GABIT attendees thread

[JuliaR]

Well, just got about seven hours sleep. Feeling a bit more like a human being after averaging two to
three per night for the last six nights. <vbg>

I met with Elaine (ChopinGal) at last <<hugs>> and her lovely daughter for a all too brief chat, and it was a pleasure to introduce you at the cocktail party to Amanda as the people who'd sent her your lovely book.
I'd *personally* like to thank all of you for coming along and
joining us and Amanda for this weekend. You guys rock! I didn't get time to interact as much as the others with you all because of making sure that the star attraction was looked after, got to places she needed to get to <I was the blur with the shorter legs rushing alongside her and trying to
keep up!<g>> and that her family was well looked after, but from the faces I witnessed at the autograph session, and from those of you who did talk with me, you were all obviously having a blast. (I'm finding it odd not carrying a clip board around with me at the moment!)

Controlling Amanda's talks was impossible - I definitely needed a long leash to tug on! LOL! Sue, our Steward coordinator was fab at looking after us G4 with breakfast and caffeine needs and blood pressure meds! Mind you, having risk assessed the whole shooting match, to then watch the person under your care pretend to throw herself across a fellow
Director's car bonnet late at night did *not* do much for either my blood pressure or my sanity!!!!
LOL!

I can assure you that Amanda had a *wonderful* time and loved every minute, from the hilarious unscheduled moments of curly wurly stretching (thank God for Wet Ones!!!) and the auction to the emotion of seeing Amanda stand in front of 250 of her very own fans. I think it will be engrained on my memory forever as you all stood and gave her a standing ovation at the end. To watch something you've planned for across 36 months of ups and downs finally come to fruition in the way that it did just choked me up, and I know Amanda won't ever forget it.

The Gabit "Hearing Dog" puppy and tremendous sum of money raised at the auction is a testament to Amanda's fans and their
generosity of spirit and what Amanda and her fans are all about - special people, and you guys really are that.

Julia
G4

[GateGipsy]

Julia, and the rest of G4, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It was well worth the wait!

Amanda has said that she'd do it again, if you guys do another Gabit. So, will you? Or is it too soon to be thinking about it!

To the rest of the GW guys - I'm gutted I didn't get to meet you all. I was so upset to be ill for most of the weekend, and while you were all noshing down and having fun on Saturday, I was in bed by 7:30! I am thrilled that I got to meet FHB and SeaBee again, and Kliggins it was a true pleasure. SpaceMinx - I looked for you on Sunday but didn't spot you. I wasn't 100 percent still though, so sorry if I blanked you at all.

[Bagpuss]

Well, just got about seven hours sleep. Feeling a bit more like a human being after averaging two to
three per night for the last six nights. <vbg>

(((((((((Julia))))))))) Glad you can relax now.

Sue, our Steward coordinator was fab at looking after us G4 with breakfast and caffeine needs and blood pressure meds! Mind you, having risk assessed the whole shooting match, to then watch the person under your care pretend to throw herself across a fellow
Director's car bonnet late at night did *not* do much for either my blood pressure or my sanity!!!!
LOL!

That whole routine from Amanda was hilarious to watch.Sorry to have laughed myself witless,but from everything I've read about Amanda,and seen for myself at Gabit,she's a bit of a prankster to say the least !

I can assure you that Amanda had a *wonderful* time and loved every minute, from the hilarious unscheduled moments of curly wurly stretching (thank God for Wet Ones!!!) and the auction to the emotion of seeing Amanda stand in front of 250 of her very own fans. I think it will be engrained on my memory forever as you all stood and gave her a standing ovation at the end. To watch something you've planned for across 36 months of ups and downs finally come to fruition in the way that it did just choked me up, and I know Amanda won't ever forget it.

I think most of us got a bit choked up at the end .
As you're freely talking about the Curly-wurlies,I'm going to assume it's ok to comment about the special event,as long as we're a bit mysterious on details of why we were playing with our food .

I didn't take part.Nobody trusted me not to eat them all, I think
I wonder how many bootlace shaped bars actually got eaten afterwards,lol !

