stock outside and as we approached the table Robin yelled "Pete!" (and I wasn't even wearing a hat) because Peter had arrived too.

Then the talking started.
(l-r: me, Peter, Sylvia) "What's do you call like - whatsit- a sortof river that runs in an ocean?" Oh yes! - I was THAT eloquent.

Sylvia arrived soon after and then we ordered and the wine started flowing. And the talking continued and the wine continued to flow and flow. Gina and Neil had to leave mid afternoon but the rest of us stayed til 6ish. So much wine. We had a rather dishy waiter who looked after us with great humour and didn't object once to being objectified. Bless him. (That may have been just me though). Peter showed us the correct way to get the attention of waiting staff. You make eye contact and raise your right finger in the air (like ET). We found that this method was most effective when Peter was sitting beside you doing it at the same time.
(Robin: "Just let me put on my sunglasses so people will recognise me.")

Honestly I haven't a clue what we were taking about but we talked a lot. I can't tell you how much fun I had. We remembered all our absent friends. (There were hugs Aerin). There was even talk about possibly doing the same thing Stateside next year. San Francisco was mentioned (and Vegas!). How cool would that be?

My attempts at working out the bill were laughable. The phrase "That can't be right - can it?" was said a lot. In the end I'm 100% certain of only one thing. I owe Gina and Neil lunch and when we all meet again the first bottle of wine is on me. (OK that's two things!)
(The numbers were swimming I tell you - and speaking a foreign language).

I managed to totter back to Hubby and the kids without too much difficulty. I had a cracking headache afterwards but that's what analgesics are for by golly!

Can't wait for next time!

In the fog of all that was said on Sunday I'm pretty sure everyone said they didn't mind having their photo posted. If however you find that you'd rather not feature here then let me know and I'll take it down forthwith.
The top two pics are courtesy of Gina and the one of Robin was taken using Hubby's phone which I had great intellectual difficulty with. Wine and technology - not a good mix!