Think Pink!
Aug. 26th, 2007 11:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lupestripeYORK MEET - SATURDAY 25th AUGUST
I have never been so nervous in my life than when I was walking between Nunnery Lane car park and York Railway station on Saturday morning. I had regressions of my first ever furmeet back in February, the same feelings of apprehension were there. Except this time I was dressed as a 6ft husky rather than just some guy who had wandered into IRC just before Christmas and started talking to people. Thoughts were racing through my mind: What would furs think of the suit? Would the idea of just turning up to a Meet dressed as a husky work? And most importantly: Could I avoid tripping over my giant cumbersome feetpaws and squashing some poor kid who had just happened to get in the way? Either way today was the day that I would be unveiling my first ever fursuit (in public for the first time) and understandably I was nervous. And that in itself is an understatement.
I hadn't told anybody excepting Fiox and Wolfie (who was guiding me through the obstacles that were York in the tourist season) that I was planning to do this so it's fair to say that the general reaction was one of surprise. Bemused surprise perhaps but surprise nonetheless. After the necessary *huggles* I decided to try and meet-and-greet some of the passing populace, who were more than a little perplexed to see a giant husky invade their morning. crosseyeddragon and Baggy meanwhile sadly slunked off and hid before I could notice their presence. Apparently they were scared of the pink *sobs*. I hoped everyone else liked it :-)
A slow stumble to Varsity followed with me trying my best to maintain a decorous conversation with Patter at the same time as being mobbed by children and Japanese tourists. We eventually got to the bar, where I thought I would have to remove my head due to security reasons. Hey, they couldn't see my identity and perhaps they would think I would try and rob the place. The getaway would have been interesting though, lumbering down the street in my oversized feetpaws with the landlord shouting "stop that husky!" to the innocent passers-by. "Which one?" I can hear them cry to wit the landlord would respond "The one with the pink mohiecan". I can see it now.
Varsity was fun. The barmen and barmaids were amused by the suit, going so far as to ask me why I was doing it. They tried to prompt me with the charity explanation which is perhaps what I should have said. I opted for the "I just wanted to do it for the hell of it option" which perhaps wasn't the wisest. I also found out that it is impossible to play those quiz machines in hand paws - the screen simply doesn't recognise the gentle touch of pads - even when I threatened to beat seven shades of shit out of it. I also did my best Michael Stipe mandolin impression to Losing My Religion as we had somehow cleared away a makeshift dance floor. I tried my best to encourage others to dance but to no avail. I also tried to dance to some of the other songs but as I didn't know them I was severely hampered. It didn't really stop me though. I also managed to catch up withlsfiox and crystakitty, the latter of which was looking adorable in her ears, tail and collar :-)
Before the inaugural Hunt the Fiox I decided to go and change. What I thought would be a 20 minute job turned into an hour although that may have had something to do with Wolfie and I visiting the Bagel Bite for a smooth cream cheese bagel. Indeed I got mine for half-price because I turned up in suit so there's a tip for all you fursuiters in future. There is a caveat here however - I was in York on Thursday and was talking to one of the serving dudes in Bagel Bite and I told him I would be releasing my hidden husky on Saturday. He urged me to come down and he was made-up when he saw me lumbering into the shop at around half past one. He took my picture so he could "put it on the wall" of the bagel shop (ominous I know) whilst I got photos taken and *hugs* from the other serving staff. I even spoke to two girls (later and out of suit) from the Disney Store who my new-found bagel friend had told on Friday that I would be dressed as a husky. Word gets around parohcial little towns.
Due to delays we were 25 minutes late for the Fiox Hunt yet we still finished second (we're yet to receive our prize Fiox!!). The idea was that the Fiox would be secreted somewhere in town and we would have to find him using a map and a set of clues. Knowing the Fiox I thought sack that idea and let's go to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate instead. As it turned out I wasn't far wrong as he was actually around the corner. At one point it did get competitive as once we had worked out that he was in the Shambles we rushed down there like Anneka Rice on her way to a jump-suit sale and nearly bumped into Enteirah, Crosseyed and Baggy who were also trying to find him. We managed to give them the slip by dodging into the market (but it was a close-run thing) and we finished second. Had we returned thirty seconds earlier from our bagel fursuiting excursion we would have won. But at least the bagel was good ;-)
A trip bowling followed (at the ever-delightful Clifton Moor Retail Park) in which I was completely rubbish (I blame the tiredness after suiting to be honest). My average of 4 pins per turn was something that only the most hardened of bowling professionals could be envious over but to be fair I did improve and I managed to beat enteirah in the second game (by two pins, take that bunny, mwah ha ha ha ha - not that I'm competitive at all - AND I broke your poorly constructed hair bobble hehe). I was also a little down during the bowling, for which I apologise. It was tiredness mixed in with frustration mixed in with my competitive nature. Sorry guys.
We then went back into town where most of us decided to split.actively_lazy, Redmoor, Wolfie, enteirah and I decided to pop to Wetherspoons for a plate of cheap sminge with a scabby pint thrown in. We started to talk about the idea of a Furry Christmas Meal (a meal where we would get furs together to eat not a meal that had been left on the sideboard for three months to go mouldy) but we all kinda got distracted by the TV, which was showing a programme called School's Out (presented by that nice chap Danny Wallace of Are You Dave Gorman? fame (you'll be surprised to learn that he isn't)) and then the National Lottery 1 vs 100 thing. She won by the way - which is more than can be said for me and the Lottery.
crosseyeddragon and Baggy meanwhile sadly slunked off and hid before I could notice their presence. Apparently they were scared of the pink *sobs*. I hoped everyone else liked it :-)A slow stumble to Varsity followed with me trying my best to maintain a decorous conversation with Patter at the same time as being mobbed by children and Japanese tourists. We eventually got to the bar, where I thought I would have to remove my head due to security reasons. Hey, they couldn't see my identity and perhaps they would think I would try and rob the place. The getaway would have been interesting though, lumbering down the street in my oversized feetpaws with the landlord shouting "stop that husky!" to the innocent passers-by. "Which one?" I can hear them cry to wit the landlord would respond "The one with the pink mohiecan". I can see it now.
