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It's Monday!

24/8/2015

6 Comments

 
Hey! I'm in the process of moving house!  For two weeks, you'll be subject to pre-written and scheduled posts.  They're likely to be short, as I'm pressed for time writing two weeks worth of blog posts out.  Please forgive me! I promise I still love you.

Sonia

Good morning, Readers!
Picture
Image courtesy of Escape Manor. Click for link.
So, this weekend, five friends and I attempted one of the rooms in Ottawa's Escape Manor.  What is that?  Well, here, let this explain:
For those of you who play games, it's essentially a live action Myst.  That is to say, a room with a bunch of puzzles.  You must solve the puzzles in order to acquire the key and escape the room.

We did very well.  Very well indeed.  We were not successful, but we were inputting the last code into the last lock in order to acquire the key when the timer ran out.  Literally ten more seconds and we would have gotten out.

This, despite ourselves, really.  Of the people in the room, perhaps three worked well as a team.  I was not one of those three.  You see, I'm not a team player at all.  Not even a little bit.  Given the first opportunity, I would wander off and start doing my own thing... which is precisely what I did.  Granted, I did solve a number of puzzles that way, but it wasn't conducive to any kind of order in the group.  In fact it was chaos.

This, I know, was quite frustrating to more than one member of the group; largely because I was not the only person to do it.

And the thing is, I didn't even notice how badly I strayed, or how chaotic the room was precisely because I'm so used to working in isolation.  I disappear into my own mind, which is working a mile a minute, and bouncing between different puzzles so fast, I could barely keep track myself.

Now, that's not a bad way to start out, but I failed to lead well also, and what ended up was a bunch of people talking over one another with no real direction.  I should have taken the reigns more, since I booked the group and even assured everyone that if anyone got too out of hand, I'll lay down the law.  I didn't lay down the law... mostly because I was so busy doing my thing, trying to follow thoughts that were bouncing all over the place, that I didn't even notice how chaotic it all was.

I feel vaguely responsible for the lack of success, because I'm such a terrible leader.  Even though we were close.  SO DAMNED CLOSE!  Literally, we were almost there.

Dear people who may lead me in the future, just point in a direction and set me loose.  That's how I work.

That said, despite my frustration, this was the most fun I've had in ages.  I demand more.  In fact, I had so much more, I'm planning another night in December when the gang will get back together again.  This time around, I will be giving everyone a role.

Because I'm such a scatter-brain, the organisational role will be going to the Amazing Flatmate.  She excels at the logical thinking stuff and can corral cats, I swear.  The rest of us can flounder around until we find something!

In all seriousness this was crazy fun, and I can't wait to do it again.  If you're in the Ottawa area, I cannot recommend this enough.  Best $21.00 I've ever spent!
6 Comments
Eric link
24/8/2015 03:42:20 am

It wasn't just you we were all, all over the place.

It was a lot of fun though.

Reply
S.M. Carrière link
24/8/2015 03:23:47 pm

I can't wait for the next one!

Reply
Susan
24/8/2015 12:50:23 pm

I feel sad that I am broke and can't do the Escape Manor yet :( I love puzzles and have been wanting to do one for a while XD

See you soon!!!

Reply
S.M. Carrière link
24/8/2015 03:24:31 pm

I cannot recommend it enough. It is SO much fun!

Reply
Jay link
9/9/2015 12:09:53 am

Our group just did it this weekend too. We were in the prison room and were on the very last puzzle but didn't make it out. Soooo close! But I think that's how they make sure you come back!
Good luck on the move.

Reply
S.M. Carrière link
9/9/2015 09:16:29 am

Were you not really upset with being so close? It literally kept me up half the night, my mind turning over and over in frustration.... Maybe I'm a little too competitive.

I hope they change the puzzles in the rooms every so often, else there would be no reason for us to return to that particular room. We were practically finished.

I'm going back to try out there other rooms. The one currently planned is the jail break, but I really want to give the asylum a go!

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    S.M. Carrière, a Celtic Studies enthusiast, writes fiction.  And this blog.

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