Virtual Reality

Tuesday 26 February 2013



I went to London on Saturday - the second time in the last four months. The reason? A bloggy meet up. After my little rendezvous with Marlene from Chocolate, Cookies and Candies last November, a few of my other bloggy friends all got in touch with each other and said "We want to do that too!"

So here's a few pics of a few of us (some were in the bar ;o)) and what it looks like when you get a group of bloggy women together who have never met each other before with the exception of myself and Marlene. 


Marlene, Natalie and Avril

We felt like we knew each other from the blogs but the actual meeting of people you read about in the flesh is quite strange. Some people are exactly as you imagined them because their personalities shine through in the way they write. But the weirdest thing is listening to people talk. When you hear people talk and their accents come through, it brings a whole new slant to the way you read their blogs because whether you realise it or not, you read what other people write in your own voice and how you perceive them to be. Avril from School Gate Style actually has the most gorgeous softly spoken Irish accent, Marlene from Chocolate, Cookies and Candies has her cosmopolitan Kiwi mix, Joanna from Poppys Style hailing originally from Lancashire is a bit of English posh mixed with 11 years of Atlanta which is really unique and lovely. And me? Well I was born and bred in Yorkshire - I sound a bit flat cap and whippets to everybody outside of Yorkshire. In the nicest possible way.

Now if I were to sum up what I think some of our initial thoughts and first impressions of each other were, it went and sounded a little like this :

"Oh you're so tall" (referring to Fiona)
"How long are your legs?" (everyone about Kat)

How long?????

Natalie's legs vs Kat's pylons


"You're taller than I expected" (Marlene & Sue to Avril)
"Oh you're quieter than I thought" (probably everybody referring to me)
"Oh you sound totally different to what I thought you would!" (everyone to everyone)
"Oh, she's just so cool"(people behind Marlene's back)
"Oh you're so thin!" (referring to Joanna)
"Oh you're not quite as short as I'd thought you'd be" (someone to me but I was wearing heels)
"You're tiny "(me to Natalie)
"You're how old - never???" (me to Helen)
"Why don't you put your head on your pictures?" (in general to me)

So a curious mix of ladies but we were all bonded by the fact that (1) we all blog (2) we're all mums and (3) we all like clothes a bit (admit it Marlene ;o)).


And sorry - I couldn't resist putting in this last pic:

Handbags at Dawn!


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Last Note : 

The reason why I don't put my head on most pictures?  Apart from eliminating the possibility of bog eye, any camera pointed in my direction seems to render me an awkward nervous bundle of nerves - ask the ladies! They've seen what I'm like.


50 comments

  1. Looks like so much fun! Wish we were in the same area, I would love to join you next time... As for being in front of the camera, I'm no natural there either. I always think of that episode of Friends where Monica makes Chandler have their picture taken, and every time the shutter clicks he makes a horrible face. Cracks me up every time, because it's so true!

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. Oh I've not seen that episode but now you've put ideas in my head about pulling tongues every time someone points a camera in my direction. However, this will come back and bite me when someone posts a picture of me with my tongue out looking downright stupid.

      It was a lot of fun. Part of it was scary because you don't know what to expect but it was also not as scary as meeting someone 1-2-1. If you don't get on, you have nowhere to run. Thankfully, my first 1-2-1 meet was with Marlene and she was lovely. Only a little scary but we talked for 9 hours so we must have found some common ground there.

      Have you met up with any bloggers before? It just takes someone to put it out there and then you find there's a whole group who want to join in. it's a shame we both live so far - another country is just a bit too expensive for me right now.

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    2. Yeah, traveling across borders does seem a bit prohibitive right now... I've never been to a blogger meet-up. Tried to connect with someone in Vancouver when we were there on vacation but schedules didn't permit. Sounds like great fun, like internet dating but without the ick factor (and without the date). If you do ever find yourself in Spain let me know, and then next time I'm in the UK I'll do the same!

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  2. Love the pic of Kats legs!!! Just as I'd imagined........all the voices too, and, being from your part of the woods, I appreciate a bit of Yorkshire speak! Looks like you all had a great time.

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    1. Kat's legs are seriously long. I couldn't not feature them. She came bounding in to the room and all I saw was legs!

