Eastercon, the BBC and Everything...
First off, I have decided to stay at the Beeb as "researcher forever", rather than take the voluntary redundancy. At the moment I want job security more than I want a career change. Especially after the nice letter from the mortgage company saying that the rate is going up. Again.
And after all, if it turns out I hate being "researcher forever", then in a few years I can always quit and become a lumberjack. Or as MarieA cynically noted, take redundancy when they so through all this again in 3 years time!
Meanwhile, Eastercon (Orbital) was absolutely bloody fantastic. Best one I've been to in years. Tons and tons of stuff to do: there was an enormous multi-stranded programme stream, with plenty of science stuff and gaming stuff on it, as well as the usual SF and fantasy topics. Highlights included China Mievielle's guest-of-honour speech, Mitch Benn doing a gig, a deeply deeply silly and surreal 2 minute topics in SF 'discussion' panel (including intrepretive dance on the theme of "Torchwood or Doctor Who?") and Adam Roberts' new definition of SF criticism which will no doubt be absorbed into the canon of fanspeak for years to come: "wanking on for thousands of words".
There was a huge turnout too - about 1300 people, which is the largest number for aeons. This did however mean that FINDING people was a bit problematic, especially as the voodoo board lacked pins and message cards on the Friday and again on the Sat morning. I left a voodoo for pellegrina on Sunday when pins finally materialised, but had no reply. I didn't manage to have a proper chat with aeshna until the Monday. The crowds and strange layout of the place also lead to variations on the following conversation occurring a lot:
Me: I haven't seen X? Is she at the con?
Other person: Yes, she's behind that pillar/table/crowd of Norweigians.
And after all, if it turns out I hate being "researcher forever", then in a few years I can always quit and become a lumberjack. Or as MarieA cynically noted, take redundancy when they so through all this again in 3 years time!
Meanwhile, Eastercon (Orbital) was absolutely bloody fantastic. Best one I've been to in years. Tons and tons of stuff to do: there was an enormous multi-stranded programme stream, with plenty of science stuff and gaming stuff on it, as well as the usual SF and fantasy topics. Highlights included China Mievielle's guest-of-honour speech, Mitch Benn doing a gig, a deeply deeply silly and surreal 2 minute topics in SF 'discussion' panel (including intrepretive dance on the theme of "Torchwood or Doctor Who?") and Adam Roberts' new definition of SF criticism which will no doubt be absorbed into the canon of fanspeak for years to come: "wanking on for thousands of words".
There was a huge turnout too - about 1300 people, which is the largest number for aeons. This did however mean that FINDING people was a bit problematic, especially as the voodoo board lacked pins and message cards on the Friday and again on the Sat morning. I left a voodoo for pellegrina on Sunday when pins finally materialised, but had no reply. I didn't manage to have a proper chat with aeshna until the Monday. The crowds and strange layout of the place also lead to variations on the following conversation occurring a lot:
Me: I haven't seen X? Is she at the con?
Other person: Yes, she's behind that pillar/table/crowd of Norweigians.