meeting puzzlers

The one thing I love and hate about my job is the research and the travel to foreign lands that goes with it.  This past month has seen me almost disappear from the puzzle world.  I've been so busy doing my day job that I simply haven't had time for more than a cursory glance at forums, or to read blogs let alone post on my own.

This last bout of work has seen me in Singapore and Thailand.  And you should know by now that one of my criteria is that I meet with puzzlers when I travel.  (The other criteria is of course the conference must be interesting)

The first place we went was Bangkok.  Sadly, I forgot to ask about meeting up with puzzlers, but as it turned out, a puzzler contacted me.  I posted a photo of some really nasty Thai whiskey that one of the boys and I were sharing (Don't try it.  That stuff is like drinking gasoline!) and Traipumi saw it on Facebook and arranged a meeting for the following week when I went back for a short vacation.

In the mean time I headed off for Singapore and a meet up with fellow blogger Jerry.  He very nicely picked me up at my hotel and we headed off for dinner.  Mexican if I remember right.  But before the meal came we had to play a bit with some toys.  Jerry brought along a bunch for me to look at and I brought along one or two as well.

Before we met, we had conversed via email for a while and I requested to see his Einstein puzzle.  He also brought along a Marcel butter churn and a few more.  He asked me to see a Berrocal and I very gladly obliged.  I showed him how to disassemble David, and let him take Maria apart.  As happened to me when I saw Maria at Hendrik's house, Jerry instantly said he would now purchase one if given the opportunity.  They are beautiful pieces of work and just call out to you once you see one.  I also brought along Arrow Blocks and a couple of wire puzzles and a Hanayama I had in my bag.

We spent around 3 hours together puzzling and chatting about fellow puzzlers, bloggers, and sellers too.    Jerry was quite the gentleman.  As always, I was happy to meet a fellow blogger and instantly felt comfortable with him.  I was there for work, and my colleagues called to ask where I was.  Jerry the gent, dropped me at the bar they were at and we all enjoyed a nice cool walk back to the hotel.  Singapore was a beautiful, albeit sterile, city.  I'm glad I had the opportunity to go, but even more glad that I got to spend time with a new friend.

A rather pleasant surprise for me was that I will have the oportunity to see Jerry again in the not too distant future.  It seems he and I will be in the same city for a weekend near summers end. I left him with my Arrow Blocks, and he left me with Einstein and the butter churn.  We'll return them when we next meet.

As we were parting company, Jerry and I exchanged puzzles.  He gave me a new one he was working on and I gave him "Oli's travelling puzzle" (my name, not his).  This puzzle has now gone from the UK and an MPP to HK to Singapore.  I wonder where it will end up next???

It was a real joy to meet him.  Thank you for a lovely evening my friend!