looking for friends in london

EmmaBushell · Jun 12, 2012

Hi im Emma,

I'm in love with the 1930s and 40's and would like to find some friends with similar interests as i find it difficult to socialize with people who are
modern (sounds awful i know but i just cant do it) which has left me friendless.

Im 18 years old and engaged and my fiance is my only friend and he keeps moaning at me to find some friends who share my interests, so here i am taking his advice not sure if this is the right place but its worth a shot i suppose.

i hope i get some replies to this as it would be nice to find friends who are also into the same era as me.

thank you for reading this.

dhermann1 · Jun 13, 2012

Emma, there's a whole MOB of Loungers in London. Start with Fleur McGerr, and Edward.

bunnyb.gal · Jun 13, 2012

Do you mean Fleur de Guerre, dhermann1?

Welcome to the Lounge, Emma! Yes, there are a few Londoners here. Maybe someone will suggest some kind of Londoners get-together if ever Summer begins...?

Edward · Jun 13, 2012

It must be..... a couple of years (!) since we last did anything organsied over here? Long overdue.... Kept meaning to, but between le chien noir and the office... It's currently marking season, so if I'm awake I'm at work for a couple of weeks yet, then there's another Forn trip (this time it's a lot less frantic as I'm not teaching but being a presence at our graduation ceremony in Beijing)... early July I'll probably be able to surface, let's get something going for then...

Baron Kurtz had made a suggestion we go bowling some night - would there be interest in that?

Otherwise, there are a number of London scenes crawling with vintage people. A lot of us in the burlesque / cabaret world (as a general tip, you'll find all the best burlesque at 'cabaret' nights. These days, anything which screams too loudly about being "burlesque" is often as not riding on the coattails of a scene to which they don't belong but see a few quid in. Not always... but often). The Chap Olympiad is coming up on 7 & 8 July, that's always a hoot, and rammed full of vintage people. It's a very easy spot who is 'for real' and who is in fancy dress for the day (the former vastly outnumber the latter). Run a search for the Vintage Mafia girls - they put on some great nights, very friendly. Dance classes are often a good bet too. Depending on your interest, there are any number of lindy / swing / jive classes. My personal experience is that the jive community is infinitely more welcoming of newcomers than lindy (I've seen lindy people openly sniping about people with whom is is 'beneath' them to dance), but your experience may be different. Good way of meeting new people - even young men who actually appreciate your era interests, should that be the way you decide to go.

Baron Kurtz · Jun 13, 2012

Nahh, her Scottish cousin, who also lives in London …

bk

Edward · Jun 13, 2012

Baron Kurtz said:
Nahh, her Scottish cousin, who also lives in London …

bk

Que?

When are you back this direction, anyhow? I've been in Beijing twice recently, but funds are not such that I could afford the jaunt to HK for the weekend.

dhermann1 · Jun 13, 2012

And there's always the Vintage Mafia girls, Fleur included. EmmaBushell, welcome to the Olde Worlde side of ye Olde Loungeee.

Two Types · Jun 18, 2012

I'm surprised that Edward didn't mention 'The New Sheridan Club'. http://www.newsheridanclub.co.uk/
A number of regular posters on the FL are NSC members. It tends to be more male than female, but there are plenty of female members. Very friendly - meets once a month. And the club also organises events. The summer party was last weekend.
If you turn up to a meeting, people will talk to you - which is more than can be said at some places.

Edward · Jun 18, 2012

Two Types said:
I'm surprised that Edward didn't mention 'The New Sheridan Club'. http://www.newsheridanclub.co.uk/
A number of regular posters on the FL are NSC members. It tends to be more male than female, but there are plenty of female members. Very friendly - meets once a month. And the club also organises events. The summer party was last weekend.
If you turn up to a meeting, people will talk to you - which is more than can be said at some places.

Durrr..... Yes, of course I should have.... Blame it on me not having been able to get to so many meetings in recent months! Next meeting coming up soon...

Baron Kurtz · Jun 18, 2012

Edward said:
Que?

DHermann: Fleur McGerr
bunny.b.gal: Do you mean Fleur de Guerre?
bk: Nahh, her scottish cousin

I'll be here all week.

Edward said:
When are you back this direction, anyhow? I've been in Beijing twice recently, but funds are not such that I could afford the jaunt to HK for the weekend.

Tell me about it. Bloody expensive to get anywhere from here. There's a 50% fuel surcharge on every flight. It is literally twice as expensive to fly one way to London as it is in the opposite direction.

I'm back in late July. Break out the bunting!

bk

Edward · Jun 18, 2012

Baron Kurtz said:
DHermann: Fleur McGerr
bunny.b.gal: Do you mean Fleur de Guerre?
bk: Nahh, her scottish cousin

I'll be here all week.

