catching up

[dianec42]

Worldcon was fantastic. Post-Worldcon travellings all over the UK also excellent, if somewhat exhausting.

Got to registration and immediately ran into edgreen86 and lyzard13, whom we then proceeded to Not See Ever Again for the rest of the con (hope you guys had fun!). Also saw sharikkamur and Fred, tobyaw and kateaw and Beth, who was nearly standing under her own power! Shared a room with mwhit1978 as is our custom, and it worked out well as always. Also spent lots of time hanging out with Laurie and Tim and Miranda and the newest addition Kayleigh. Laurie has threatened to boycott future Glasgow Worldcons as those always seem to involve her having a tiny new baby! Spent much time hanging out with flyingwolf as well. (And John, and Pete and his girlfriend Emma, and Paddy and Jean, and qidane, and loads of other people besides. Sorry if you're reading this and I've failed to mention you!)

Didn't make it to huge loads of programme items; got no cross stitching done whatsoever (never even got it out, nor was I inclined to as there weren't any interesting readings on). Restrained myself admirably in the dealers' room, if I do say so myself: only bought books that won't be readily available in the US. None of my favourite authors seemed to be doing autographing sessions, which was unfortunate. Did manage to see the entire art show before they started auctioning off bits of it. Watched a bit of the kids' programme where things were microwaved, plus an interesting Q&A on what to expect at the 2007 Worldcon in Japan, plus a GoH speech by Christopher Priest which was good fun. Missed the blowing-stuff-up panel, but I'm given to understand that that was a bit disappointing anyway.

Greatly looking forward to a smoke-free con next year in LA! (Anaheim, technically...) Betting the beer won't be nearly as nice though.

Being back in the UK was, as expected, somewhat weird. It didn't really feel like going home, but then again neither did coming back here. Working on that.

Watched incredibly little telly -- just some bits of BBC News 24. Paddy has promised to record some Jonathan Ross for me at some point.

There was also an exciting bit where we put over 900 miles on a hired car in 5 days, but I think I'll post about that another time.

Got back yesterday evening and collapsed. Managed to sleep through to 8 AM -- so much for ever getting onto UK time, we might have made it to Boston time but that's about all. Collected the cats, who are very happy to be home. Did mountains of laundry. Have been shopping and stuartc is now perusing bread machine instructions. Could get exciting. Can't believe I've got work in the morning. Cats are being way affectionate and have obviously forgiven us - hurrah!

Comments

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

Watched a bit of the kids' programme where things were microwaved, plus an interesting Q&A on what to expect at the 2007 Worldcon in Japan

What did they microwave? What did they say about the 2007 Worldcon? I still haven't decided if I want to go.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Things microwaved included a CD (classic), incandescent light bulb (glowed before exploding rather gratifyingly), fluorescent tube (glowed, did not go pop, incited hushed discussion about whether fluorescent tubes contain mercury and would therefore cause a huge toxic cleanup site if it did in fact go pop), can't remember what else. stuartc claims they also did a Jelly Baby and an egg, plus some damp thermal fax paper. I remember the fax paper coming out with an entertainingly localised blackened corner -- they did that to see where the microwaves were going.

The Japan Worldcon will be in Yokohama. We are told there is a very nice (and somewhat enormous) convention centre there, with plush hotels right nearby and cheaper hotels a bit further off. Also that it should be possible for ignorant Western tourists to get along okay without any real knowledge of Japanese. Some questions were asked, and answered, but I don't remember any of them. (-:

We're greatly looking forward to the Japan Worldcon. In fact, we had already threatened that if Columbus won the bid, we would go to Japan anyway in protest. Why would you not want to go?

[sichling.livejournal.com]

Yokohama should be fun. I've actually stayed at the convention center/hotel, b/c IETF was there a few years ago. It's definitely possible to get around without knowing Japanese - and there's a really tasty sushi bar a block away :-)

Are you making it to CascadiaCon?

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Are you making it to CascadiaCon?

Hadn't really thought about it at all, so probably not... I'm currently into negative vacation time anyway. (Can't think about more travelling now, would go mad.)

Sorry!