:: life :: Busy on Budget
Things still a little up in the air with the house sorting. Our cooker was finally wired in on Tuesday. We no longer have to rely on microwave meals and take-out :)
Saturday did a drop with the UKCM to Collectormania 14 in Milton Keynes. Normally this would be a huge expense of booking hotels, drinking and eating. But, I am trying to curb my spending, especially post-D'Con and with the car maintenance costs. Instead, I decided to do the trip there and back in the day. As I was going solo, I printed out several pages of directions of the most direct route to Milton Keynes, then in the morning of travel, decided that was far too much of a faff, and deiced just heading straight through to the M25 and up the M1, although adding 40 miles to my journey, made no difference to the journey time.
Making it to Milton Keynes, navigating the grid and actually finding a car park within resonable distance that didn't charge an arm and a leg, I call one of the other UKCM members who had come up the night before. Turns out they are all still in bed suffering from Jack Daniels trauma, a result of trying to recapture D'Con glory. I drag my case of gear into the centre, and wind my round to find the girl on the cosplay desk. Worse suspicions confirmed: There is no changing area and nowhere to store bags and cases.
Right, drag my case back to the car, and don my armour right there in the car park. Wrap my pulse rifle in a black bin bag and march back to the area in the shopping centre where the convention was taking place.
A couple of guys had now arrived, the ones who sensibly avoided the alcohol trauma. And as it was just us, and no bugs, we were getting asked for photos :) Such a rarity these days.
I was a bit worried how I'd feel about this con, being the first I've attended since the experience of DragonCon. I needn't have been. Although the audience is different, the guys are the same, and that's what makes it so much fun. How many other hobbies have an alien playing with toys in the Early Learning Centre?
Anyway, my pictures are here, and as well as the fun of scaring various members of the public, we got to meet Jenette Goldstein of Ricco Ross (Vasquez and Frost in Aliens), who were both a joy to chat to and friendly. Jenette even mentioned about visiting our forum looking for contact details so she could let us know she was visiting.
Bit of traffic on the drive home, meant I didn't get back until 9.30. By which time, I was too knakered to go to Pandora's Box. I feel I have been neglecting my alt nights recently. This must be rectified.
Sunday was spent chilling out on the xbox. Sarah is still ploughing through Viva Pinata, and in an effort to curb spending, I'm renting games now. Currently going through Assassins Creed. Sneaky stabby fun, which Sarah seems to find relaxing watching me play.
Saturday did a drop with the UKCM to Collectormania 14 in Milton Keynes. Normally this would be a huge expense of booking hotels, drinking and eating. But, I am trying to curb my spending, especially post-D'Con and with the car maintenance costs. Instead, I decided to do the trip there and back in the day. As I was going solo, I printed out several pages of directions of the most direct route to Milton Keynes, then in the morning of travel, decided that was far too much of a faff, and deiced just heading straight through to the M25 and up the M1, although adding 40 miles to my journey, made no difference to the journey time.
Making it to Milton Keynes, navigating the grid and actually finding a car park within resonable distance that didn't charge an arm and a leg, I call one of the other UKCM members who had come up the night before. Turns out they are all still in bed suffering from Jack Daniels trauma, a result of trying to recapture D'Con glory. I drag my case of gear into the centre, and wind my round to find the girl on the cosplay desk. Worse suspicions confirmed: There is no changing area and nowhere to store bags and cases.
Right, drag my case back to the car, and don my armour right there in the car park. Wrap my pulse rifle in a black bin bag and march back to the area in the shopping centre where the convention was taking place.
A couple of guys had now arrived, the ones who sensibly avoided the alcohol trauma. And as it was just us, and no bugs, we were getting asked for photos :) Such a rarity these days.
I was a bit worried how I'd feel about this con, being the first I've attended since the experience of DragonCon. I needn't have been. Although the audience is different, the guys are the same, and that's what makes it so much fun. How many other hobbies have an alien playing with toys in the Early Learning Centre?
Anyway, my pictures are here, and as well as the fun of scaring various members of the public, we got to meet Jenette Goldstein of Ricco Ross (Vasquez and Frost in Aliens), who were both a joy to chat to and friendly. Jenette even mentioned about visiting our forum looking for contact details so she could let us know she was visiting.
Bit of traffic on the drive home, meant I didn't get back until 9.30. By which time, I was too knakered to go to Pandora's Box. I feel I have been neglecting my alt nights recently. This must be rectified.
Sunday was spent chilling out on the xbox. Sarah is still ploughing through Viva Pinata, and in an effort to curb spending, I'm renting games now. Currently going through Assassins Creed. Sneaky stabby fun, which Sarah seems to find relaxing watching me play.