The answer to the question in the headline is the occasion was very much friends meeting. Pictured above are Tim Chesterton and Erika Baker. The longtime online friends met in England where Tim and his wife Marci are visiting to celebrate Tim's father's 80th birthday.
My title refers to the fact that Tim and Erika enjoy engaging in debate, sometimes on the opposite side of the matter under discussion and occasionally on the same side. Although the discussions are, at times, intensely partisan, Erika and Tim always take the path of civility, and, once the discussion is over, no one is left with hard feelings. I sometimes join in their debates, but since Erika and Tim are both loaded with stamina, I usually wear out and bow out before them.
Now you've seen the quartet who did lunch. I'm sure a good time was had by all, and I'm jealous. I wish I had been there to meet Marci and Tim and to see my good friends Susan and Erika again.
The pictures are courtesy of Tim, and you must visit his blog, Faith, Folk and Charity, to see his splendid pictures of Peterborough Cathedral. They're gorgeous. Browse through Tim's other posts to see more of their photos of the places they've visited during their time in England.
After reading his article, I'm with you Mimi, I would love to return to England again after such a small taste of the country on my last visit!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed his blog piece, too.
Last time around, I covered a lot of territory, and it wore me out. I don't know if I could do that much traveling again. Since much of it was by train with my luggage, and, although I traveled light, I still had a small suitcase and a small carry-on to wheel around, lift onto train coaches, and wheel up and down ramps in the stations. I need a chauffeur and a luggage carrier.
ReplyDeleteMOre proof that we have a unique community here. QUite remarkable!
ReplyDeleteUnique indeed, IT. And again I found that I liked my online friends as much if not more when we actually met. It can sometimes be a little difficult to introduce the "non blogging" half of a relationship into these friendships, but yesterday was truly special, all four of us getting on as if we'd known each other for a long time.
ReplyDeleteTim and Marci are so interesting and warm and both have such a sparkle about them, time flew and we were really sorry when they had to leave for their train.
Thanks for posting these. I wish I could have been there too!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was what the ancients would have called 'A merrie meeting'. Marci and I had a wonderful time, thoroughly enjoyed Erika and Susan's company, and look forward to meeting them again before too long (hopefully).
ReplyDeleteAnd Mimi, it is true that Erika and I sometimes disagree, but it needs to be said that we often agree too, and our agreements (speaking for myself and not presuming to speak for Erika) are way more important than our disagreements.
I agree with Tim. I'm not interested in friends who are just carbon copies of me and who only reflect my own views. I think I've disagreed with one thing or the other with virtually every single one of my blog friends over time (this would not surprise Susan…).
ReplyDeleteI think we concluded yesterday that it's not a problem to disagree, even on fundamental issues, as long as each recognises the humanity of the other and their worth and value as a person.
The problem with a lot of disagreement, especially in blogland, seems to me that it so often translates into dismissing everything a person stands for. It's sometimes hard to keep hold of the complexity of others when we meet in conversations that centre around a handful of major "presenting" topics but Tim is one of those people who has always cut through that nonsense and spoken to the person underneath the issues.
Here endeth my last contribution to this mutual admiration conversation:-)
I've definitely been on a different side than Erika in a few on-line interchanges, and the discussion has always taken the high road.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I've had less interaction with Tim, I'm certain that the situation would be the same.
They're both two of the good 'uns, as far as I'm concerned. :)
IT, we are, indeed, a unique community.
ReplyDeleteErika, I have liked every single one of my online friends whom I've met in real life, and they are very much the same as the person online, only better.
Tim, don't get all defensive on me. Life would, indeed, be quite dull if we all thought alike. If you and I had a close encounter, I'm sure it would go extremely well.
The spouses thingy can be tricky, but since Grandpère doesn't like to travel any longer, the only blogger friends he meets are those who come our way. He loved meeting IT and BP, and the 4 of us got along famously. He's also met motheramelia, who spent a couple of days with us, and Paul the BB, whose birthday we celebrated during the period he worked in New Orleans for several months. And we met ginny s and her cousins. Pardon me if I left anyone out.
Wish I could have been there, sounds like a fabulous time was had by all. Just for the record, I agree with absolutely everybody here about absolutely everything.
ReplyDeleteNo debate here, then Cathy?
ReplyDeleteMe, defensive? how can you possibly imagine such a thing?!
ReplyDeleteCathy, it would have been lovely to have you with us, but I'm sure we'll manage it before too long.
Yes Tim, next time, hopefully :)
ReplyDelete