WHAT WE DID!

SATURDAY EVENING

4:20pm - A few hours later, while the others continued their shopping and sightseeing (or in many cases, catnaps back at the hotel *g*) the crazy few of us met up at the amphitheatre. Half asleep, eleven insane attendees (myself included) headed to a nearby Laserquest Hall for a little 'Terminator' action.

For those of you who don't know, Laserquest is basically paintball without the pain! *g* Wearing a target pack and holding a laser gun, you run around in semi-darkness, attacking the others (or enemy team), throughout a maze of ramps and walls. There are three target areas - the back, front, or gun - and with red laser-beams it really does look like something out of the futuristic scenes in 'Terminator'. GREAT fun! :-)

We didn't have time for two games, cause the place was running late - so we just played the one. Instead of teams we all went in as individuals, joined by a group of four twelve-year-old boys, and their guides - who I have suspicions had played this game before! *lol* As we got ready, we all looked at each other wondering what the hell had made us think we should spend the last tiny bit of energy we had, running round. Hour-and-a-half's sleep remember - yep, we're mad! *g*

Once inside, however, we all kicked into action, and it was truly amazing just how much energy people suddenly had! For twenty minutes we blasted each other to bits, running from places where we were completely alone, to areas where there seemed to be a gun around each corner. *lol* There was one high ramp area in particular, which was a death-trap if you got stuck on it - which I did (thanks Yvonne, my friend *hummm* *g*).

My suspicions about the kids was certainly right - cause they shot back at least as much as we got them...if not a lot more - I was doing well til I ran round a corner into three of them! The exception to this point was Kathryn, who managed to blackmail them into being her own personal Mafia - and set them loose on the rest of us! *much respect sneaky woman* Incidentally Kathryn won - I wonder why? *lol*

Suddenly fully-charged and hyper again, we hung up our guns and proudly (in some cases *g*) collected our score sheets! I came seventh (and appropriate number I felt!) after Kathryn, Becky and four of the other party. Then all together again, we made a quick dash back to the hotel, terrifying the people on the bus with our loud (we were buzzing) talk of guns and sniper activity *lol*



After a quick change into costume (and I mean QUICK) we met up with the others in the hotel lobby! Truly a terrifying sight *lol* No, everyone looked great and we had a mix of gamblers, cowboys, gunslingers, Indians and even one or two working girls! The hotel staff and some of the other guests gave us a few odd looks as we all hung out taking photos.

When everyone was finally sure that they had everything, we piled back into the cards and made our way to the restaurant. This time we lost three cars on route *LOL* but hey, there were about nine cars this time! Still, it was only a ten-minute journey! *humm*

As the other headed into the restaurant (Frankie & Benny's Italian American) - much to the horror of the staff there (who had been warned *g*). I grabbed my mobile phone and headed outside onto the street to wait for the missing posse members! Gradually with new instructions and comments of "you're where? How did you end up there?" two of the missing cars arrived. Getting hold of one member in the final car (currently lost somewhere else in the complex *lol*) we found a landmark for the driver and they made it! That is after I had terrified many a passing car by waving blindly at them (in a cowboy hat) in the hope it was my missing peeps :-)



Finally all together, we sat down on a long L-shaped table, complete with balloons thanks to the restaurant. We took up half the restaurant, and at least 90% of the noise *lol*. I say we sat down (*ha* yeah right!) but for at least half an hour while they took our orders and prepared the food, it was more like musical chairs in there! This was the first time that all thirty-three of us had truly spent some time together - and from the camera flashes and cheerful chat, it was pretty obvious! :-)

Everywhere you looked people were posing, taking photos and asking fellow attendees about each other! It sounds corny I know, but it really was very touching to see everyone getting along so well! I took the opportunity to wander around the table and actually say a proper 'hello' to the MANY attendees I'd chatted to more in passing over the last 24 hours!

I also let people know that we had over one-hundred-and-twenty-seven people taking part in the Global Gathering, and that we believed that Chester alone *might* have been the biggest single gathering of M7 fans to date! *yippeee* One thing I will say though guys, was that you lot were taking photos everytime I even paused around the table - I felt like I was facing the paparattzi *lol*



The meal was nice and we were all very loud and bubbly, but the restaurant didn't seem to care - and the other guests just seemed amused *g*

Satisfied, we left the restaurant before dessert and headed back to hotel! No, we're not mad and no thirty-two women did not pass up the chance for a pudding *g* we just knew that we had tons of junk food in the TV room - including cakes, etc *lol*

As everyone began to congregate in the hotel bar area, I think the staff panicked and we were given, free of charge, the use of their large boardroom - yes, space, amazing huh? *g*

When we were all together, and before TV drooling (*ahem* sorry watching), we had a couple of quizzes - a M7 one and a Wild West one! The M7 one peeps were fine with - but you'd have thought they were in an exam for the wild west one *lol* the concentration was very funny!



With them out of the way, and time escaping us, we said a fond farewell to some of the daytrippers, and settled down to make our keyrings while watching videos. Needless to say, first on the 'must see' list were the so far unaired ITV episodes (Penance, Lady Killers, Obsession and Serpents).

It was a really nice evening (night) cause we all just relaxed watching our favourite show - the show that had brought us all together! :-) At about 4:30am we said sad goodbyes to the remaining two daytrippers, Jackie and Lynne, and crawled to our various bedrooms.

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