The Gabit "Hearing Dog" puppy and tremendous sum of money raised at the auction is a testament to Amanda's fans and their
generosity of spirit and what Amanda and her fans are all about - special people, and you guys really are that.

Julia
G4

(((((((((Julia))))))))) Thanks for the compliment . We all had a great and memorable time,and I know that there was a lot of interest in attending future events too,not just from our group but among lots of other Gabit attendees I spoke to .

*Sends "VR Bouquet"*.I didn't get around to going out and getting you wonderful ladies and John the real ones I originally intended to present to you all at the end,but things got very hectic,and I ran out of time !

[Kliggins]

Hugs and thanks for a lovely evening's worth of fun,food, and frolicking *cough* go to :

We "frolicked" I think I missed the frolicking.

[Kliggins]

Yep, Kliggs will be flying now, I guess with the 8 hrs difference she'll get home more or less the sametime as she left *head spins* let us know when you're home again please *throws Chocodile at Kliggs*

I am home! Thanks *munches chocodile*

Well I wasn't having any post con blues but then I started sorting out my handbag and there was my con badge and Flippy's badge and ... and ... *lip wobble* ... waaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Poor Rune. Belated hug.

[Bagpuss]

We "frolicked" I think I missed the frolicking.

You're back home safe at last and we've missed you around here. (Must aim better,next time.lol )
Of course we frolicked..you're just in denial of the orange wigs and other goodies.

That reminds me.Hubs hasn't had time to sort out his camera/pics yet.I hope they turn out ok.
*worries a bit*
D'oh ! I forgot to try the Chocodiles. I'll just have to endure this salad sandwich and play "pretend" ...

[dipsofjazz]

We "frolicked" I think I missed the frolicking.

Kliggy-Wiggy!!!! They let you back into the US?
I believe the frolicking was Plan B...remember...the one after throwing tvs out of the windows!
Is it time for Gabit 2 yet?

[Bagpuss]

ROTFl ! The hyper-smiley guy ....are you planning to post him every day till Becks and Julia come onto GW and say yes ? Ever thought they may zat Smiley to stop him frolicking ?

*Grumbles about poetry*..Trust you to get Guinness into that Ballad of Gabit,despite the bar only serving Murphy's.

Of course I can't think of anything that actually rhymes with Murphy's.Yet !

Any more of you lot feeling the Con Crud settle yet ?

[Kliggins]

Okay, lets see if I can get some of this in one post.

Seabee: Sorry about con crud. Thanks for all the lovely chats, fun, and good company.

Flippy: Again, sorry about con crud. What to say; thanks for the fantastic badges, great company, sharing french fries.

Gatebee; Thanks for making the trek to meet us for dinner. It was wonderful to meet and spend time with you. I am glad you had your yellow coat.

Rowan: Sorry you missed dinner, but I am glad we got to talk a little.

ChopinGal, Coley, 1Speed; great to meet you. Looking forward to CG's reports.

Mal: Great to meet you. Thanks for hanging out with us when you had the time and for all your work as a steward.

Spaceminx: Sorry to have missed you. Next time.

Gipsy: Sorry you were sick, but so happy to have met you Sunday. I am sorry we could not talk more. Again, hopefully we will cross paths again..

Victoria: Hi I am glad we could be nervous in the picture line together and tea was fantastic.

ForeverSg1: Thanks for great company and seatmateness during the convention. Dinner and chats in the bar were great. Also thanks for posting pictures so quickly! Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Amber: It was great to sit and talk with you at dinner and everywhere else. I am so glad we got the opportunity.

Bev: Gonna miss that hyperactive smiley. Thanks for all the goodies, laughter, guided tours of the hotel looking for your room, being called so .... 50 times. Mom liked her key chain.

Rune: What to say there. Thanks for all the goodies too, especially a certain something, Mars Bars, the laughter, the snide remarks, being a tour guide, driving to London to hang out with us.

Baggie: Gosh. Thanks for sharing tea, it made me much less nervious; laughter, chats, Mars Bars, and everything else.

As you can see, I had a terrible time. Thanks to all the attendees from whereever they came for making the event so fun and hope everybody made it home safely.

