I know, everyone's SO over this, but omg. Must. Complete. Set.

[sarren]

Up nice and early for breakfast (more stolen cereal). Congratulated passing Mumfans Rob and Alise who decided to eat with us. Some time later, somewhat bewildered, I got up to leave with Rob's card in my bag having promised to come along to the next gaming day.

I DON'T GAME. I have spent my entire adult life AVOIDING gaming because I am OBSESSIVE.

I suspect those Mumfans of having dark mind powers.

Then Dragonfly went off to Making Stuff is Cool Again and Bunny and I went off to Children's Programme: Time to Play. Which meant I spent a pleasant morning trouncing small children at assorted board games. I feel no shame about this.

Then it was time for Fandom of the Living Dead. I was feeling, if not exactly sanguine, only a little nervous, having come up with a, I think, sure-fire back up plan.

I wore a low cut top.

See, I figured if people were bored, at least they could look at my breasts. As it happened, the panel was quite fun, I think. ddpm is obviously very experienced and a fount of information and I talked about The Persuaders (but only a bit, as not actually an SF show) and how when I was 14 my boyfriend wanted to make out but sadly for him, Knight Rider was on! Followed by Automan!

Jody brought me a cup of tea at the start and then sat at the back like usual. bardigrub had come along to lend moral support, and wrote things on the board and at one point singlehandly brought the panel back on track after I failed, not for want of trying. kbpenguin came along specifically to watch me bounce about Persuaders! so it was disappointing for her. I know that cos she told me so afterwards.

After lunch artisanat and I went to Harry Potter: The Final Analysis which was about the phenonomen and effects on society, and was quite interesting, though Sophie did have to keep stopping people who wanted to talk about whether or not they liked the books. She did that extremely competently. About half way through a three month old baby started fussing, and his mum had to take him out. I'd noticed his mum wasn't getting to see very much of the panels overall, so I ran out after her, wrested the baby from her and harangued her until she retreated back into the room for the rest of the panel. Then I spent the next forever half an hour rocking, patting, walking and singing from 'Les Mis' to the baby, all at the same time to keep him happy. I'd forgotten about that special ache you get in that one specific area of your back.

Final panel - Writing for Television, with angriest, Angriest's brother and Rob Shearman. It was good fun, and Rob talked amusingly of how long it takes to write one episode and how it went through thirteen drafts before TPTB were happy. And then at the end when they asked if there were any questions, I asked Rob if they'd filmed the fifth draft would have it have been as good an ep as the thirteenth, and Rob talked for another five minutes, yays! But then we all had to clear out so they could set up for the closing ceremony.

The closing ceremony was nice. I stood at the back, regularly glancing behind me to where Bunny was frenetically (but reasonably quietly) playing with another family's kids, while the parents sat against the wall looking exhausted. (yes, other people did mind my kid a lot) There was one minor incident before the ceremony when Bunny crashed on top of the 3 yr old and sort of rolled right on over and face first into the wall, so I picked her up and went to find something to bribe her to stop crying take her mind of it. Luckily, there were redskins on the registration desk! When we finally went back in, the other parent said wearily, 'That's the third time today.'

People were thanked etc. I mostly remember Rob Shearman remarking that our community was like a big family and that he was impressed at the way he'd been welcomed into it.

And then Dragonfly and Bunny went home to SLEEP and I hung out with Mrs Angriest and then Rob Shearman while Boo went and bought Indian takeaway and then came back and retrieved me.






So, I get partnered with juffles, and as we're playing the others are TAUNTING EACH OTHER.

Me - So, a nice, friendly game then?
Cricket - Have you MET me? Or Juffles? Or Booboo? OR YOU?

later

Juffles - I'm sorry Sarren, I made a mistake that has set us behind a thousand points.
Me *is an ocean of calm*
Booboo and Cricket *mock mercilessly*
Me - You made a mistake?
Juffles - Yes.
Me *pause* Just so we're clear.
Cricket *stares* You are EVIL.