If somebody had told me a year ago that I would be travelling to London one day, to meet a group of people I only met on an online forum, I probably would’ve raised an eyebrow. But Saturday the 9th of February this year, I did.
Though I have to keep reminding myself it was only a few months ago, as it feels like I have known these people much longer. Anyway, since then we met up a few times. In the UK, as most people of the group are living there. On one of those get-togethers a few friends poked me to organise something in Heerlen, which I did: the first zoo gathering in the Netherlands happened last weekend.
For me it actually started the Wednesday before that, when Graham was the first one to arrive. We went out for dinner, we worked on the logo for this website and he came with me to Dwingeloo the next day, where I told a lot of people about the project which brought this group together. Since Graham also plays guitar, I introduced him to my music teacher, colleague (we’re writing a book together) and good friend Marcel. I don’t think there is a thing which Marcel doesn’t know or can’t do when it comes to music. We are both passionate about it, which shows when we’re working together. He has no structure though and I have too much of it, but together we solve every problem. I got him involved in Galaxy Zoo and now he and Graham were playing together.
Edd arrived Friday evening and we cooked dinner in my kitchen. The next morning was the start of the official meet-up, as we were having lunch at the pancake restaurant near the Brunssumerheide forest with zooites Geoff, Els, David, Arie and Jan. Science centre Explorion is right next to it, which was our next stop. They opened their doors for us and we had a nice tour. In the evening we had dinner at Pieke Potloed in Maastricht and we almost got lost trying to find the station back.
All people from abroad were staying at my place for the night, which was really “gezellig” (sorry but you really don’t have a word for that in English). We chatted and played Twister till the middle of the night (who’d ever thought I’d meet a bunch of people who’re as crazy as I am?!) and the next morning we went for a walk in the park with my adorable dog. Some started heading back home after that, but the ones still left paid a visit to the science centre in Utrecht, where I gave a talk last month. I can really recommend visiting that place by the way!
The morning after I realised that this time it felt like being on a holiday, while I was at home. Thanks for that great weekend everyone!
Graham and Marcel playing in my living room. I took the picture with my mobile phone camera, as you probably had guessed.
Here’s (from left to right) Jan-Willem, Arie, Geoff, Jan, Edd, David, me, Graham and Els.
At 2:30 in the morning it sounds really funny when Edd tries to tell us what to do in Dutch and it looks really funny when Graham tries to understand it. “Wrechter hand on gwroon…” Credit: Edd Edmondson.
Els, Geoff, Edd, me and Janey. Credit: Graham Bowes.
Graham, me and Edd in front of the science centre. Wendy, who works there, was kind enough to take the picture.
3 Comments
good writing!
[nice picture of graham and me!]
Yes we had a great time, didn’t we. It even looks like I know how to hold a guitar
now that would be the ‘understatement of the year’ wouldn’t it Graham?
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[...] recognised me too. And naturally I had a chat with Jan-Willem, who once gave my Zoo friends and I a nice tour here. I also spotted a picture on the ‘history wall’, of that time I gave a lecture about my [...]