Varsity was fun. The barmen and barmaids were amused by the suit, going so far as to ask me why I was doing it. They tried to prompt me with the charity explanation which is perhaps what I should have said. I opted for the "I just wanted to do it for the hell of it option" which perhaps wasn't the wisest. I also found out that it is impossible to play those quiz machines in hand paws - the screen simply doesn't recognise the gentle touch of pads - even when I threatened to beat seven shades of shit out of it. I also did my best Michael Stipe mandolin impression to Losing My Religion as we had somehow cleared away a makeshift dance floor. I tried my best to encourage others to dance but to no avail. I also tried to dance to some of the other songs but as I didn't know them I was severely hampered. It didn't really stop me though. I also managed to catch up with
lsfiox and crystakitty, the latter of which was looking adorable in her ears, tail and collar :-)Before the inaugural Hunt the Fiox I decided to go and change. What I thought would be a 20 minute job turned into an hour although that may have had something to do with Wolfie and I visiting the Bagel Bite for a smooth cream cheese bagel. Indeed I got mine for half-price because I turned up in suit so there's a tip for all you fursuiters in future. There is a caveat here however - I was in York on Thursday and was talking to one of the serving dudes in Bagel Bite and I told him I would be releasing my hidden husky on Saturday. He urged me to come down and he was made-up when he saw me lumbering into the shop at around half past one. He took my picture so he could "put it on the wall" of the bagel shop (ominous I know) whilst I got photos taken and *hugs* from the other serving staff. I even spoke to two girls (later and out of suit) from the Disney Store who my new-found bagel friend had told on Friday that I would be dressed as a husky. Word gets around parohcial little towns.
Due to delays we were 25 minutes late for the Fiox Hunt yet we still finished second (we're yet to receive our prize Fiox!!). The idea was that the Fiox would be secreted somewhere in town and we would have to find him using a map and a set of clues. Knowing the Fiox I thought sack that idea and let's go to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate instead. As it turned out I wasn't far wrong as he was actually around the corner. At one point it did get competitive as once we had worked out that he was in the Shambles we rushed down there like Anneka Rice on her way to a jump-suit sale and nearly bumped into Enteirah, Crosseyed and Baggy who were also trying to find him. We managed to give them the slip by dodging into the market (but it was a close-run thing) and we finished second. Had we returned thirty seconds earlier from our bagel fursuiting excursion we would have won. But at least the bagel was good ;-)
A trip bowling followed (at the ever-delightful Clifton Moor Retail Park) in which I was completely rubbish (I blame the tiredness after suiting to be honest). My average of 4 pins per turn was something that only the most hardened of bowling professionals could be envious over but to be fair I did improve and I managed to beat enteirah in the second game (by two pins, take that bunny, mwah ha ha ha ha - not that I'm competitive at all - AND I broke your poorly constructed hair bobble hehe). I was also a little down during the bowling, for which I apologise. It was tiredness mixed in with frustration mixed in with my competitive nature. Sorry guys.
We then went back into town where most of us decided to split.
actively_lazy, Redmoor, Wolfie, enteirah and I decided to pop to Wetherspoons for a plate of cheap sminge with a scabby pint thrown in. We started to talk about the idea of a Furry Christmas Meal (a meal where we would get furs together to eat not a meal that had been left on the sideboard for three months to go mouldy) but we all kinda got distracted by the TV, which was showing a programme called School's Out (presented by that nice chap Danny Wallace of Are You Dave Gorman? fame (you'll be surprised to learn that he isn't)) and then the National Lottery 1 vs 100 thing. She won by the way - which is more than can be said for me and the Lottery.After such invigorating tele we all decided to head our separate ways. I was personally knackered but my gut feeling was that the suit went down well, which is what I had hoped. Either way I enjoyed the day and I'm glad I managed to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones too. Hope to see you all again soon :-)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-26 11:38 pm (UTC)As for bowling, I keep saying I just can't do two games. =:P My finger is currently still cut at the bottom of the nail as a result being overworn away on Saturday. >.<
Still it was a good time, and nice to see you there. I hope I'll see you in Leeds in October, or possibly Liverpool next month (though I can't be sure I'll be at Liverpool myself, as it's West coast)... but will you be risking either of those in suit is the question? (I don't recall seeing any suiters risking either city tbh as they're so much rougher)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-27 06:09 pm (UTC)As for the bowling, pah excuses excuses :-P My fingers were starting to feel that way too but to be honest I could have hardly done much worse during the second round than what I did in the first. 44 was my lowest EVER score at bowling - it was that atrocious. I'm sure when I was younger I was constantly hitting the 100s. Must be getting old, must be arthritis or something (and perhaps its the reason why your finger is bad hehe :-P).
I have no issues wearing a fursuit in either Leeds or Liverpool to be honest. If there's a demand then I would more than happily do it. I've suited in Middlesbrough (granted it was Hallowe'en but it still counts) and various charity events in Batley and Cleckheaton but York was the first time I have just done it for the sake of it. Despite this as long as there are people to make sure I'm alright then I have no problems suiting anywhere really. Indeed I would probably relish it more - it would be fun to do.
As for the meets themselves, I doubt I'll do Liverpool but Leeds is a definite. Saturday's are tough during the football season as I run websites based on football but Leeds I think I can do. I look forward to seeing you down there :)