second last day

[sarren]

Back at the hotel by 8am, went to check out the room allocated for Quidditch. The con organisers had deliberately programmed Quidditch and Jedi Boot Camp for the morning after the Masquerade so that the room would be clear. Unfortunately I discovered that overnight the hotel staff had diligently set up all the chairs again. So I stacked them all away again and went to have a quick brekkie with Dragonfly and Bunny, who were off to make spaceships.

[ Quick backstory: our gang ran Quidditch for three years and it got really popular, and then a couple of people may possibly have got a tiny bit injured* and then the next year's committee wouldn't let us do it "for insurance reasons".

That was a couple of years ago. And then a few months ago I was complaining to angriest about the "insurance" thing and Angriest said "Well, actually, that's rubbish. Sure you can do it." ]

Then it was time for Quidditch!! Started off slowly, just like the first year. Not enough people for two full teams and snitch throwers, so we started with no Keepers and one less Chaser each. People who had just shown up to watch, like ascetic_hedony and one of the guests (oops) were shanghaied into being snitch throwers and as more people trickled in to see what was going on they found themselves co-opted *g*.

It was great fun and as usual, everyone was sad when we had to stop. An hour isn't enough, we need to start at 9.30am to give people a chance to wander in and have the rules explained.

I didn't get to play cos I was umpiring but I got to run around and shout at people and get sweaty and that was almost as much fun. Plus, you know, glow of achievement and all that.

Faffed around for a bit, then minded the front desk til it was time for Painting the Future Green How will the green trend affect SF and the visions of the future? This was one of the highlights for me,

Dalek:Live Audio Commentry with Rob Shearman. Everyone came to this! And it was made of awesome, especially the bit where Rob wasn't allowed to name the extra who secretly took photos on his mobile and sold them to the media but he had an inexplicable coughing fit the two times the guy was on the screen. So that was fun.

Then I went up to 70 Years of BBC SF which was more talking about old tv shows. Yays!

MInded Bunny while Dragonfly attended next year's Launch and scored the Easter Eggs. What I actually did was sit on the stairs near the TARDIS, just hanging out, while Bunny played in the TARDIS and with the dalek, occasionaly checking to make sure she wasn't damaging either of them. One of the older kids got to go inside the dalek and then ddpm lifted Bunny into the seat and then one of the guys pushed her around for a bit. I love fans!


Dinner at my favourite cafe in that part of town. I love The Moon! I only ever have the burger, it's a great burger! The first time I went there (during a con of course) I managed to dump sugar all over my fries instead of salt. I remember going over to the counter and saying "I know that stupidity shouldn't be rewarded, but could I please have fresh chips anyway?

As usual, my meal was the last to arrive. The waiter was very apologetic.. Sorry, there's a science fiction convention on near here, it caught us by surprise.
Me *holds up badge*
Waiter *laughs* You know, Arthur C Clarke died.
Me - Yes, it was sad, but he was old.
Waiter - Childhood's End is my favourite story.
Me - Clearly, you should be coming to our convention.
Waiter *smiles nervously and sidles away*


The awards ceremony was lovely and I only spent a few minutes of it crawling around in the dark using the light from my mobile looking for the ring Bunny gave me (which was the same colour as the carpet). See, I've never really got comfortable wearing rings, so I tend to fiddle with it a lot and move it around between all of the fingers it fits on. (I've been told I'm weird because my thumbs, forefinger and ringfinger are all the same size.) And so of course this is the time that I managed to accidently send it flying. *headdesk*

Lots of awards were given to lots of talented writers and artists and then it was time for the Marge Hughes Award, commonly referred to as "Mumfan", which is not always awarded and is for being overwhelming nice and helpful to people and generally makes people cry (there's a lot of history). This year it was a double award as Rob and Alise are inseperable and the whole room were teary and gave them a standing ovation. I've only met them in passing, but they are always lovely. They stopped for a chat first day of the Artshow.

Then they awarded a Silver Swan. That's only ever happened twice in 33 years - for contributions to fandom above and beyond. An emotionalfred_mouse said a few words, then angriest tried to talk but was sobbing too hard and then Simon got up, also sobbing and said something and it was for Danny Oz (dalekboy), who I don't know personally but is an awesome entertainer.

WASFF put on drinks for their anniversary, which was much more exciting once I realised you didn't have to have the crap Yellow being served and went and got a lemon, lime and bitters.

Then it was time angriest, dalekboy and John, another loud entertaining guy, to entertain us with the Magical Hat of Mystery where the audience puts questions into a hat and they tell us amusing anecdotes. It was scheduled from 10-11pm but ran til nearly 1am, because they are very funny guys. For about the last hours I was too tired to appreciate it though, I was in that switched off state where you can see what's going on but can't connect, but keep hoping you'll wake up. Used to happen to me in lectures a lot.

Highlights (or maybe lowlights) - Angriest, Dalekboy and John all taking their shirts off to show us their hairy shoulders (there was something involving Angriest's nipple ring and his mum that I'm blocking out) and John wandering around in Danny's Dr Who jocks for WAY too long.




*Is it our fault Simon doesn't stop bleeding?

Friday
Me - Hey Simon, you playing Quidditch this year?
Simon *wide-eyed* Mayybeee.
Me - I promise not to sit on you and wrest the snitch out of your wounded, bleeding hand again.
Simon - That was cricketk. But she's not playing this year, so I should be safe.
Me - Actuallythatwasme.
Simon - No it was CricketK!!
Me - If you say so.

Overheard Saturday

Random fan I've never seen before - Quidditch...Simon...blood.

Comments

[ascetic-hedony.livejournal.com]

I remember both you and cricketk beating up on him that year. I think she's more intimidating with the the whole martial arts black belt thing.
Unless you happen to be hospitality staff - they have far more to fear from you :)

[victorian-tweed.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I love reading about fans being completely in their element! Lovely post!

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It was a great day :)

[sarren.livejournal.com]

*glares at you*

Are you coming today?

[kbpenguin.livejournal.com]

Just want to say I'm really enjoying your con reports. Good write-ups!

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

Other loud guy was John Robertson, otherwise known as harveystoat, and is generally loud and funny and awesome :) There are frequently bits with him and Danny that require brain bleach, it's part of the love, or something! :)

I think I had more to say, but I forgot *is tired*

[ascetic-hedony.livejournal.com]

Had a wedding to go to instead.

*ducks*

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Thanks.