Current mood:

awake

The Con report
cross posted to the discworld_2004 community

OK I had intended to do an even more detailed response, but that will be eventually in my feedback e-mails elsewhere.

So here goes.

Firstly a comment on the hotel. I only ate the hotel food at one evening meal and one lunchtime
so probably not a sufficient sample to pronounce judgement, but what I had was ok and adequate.

I had a couple of the filled rolls too and they were ok-ish.

I still remember Manchester where we had several tables set up with hotel staff selling pint glasses of
fruit juice. This was especially welcome when queuing for items. Probably not at option at Hinckley
but more variety would have been nice,

The Jacuzzi was the largest I've ever enjoyed. (will I am a hippo :-) ) I think I recall another online comment somewhere that the leisure facilities were not part of the convention. Ermm ... I beg to differ, when you can say hi at the poolside to someone who has written Star Trek novels, that has to be part of the proceedings :-)

So to the sequence of events.

Selina very kindly gave me a lift from the station (arranged through LJ of course)
She was later to go on to star in on of the highlights of the con for me. More of which later.

Room registration and con registratiom went very smoothly, though it helps to have someone you know
fairly well behind the registration desk. Incidentally after getting home and perusing the members list
I rather scarily realised I could put a name to a face in over 20% of cases. Aren't I sad.

The room was *huge* and had ..ahem ... mirrors in strange places. Wonder what those are used for ;-)

The first item I went to was the 'Newcomer's Guide" inappropriate you might feel in my case. But hey
*everyone* was new to *this* convention. Donal;s mantra of 'Go to Ops' was almost instantly installed
and on the one time I had to use it, it worked fine.

I then dressed up in my improvised hall costume. Despite the socks (I will try better next time ..promise) I was falbberghasted to have people asking for photos and recieving hall costume tokens.

The Opening ceremony overture music could have been better but that's a minor quibble.

MEG's piper sequence was very clever. Terry was as ever amazing. I do hope someone puts a clear picture of his t-shirt online.

The guilds ... well what can I say, but what an excellent idea for making people feel part of the proceedings.

Rather than go to the Bedtime stories (I do like not to spoil new books) I went to Aquarions annotation
discussion, Oh dear this turned out to be a bit too cerebral for that time of night.

Graham Higgins is a great story teller. I'm now inspired to try and learn or even write myself stories that benefit from being told aloud rather than just in print.

And so to bed at around 1:00am

First item I managed on the Saturday was Lionel's interview with Bernard. Those of us who have been to previous principle Discworld events know Bernard well as a tremedous raconteur , but the interplay between him and Lionel was almost magical.

Next up, another story telling session with Graham, after which Mr Higgins very graciously did me a personal favour.

Terry's interview I didn't get to. By this time I was in need of food and a jacuzzi :-) So I went next to Lionel's talk on several of the many mysteries he has investigated. I do hope he can be persuaded to come to the next con.

Next item was the hastily arranged rendition of Once More with Feeling. Brilliant .. this is what fandom is all about. Need I say more.

I missed the Maskerasde (though saw most of the splendid costumes at the photo session afterwards)
in order to help out set up the Hedgehog party with Matthew and Tessa. Along the way we ended up
in the balloon making class, I must confess to being all fingers and thumbs at the time but am inspired to practice more for next time.

The Hedgehig party took a while to get going as the Maskerade overan so badly. I think Tessa's scrumptious choccie hedgehigs dussappeared before the bulk of the attendees appeared.

I think drinks in the bar and singing may well have happened subsequently but things are rather blurred
tbh ;-)

Got to bed about 1:30

Sunday and first up Jack's lecture on exotic lifeforms. Hmm I need to track down a copy of the cartoon
with the hippos, nearly had hysterics. Then "My favourite big Read" ; a more intimate item for lsitening to Terry and co.

Then I went to the 'Panel game' . I have never ever in my life before been up in front of an audience in that fashion. I once was a quiet shy guy .... what happened ??? ;-)

I suppose it was Graham's powers of persuasion. Another great fun item.

After that the auction. I'm sure Bernard could actually get a job as a professional auctioneer if he
ever needed to.

I was unlucky in my applcation for the gala dinner : I do tend to leave things till last moments
but the T&J was tremendous. I hope there are some recordings around of some of the numbers.
Wonderful memories.

After, community singing conitnued outside the hotel ..including a spontaneous OMWF reprise by the lake. The rain came down eventually and we went into the pub for more community singing in true
Pratchett fandom style.

I can't recall before seemingly everyone getting involved , be it at a Prachett fandom event not any other.

Memories which will last a lifetime and probably beyond.

And to the last day *sigh*

The second session of "My favourite big read" continued in the same vein as the first, with Diane amd Peter being their usual entertaining selves. Sadly this clashed with the Feegle dancing, as did something earlier with the fencing. Oh well just have to get a time machine and go back and do the other trouser.
MEG must be a fan of the Two Ronnies (..."and in a packed programme tonight")

The Reduced Discworld worked extremely well. To come up with an almost completely polished performance in such a short time is nothing short of a miracle. Well done Suzi.

I missed the final of the UU : I wonder how many of the attendees realised that one of the winning team members was actually in the final of the real UC.

And so to the closing ceremony. A well deserved standing ovation for the committee. Perhaps my memory is going but I can't recall such an ovation at the previous three conventions.

If you haven't already done so, do read Terry's article in the programme book.

I expect the tickets for the next con to sell rapidly without the need for any Dibbler.

Thanks again to everyone who worked so hard to make the whole weekend such a success