Today was the day.
Feeling trepidation and wondering if I had everything organised and in place, I left for my first meetup in my town of Beaudesert in South East Queensland, Australia.
Aided by my trusty helper daughter and later daughter in law, we set up the hall.
It was only 4 degrees overnight so the hall was freezing! Pretty perfect for Christmas in July.
People began arriving as I finished setting up.
I bought along some other builds to showcase and I had the typewriter there in its box.
This generated quite a bit of conversation.
With 20 signups, we had a couple who were unwell and a no show. I started chatting about the company and the various kits available when a last minute arrival came through the door.
Distracted by the book sale in the church opportunity shop in the hall next door, she arrived full of apologies.
No apologies were required from everyone else because most of us had done the same.
Next came the chance to choose kits and everyone went back to begin working.
Lots of questions for the next 15 minutes or so, and then everyone got into the groove of building.
I pointed out how to read the boards to get the correct piece, and encouraged others to read the instructions so that you don’t rush ahead and do things out of order.
Then it was quiet while people worked.
Dave, one of the participants arrived holding an ice cube tray. Thinking he’d been next door and bought it, I didn’t say anything and then I found out why he bought it.
I was impressed by his ingenuity.
He then asked if I’d seen the new treasure tray? Well of course I had and I showed him photos and others who were interested.
He’s waiting patiently for it to be on sale.
In between cups of tea and coffee and shortbread biscuits, building continued. One of our experienced builders got up and helped out several others while I I was busy.
One young fellow finished his gravity swing off and then proceeded to help our his future mother in law finish her own build.
He was the only one to finish at the meetup. I’ve received messages from others who have finished at home.
We had 3 Nanci’s and 12 Suri to give away.
The first Nanci was presented to @Melinda for being my first sign up in my first meetup.
The second was for the person with the lucky sticker under their craft mat, and the final one was the winner of this guessing game.
Suris were given for posting on the community (some are waiting for approval) or social media tagging Robitime. None of the Suris were dupes! And I’m falling in love with them more and more.
Comments heard throughout the morning included:
“I can see why people do this. It stops the mind chatter”.
“This has been so much fun”
“Are you sure this is on backwards”?
“When’s the next one”?
Pulls out phone “Have you ever done this one? Let me show you mine”?
“I build 1:12 doll houses but this is so new to me”
“What do you mean there is only 15 minutes left”?
We got our photos earlier before the end because we had people who had to leave, so not everything is finished.
I got to meet the lovely Melinda as well.
Video:
(upload://n3mFBI6VwkPkLlauIO0qUWh2RHY.jpeg)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbNfLBdRdK-/?igsh=YXBwcXlyY3QwbXd1