Thanks to the generosity of my pals I now have 30 Mars Bars in my refridgerator and numerous other goodies in my house. Thanks guys.

[Kliggins]

Kliggy-Wiggy!!!! They let you back into the US?
I believe the frolicking was Plan B...remember...the one after throwing tvs out of the windows!
Is it time for Gabit 2 yet?

OMG! *groans and bangs head on desk, I am gonna kill Rune* Lets broadcast it all over the forum why don't we?

That reminds me.Hubs hasn't had time to sort out his camera/pics yet.I hope they turn out ok.
*worries a bit*
D'oh ! I forgot to try the Chocodiles. I'll just have to endure this salad sandwich and play "pretend" ...

That is okay about the pictures. If I am lucky, mine won't come out. Will work on the chocodile problem.

[AmberLM]

Hi guys! I'm so sorry I missed saying goodbye to you all but I had a *very* long drive back to Manchester. I'd just like to thank Amanda and the Gabit girls from the bottom of my heart! I had an AMAZING weekend and I was so depressed in the car afterwards that it was over. Sign me up for Gabit 2! Lol. And to all of you guys I met from the forum:

Baggy - thank you so much for arranging the meal on Saturday and giving me lots of helpful advice before I arrived. Congrats on the raffle prize, it was so cool that you guys won it!

Dips of Jazz - that box of fudge is delicious! Thank you! And your little shipper penguin was just too cute! I'll keep you informed on how 'Sam' and 'Jack' are doing, my cat hasn't eaten them yet, thank heavens! They really are quite cute.

Mal - I think that you should get the award for the wackiest orange outfit! Those chains of glow sticks were great!

Flippy - thank you sooooo much for making those fab badges and glow sticks, you're a star! (BTW I think my glow sticks are still glowing!)

SeaBee - Your's and Baggy's orange wigs were so cool! It was so great to meet you!

GateBee - It was lovely to meet you if only for the evening. I had a great time talking to you on Saturday night!

Kliggins - It was so great to meet you! Did you manage to eat all of that stuff you brought? If not you could send some of it my way Congrats on your raffle prize, you'll have to let me know when you've finished your blog about it!

Kat - I really enjoyed talking to you! Despite what anyone else says I think that you are a shipper at heart! Feel free to visit us on the Sam/Jack thread anytime you want! Oh, and, say hi to your kids for me, your daughter is so adorable!

Rune - I loved that saucer! Lol! It was so nice to meet you!

Becky, Julia, Mumsey, John and everyone else who was involved what can I say except a HUGE THANK YOU to you all for making this weekend possible!

I had one hell of a great weekend thanks to you guys on the board! I'd never been to a con that was a) so small and b) where I knew so many people! Thank you and I hope to meet you again in person in the future! Of course, I'll still be hanging around the board (hmmm... must check out that RDA "arm porn" that Dips & Kliggins told me about on the RDA Thunk thread!) if the slave driver I call my Chem. teacher ever gives me a break from work! (I swear she's is part goa'uld. I think her eyes even glow! Although it would probably be just my luck if she was on this board. Meh, she hates me already, what the heck!) *Ahem*, well yes, I'll speak to you all really soon and I hope you all had as great a time as I did!

Love & Hugs to you all!
Amber xx

[Kliggins]

Well, just got about seven hours sleep. Feeling a bit more like a human being after averaging two to
three per night for the last six nights. <vbg>

I am glad you finally got some sleep Julia. You certainly deserve it.

I'd *personally* like to thank all of you for coming along and
joining us and Amanda for this weekend. You guys rock! I didn't get time to interact as much as the others with you all because of making sure that the star attraction was looked after, got to places she needed to get to <I was the blur with the shorter legs rushing alongside her and trying to
keep up!<g>> and that her family was well looked after, but from the faces I witnessed at the autograph session, and from those of you who did talk with me, you were all obviously having a blast. (I'm finding it odd not carrying a clip board around with me at the moment!)

I am 100% positive that is why Amanda had a wonderful time because you four did such a fantastic job in providing for her and her family's comfort during this event.

