Just over a year ago I discovered a little blog called Excelsior Lady (Now called FILTH) run by a lovely LA woman by the name of Hanna. We followed each others blogs and then we became pen pals and 'Facebook friends' and then Hanna took a vacation to London and we became REAL LIFE FRIENDS. Anybody that knows me, and knows Hanna, will know that we both like a drink or several, so it will come as no surprise that the first thing we did upon meeting was head straight to the nearest pub. We then spent the rest of the day going from pub to pub until we eventually retired to the twinkly lights in the beautiful garden of the Notting Hill B&B she was staying in. It was a perfect day.
I was a little apprehensive beforehand that it may have been awkward or strange meeting "in real life", not because I thought Hanna would be anything other than lovely, but I was concerned that perhaps I don't give an honest representation of myself on this blog or in my letters. It is easy to create an online persona for yourself and only show the world the embellished, polished bits that you're willing to reveal. I like to think that I am an honest person and that Blog Martin, Letter Writing Martin and Real Life Martin are one and the same, but you never know. It turns out that my apprehensions were unfounded and (apparently) I am no different in real life. Phew! The only strange thing was that it really wasn't strange at all. It was comfortable and easy and I felt as if I'd known her forever. I mean the alcohol probably helped those feelings along but whatever.
Also, we may or may not have accidentally stole a round of drinks from a bar. Sorry 'Al's Cafe' but that's what you get for having a grammatically incorrect sign above your door (Als Cafe? Seriously?).
Also, when it came time for me to leave to catch my train home there were massive delays and cancellations on the tube which could potentially have left me stranded in the middle of London. And nobody wants to be stranded in the middle of London on a Friday night so the lovely old lady that Hanna was staying with very kindly let me stay the night. Hanna and I then spent the rest of the night drinking and partying because we're totally rock 'n' roll and we were definitely not in bed by 10:30pm. DEFINITELY NOT!
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Still looking pretty good after ten hours of drinking! |
Aw, look at you cutesters! I remember the first time I met my blog friend Andrea in real life how strange it seemed that it didn't seem strange at all to be sitting across from her eating pho. It felt like we'd been doing that for years!
ReplyDeleteGod bless the internet! :)
DeleteAh I am so jealous because you guys are both awesome. Hanna seems so sweet.
ReplyDeleteAww thanks, Ginny, you are pretty awesome yourself!
DeleteWow three years! Congratulations. I haven't met any blog friends in real life yet, but I really want to. And that bar sounds like they deserved to get a round of drinks stolen from them, with that name, unless it's a cafe where a lot of people named Al go and not a cafe owned by Al. And you guys do not look like you've drinking for 10 hours in that photo! And please don't give up your blog. I would miss it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica, I definitely won't be giving up any time soon! Many more blog friends to make, and hopefully many more to meet!
DeleteLove this! And I can't believe you live across the ocean and have met her, but I live about 10 miles from her and I still haven't, haha. I love meeting internet friends in real life...it makes spending countless hours online all worthwhile. And happy blogiversary!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that is pretty funny. Hanna did mention that she was looking forward to meeting you soon though!
DeleteHAPPY BLOGIVERSARY, TARD. If I didn't have a head full of cold pills and... plants, I'd probably have more to say, but as it stands the keyboard is kinda floaty and rippled, and my hands feel like gloves full of sand so... I can't wait to re-read this comment and laugh at myself later.
ReplyDeleteSOUNS FUN. I might be a bit jealous, if I drank/when I drink for 10 hours I neeeeeever look that human so COLOUR ME IMPRESSED, and how could anyone not like getting to meet yo?u
GET BETTER SOON, DICKHEAD. And you just wait 'til you meet Drunk Martin in person! Mwahahaha!
DeleteOf course you (and your blog) will be much missed if you just randomly decided to quit (please don't)- stop fishing.
ReplyDeleteIt's always amazing meeting blog-friends: always. I've been blogging for years and in different versions and forms and I still cringe when I am reminded of some of my older blogs (ugh, teenopendiary, anyone?)- I'm still friends with some of them from *that* long ago. They may even be the people who've known me longest.
I've never met someone from my blog-life that I didn't go get drinks with immediately (or that was the whole point). I met up with my favourite (former 20sber and I suppose former blogger) Tom (http://tbr-tangential.blogspot.com/) when I was in London earlier this year- all we did was hang out at an 'old man pub' (his words) and then drunkenly down old fashioneds at the bar down the road. It was an excellent night all round and I can't wait to see him again and hug his awesome self.
How did you know to meet each other- as in, that you were you and she was who she was? I love those stories. I had to ring Tom and tell him meeting at King's Cross is the WORST idea- we ended up picking a barrier outside Platform 9 & 10 (9 3/4 as he picked up!) :)
x
Aw you're very kind, and I assure you I was not intentionally "fishing" there, just thinking. :P
DeleteWe actually had a little trouble finding each other, we met at Charing Cross but were both at different entrances. I recognised her as soon as I eventually spotted her though.
AHHH I love this! Sounds like a freaking blast you two had. So, when are you coming to visit L.A.?
ReplyDeleteWe did have a blast and I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT L.A. but I have no idea when that could even become a reality. :(
Deletethis is like a movie.
ReplyDeleteand not those shitty made-for-tv lifetime ones.
but a good one. with a kickass soundtrack.