Michael's Meanderings

The internet connection supplied by the convention expired before I could update yesterday, so this is from home.

So Sunday started with breakfast, but I'd left my brain behind and was in the the dining room when I realised I'd left my breakfast voucher in my room! Anyway after eating a full english breakfast back to my room for a while. Then the first panel item of the day was a fascinating discussion of the unreported jobs in fantasy. The one you don't hear about except when the hero comes from them.

Then to the Filking track where Sib Machat had her second GoH concert this time with less LotR filk.

A really interesting discussion of cutting edge science, ie the stuff that wasn't even published yet, with some great stories from Henry Gee and Dave Clement (the story about the second set of jaws in moray eels acting like the Geiger Alien was chilling)

Back to filk for the main concert, mostly only one song per person, but it was an hour and a half of solid performances.

The official close was at 16:00 but it was followed at 16:45 by "I'm sorry I haven't an SFing, Filking, LARPing Clue". Two teams made up of three out of four GoHs competed for points, in the style of a certain radio game show, including Mornington Crescent, Charades, Just a minute, which continued to 18:00 when everyone remaining disappeared to find dinner.

I found mine at the Castle Inn, where a steak and chips, with plum tart and ice cream was a not unreasonable £5. A similar meal at the university (with more veg) was £9.

Tried to update blog and discovered the account had expired ;-( read a bit the at 20:00 lurked around the filk room to see who would turn up, Ju, Rika and Valerie arrived but we adjourned to the bar for a while. Then decided to go down the the Froud Room and setup. So about six of us started a circle, and as time passed the numbers went past twenty! I did start dropping to sleep so left at 23:00 and was in bed by 23:10! This was the first night I'd actually stay up for filking! The circle did close at 00:15

Monday morning I finished packing off for breakfast the checked out before 9:00 (as instructed) and ordered a taxi which I shared with two others, reducing the cost per person to £2.60.

Bob was also traveling to King's Cross before going on to Montreal for Worldcon. So we took photos at platform 9 and 3/4 which is now no longer located in the correct geographical position (being not at platform 8 and 3/4)! Thence to the tube station where we split. And I was home by 12:30.

I packed my new back pack, and watched some TV recoded while I was away. I hope there is enough space for the weeks recording. D had replaced the porch roofing while I was away and is to due the drain tomorrow.

Since I'm going to be up at 4:30 tomorrow, as I have to catch the 9:25 from City Airport to Amsterdam and thence to Montreal I'm be going to bed soon. Next posting from Canada (or possibly Holland!)

Last night as I was writing, I was so tired, I couldn't keep my eyes open, so the rest of yesterday follows.

The next panel Was titled "On the box" and unfortunately everything mentioned was something I'd already watched or had heard of. I did get one recommendation, but the title escapes me.

Then back to my room to lie down, fell asleep and woke up 10 minutes after Sean Punch's GoH Q& A started, I did get to see and hear most of it and I found it fascinating even though I'm not a gamr. Sean seems very enthusiastic about GURPS, and this shows. Due to my over snoozing I missed the instaband concert ;-( But I did get to hear Phil Allcock for half an hour followed by Sib Machat's GoH concert. Which included spoken word and music with flash cards. Possibly more LotR filk than is healthy. I do think her comic stuff is her forte.

Then there was the Cabaret, compered by Persephone Hazard it was a mix of poetry, music and performance art, include a poi finale. It was very well done.

and then to bed....
PS Constitution is made up of 4 separate mini conventions mixed together, Unicon 23, BRSCon 2009, Harmuni 4, and Grand Tribunal. It has about 200 atendees.

I started my return home two weeks ago, and a fair amount has happened since. First the Juggling Festival at the Hawth, as I've already blogged.

To recover from the juggling and the jet lag I took Monday off work, I managed to get my weekly shopping done.

Back to work on Tuesday to discover I had to be at the NSPCC HQ building that week. So left after an early lunch, and straight into backup tape management!

On Thursday I went to Forbidden Planet, as I hadn't been for a while and collected the comics held for me, including the new Galaxy Quest issue one. Friday I had to leave a bit early as I had my back adjusted at the chiropractor's in Hove.

On Saturday I went to Haywards Heath to collect my recent inhaler replacement, and did a bit of other shopping. I only just got back in time to get my normal food shopping done before the shops shut in Burgess Hill.

I read most of the rest of the Bank Holiday week end, the weather wasn't nice enough for anything else.

When I got back to work on Tuesday I had to move my desk (or at least the contents thereof) from the 2nd floor, where Operations had been since we moved to the new building, to the 3rd floor, to join the Service Desk, Training and Purchasing Teams. Walking up the extra flight of stairs doe take it out of you.

Ian Sparks ex-CEO of The Children's Society popped in to visit, I only recognised him when he started speaking! I also booked up for next term's Juggling class, even though it's on tuesday and back at Oakmeeds.

Yesterday I started revising my Worldcon /  Denver blogs, adding LiveJournal user links, and checking spelling during my lunch hour (the screens are bigger at work!). When I got home I finished uploading the last reports from the eeePC. This lunch time I finished the last revision and have got up to date.