Coming to America

[TrojanMD]

DCFC is very good about organizing rides for people who call (having been asked to go get such people more than a couple times). I don't know that all the coaches read f.net, but more than a few of the fencers there do - I'll try to remind the responsible ones at CBO this weekend that we will be having a guest in a couple weeks...

[pigeonmeister]

I would just like to say that, having returned yesterday from a month long visit to the US, I was overwhelmed with the kindness and warmth of Americans in general- especially (it seems anyway) towards the British. I would like to thank the fencers at Atlanta Fencers Club and especially Gene Gettler. They picked me up, fenced me to the point of collapse, took me for beers (wouldn't let me pay) and then dropped me home. Cheers guys!

I wish I'd had time to fence in NYC and DC, but alas I was too busy. I'm now at home reflecting on how expensive Britain is and how crap the weather is (I did miss it though!)

Also- anybody (like my traditional warm beer drinking dad) who says American beer is tastless crap is mistaken. I went to East Atlanta Beer festival and was hugely impressed, and more than a bit squiffy!

All Brits should go whilst the pound is hot!

[jeff]

Glad you had such a good time - and yes, Gene is a great guy. Did you fill your luggage with iPods bought with 2:1 pound:dollar? I suppose now you're stuck writing papers based on what you did in school here (no, I don't mean the beer...)

[wahrman]

I had almost the same experience but in the opposite direction. Fencing in London, Canterbury and Edinburgh in March was a fantastic experience.

Cheers to Haverstock, University of Edinburgh and Tenterden Swords.


True that about US beer. Most decent sized US cities have a small brewery that makes outstanding beer. The huge companies are crap but the smaller ones are great stuff for the most part.

Originally Posted by pigeonmeister

I would just like to say that, having returned yesterday from a month long visit to the US, I was overwhelmed with the kindness and warmth of Americans in general- especially (it seems anyway) towards the British. I would like to thank the fencers at Atlanta Fencers Club and especially Gene Gettler. They picked me up, fenced me to the point of collapse, took me for beers (wouldn't let me pay) and then dropped me home. Cheers guys!

I wish I'd had time to fence in NYC and DC, but alas I was too busy. I'm now at home reflecting on how expensive Britain is and how crap the weather is (I did miss it though!)

Also- anybody (like my traditional warm beer drinking dad) who says American beer is tastless crap is mistaken. I went to East Atlanta Beer festival and was hugely impressed, and more than a bit squiffy!

All Brits should go whilst the pound is hot!

[occasionalfencer]

Originally Posted by pigeonmeister

I wish I'd had time to fence in NYC and DC, but alas I was too busy.
All Brits should go whilst the pound is hot!

So come back, and fence at DCFC!

How could you be too busy to fence? What could be more important?

[wbowman]

And come for long enough to fence at DCFC and Olde Town as well. Sorry we missed you this time around.

[pigeonmeister]

I feel bad now!

I really was horrendously busy working during the week, and was staying with people who had arranged things for me to do during the evening as well! Transport was an issue too, also to be fair I had no reply from the email I sent to DCFC (though the kind offers on the forum make this no excuse!)

I promise to go next time- but the standard has been set now, and that standard involves a pint or two after training!

Any American fencer coming to Birmingham- I promise to reciprocate.

BTW- I went to the Virginia Gold cup-I didn't realise that you couldn't gamble in Virginia and was concerned that it would just be a case of watching horses, I was reassured by the 'private' betting that went on.