The Gabit "Hearing Dog" puppy and tremendous sum of money raised at the auction is a testament to Amanda's fans and their
generosity of spirit and what Amanda and her fans are all about - special people, and you guys really are that.

The auction was such a blast. I laughed so hard. I had never heard of that charity before Amanda and am ecstatic enough money was raised to sponser a puppy.

I can assure you that Amanda had a *wonderful* time and loved every minute, from the hilarious unscheduled moments of curly wurly stretching (thank God for Wet Ones!!!) and the auction to the emotion of seeing Amanda stand in front of 250 of her very own fans. I think it will be engrained on my memory forever as you all stood and gave her a standing ovation at the end. To watch something you've planned for across 36 months of ups and downs finally come to fruition in the way that it did just choked me up, and I know Amanda won't ever forget it.

Julia
G4

I think a standing ovation was the least we could do for Amanda and the G4. Thank you so much, all of you. I had a fantastic blast of a time.

[Bagpuss]

What a thanks list ,Kliggs. ..and I didn't meet Spaceminx either .Pity.
I'd have loved to tell her face to face, how much I've adored her signature "Honey you say potato..I say Vodka ".My philosophy exactly.
(Actually my slogan is usually Life's too short to count calories... )

OMG! *groans and bangs head on desk, I am gonna kill Rune* Lets broadcast it all over the forum why don't we?

Grins evilly... *Gets out loudhailer*

That is okay about the pictures. If I am lucky, mine won't come out. Will work on the chocodile problem.

Pics will be as good as possible,and yours will be fine too.As for the Chocodiles ,no rush ...I'm still getting steadily through the other snackage ,with a lot of help from the family.

Hi guys! I'm so sorry I missed saying goodbye to you all but I had a *very* long drive back to Manchester. I'd just like to thank Amanda and the Gabit girls from the bottom of my heart! I had an AMAZING weekend and I was so depressed in the car afterwards that it was over. Sign me up for Gabit 2! Lol.

(((((((((Amber)))))))))) No need to apologise Amber.We really only said "Farewell",not Goodbye in person to one another.I think we all shared in a very special bond.Nobody who wasn't there can know exactly how special the whole event,Amanda's antics and the whole atmosphere felt.

Baggy - thank you so much for arranging the meal on Saturday and giving me lots of helpful advice before I arrived. Congrats on the raffle prize, it was so cool that you guys won it!

((((((((((Amber))))))))) I enjoyed the organising side,and the advice was part of the Baggie "Blether" .(Sticks tongue out at Bev..yes the T shirt is lovely and so appropriate for me ! )
The meal itself went well.Food was good ,Staff were friendly and it was my own ruddy fault that I burnt my thumb on the first plate.

Hence the School dinner lady /"Mum" type service from me of wrapping a paper napkin over the edge of each plate,and passing them over so nobody else got maimed.(Cue Kliggs : "You are such a Mom !")

I'd never be given a job as a waitress there,lol !

A little literary licence here ,but not much :
"Good evening GW Gabiteers,your pseudo-waitress for tonight will be Bagpuss.Not the cat ,but the drooling fool who has just stuck her hand into the ice preserving our fruit due to a small mishap.When she has quite finished cursing incoherently and plotting to pinch a bucket to later chill her friend's Guinness cans,she'll make you line up like a line of kids so you can collect your plates ,then she'll maybe remember to get a plate for herself,take less than required to leave room for dessert,come and yell down the table in efforts to chat with others,at the other end......"
Get the picture ?

Talking of pictures..."it's" on it's way,Gatebee.Your story to tell,if you wish.

The "Raffle prize" was the luckiest experience of my life,and on a par wow-wise with my engagement to Hubs,and the birth of my children .I'll never forget it.

Love & Hugs to you all!
Amber xx

Love and hugs back,Amber. You're a lovely lady and a joy to be with !

Oh cra...now I'm having a "moment" again.

[Agent_Dark]

So uh... when do we get to read the con reports?

[Bagpuss]

Har-di-Har ! You expect reports..this thread is one long report,dear Sir.

Hmmm.It's very late,so I'll gather all my stuff and try to put a report up very soon..but I need sleep.
(and photos.)