Lost in the city.

Friday

The British Mensa Annual Gathering started today with Sylvia's first event being at 1pm and mine a bit later. We planned to leave around 10 which would have given her plenty of time.

With the washing and drying and getting ready it was 10-20 when we actually left and it was bucketing down with rain. Just getting out of Worcester seemed to take ages with road works and weather but once out the rest of the trips went smoothly.  As we got further along the rain eased of to a drizzle and then stopped but it remained overcast all day. We had a few navigation problems once we got to Cardiff but soon found the right road and arrived at the hotel with enough time for her to check in but not unload her stuff. However I moved in to my room and hung up the still damp washing all over the room.

This is the budget hotel and fairly basic, with no cupboard for example, but adequate since we won't be doing much other than sleeping in it. The main hotel is literally next door and only a couple of minutes away. I registered and picked up my T shirt before heading into the city to get some small items. On the way I passed a sign that seemed to sum up the weekend.

There was a big under cover shopping mall and I was soon able to find the things I needed.

I then went to a games workshop where we learnt and played a couple of games of Ankh Moorpork, based on the discworld novels, after which we played the inaugural European game of Cogz.








The ice breaker was a buffet dinner and it was a chance to meet new people and catch up with some old friends. One of the locals was dressed up as the Welsh Dragon.

This was followed by a pub crawl, with 4 separate groups circulating the same 4 pubs in the city. I had ducked off to the loo and when I cam back they'd left without me.

I thought I might catch up and headed across the railway bridge. A security guy at one venue said he'd seen then heading in the expected direction but once I arrived in the entertainment area there were so many bars I couldn't find them.I rang the hotel and eventually they found someone who told me the Roma Tavern was one of the 4 so if I got there sooner or later one of the groups would arrive. I got some directions since I couldn't find it ion Google, since it turned out to be the "Rummer". However I soon met up with a different group and the evening was good from then on.

Only had a few drinks but lots of chats with some 30-somethings before heading back around midnight.