Posted by ChoddyChod in Latest News on Thursday 29 April @ 15:57

Arrival
I arrived at the MAG LAN at around 15:00 on the Saturday Afternoon. It was at a remote village hall in the midlands. I pulled into the car-park and immediately on arrival three large burley men came over to my car. Naturally I assumed was about to be roughed-up and escorted to the city limits. Instead warm welcomes and handshakes were offered, and the imposing figures turned out to be Choddy, HeadHunter and Ziggy. They offered to help me carry my stuff into the hall. Fearing they were going to rob me, I declined.

The building was ample size and nicely laid out with desks forming a rectangle around the hall. A table in the centre housed the network switch and a cable led to each desk. Each desk was occupied by a member of MAG - both MAG*community and MAG*clan were well represented. It appeared that I was last to arrive and someone shouted an announcement that 'Jennings has arrived'. A few voices were heard to grumble in disappointment. It is a strange thing to hear familiar voices come from unfamiliar faces.

I was shown to a spare desk between Helgrr and Kong. Naturally there was a space here as no-one would choose to sit next to these two. I was a bit intimidated if the truth be told. Everyone seemed to know each other. However, I was made to feel very welcome. I tried to go around shaking everyone's hand. I tried to maintain a stiff upper lip and formal handshakes were the order of the day. At least that was the protocol until I met a large, broad chested gentleman sporting a goatee. He dispensed with the formal handshakes and instead opted for a less formal back-breaking-bear-hug. This and the distinctive voice let me know that I had met Googy.

When you don't recognise faces you begin to look for other clues as to who is who. Some mildly offensive banter was directed at me in a very recognisable accent. This let me know that I had just met Miles and his son Chris - who were sitting next to Googy. Other folk in the hall were quiet - this obviously made it harder to identify the individual. However at one desk, on the same side that I was sitting, there were rows and rows of neatly laid out empty lager cans - yet it was only three o'clock in the afternoon. The occupants of these desks must clearly be Bla and MC.

Grim and Oblivion had brought a powerball. It’s a gyroscope in a ball that you spin with your wrist. It measures the RPM as your score. I found I had a powerful right arm and strangely natural right-hand wrist action. Although my eye-sight is failing.

Gaming
The gaming was great. I had trouble with my microphone though, so I couldn't join in in-game banter. Everyone was incredibly disappointed at missing out on my hilarious gags and anecdotes. Obviously I was the best player. Even FunPig’s watercooled neon-blue super computer couldn't process fast enough to keep up with my skill.

cooking
A lot of the guys contributed to the cooking. The food was delicious. Three different types of homecooked curry were available. Y-U-M!! Please forgive me if I miss anyone out but my mind was addled due to the copious quantity of alcohol that I had imbibed - but Quik, FunPig, Ziggy, HeadHunter were involved. Mrs Googy had cooked some cakes. We were spoilt!

The Meeting
A clan meeting was held in a beautifully calm spring dusk. I was genuinely impressed at the involvement and passion people showed for their collective community. No considerations were made lightly. Everyone's opinion was welcome and was constructive. Even Nom's! Little Ziggy put up a good fight for a little guy on behalf of the MAG*c guys.

The singing
Later in the day or rather early evening I decided to stretch my legs and stroll around the other rooms. Bizwoz had set up his Wii in the backroom and had set up a karaoke system.
There was some beautiful singing pervading through the air. Voices so sweet it could have been a chorus of Angels. On further inspection it wasn't a chorus of angels it was Nom and Bizwoz murdering a 90's anthem. Nom was ultra competitive - even at the Wii karakoe! "Yes!! I could nail this, if I knew the tune."

Sleeping
The sleeping arrangements were rudimentary yet sufficient. Each member had brought his own temporary bed. Lord Ziggy of Hertford had brought an inflatable monstrosity that occupied half the room. It must have taken six or seven high power air pumps to fill. However it clearly worked as he slept like a log. A particularly loud and snory log.

The same cannot be said for everyone else – as we all had to suffer the cacophonous roar of Ziggy’s snoring. Rumour has it that the noise abatement society were called to investigate strange noises in Elford, however they were denied access as a Seismic survey team had arrived,and were concerned that the noise and vibration could affect the tectonic plates. Some people have even speculated that the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull may have been caused by Ziggy's snoring.

I understand that Choddy and son who were sleeping in a completely different room, had to abandon the building for the safety and noise insulation of their car, due to the danger to the ear drums that such a noise could cause.

Breakfast smelt delicious, but unfortunately I had to leave early. If I am late home Mrs Jennings starts to optimistically flick through the insurance documents.

I really had a great time and am sorry for not being able to mention everyone I met, or missing people who contributed to food or technical arrangements. It was a genuine pleasure to have met you all.

Jennings