Escapism UK 2011 - Manchester

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

Oh, one thing I forgot - the hostel's stairwell looks like something straight out of Half-Life 2.

I'll be uploading a video of our descent from four storeys up as soon as I figure out what I've done with my camera's data cable.

 

[Ickorus]

Im gonna go ahead and join your group, maybe i'll be able to attend next year or something.

 

[CrashBang]

I never knew about this group! I'll happily attend next year but can't this time, no money and busy etc

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Just taking a break while the others finish off the paintballing. Took a shot to my knuckles and it drew blood. Once this has finished some of us are going sky diving, some skiing and the sensible ones are going down the pub.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

By the way, Batman Live was awesome. And I'm in love with the lady who plays Harley Quinn.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Tram time. I bagsied the front carriage while the rest of them are crushed up in the back. Still not seen @TheGhostofsin but the last paintball match was a narrow win for the oranges. Pubbage may be delayed while Forbidden Planet is visited. Two Dr who vids, a book and a Harley mug bought already. Maybe heading to Hard Rock cafe as well. Depends if the young uns can keep up.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Now in the Arndale food hall, which looks exactly like every other food mall ever. Just bought some games in Travelling Man, as well as continually texting. Much to the disgust of @Andalusa who had to Twitter about it. Just heard about Amy Winehouse as well, while the others ski or dive.
Pub's calling our names.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Hard Rock Cafe now. Djs are a mess and we have three dishes of Nachos to finish. Captain Oblivious has lead the already fed lot to Wetherspoons. We'll be joining them later but for Nachos we're mad for it.

 

[EeveeElectro]

You should have pushed it forwards a week, I'm in Manc next Weekend for the MCM expo, I would have raped met up with you then! V_v;

 

[King Toasty]

Can't wait for British Colombia to have a proper Escapism. It has "British" in its name, so it's the same as Manchester, right?

Have fun, kids. Try not to embarrass us too much. ;D

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

Sooo, day 2:

As I was snoring the morning away (on my lovely soft new bed with the wonderful memory-foam mattress, bwahahaha), most of the rest of the Escapism crew were getting up at gods-know-when to go paintballing.
Or, in the case of @FamoFunk and @Cpt_Oblivious, not sleeping at all. Despite having gone out for a few beverages the night before.
I'm told paintballing was fun, although time apparently flew a little too fast for some people's liking.

A little later, some travelled to an establishment near the Trafford Centre to go skiing/skydiving. Others stayed behind, going to Forbidden Planet and Travelling Man, which is where I met them at about 5pm.
I took a few people to look around nearby game shops, while the rest stayed to do... something or other involving cards. I confess I wasn't really paying attention.
Once the Travelling Man lot were done, we all met up again and headed to the food court - going to the hostel once our appetites were sated.

Afterward, we came back to the hostel to await the return of the skiers and skydivers, passing the time with conversation, Mock the Week and a few rounds of Street Fighter 4 - during which @Cpt_Oblivious managed to take down Seth using Dan of all people, and I realised the CPU is perfectly equipped to hand my metaphorical posterior to me when I use any character that isn't Ryu.
Once the rest of the Escapismersif that wasn't a word before, it is now reappeared, some elected to stay at the hostel (far as I know) while others, @The_Red_Spy and @The_root_of_all_evil among them, decided to go to the Hard Rock Café for some horrendously overpriced nachos.

@FamoFunk, @Andalusa, @Cpt_Oblivious, @EMFCRACKSHOT, @Revelo and I headed to the nearby Wetherspoons for some alcoholic concoctions, eventually ending up with a cocktail pitcher each (two, in the case of @EMFCRACKSHOT and myself).
http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg620/scaled.php?tn=0&server=620&filename=w7e2.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
Left to right, username (cocktail): Cpt_Oblivious (Fire Breathing Monster) DragonsAteMyMarbles (Jägermonster) Andalusa (Purple Rain) FamoFunk (Black Magic) Revelo (another Jägermonster, I think) EMFCRACKSHOT (a third Jägermonster)

Did I mention that @FamoFunk and @Cpt_Oblivious still hadn't slept since before Escapism?
Bad. Ass.

