Michael's Meanderings

Got up 7:15 so I could go to the 8:00 service at the Cathedral.However as it's less than ten minutes walk from the hotel I got there 20min before the service started. There were 14 others in the Lady Chapel and the service used the BCP style (Common Worship Two) which I haven't used for years (but it all came back). Back for breakfast by 8:50 after which back to wifi on the eee pc!

Out for the bus about 10:00 and the sun was shining! so waiting ten minutes or more was not a hardship.

Visited the dealers room and bought a Vogon T-shirt from ZZ9. Also got my first alcoholic drink of the w/e a half of Murphy's stout!

Caught up with Andrew and had a quick chat, then upstairs to the meeting rooms area. Where I caught the end of the Oliver Postgate tribute; the end of a Clangers episode and all of a Bagpuss one.

Lunch was an unexciting burger a fries (the fries being potato wedges). There was then supposed to be an Eastercon bid session for 2011 but when i got there a few minutes late, it was already finished,there had been no bids, so currently no convention! Then after 50min to Tim Powers (GoH) being interview, this was surprisingly his first visit to England, given the very accurate sense of London that e has managed in some of his books This was followed by an illustrated talk by David Lloyd how he started in comics through to the development of V for Vendetta as both a comic and eventually a film.

I did start in the Urban Fantasy panel but bailed after about 15 min

I returned to the Dealers room and finally broke down and got a book from Richard (Sign of the Dragon) then saw the4 very short tribute to V for Vendetta with mild explosions scenes from the movie and masks for everyone!

This was followed by EU1415 a feasibility study on the possibility of a Worldcon in Europe. 6 sites were looked at 3 in Holland (all were too small or otherwise unsuitable; thee Hague had been downsized since 1990. Three in the UK the front runners were Glasgow (SECC site of 2 worldcons) and London, which would only be viable due to the new facilities generated by the Olympics in 2012.

I finally got to hear some filk, but the "concert" only had 6 performers and they sang twice. It was more like a circle with microphones.

The main event was Dave Wake's new play "Insidious" a sequel to "Inveigle" where the question what if memes became intelligent, and you could kill with words. It was very professionally put together and ran for less than an hour, and left a lot of questions unanswered. Perhaps a third play could finished the story and the trilogy be put on at Worldcon 2014!

"Who Watched the Watchmen" was a very lively discussion with both pro and con panelists, and one who had seen the movie then read the graphic novel. Though that sales of the book declined after the movie's release was an interesting fact.

The last item I stayed for was a panel on ebooks which was quite interesting but had been done before the conclusion being that the iPhone is more likely to popularise ebook reading than the kindle. I think I read my first ebook over 10 years ago, I'll have to check my reading list from back then. The hotel has been selling butties (chip, bacon, egg and sausage) but i've been leaving before they went on sale. This time I was late enough so get a bacon buttie, for only £2 before leaving and finding the coach waiting. Got back to the Midland by 11:20 and in bed by 11:40! the earliest night since Thursday.

I really should have posted sooner, it's 3 weeks since my last post and this included my birthday!

I've rejoined as a Hawth friend, giving me advances news and discounts at the theatre. I've had a number of books from amazon, and I've also got a few SD Cards to allow me to install alternative Operating Systems for my eeePC without overwriting the original.

Before joining Charityshare I started on the ECDL course. my details unfortunately got lost so I've been persuaded to start again by a member of our in house training team. On Thursday the 10th I took and passed 5 of the 7 modules, without any revision! In the afternoon while eating a jelly bear part of a tooth/filling cracked off, not painful but I did phone my dentist for repair. He was unfortunately on holiday so it had to wait.

The following day was my birthday and a colleague had her birthday on Saturday so cakes were available at work and a number of people wished me well.

Since Saturday was also my sister's birthday I was collected by my Dad, so I could visit. But first he took me shopping so I was able to buy an extension ladder,which only just fitted. Then back to Horsham. We had a delightful fondue supper and I finally joined the 21st century when I got a mobile phone(PAYG)as a present.

On Sunday we went to church and Dad celebrated for the first time in months. Mum and I took up the bread and wine (which was cool) and at the end the congregation sang Happy Birthday to me (which was less so.

After dinner my Mum took me home (and was nicely surprised at the lack of clutter due to my room mate!).

Next installment hopefully later today.