Friends at Christmas

December 26, 2008 | Vetting explained

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Last updated: December 27, 2008

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It's quite an amazing thing that people can build such wonderful relationships with others from all around the world. Christmas in real life can be a pretty hectic and worrying time for people getting everything organised, and it's a wonder that people can find the time to visit their friends in real life, let alone Second Life, but lots of them do. Just as you care about your real life family and friends you also care about the real people that you have met and become close to in the virtual world. No different to meeting people anywhere in real life! some great long lasting friendships are made via the internet. I've previously talked about SL romances, of which there are many successful ones, but there are thousands of people who have formed a bond and meet regularly with groups of friends who just enjoy each other's company, making comparisons about how they do things in their corner of the planet. I met some of my mates over the Christmas period in Second Life, and it's lovely hearing how they are going to spend Christmas, what food they are cooking and what presents they are giving. People who are lonely too, over the Holiday period can log into SL and always find company there. The SL residents have organised so many events that there is always something to do, a club to visit, competitions to enter, winter sports, people creating winter wonderlands, like my good friends Wheemzel DeCuir and her husband BengalTiger Writer's amazing festive landscape at the Isle of Weems. They even have a ski lift taking you to the top of a snow-covered mountain where you can ski, or ride in a rubber tyre, back down to the valley below. You can ice skate, or visit the colourful hobbit style village with its quaint little cottages, lots to see and do there. There are many winter landscapes in Second Life this time of year, best friend, co- writer Hibiscus Hastings (whom I would never have met if not for Second Life, me being from England and Hib being Canadian), had been invited to a Japanese themed winter party last week in SL. The party was organised by KMADD Enterprises owners Kirk Claymore and Maddox Dupont, who whisked us off to the most fantastic location, a snowy Japanese valley, one of the prettiest sites I have seen in SL. They had a costumed ball, everyone dressing in traditional Japanese robes and looking just amazing. SL London has done us proud this year with its Christmas street lights and private homes all decorated with Christmas trees and baubles. They have been holding parties at the Underground Club in SL Knightsbridge all through the holiday week and there is real camaraderie with the London Team who are also great friends in real life, having met in SL, they now meet regularly at the real life pub, The Greyhound in Kensington, as well as meeting in the virtual version of the pub. All people whose paths would never have crossed, had it not been for Second Life. (If you want to read my Christmas story about the Greyhound it's at http://sllondon.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-story.html) I've had great fun logging on to meet my friends and comparing my Christmas Lunch with theirs, and it's quite strange that you have already eaten your turkey, brussell sprouts and roast potatoes, opened your presents, and are thinking about teatime, when your virtual friends are only just getting up and eating their breakfast because of the different time zones. SL London have got it sorted this year though, they are having a New Year's Eve party at the London Underground Club and are setting off fireworks in all five London sims separately, to match the various time zones, so they are catering for everyone from any part of the world. Well I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year whether you are in Second Life or not, have a lucky 2009!!! (and I hope the economy picks up for everyone worldwide!!). Island of Weems 192, 20, 23 Knightsbridge 41, 237, 21

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Stories from Second Life

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