I joined onlinedrummer.com back in August 2006. I’d recently joined a band after a year or two’s drought of no playing and the buzz from playing again urged me to pursue some online forums based around drumming. Through that search I found onlinedrummer.com and I registered and was welcomed in like I was an old friend by the members. I just got stuck in and realised that I was not alone in being an experienced drummer, and that also, the members ranged from youngsters to seasoned veteran drummers and also “born again” drummers, people who take up drumming at a late age, normally a deep psychological condition known as “my mum and dad wouldn’t let me have a drum kit when I was young” syndrome.

One such person who fell into that category was a user called Shokwave who, ironically, registered within a day of me, I can’t remember if he was there before or after I joined. Shokwave and I shared common ground on being of a similar age and our humour style was akin to a natural brotherhood, one lifetime past, we must’ve been twins.

It became apparent that we were on a collision course when Darren (his real name) announced that he was going to be visiting London in the October on business, with his wife Sylvia. Now at this point I must add that Shoky lives in Canada and I live in the UK, not far from London. We announced our meeting the forum as “OLD unites across the Atlantic”. Some trivial words but the impact of it still hasn’t left me, the Internet is a wonderful tool but a dangerous one in the wrong hands, luckily this is a case of the internet bringing strangers together. I mean for all we both knew, we we’re potentially meeting up with a mad axe murderer each, but we both we’re very keen to meet-up and visit some London drum shops on the way.

“So Darren is coming to London is he?” I thought to myself. I then sent him an email saying that it would be totally rude if we didn’t meet up and have a day out in London seeing the sights. So we agreed on a date and a place to meet and also we agreed that we’d visit the Tower of London and also Madame Tussards. Signed and sealed, all we had to do was count the days. The day we were meeting up was Saturday 7^th October, the day before my birthday.

So my wife, Lisa, and I got up at stupid-O’clock on the Saturday morning and caught the first train to London. We arrived at Marleybone Station (anyone played Monopoly before?) and it was at this point that all I had seen of Darren was his photo on his avatar, which has left deep psychological scars inside as his avatar photo is him sat behind his drum kit in nothing but a bathrobe.

We needn’t have worried because as soon as Lisa and I were through the gate, we we’re met by Darren pointing and shouting out my name and Sylvia right behind him. Darren reached into a carrier bag and produced and black baseball cap with the Sabian cymbal logo on the front, and they both gave Lisa and I pin badges from their region in Canada, impressed was an understatement, guilt was even so because I hadn’t been so thoughtful.

“So what have you got planned for us Martin” Darren asked.

“A proper English breakfast mate”, was my reply, and we all strolled out of the station and into the nearest English café for a traditional English breakfast.

“We’re in your hands Martin” Said Darren, so I ordered a Full English Breakfast with a mug of coffee. Darren and Sylvia followed suit, Lisa knew better and ordered an omelette. Three heavily laden plates with eggs, bacon, toast, beans, mushrooms…..well you get the picture, and Sylvia’s face was a picture. I told them that they won’t need to eat for the rest of the day. They both nodded silently.

An hour later and we decided to walk off our massive breakfast by strolling to Madame Tussards. The entry price was the annual defence budget for the USA, but we had decided to go in, after all, Darren and Sylvia had come this far. Several photos taken and we ended up outside wondering why we had parted with so much cash for so little entertainment.

We made our way to the London underground which is not for the faint hearted to travel on any day, let alone a busy shopping day like Saturday. We headed off towards Soho in central London and the much waited for drum shops. We were told that we could only hit two or three, but that became three or four, or maybe even five by the time we met back up with the ladies, who had gone for a coffee in a café after the second drum store.

After a coffee, and a chance for Darren to go and place his yahoo “NFL picks” for the onlinedrummer.com picks game, we headed for the Tower of London. The Royal family jewels are a wonderment to see, the security doors to protect them are even more impressive, yup, Darren and I were more interested in the “vault” doors than the queens African Diamond which the girls seemed to marvel at.

A peaceful stroll around the grounds of the Tower of London and it was then a photo shoot of Tower Bridge. I kept forgetting that Darren and Sylvia hadn’t seen any of this in the flesh but it was the norm for Lisa and me.

With hungry tummies, the thought of food entered our minds and we headed back to Soho to find a suitable eating place. Soho never fails to impress me, for a people watcher, Soho is a mecca of different individuals. No matter what you are, you can be accepted in Soho, it was ideal for the four of us.

We passed theatres and restaurants and nothing took our fancy until I found a Harry Ramsden restaurant. Harry Ramsden was a person who took traditional British Fish and Chips to another level by gaining a string of restaurants throughout the north of Britain in the early 30’s and 40’s of the last century, his family have kept up the tradition and what better place to treat two hungry Canadians than at a traditional Fish and Chip restaurant.

Darren, still a little unsure I think, followed me and ordered exactly the same as me, I got a pint of Guinness with my meal, as did Darren, so there were many firsts that day for Darren. Fish and Chips over, we had a walk around Soho and its Adult shops, the less said about that, the better, he says with a twinkle in his eye.

It was getting to that time of day when its time to say goodbye to our new friends, but not before a quick photo of Darren and me in Piccadilly Square with all the lights of the promotion screens.

Back on the underground and we all agreed it was a great day, if not tiring as we had walked a lot, but friendships had been made and invites to Canada were plenty, even so with the added fact that Darren and Sylvia live near the town where Sabian cymbals are manufactured.

A farewell and one last photo of the four of us and we had to board our train, it was like saying goodbye to a long lost relative in my opinion. I’d only spent a few hours in the presence of Darren, but it felt like we’ve been friends for years. That feeling doesn’t come along that often so grab it when you can.

At the end of the day, when you call a friend, Bro, it’s a term of respect and pride in your friend. All I can say to Darren after meeting him is “Thanks Bro”