Mushroom even made a t-shirt.

Eventually, our IRC regular Veyka phoned to say he was just arriving at said park with Barney and Dan, so we lingered for a while to meet up with them. We then proceeded to the Actual Hyde Park, where we met up with a few more people. I even managed to scare the life out of Ikke av Flesk, who had no idea I knew his name. However, our numbers still far too few, we decided to take desperate measures.

We phoned Psythor.

Who seemed surprised to find that it was a female who had phoned him.

Joeno promoting Mushroom and CS10.

In the end, the two parties joined forces and headed towards the small stall selling ice cream. Where I started my short lived career as the drinks lady. We then took shelter from the fantastic weather under a tree. We were also joined by Kit and her brothers, and Claire and her boyfriend Dave. The admins therefore felt it was time for the obligatory speech giving session, where everyone (except Mike) expressed their thanks for being there. We were then witness to a rarity amongst PKMN.NET members: an official offer of promotion to our deserving Moderators, Mushroom and CS10. CS10, who wasn't there, still doesn't know as I write this. And I'm not telling him. Nyeh.

Katy & Rex, star-crossed lovers. Maybe.

Throughout the afternoon we encountered what could only be described as many forum-like events. We even managed to split the group up at one point: Team Building and Random Randomness. It was quite amusing really. We had a few people talking about the flaws of continuity, a few traders and battlers, and those who just.. talked. Football was involved too. Mainly between Dan and Mike, if not just the two. I wasn't paying attention. I was too busy listening to the copious amounts of "so I herd u liek mudkipz" going on.

Nearly everyone.

Psythor and Iceduck also went round conducting an obligatory interview. Whilst I was busy stealing Pringles. It's a life, I'll tell you.

As the afternoon wore on, the admins decided they were thirsty. As Mushroom and I were heading off ourselves to get drinks, we kindly offered to take down orders. And ended up in possession of the Administrator's money. This was also when Kit & Co had to leave. But the late arrival of Psychoshark made things more fun, especially with his camera dodging skills. The lack of ice cream also made a perfect excuse for Mushroom and I to skip away to buy some. Apparently there was some talk about what exactly we were actually up to when we disappeared, but never mind.

The author of this article.

Then came the stick fight. Conor vs Ikke av Flesk vs Rex. With giant sticks. One of which had previously been the makeshift flag post for our PKMN.NET sign. Courtesy of our very own Mushroom. I joined in after a promised arm wrestle with Rex. I lost.

Later in the afternoon, the group made a decision to leave Hyde Park, and seek greater places. Namely Leicester Square. So I left a message on Rex's phone telling him we were heading off. Because he and Claire had disappeared to the Manga shop.

The gang in Leicester Square.

We were quite tempted (well, I was) to log into an internet café and post somewhere about how everyone was there at once. On one computer. Nevertheless, on we went. With the assumption that everyone was going to eat. 6 people did. So we proceeded to sit down on the grass somewhere. Or stand. Or sit on someone's leg. I can proudly say I killed three PKMN.NET member's legs whilst we were there.

Unfortunately, Katie and I had to leave shortly after, so upon informing the admins and stealing some of Psychoshark's ice cream, we proceeded to have our photo taken as a huge group surrounding a statue of the one and only Charlie Chaplin, our newest honorary member of the PKMN.NET community. Mushroom had to leave at the same time, so he and Ikke av Flesk accompanied us on the underground, after the round of goodbyes and hugs. Everyone joined in, which was nice. Although Psythor must have thought I was some kind of flesh eating monster at first. I think it was the shock of the revelation that underneath the "girls don't exist of the internet" rule, there are real girls out there. And so, we left the remaining members to go visiting places, or to sit down and have a drink.

We finally left London tired, but happy. I spoke to CS10 and Veyka via text on the way back to lighten up the mood, but it was sad to leave everyone behind. I told Veyka to drink to the prospect of another meeting, and I hope it will be as fantastic as this day was.

Page written by Psythor.

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