      We did have a great time - you would have loved all the girls there.

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  3. hahahahaha!! You really make me laugh. You SNEAKY thing!! I had NO idea you were secretly papping away! I think my head and chest are getting blown out of proportion after reading that bit that everyone thought I was cool. Awww...... Alright alright. I like clothes. You're not going to let that one go, are you?

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    1. No - I'm not going to let that one go. You can't say you're not really that in to fashion and come along in a fab hat and a Helmut Lang coat! Not interested my bottom :o)

      Yeah and watch out - you never know when Sue's camera's about.

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  4. So funny Sue - had no idea you got that photo of Natalie & Kat! Was an amazing day and you are just as lovely and funny as I'd hoped from your blog and beautiful too - so I'm so glad you put up that picture of yourself here. Can't wait until the next meet up...best fun I've had in ages x

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    1. Lovely to meet you too Avril. I thought you were going to come along going all begorrah and bejesus and going "What's the craic?" but no, you're a classy lady.

      Hope we get to meet up again but give me time to save up!

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  5. I really like that picture of the hip/leg comparison too. I'd probably reach up to Kat's (?) knees! These blogger meetups are so fun - the Americans had recently, and I'm rather upset that I didn't get to go *pout*. But maybe at some point I'll be able to meet you and Marlene!

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    1. I'd love to meet up with you and Marlene and do tea at the Ritz. You look like a girl who would enjoy afternoon tea and a browse round Fortnum and Masons and the obligatory Libertys. Are you coming over anytime?

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  6. It's funny how you can have this perception of someone and they turn out to be either exactly the same, or so very different. I met a blogger in NYC and she was so much shorter than I thought (6 inches shorter than me) but on her blog she always looks so tall, clearly has grasped the perfect illusory tools for photos!

    Anyway, it looks like it was a lot of fun, you all look so stylish x

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    1. It was a lot of fun.

      And I think I was partly worried what people would think of me - I babble away quite contentedly on here but I am very quiet in real life incase they thought I was going to be wittering away non stop. I'm one of those who sits on the edge just taking things in. When I go out with my Mummy group, I'm aware that I usually have the least to say but I still enjoy being there. I was just always the silent type.

      Can you ask that blogger what perfect illusory tools she is using please? I would like to add some inches to my legs.

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  7. You're hilarious - and posh? I don't think so - but thin I'll take:) A curious mix indeed - I wish I could rewind and watch the whole day again. I am wearing my bracelet with pride xxx

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    1. Well you certainly don't sound like you hail from Lancashire - home of black pudding.

      Let's not rewind the day - let's just all make another day of it.

      Glad you like the bracelet.

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  8. Aw what a lovely post Sue, really disappointed I couldnt make it but I'll not miss the next one. I totally have perceptions of you all built up in my heabowls from reading all your individual blogs everyone seems to be like how I imagined.

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    1. So you're not really 5ft 11" then? Which is how I always see you when I see pictures of you. How do you do that?

      Yes - it's a shame you couldn't make it but poorly husbands do take first priority. Next time is a definite yes?

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  9. Ah, what a lovely post! So lovely to meet you and everyone else too and I think that you look beautiful in your photograph. I would love to see more of your face on your blog!!! Hope to meet again soon. Keep shopping in Leeds for me until I am there again! x

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    1. It was lovely to meet you Beth and I certainly can keep up the shopping on your behalf in Leeds till you come up this way again.

      And the face thing - hmm. Not sure. The scary thing is if you google your blog and you look on the images on google and all the photos you have ever featured on your blog come up - I would be freaked if I saw lots of pictures of my face on there. Now that's scary!

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  10. Oh Sue, what a fab blog! So funny! Loved meeting you too, really can't wait to do it all again x

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    1. Thanks Natalie - I keep wanting to call you GlamRosie whenever I talk to you. I don't mean to but your blog name is quite catchy.

      Yes - it was lovely to meet you and thank you for being such a wonderful shopping tour guide. Wouldn't have found my way to the tube station without your directions! Till next time.

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  11. How incredibly fun! Wish I could have been there you all are such a fun bunch and a great rundown of what its really like to meet an IRL friend! Yes would love to see your sweet face on the piccies!

