now it can be told

[rm]

You know that thing I believe where sometimes it's only the future that explains the stuff that's happened in the past? And you know how I have this thing where my entire life tends to be governed by a really peculiar and relentless sort of serendipity?

Okay, so, get this:

So despite thinking there was just a very slim change of this happening (I know I've made vague noise about it to a few of you) it's now pretty much a done deal that Patty's next bit of international academic travel means she's going to be spending 10 or so weeks in Cardiff this fall.

Yeah, what are the odds of that, right?

We cannot stop laughing (and everything we find in random books about Cardiff, I'm like, "I think I used that in a story"), and we're going to have to learn how to pronounce things and OH GOD, I really need a winter coat that's not Jack's.

Also, to totally round this out for Torchtasticness -- Patty'll be in India for about the same period of time in early 2011, and I can visit her there too if we can make $$ and time work. Fandom, say it with me: Cardiff, Switzerland, India. This is my life.

Comments

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

I've just about figured out a way (assuming I get a particular grant) to get to that Torchwood conference in June. I sent a proposal in to the conference, in case I can get the money.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh, AWESOME. I'm glad we'll get a report from someone. I stared at that with such temptation and was like "I don't need a third trip to the UK this year" and now I"m like "oh, haahahah, more UK than I know what to do with."

[lefaym.livejournal.com]

Ha, awesome.

Edited to delete part of my comment, in which I completely failed to remember that fall for you is spring for me.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup, if I go visit, which I probably will, it'll be in October or November.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

Why not wear Jack's coat around Cardiff? No one will blink an eye, dozens of people have done it. You might even run into the Barrowman in Morrisons or the bar at the St. David?

[rm.livejournal.com]

Too weird for reasons that are too weird. You couldn't pay me enough.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Gleeface!

Yes, probably a good idea to get a lighter-weight coat of some description.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, awkward aside, that fucking thing is lined in flannel and weighs ten pounds. It's rather a hassle if it's not below zero out.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

Don't let the consonants get you down! Welsh is mostly spelled as it's said, and the truely difficult bits are remembering when "y" and "w" are acting like vowels or consonants.

[rm.livejournal.com]

If it's spelled as it's said -- er... how the hell do you say that? Because damn if I can figure it out.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Such a Rough Assignment. ;)
Yeah, where the Capt Jack coat, you look great in it. And it might even be warm enough.
Have fun.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Patty won't be sleeping on a roof. She'll have an address! And Internet! And her own room! It's very exciting. Also: CARDIFF.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Would you like to know my reccs re: trying to learn Welsh? Not that anyone in Cardiff actually speaks it, mind you.

PS - SO AWESOME! When will you be there?

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* Not who you offered to, but I would love to hear them. Been trying with a "teach yourself Welsh" book and CD set, and so far I can pretty much say good morning/afternoon/evening and count to ten. *facepalm*

[rm.livejournal.com]

We don't have firm dates yet for her, and when I'll pop over depends on various things that we also don't know about yet, but my current theory is for Thanksgiving week (fewer work days to miss) and maybe adjacent to when I have to be in Switzerland in late October.

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

That's awesome!

and OH GOD, I really need a winter coat that's not Jack's.

LOL! Yes, probably a good idea.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Thank you for getting it. As usual, people are egging me on in all sorts of weird bad way.

[gummitch.livejournal.com]

Oh, hooray!

winter coat

How about an Army greatcoat? Very similar design, but a completely different colour (khaki/green). It should be pretty straightforward tracking down an army surplus store in Cardiff, they're all over the UK.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I mean, I do have a thing for militaria well and before this Torchwood thing, but I also have a lot of weird complicated feelings about it (and I'm tiny and nothing fits me!) so no idea. Mostly it was just a "here's some hilarity!" moment.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

That is fucking fantastic!

[rm.livejournal.com]

And a bit highly peculiar, yes.

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

Yeah lol, not like you need Welsh in Cardiff or anything. For anything. Ever. At all. but it's a good place, I think, to live in for a while, nice size.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I just want to be able to pronounce place names without being made of fail, really.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Is jealous. LOVE Cardiff. It's pace is relaxing, easy-going, easy to get to know and integrate into. We always felt comfortable there, found the people we talked to quite nice. I'm a talker, and struck up conversations here and there with people, no problem. Definitely will be back just for the city's sake.

You won't need to know any Welsh. In fact, we never encountered anyone speaking Welsh in all our travels, even as we went up North, after the signs flipped. Maybe we did in St. David's? A kid maybe? Not sure...but it isn't necessary. All the signs are English-Welsh so you are likely to pick up some words here and there, but that's all.

Cardiff is amazingly easy to navigate. Will you guys have a car? I love driving there--everyone (unlike in London--I'd not like driving in the city) is quite calm on the road, never saw an accident, etc. It is fun and adventurous...we spent one day just literally driving all over Cardiff so we could see the real parts of it. Happily, we happened upon a gorgeous park by accident--Roath Park. I'd love to live in that area, be able to take my dogs on walks there...alas! Oh well. Stuck here for the foreseeable future.

Being there when you are, it won't be near as pretty (and it wasn't near as pretty in March as it was in July), but there are alot of things to do, the arcades are fun to explore, the food? LOVE how one can just go in and fetch ready-made foods from Tesco, et al. We ate SO much fruit there as a result. Mmmm.

You'll need a very good umbrella, and be prepared to dress in layers, definitely! Am excited for you guys.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Neither of us know how to drive, but since the whole "I'm going to Cardiff this year" thing started back when our first UK trip became apparent, various fandom elements have been all "YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE SO YOU CAN BE ALL LIKE IHNIIHBT AND SHIT" to which I've been "god that sounds awesome, except for the part where THAT"S A TERRIBLE IDEA," but I'm kinda tempted now.

As I said to Patty when we were reading things about Cardiff last night and Roath came up, "I think I used that in a fic."

[therealycats.livejournal.com]

Two thumbs and jealous? This girl.

[marchek.livejournal.com]

Awesome.
You guys can finally start making concrete plans for the rest of the year. Now that Cardiff is on, any more thoughts on Infinitus?

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

This is my life.

Just generic woos of support and yay. :)

[thedivinegoat.livejournal.com]

I don't how long you'll be in Cardiff for, but if you want a (cannibal-free!) guided tour of the Brecon Beacons, I love showing people around. (I live next door to Hay-on-Wye which is somewhere I think you'd love)

[rm.livejournal.com]

Patty will be there for 12 weeks in the fall, but we've not yet worked out when I'll visit, but I will totally take you up on it if you're still game. This trip upcoming, we're only doing a day trip so she can meet with some people and so I can get some Whoniverse related stuff out of my system.