West Wandering: Perth - Conclave Day 1
Let me start this post by wishing Kieran and Justin a very happy birthday! They are 21 today, and I hope they have a great time tonight.
Last time I posted I told you about the flight over here and a bit of what we did that night.
This morning started with waking up obscenely early to make it to breakfast in time. Zombie like, I hauled my huge ass through the shower that was designed for dwarves and other short people (the shower head was at chest height), and into some clothing before heading down to breakfast. What assaulted us was a sinful smell - and I realised as I ate, drinking copious amounts of OJ and fresh brewed coffee, that this would probably add a few kilos to my ample frame - but by gawd it would help invigorate me for the many early starts to long days ahead.
After breakfast, we headed into the rooms that the Australian Camarilla Conclave would be using for it's games, and scoped them out with Euan Lindsay. We also met some other cammies who started rocking up, and chatted merrily for a while.
Shortly after, Shannon and I kitted up and headed out to find the shops. In our wanderings with Ben and Pam last night we had seen several places where we could obtain the week's supplies, and navigated with our bad memory to these places. Having shopped for dinners and lunches (the hotel accommodation included the aforementioned sinful breakfast each day), we headed back to the hotel by taking a Red CAT.
CAT stands for Central Area Transit, and are certain free bus routes that operate around the major areas of the city. CAT buses operate three different routes around the CBD of Perth, and a few around other major centres, such as Fremantle. The three routes around Perth CBD cover all of it, and then some. IMHO, it really cuts down on traffic in some areas, as instead of driving in, you park outside and catch a CAT. Sydney needs these.
So we get back, and there are other cammies about with which to meet and socialise. Some of whom are heading out to find lunch. Shannon and I deceide to be evil and get lunch out with them, and go for a wander. With Shannon and myself in tow, we head off with Stean, Chaedy, Pam and some guy I kept forgetting the name off. Chaedy leads us on a merry trip looking for a Japanese place - which when we eventually find is delightful - and cheap. We eat, and head back on a CAT.
Of course, I am late for the ST meeting, so I rush in there, giving what one cammie called a "helluva entrance" and take part in the serious matter of Camarilla Storyteller discussions - so serious that they required a fluffy platypus as symbol for who was meant to be speaking. We discussed a few pertinent issues before having to break for the coordinator's meeting (which never happened), including the new Addendum, MC, prestige, a bit of crossover and more.
Adjourned, a few of us headed up the street to a pub, and had other conversations there over a cold beer or two - and whatever bloody strange coloured drink Chaedy was having.
Of course the highlight of the day was the Conclave Dinner.
The meal itself was very nice, but it was what occurred afterward that made the evening. During the meal, our table (Morte, Paul, that same guy I can't recall, and others as the mood suited) drank some average wine that seemed to get better and better the more of it you drank. Shannon was quite drunk by the end of the meal - but happily so.
At this stage of the proceedings we played a game that involved a deck of cards, four A3 aces of each suit on the walls with which we grouped at, and some prizes. The idea was simple. Each round, the deck was shuffled and a card drawn. If the card was of your suit, then you either sat down, or paid a dollar amount equal to the round number (round 1 = $1, where as round 23 = $23). This went on till there was only two people left, and the winner of those two picked their prize and the looser his runner-up prize. The prizes were two very fine bottles of alcohol. The result - I came third, and spent nearly $80 to do so (some of which was paying for Chaedy, who seemed cursed to loose every time, to stay away from our group).
The night then became pretty much what the dinner was, just without the food - ie, a lot of socialising and drinking. Shannon retired before me. I retired quite some time later.
Next time: Perth - Conclave Day 2
Last time I posted I told you about the flight over here and a bit of what we did that night.
This morning started with waking up obscenely early to make it to breakfast in time. Zombie like, I hauled my huge ass through the shower that was designed for dwarves and other short people (the shower head was at chest height), and into some clothing before heading down to breakfast. What assaulted us was a sinful smell - and I realised as I ate, drinking copious amounts of OJ and fresh brewed coffee, that this would probably add a few kilos to my ample frame - but by gawd it would help invigorate me for the many early starts to long days ahead.
After breakfast, we headed into the rooms that the Australian Camarilla Conclave would be using for it's games, and scoped them out with Euan Lindsay. We also met some other cammies who started rocking up, and chatted merrily for a while.
Shortly after, Shannon and I kitted up and headed out to find the shops. In our wanderings with Ben and Pam last night we had seen several places where we could obtain the week's supplies, and navigated with our bad memory to these places. Having shopped for dinners and lunches (the hotel accommodation included the aforementioned sinful breakfast each day), we headed back to the hotel by taking a Red CAT.
CAT stands for Central Area Transit, and are certain free bus routes that operate around the major areas of the city. CAT buses operate three different routes around the CBD of Perth, and a few around other major centres, such as Fremantle. The three routes around Perth CBD cover all of it, and then some. IMHO, it really cuts down on traffic in some areas, as instead of driving in, you park outside and catch a CAT. Sydney needs these.
So we get back, and there are other cammies about with which to meet and socialise. Some of whom are heading out to find lunch. Shannon and I deceide to be evil and get lunch out with them, and go for a wander. With Shannon and myself in tow, we head off with Stean, Chaedy, Pam and some guy I kept forgetting the name off. Chaedy leads us on a merry trip looking for a Japanese place - which when we eventually find is delightful - and cheap. We eat, and head back on a CAT.
Of course, I am late for the ST meeting, so I rush in there, giving what one cammie called a "helluva entrance" and take part in the serious matter of Camarilla Storyteller discussions - so serious that they required a fluffy platypus as symbol for who was meant to be speaking. We discussed a few pertinent issues before having to break for the coordinator's meeting (which never happened), including the new Addendum, MC, prestige, a bit of crossover and more.
Adjourned, a few of us headed up the street to a pub, and had other conversations there over a cold beer or two - and whatever bloody strange coloured drink Chaedy was having.
Of course the highlight of the day was the Conclave Dinner.
The meal itself was very nice, but it was what occurred afterward that made the evening. During the meal, our table (Morte, Paul, that same guy I can't recall, and others as the mood suited) drank some average wine that seemed to get better and better the more of it you drank. Shannon was quite drunk by the end of the meal - but happily so.
At this stage of the proceedings we played a game that involved a deck of cards, four A3 aces of each suit on the walls with which we grouped at, and some prizes. The idea was simple. Each round, the deck was shuffled and a card drawn. If the card was of your suit, then you either sat down, or paid a dollar amount equal to the round number (round 1 = $1, where as round 23 = $23). This went on till there was only two people left, and the winner of those two picked their prize and the looser his runner-up prize. The prizes were two very fine bottles of alcohol. The result - I came third, and spent nearly $80 to do so (some of which was paying for Chaedy, who seemed cursed to loose every time, to stay away from our group).
The night then became pretty much what the dinner was, just without the food - ie, a lot of socialising and drinking. Shannon retired before me. I retired quite some time later.
Next time: Perth - Conclave Day 2