Con-thingy whatsit (long)
I've been going around all day saying to myself "This time last week we were..." so I thought it was about time I wrote about it.
We weren't actually sure we were going until about 8.30am on the Friday, thanks to D having been ill since Wednesday evening and needing to see if food would actually stay where it was suppose to. Since we are organised people in the main (as befits two ex-librarians) everything was next to the suitcase so it was just a matter of chucking it all in and doing the zip up so that we could be out the door by 9.30am, which we were. I love living in Porthmadog but I hate the fact that it takes 4 hours on the train to get to a major travel hub. In all it was 7 hours to Basingstoke with only a major cock-up by Virgin Rail Journeycare on the way. I loved J's tactic of being all nice and sweet until we were on the platform for the next train and then blasting them to kingdom come. As usual, not the fault of the guys actually doing the work.
We settled into our room, registered, discovered I was far too late to help with set-up and then went to the Opening Ceremony and Steve Mac's set before feeling vaguely hungry and wandering off to find food. Donna then crashed, unsurprisingly, and I went to the Memorial Circle. Fascinating to discover that so many people are still around who were in on the very begining of things. Some-one, I can't remember who, made the comment "This is like old times when we used to just sit around and sing." I have to admit that it's when groups of people "just sing" that I get touched the most. I needed to sleep much earlier than I wanted to so had to leave the circle with many regrets.
Saturday we took advantage of the late breakfast hours and then socialized until the main concert. Grasshoppering the main concert is the most fun thing to do because you never know what's coming next. I've discovered I need to take a step-stool with me next year because I'm not quite tall enough to see some of the instrument mics when they are at lap level. Rick was excellent at front of house as usual and I felt really good when I handed over to a new Grasshopper. Was part of the group that sang the doors open for dinner, then Grasshoppered again for the Chimes set. More fun even though we had a set list which said who was doing what, not where they were doing it though. Many thanks to those who helped with the Big Duvet and Pillow Crisis, especially Joe who stopped me going completely off my head when it was none of his fault anyway. Please, NO MORE CONS AT THAT HOTEL!
Sunday morning started off very badly for reasons that had nothing to do with the Con, but changed dramatically thanks to a well-timed, lifesaver of a hug. Was over-joyed to see that K had made it after all and spent time in the lounge chatting, talking over plans for future cons and generally realizing that after 10 cons I have more people willing to talk to me than I generally think I have. Am getting the concom itch again. Well, it has been 5 years now. *g* Missed the early part of the bid session but am very glad to be going back to Grantham. By train it's reasonably easy and it looks an easy drive if that is an option next year. The FF Auction seemed...less...something, this year. I think some people bid just to make money without considering how much other people might want something. It didn't feel as friendly as it has done. Hung out at the tech desk for NMC and cried during their "Sam's Song". If home is somewhere you can relax and be yourself and still be loved, then cons are definitely one of the few places I'm at home. Cried even more at the end of the Closing Ceremony, mainly due to the fact that neither of the authors or J were there. Lots of people weren't there this year and I missed them all. Had family dinner then circled.
I liked the 2 hour dinner break in the evening - I think we've grown too big to get us all fed in an hour these days.
I liked the honouring of our founding mother who I'm certain was there during the Sam's Awards even though I never met her.
Thanks due to the Techies I hoppered with. I learnt something different from each of them.
Thanks also to all those who said they were glad we'd made it and offered hugs.
Many, many thanks to the Concom for making it all happen and coping with the things that they had no control over going wrong. I admit freely that I was one of the ones who were sceptical before the event. I was wrong. Y'all did great.
The journey home was much smoother although just as long and I love living only 10 minutes walk away from the station. The cat was pleased to see us, we unpacked that which was necessary, put the recycling out and fell into bed.
I'm already looking forward to next year! (and thanks to J we have memberships!!)
We weren't actually sure we were going until about 8.30am on the Friday, thanks to D having been ill since Wednesday evening and needing to see if food would actually stay where it was suppose to. Since we are organised people in the main (as befits two ex-librarians) everything was next to the suitcase so it was just a matter of chucking it all in and doing the zip up so that we could be out the door by 9.30am, which we were. I love living in Porthmadog but I hate the fact that it takes 4 hours on the train to get to a major travel hub. In all it was 7 hours to Basingstoke with only a major cock-up by Virgin Rail Journeycare on the way. I loved J's tactic of being all nice and sweet until we were on the platform for the next train and then blasting them to kingdom come. As usual, not the fault of the guys actually doing the work.
We settled into our room, registered, discovered I was far too late to help with set-up and then went to the Opening Ceremony and Steve Mac's set before feeling vaguely hungry and wandering off to find food. Donna then crashed, unsurprisingly, and I went to the Memorial Circle. Fascinating to discover that so many people are still around who were in on the very begining of things. Some-one, I can't remember who, made the comment "This is like old times when we used to just sit around and sing." I have to admit that it's when groups of people "just sing" that I get touched the most. I needed to sleep much earlier than I wanted to so had to leave the circle with many regrets.
Saturday we took advantage of the late breakfast hours and then socialized until the main concert. Grasshoppering the main concert is the most fun thing to do because you never know what's coming next. I've discovered I need to take a step-stool with me next year because I'm not quite tall enough to see some of the instrument mics when they are at lap level. Rick was excellent at front of house as usual and I felt really good when I handed over to a new Grasshopper. Was part of the group that sang the doors open for dinner, then Grasshoppered again for the Chimes set. More fun even though we had a set list which said who was doing what, not where they were doing it though. Many thanks to those who helped with the Big Duvet and Pillow Crisis, especially Joe who stopped me going completely off my head when it was none of his fault anyway. Please, NO MORE CONS AT THAT HOTEL!
Sunday morning started off very badly for reasons that had nothing to do with the Con, but changed dramatically thanks to a well-timed, lifesaver of a hug. Was over-joyed to see that K had made it after all and spent time in the lounge chatting, talking over plans for future cons and generally realizing that after 10 cons I have more people willing to talk to me than I generally think I have. Am getting the concom itch again. Well, it has been 5 years now. *g* Missed the early part of the bid session but am very glad to be going back to Grantham. By train it's reasonably easy and it looks an easy drive if that is an option next year. The FF Auction seemed...less...something, this year. I think some people bid just to make money without considering how much other people might want something. It didn't feel as friendly as it has done. Hung out at the tech desk for NMC and cried during their "Sam's Song". If home is somewhere you can relax and be yourself and still be loved, then cons are definitely one of the few places I'm at home. Cried even more at the end of the Closing Ceremony, mainly due to the fact that neither of the authors or J were there. Lots of people weren't there this year and I missed them all. Had family dinner then circled.
I liked the 2 hour dinner break in the evening - I think we've grown too big to get us all fed in an hour these days.
I liked the honouring of our founding mother who I'm certain was there during the Sam's Awards even though I never met her.
Thanks due to the Techies I hoppered with. I learnt something different from each of them.
Thanks also to all those who said they were glad we'd made it and offered hugs.
Many, many thanks to the Concom for making it all happen and coping with the things that they had no control over going wrong. I admit freely that I was one of the ones who were sceptical before the event. I was wrong. Y'all did great.
The journey home was much smoother although just as long and I love living only 10 minutes walk away from the station. The cat was pleased to see us, we unpacked that which was necessary, put the recycling out and fell into bed.
I'm already looking forward to next year! (and thanks to J we have memberships!!)