London ILB - FAP?

It was at an ILB FAP that Tim Hopkins told me about Eley Williams.

Big Guardian interview:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jul/17/hunting-for-mountweazels-eley-williams-on-the-fun-and-responsibility-of-dictionaries

I can't recall if Tim knows ms Williams, or just admires the work.

I know Eley* a little - from what I know she is delightful. We collaborated on this: https://thehalfpintpress.wordpress.com/the-seas-better-plans/ and I certainly admire the work. I am looking forward to the novel very much.

(*That's Dr. Williams, PF!)

I'm not too surprised it's Dr Williams, and I would always refer to someone by that title if aware of it, but in this instance I was not, at the time.

Now I know better, I observe that Dr Williams is technically a colleague, at the very federal University of London:

https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/eley-williams(fb5c6c00-d430-4c46-a694-889cede1902a).html

I click on the link and I recognize this kind of jar.

Oh hey, so I wrote a quiz, some of which was based on our discussion when I came to London that one time. Can't decide whether to post a link or not.

post the link!

https://learnedleague.com/oneday.php?isaacnewton

do i remember the FAP. was it in the royal oak? what was the conversation? late renaissance/early enlightenment/thomas harriot/school of night stuff?

and thanks for posting!

Yes. Royal Oak. I just remember you talking about the “standing on the shoulders of giants” remark was rumored to be a dig at somebody’s stature, and Tom D talking about Newton sticking a needle in his eye socket.

ah right, yes. god, would be good to be back in the royal oak right now talking shit.

for the sake of epistemic tidiness, i should explicitly point out to others itt that wikipedia, in an entry on the trope, has that rumour as unlikely, as the recipient and newton were on good terms at the time, and the phrase itself having been in relatively common intellectual use since classical times.

I remember the fap but nothing that was discussed. Good quiz but I only got five :(

Five is pretty good!

I remember you and I discussing our mutual dislike of– wait for it– Stoner.

Yes, that “standing on the shoulders” stature thing is apparently a myth, as is the story of Newton destroying all the portraits of him upon becoming president of The Royal Society.

Dates are my weakness when it comes to general knowledge but I was quite surprised that galileo and newton were so close in time, I would have guessed galileo was 100 years earlier.

Well, dates, royalty, sport...

Lol. Actually I could have sworn I learned that fact on that trip as well but in fact the similar thing I learned was that Galileo and Shakespeare were born in the same year.

If cases keep coming down I was thinking of doing this in November. See how it goes.

I've been thinking about FAPs recently, I'm not that optimistic about November though.

Would love to join, especially if it’s outside. Sometimes November is still warmish. Also I don’t think I’ve met a single new person for two years who wasn’t another nursery parent.

Be good to meet Chuck.

I have to say cases are dropping nicely and all of the adult population will be vaxxed by then (apart from the tiny amounts that don't want it). We will know the effect of schools re-opening shortly.

Let's see it then.

I wanted to see what the feeling was on a November meet up. Thinking 18th or 25th.

Obviously cases are now going up but I said I'd revive.

Bumping this up

Yeah, ok, good

I can’t do 18th, can do 25th, would be good to see you all.

Additionally it would be good to see you all on 1st December at the Prince Arthur near Old Street, when we’re launching this new book I’ve been working on. All the details you need here:

https://theedgeoftheobject.com

The 18th also not good for me, 25th should be good, but there should still be a FAP either day that suits people because I would like to attend one eventually given I’m reading again and also to meet Tom D.

is this still on? 25th is def better for me as

Was going to revive towards end of the week.

Let's go for the 25th at the Royal Oak.

Is that the one in Borough?

Yes.

Like the blithering idiot I obviously am I have accepted an invitation to another thing on this evening. I will be along for a swift one after work to say hello to anyone who's about but it can only be the one I'm afraid.

I'll be there!

👌

See you all later, should be there by 6.

Good stuff. How busy is it likely to be in terms of getting seats or whatever

Pre-pandemic you could usually get a table.

Yes - unlikely to be rammed; I imagine I'll be there fairly soon after 5.30 so I feel reasonably confident that we should have a table

I’ll see you there around then Tim, I’m in town myself so should be able to head over fairly early

i'm wandering over from the beano show at somerset house so will probably also be early

Excellent x2

I'm thinking of coming but I probably shouldn't or rather I shouldn't drink but if I can manage to nurse a pint all night I will.

I've stopped drinking during lockdown so if you need someone to look lame next to you I'm there.

It's not so much about looking lame as my inability to go into a pub and not drink more than I should.

Tom D I will be there in solidarity with you! You should come!

Btw picked up a copy of the stories of Heinrich Böll off unwanted books shelf at the station, anyone want it?

FYI Royal Oak closed for an event 🙄 suggest people come to The George on Borough high st instead, everything inside reserved but we have an outside table, wrap up warm I guess

Cool

lovely to see ppl and sorry to scoot like that but i was just s-o-o-o-o cold!

Was lovely to meet people I hadn’t met before and to see the rest of you again, going to go home and hopefully not die of pneumonia now

I was glad to meet poster Gyac from Co. Offaly. I strongly agreed with her comments about "melts".

It was lovely to meet you too pinefox, thank you for validating my comments about melts ❤️