We met a few others outside Wetherspoons, and I departed soon after so I wouldn't miss the last bus home. Last I saw them, people were heading to t'shop to get even more booze. They're likely still drinking now.

Couple more from the camera:

<spoiler=The requisite multi-Mike shot>http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=dfu0.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
<spoiler=SO MANY STRAWS>http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg612/scaled.php?tn=0&server=612&filename=na25.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
<spoiler=I wasn't kidding about the stairwell earlier, either><youtube=ev4hUtu3F4Y>

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

This weekend has been so exhausting.

I am falling over all this fuck

 

[FamoFunk]

I'm impressed with mine and Mike's non sleeping power, at least they won't have to clean our beds cD

I have a number of photos to put up tomorrow, had a pretty good first time doing the meet.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I'm back home now and haven't managed to sleep yet, not even on the train. Previous reports are an exaggeration as I snapped half an hour's sleep on the breakfast table as everyone else was waking up, then an hour(ish?) on Saturday night in front of the telly.

Spoiler: Breakfast Nap via Root

URL if photo doesn't show [http://yfrog.com/h7wrgisj]

I had a great weekend and look forward to next year - it was great to see not only all the regulars but all the newcomers too, just shows what a great community we have on the site

Looking forward to the many photos of me being drunk / asleep / dying and I'll upload the pics I have when I can.

Last I saw them, people were heading to t'shop to get even more booze. They're likely still drinking now.

We were, but the shop didn't have any big bottles of Jack Daniels

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

Due to my inability to get out of bed for anything short of the apocalypse, and my phone's refusal to play nice, I spent an hour and a half wandering about looking for people - in vain.

I'd have persevered if not for a run-in with my psychotic ex-saxophone teacher. As it happens, I wouldn't have been great conversation anyway.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

@DragonsAteMyMarbles Can I just officially apologise as we'd just got back into HMV when ny battery died from running Twitter, Foursquare and the Escapist for most of the day to get the details out.

Anyway, we'd first headed to HMV so Sky/tilly could play Guitar Hero while me and Frosty played Team Fortress.
Then we headed to Waterstones, then Pizza Hut. Sorry again Mike. We did see a car being made into a cake and a snake being draped over a car.

Honestly.

Now back in the Hostel, after Sky dragged me out of the book shop and I dragged her out of the sweetshop. Dan took Sky on in pool and missed every ball off the break.

I desperately need shower, shave/sleep as my brain is completely manic, hence this post, but my body is dead.

Subtle hints have been put forward for Leicester next year, although Cardiff/Cornwall are also in the running. I don't get back to 11 tonight, so the updates are more likely to come tomorrow. Hope all had/have a safe trip home while I sleep for my trip. Thanks to all for a great weekend.

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

@DragonsAteMyMarbles Can I just officially apologise as we'd just got back into HMV when ny battery died from running Twitter, Foursquare and the Escapist for most of the day to get the details out.

Don't worry about it, seriously - it's not your fault.

I should've got out of bed earlier. Or, given that I didn't get to sleep until well after sunrise, not bothered to go to bed at all.
Herp de derp.

 

[Andalusa]

I am home! Well, I've been home for a while now, but I've had a nap, shower and refreshed myself. I had a great time this weekend, it was lovely to see some people again and nice to meet some new people too.
Unfortunately the only pictures I took were of the pitchers in Spoons and one has already been posted, can't wait to see the pictures and videos other people took.
I hope everyone else gets home or has managed to get home safely. Can't wait to do it all again next year.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

<spoiler=The requisite multi-Mike shot>http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=dfu0.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

Where did Root get his t-shirt? This is essential, need to know information.

Hope you guys had a fun time!