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    1. Jody - you would have been most welcome and you would have fitted right in. And your ears must be burning - we were talking about how wonderful your blog is. You're one of our faves.

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  12. Hello?? I'm not THAT old!! You make me sound like I'm about to hit 60 :) (And there have to be some compensations for having psoriasis, you know!) It was fabulous to meet you and all the ladies. Such a great day ... can't wait for the next one! Helen

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    1. Hee hee - you can slap me for that, the next time you see me.

      It was good fun wasn't it. Next time, I'm having a proper drink - oooh - at least two should see me on my way!

      Lovely to meet you too in the person - till next time!

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  13. Sounds like you all had a lovely time Sue - I remember seeing various tweets on Sat night from Kat re how intoxicated/bladdered she was on the train home! Must be good putting voices to faces after all the blog reading/interaction. I hate having my photo taken and have only ever done half a face on the blog - just can't stretch to a full one yet - far too nerve-wracking (and I still feel a complete pratt!). I'm a flat cap and whippet girl myself - may bump into you out and about one day! xx

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    1. I had a really lovely day. AndnI didn't know you were another flat cap and whippets girl. I saw a few of Kat's tweets too - she's a funny lady. Wish I'd had more time with them at the end of the night - that's when anything goes.

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  14. How lovely. If you do another one of the meetings, I'd love to come too.

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    1. Got to save up first Kristina. These trips are wiping me out but if I manage anything over the summer, I'll let you know.

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  15. Blog meet ups are so amazing! Love your reactions to each other, its funny how you imagine people to be a certain way through just reading their words.

    Love your coat!

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    1. Some people's personalities really do come through - they literally write as they speak but when you throw an accent in - it's weird. Are you enjoying your meet ups with Jamie Lee?

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    1. It was! Have you thought of doing something like that yourself? You should put it out there to some of the bloggers that you really get on with and see what comes up. It will be an experience anyway.

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  17. Excellent post! What fun you all had! Often the spontaneous (secret?) photos are best. You look great Sue!

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    1. Thank you! I have no idea what I'm snapping sometimes but it's good when you can work with anything you manage to capture. I don't think Marlene has ever been papped as much as what she was on Saturday. I was so pleased I managed to capture her at work (seen on her blog).

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  18. What a fabulous time you all had ...I had gathered from some of the tweets on my timeline it turned out to be a rather long day! Everyone looks fantastic and I love your own outfit Sue:)
    ~Anne

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    1. It was a long day even for some of us who weren't staying the whole hog. Really enjoyable and really worthwhile. Do it again in a flash.

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  19. absolutely fantastic post - hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Fiona

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    1. Thanks Fiona - it was great to meet you. Hope to do it again sometime when funds permit!

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  20. It sounds like you had a great day/ night. It must have been a bit like a school reunion but without having ever met before! x

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    1. It was! You put your finger on it. It's strange to meet up with people you don't actually know but have no problem getting on with at all. Good fun. I recommend it.

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  21. amazing look, the beige top is so cool


    www.lessismoreblog.com

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  22. so cool you guys got to get together like this ;) meeting virtual friends IRL is always a fun experience! Very envious of Kat's "pylons" hahaha you have such a way with words <3

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. It was fun! When are you coming over?

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  23. I have loved reading all the posts regarding your meet up, sounded like fun and I am a bit jealous!
    Great pics and post
    J
    http://lifelovesand.blogspot.ie

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    1. Ah but you have your own little meet up soon so you have that to look forward to!

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  24. I love all the quotes! It's always fun to meet blogging buddies in real life. My mother always says you know when you meet someone, whether or not they "belong" to you. Happy you girls had a chance to connect.

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    1. Your mum is right. We had such a good day - good enough to make us all want to do it again!

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  25. It must be a rather nervous experience to meet fellow bloggers for the first time...afterall, it may not be your first encounter with them but like you say, "you read what other people write in your own voice" and hence form your own perception, meeting in the flesh may turn out differently.

    Not sure if I have the "courage" to want to do that...LOL.

    But you folks make it seem like a cool thing! *wink*

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Susie So So