D'oh! I should have spotted that.... heh.

Tell me about it. Bloody expensive to get anywhere from here. There's a 50% fuel surcharge on every flight. It is literally twice as expensive to fly one way to London as it is in the opposite direction.

Yeah, I've been told it's much cheaper to book from the Beijing end than HK.... Pity, there's a fantastic shoe shop I could have pointed you towards, where I had an outstanding pair made three years ago for just over a ton. I'd have all my shoes handmade in there if it were more practical..... No English spoken, but we muddled through with a friend on the phone....

I'm back in late July. Break out the bunting!

bk

Just in time for the inconvenience and expense of the Olympics - lucky you!

Is this you back full time then?

Let's get something set up for London loungers then..... What date you back?

Baron Kurtz · Jun 30, 2012

As "back for as good" as I usually am, I suppose. Depends who'll give me some money next, and where they happen to be located …

Arrive late afternoon on the 24th. I am not looking forward to Heathrow. [EDIT] Assuming we don't have another typhoon. The Baroness got out last night about 10 minutes before we were upgraded to a Level 8 Typhoon alarm. Landfall just to the west of the Pearl river delta. It was, as they say, pretty windy(!) [/EDIT]

bk

GHT · Jul 1, 2012

Edward said:
It must be..... a couple of years (!) since we last did anything organsied over here? Long overdue.... Kept meaning to, but between le chien noir and the office... It's currently marking season, so if I'm awake I'm at work for a couple of weeks yet, then there's another Forn trip (this time it's a lot less frantic as I'm not teaching but being a presence at our graduation ceremony in Beijing)... early July I'll probably be able to surface, let's get something going for then...

Baron Kurtz had made a suggestion we go bowling some night - would there be interest in that?

Otherwise, there are a number of London scenes crawling with vintage people. A lot of us in the burlesque / cabaret world (as a general tip, you'll find all the best burlesque at 'cabaret' nights. These days, anything which screams too loudly about being "burlesque" is often as not riding on the coattails of a scene to which they don't belong but see a few quid in. Not always... but often). The Chap Olympiad is coming up on 7 & 8 July, that's always a hoot, and rammed full of vintage people. It's a very easy spot who is 'for real' and who is in fancy dress for the day (the former vastly outnumber the latter). Run a search for the Vintage Mafia girls - they put on some great nights, very friendly. Dance classes are often a good bet too. Depending on your interest, there are any number of lindy / swing / jive classes. My personal experience is that the jive community is infinitely more welcoming of newcomers than lindy (I've seen lindy people openly sniping about people with whom is is 'beneath' them to dance), but your experience may be different. Good way of meeting new people - even young men who actually appreciate your era interests, should that be the way you decide to go.

Hi Emma, and welcome. Good advice from Edward, let me add a few links for you to follow. If you go along to The Vintage Fair at Primrose Hill on the 8th of July, you will see and be able to buy, fashions, bric-a-bras, records and all sorts of collectables from most of the 20th century eras.
http://www.vintagefashionfairlondon.co.uk/ Whilst you are wandering around, pick up as many of the flyers, business cards and posters to events as you can. These are a rich source of the vintage scene in London. Agree with Edward about dance and burlesque. For burlesque click on to The Ministry of Burlesque http://ministryofburlesque.com/london-burlesque-scene/ the link should take you to the London burlesque scene, if it doesn't, it's easy enough to navigate. There is a couple of twins whose band, Twin & Tonic http://www.twinandtonic.com/ play music from the 1920's through to the 1950's with a few modern numbers thrown into the mix. The girls, Karen & Louise, really get into the part. They are only 20, so your generation, and although they attract a younger audience, there is still a good mix of us wrinklies there too. Check out their gig guide to see where and when they are playing in the capital. You might also have a look at The Cat's Meow, it's held once a month in the doctor's recreation bar, at Guy's Hospital, near London Bridge. The next gig will be The Amazing Si Cranstoun on the 21st of July. http://londonswingcats.com/page9.html
There really is lots and lots of various scenes, that overlap, and all have a vintage theme. I could post pages full of links, but the best way is for you to find one or two yourself, go along, see if you like it, and then pick up the cards and flyers for other events. Have fun, and see you at The Cat's Meow, maybe?

looking for friends in london

EmmaBushell

New in Town

dhermann1

I'll Lock Up

bunnyb.gal

Practically Family

Edward

Baron Kurtz

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Edward

dhermann1

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Two Types

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Edward

Baron Kurtz

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Edward

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GHT

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