The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Meeting a legend

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For 9 days I’ve been away on a road trip with my son, Rogan.

I daresay I’ll be writing about various aspects of the trip over the coming days, but for several people who frequent this corner of the Internet, the most important thing will be the fact we met up with Pat, the extraordinary and wonderful blogger from Pat’s Past Imperfect.

I’ve met relatively few other bloggers who I didn’t know before they started blogging. In fact, Dr Maroon is the only one who leaps to mind. And he still owes me a lunch. And he resolutely refused to give me any kind of information about himself that might possibly reveal his real identity. He gave me a first name to use that may or may not have been his, and seemed to be constantly scanning the restaurant and me for possible hidden recording devices. Though I think the false nose and glasses he insisted on wearing actually drew more attention than he meant them to...

Pat, on the other hand, exhibited no such paranoia. She is warm, friendly and wonderful – everything and more you would expect from reading her blog.

While waiting for Pat outside Mr Micawber’s café in Minehead, we spotted her from a wee way off. As she approached - elegant, attractive and with a dazzling smile - I became distinctly aware of my own travel-worn state – creased shirt, untrimmed jowls and in desperate need of a shower. Mr Odorous Crumpled at your service, Ma’am...

We’d detoured on our journey from South Devon up to Chesterfield to meet up with Pat. Initially I’d thought we would probably only have time for a coffee, maybe a scone. But before long we were enjoying lunch too, and even then, when we really had to leave, it felt it was over all too soon.

Back at the car park, we got out the cameras. I was going to say it was like having my photo taken with a film star, but actually it was far more than that – it was like having my photo taken with a long lost friend.

I often feel shattered after blethering with someone for a couple of hours, but oddly enough I felt energised from our meeting with Pat. The remaining drive to Chesterfield was much less tiring than expected; Rogan and I joked and laughed and the mood was light, despite the torrential downpours through the 2nd half of the journey.

I’m not a religious man: I believe in neither God nor reincarnation. But sometimes, just sometimes, we can meet someone for the first time, and it feels like we’ve known each other for millennia.


Mr Odorous Crumpled meets ex-model and superblogger

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25 comments

Pat said...

Kim: I'm hanging on to you as if I can hardly stand, but it was only the one glass:)

savannah said...

What a delightful photo of you both! I am totally jealous - nobody has ever detoured to Savannah to meet me! ;) xoxoxo

Kim Ayres said...

Pat - and I thought it was because you didn't want to let me go :)

Savannah - one day! You're on my list of bloggers to look out for opportunities to meet up with :)

Barlinnie said...

The lady in question just oozes class. Your a lucky man indeed.

Kim Ayres said...

Don't I know it, Jimmy.

Still, you're less than 100 miles away, perhaps it's just a matter of time before we meet :)

debra said...

Wonderful photos on both your blogs.
There was a man named Father Bernard Cooke who wrote:
"We need to have people who mean something to us; people to whom we can turn, knowing that being with them is coming home."
Sounds like you met one of those people. Welcome home.

Tom P. said...

She must have some kind of magic power. She was able to make you into a handsome man!!! ;)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I came over from Pat's blogbecause your visit with her sounded utterly sublime! And what a treat to see this BEAUTIFUL picture of the two of you....!
As I said to her, the Internet and Blogging, in particular is truly a great gift where 'friendships' are concerned...It sounds like you ALL had a really wonderful wonderful time....! I wish I had been there, too!

sarah said...

that is awesome. i have goals to meet bloggers one of these days as well. probably would help if i didn't hate to fly so much.

Anonymous said...

Oh how cool is that! The description of the other made me laugh out loud. I worry I come across like that with my pseudonym and all! You guys look relaxed and like your having a blast. I get to meet 2 fellow bloggers soon I hope and hope it goes so well!

Mary Witzl said...

Lovely photograph, Kim, and it sounds like such a nice meeting.

I'm amused when people tell me that blogging is too solitary, that you never actually meet anyone. I've met four people through my blog (including you) one of whom invited me to join her writing group and has since given me tons of good advice, and I've become friends with countless others. And obviously I'm not the only one!

Kanani said...

Bravo! I love this photo! I'm so happy the two of you met, and I think it's wonderful how blogging has helped form many an understanding between people who might otherwise not ever have met.

I'm meeting a local blogger today! We're meeting at his office and going over to the train station for a snack.

And Savannah, I don't know you but will venture over to your blog. I am living in both L.A. and Savannah now.

savannah said...

kanani! from l.a. too? so am i! and now we both live here (well, i've been here for years!) xoxo

Kim Ayres said...

Debra - nice quote :)

Tom P - it's Pat's radiant glow - automatically makes everything look nicer :)

OOLOTH - welcome to my ramblings and thanks for taking the time to comment :)

I think one of the things about long term blogging is it allows for a fair degree of self-selection. We find ourselves drawn to blogs of people we'd like to meet or are fascinated by

Sarah - or win the lottery and fly us all to you :)

Starrlife - I can understand anonymous/pseudonym blogging, but it seems to me to be far too energy consuming to constantly worry someone might discover who you are.

Mary - without doubt, some of my warmest friends are bloggers, and I do wish some of them lived a little closer. Do let me know if you plan to return to Scotland :)

Kanani & Savannah - I think the 2 of you would get on well :)

rashbre said...

Great account from both of your blogs. I've popped over from Pat's to take a look here, and will alos take a peep at your new photoblog.

Pat said...

OOOH Goody! I've been longing for Savannah and Kanani to get to know each other.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Pat says that Rogen's Chocolate Cake is To Die For!....Does it travel across the pond well? (lol)

karatemom said...

wow..that is fabulous! I had something similar in chatting for years in a chat room and getting to know a woman in the states. It was like we chatted over morning tea/coffee for more than 4 years. Then we decided we should meet, we knew so much about eachother etc. When we did , it was similar we felt as if we had known eachother our whole lives and we had a fabulous visit for an entire week!! and even that was too short. Still now it has been over 10 years that we have been chatting , emailing, and talking on the phone. To me she is my dearest friend.

People often say , you cannot make a friend over the internet but I think of all the friends that are out there to make.

CJ Field said...

Kim!! I want you my bearded friend!! We need families in Scotland for the T21 Traveling Afghan! Please sign up and promote the project!

In short, one afghan travels from family to family who has a member with DS. They take pictures of their family member with the afghan and it is posted on our blog and Facebook Page. Then they send the afghan and an included journal on to the next family. In the end, we hope to make a book out of the pictures and journal entries.

We have families in the US, Germany, Canada, Australia and a few other countries. Alas, no Scots!

What do you say???

CJ Field said...

Woops, here's the blog link to the project!!

http://thet21travelingafghanproject.blogspot.com

Kim Ayres said...

Rashbre - welcome to my ramblings and thank you for taking the time to comment :)

Pat - a good fit :)

OOLOTH - we've not yet figured out how to send it, but if you can pick it up from SW Scotland, he'll happily make you one :)

KarateMom - it has become a great way of making friends :)

Little Miss E - I'll definitely look into it :)

Eryl said...

I'm so envious, here I am slaving away over a dissertation barely able to visit a blog let alone a blogger, and there you are off meeting Pat, blogger of bloggers and having lunch and everything!

Kim Ayres said...

Eryl - I'm only an hour away - lets do lunch sometime :)

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

What a lovely picture of you both! I have had bad experiences meeting bloggers but I'm sure Pat didn't disappoint. Did you meet MTL too?

Kim Ayres said...

Daphne - that can only be because you haven't met Pat yet :) And no, I didn't meet MTL. Apparently he's not into blogging and bloggers.

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