2003.09.18, on Dispatch from the Razor's Edge

The Anniversary Party

Okay, I was going to do this at midnight . . . but in the interest of having people still here, particularly those who need to catch a train, I'll go ahead . . .

So, exactly two years ago, I was thirty-three-thousand feet over the Atlantic. Down in the hold, I had one big trekking bag, filled with my terrifically pared-down earthly possessions. Incidentally, I used that same bag tonight to carry over 24 kilos of ice from the grocery store, so it's held up pretty well. [laughter] With me in the cabin, I had another bag with my laptop, and a few sundries. Other than, just a lot of hopes and dreams and fears . . .

Two years later, I know a number of things that I did not before. First and foremostly: London . . . is the greatest city in the world. [wild cheers] And it is surely a sign of your - and my - intelligence, good taste, and culture that we choose to make this our home. [clapping] Moving here was certainly the best thing I ever did for myself.

However . . . in the words of a great English musician: "World's beautiful, ain't nothin' when you're on your own." And so I'm having this party to pay tribute to the single best thing about the best thing I ever did for myself – namely, the friends I've made here. So, for being your lovely, wonderful selves . . . and for sharing your lovely, wonderful selves so selflessly with me . . . and for, overall, making my experience of London about 962% better than it otherwise would have been . . . this toast is to all of you – to my mates. [raises glass]

[cheers, applause, and clinking]

- me, from my Anniversary Party toast

From: Michael Fuchs 
To: theman, jagagongju, paul, nicoleg8, henry, cinelew106,
son2054, "jolene.cook", sweetsoyeon, jaerichong,
barnabaspalfrey, "jacqui.lewis", adaora, samuel, kalnalson,
"gigi.chan", nick, chaotic_kestrel, ania_wieckiewicz,
"peter.nolan", viviana, beverly, "a.keddie",
"Massimiliano.Brugnoli", fra_kia, lors_mcg, edirin2000,
lillolove, thingy121, howard, "Marianne.Cantwell"
Cc: snafu_97, darby, alex
Subject: Let the Games Commence!
Date: 2005-08-25

And but so I've been threatening to have a proper shindig
at my flat for, oh, about the entire 16 months I've been
living there now . . . and I can't think of a better
occasion actually to get around to it than:

MY TWO-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY IN LONDON!!!

Yes, please come help me celebrate the 2nd anniversary of
the best thing I ever did for myself, which was emigrate
to the Capital (of the World). And as the best thing about
the best thing I ever did for myself is undoubtedly the
friends I've made here, it won't be nearly the same
without you in attendance.

Saturday, 17 September, 8pm-ish (rocking into 18
September, at midnight of which two years ago I was over
the Atlantic!)

Here are some of the blandishments you can expect if you
attend!

* All Drinking Games, All The Time: As the
estimable Se�or Clout is constantly reminding me (to his
peril), I've also long been threatening to have an All
Drinking Games party - to bring the best and worst of
American sodden university culture to the heart of
Britannia. Come and try your hand at such classics of the
genre as Buzz, Thumper, Fuzzy Duck, Asshole, Mexicali, and
the Name Game - as well as more rare and acquired tastes
like Pookie, Beeramid, Bite the Bag - and the incomparable
(and quite inimitable) Zoom, Schwarz, Perfigliano! If you
find this less of an inducement than a terror, don't worry
- you won't actually HAVE to play. (Well, I say that now,
when I'm sober.) Moreover, you can rest assured that we
WON'T be risking such perennial drinking game catastrophes
as Wisconsin Beer Slams, Muffin Man, Bollendar Ball, Drink
Okay, or Drunken Strip Twister. (Also, no TEGWAR. This
time.)

* Club Night at Fuches Lounge: Yes, that's right -
I've not only finally shelled out for a bit (small bit) of
a sound system for my flat . . . I've taken time to put
together the ultimate Fuchs Partay Mix. Come sample rockn
chartz from the best acts you've almost certainly never
heard of (and may yet wish you never had) . . .

* Free booze . 'Nuff said.

* Okay, I take that back, not enough said - I've also
invested in quite a nice stainless steel high-speed
blender, with one purpose only: Frozen White
Russians. Okay, now 'nuff said.

As a final note, please let me know in advance if you'd
like to bring others along. This only because, by one
estimate, my flat holds about 15 people . . .

Mwah mwah,
Michael

P.S. Yes, if you're a UK taxpayer, this e-mail has gone
out on your farthing. Sorry!

 – 
Michael Fuchs
Information Directorate, DWP
Michael.Fuchs@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
x22707

Dispatch from the Razor's Edge is owned and operated by novelist, technologist, vegan, exercise junkie, classical liberal, rambler, and Londoner Michael Stephen Fuchs.

Fuchs is the author of the novels The Manuscript and Pandora's Sisters, both published worldwide by Macmillan in hardback, paperback and all e-book formats (and in translation); the D-Boys series of high-tech, high-concept, spec-ops military adventure novels – D-Boys, Counter-Assault, and Close Quarters Battle (coming in 2016); and is co-author, with Glynn James, of the bestselling Arisen series of special-operations military ZA novels. The second nicest thing anyone has ever said about his work was: "Fuchs seems to operate on the narrative principle of 'when in doubt put in a firefight'." (Kirkus Reviews, more here.)

Fuchs was born in New York; schooled in Virginia (UVa); and later emigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived through the dot-com boom. Subsequently he decamped for an extended period of tramping before finally rocking up in London, where he now makes his home. He does a lot of travel blogging, most recently of some very long walks around the British Isles. He's been writing and developing for the web since 1994 and shows no particularly hopeful signs of stopping.

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