Thursday, September 27, 2007
Friday
I had to get up at 6am in order to be at Birmingham Airport for 8am. The Aeroplane took off 20 minutes late, but we still managed to arrive at Copenhagen Airport about 10 minutes ahead of schedule somehow!
We caught the train to Central Station, and managed to find out own way to the Scandic. (We walked in the right direction, then saw a very tall building with the word 'Scandic' written across the top, so we just headed for that...which is probably why we bypassed the Nebo walking there, since we stuck to the main streets.
After dropping our bags off, I left my Auntie to figure out where she'd be shopping the next day (With my Uncles Credit Card.) and went to the convention via a Taxi. That cost me 100 Kroner, (About £10) so I'm glad everyone else knew how to get back by bus. xD
Hans met me outisde the Con and I went in to get my weekend pass and managed to get into the Banquet due to a cancellation they'd had. We went into the Cafe and sat with Linda and Martin, and I handed out some of the Marks I'd made.
I didn't go to any Panels that day. (It was 3:30pm by the time I got to the Con itself), but we did nip up to the dealers room, and ended up drooling over the collection of one of the sellers that was there. (I have footage of that, that I've sent to Hans to edit).
After a while of that and meeting a few other MoMers, I went back to the Scandic via Bus (Thanks to Hans for letting me steal one of his 'bus klips') and then I was walked by the group back to the Scandic, via the Nebo, so I knew where everyone else was situated.
MoM went out for a meal that evening, plus my Auntie and Hans' wife. It was fantastic to sit with most of the group (our tables got split into an 8 and a 4) and to just be able to chat and get to know one another a little better. ^^
After that it was back to the Nebo to claim the main foyer-seating area for our own. We did the obligatory '40 years of Pern' book signing, and T-shirts as well. (Lady Maelin also got me to sign around the edge of the five Marks I'd made her...which was tricky but amusing. xD )
Then my Auntie and I left and went back to the hotel. I was so tired from the long day that I fell asleep without reading! (Which is rare for me).
Saturday
My Auntie and I woke up nice and early after a surprisingly good nights sleep. (I always tend to sleep better when I'm elsewhere, for some reason. Normally I act like Mrs. Thatcher). We went down for breakfast in the Scandic, but just as the lovely smell of a cooked breakfast wafted enticingly right infront of my nose...beckoning to me...(Alright, I like my food. Can you tell?)...my Auntie decided that we'd be better going to a small cafe, which we did.
After a cup of tea with no milk and a croissant we made our way back up the main street and split off. My Auntie went back to the hotel and I went to the Nebo to meet up with everyone, and gave Lady Maelin a trade paperback of ATWoP she'd been after for the cover-art, before we made our way to the Convention for the day.
I attended my first ever convention panel on the 'Short short story', which was interesting, but it would've been better if it'd been more about the genre itself rather than the guy reading his own pieces of work. :roll:
Anne McCaffrey interview next, and I think this waas where it struck me at how witty she is. I also found that even if she sometimes went off on a minor tangent, I didn't really care, since all of her stories were really, really interesting. It seemed much less than an hour that we were there for.
Afterwards, there was a 'photoshoot' outside for all us MoMers, with Martin half-juggling cameras. For some reason we attracted quite a crowd. (As I think Cheryl said later, there's going to be random pictures of us everywhere now. xD) Then Anne decided to join us, and even held one of the MoM T-Shirts as the rest of us tried to not be blinded by the sun.
After that, a group of us went for lunch at a cafe. (Mmm...food) and as I recall I was the only one to completely clear my plate...xD (Not that I'm a glutten...I swear.) Then it was back to the Con for Anne's GoH speech, where again the MoMers used the law of 'Bagsie' and took up the front right again.
Then straight after that it was the booksigning! I got my best friends birthday present signed (We met via Pern, so I thought it fitting!), as well as my coveted little green booklet of 'The Smallest Dragon Boy'. (NyahNyah to Hans. ;) ) I waited around to the end to present Anne with her letter-opener and Marks, and she seemed to like it. She mentioned it'd be good against Vampires as wll as opening letters. xD (Note to self, check out Vamp population in Ireland). I also managed to grab myself a copy of her new Biography.
The 'Banquet' came next. The food was nice...and...um...well, that's really all it had going for it. Though doodling on the 'tablecloth' was amusing. Anne was presented with her 40 Years of Pern book by Hans, which I managed to film. (I've sent a copy to Hans, who is going to be editing it.) But I ended up scuppering my knee. Again.
We sat down waiting for Anne's taxi after, and Anne noticed me wincing and asked what the problem was. She gestured to a chair and told me to 'Take a load off', then asked me what I'd done to my knee. We ended up talking for a minute or two about knee problems and replacements! (Boy was -that- surreal!)
The taxi didn't come, but I still managed to hitch a lift with Hans. Anne was in the front and I was sat in the middle at the back between Carol (Anne's Minder) and Harry Harrison. We talked about Ireland all the way back. (Or rather, they talked and I listened, since despite my best efforts in the past, plugging for a family holiday, I've never managed to go. >.< )
I said goodbye and thanked Anne and Carol in the foyer of the Scandic, since I was leaving early the next morning and wouldn't be able to go to the private dinner with them. (Which I must admit, I was rather gutted about).
Hans waited outside the Scandic for me so I could quickly change and we headed back to the Nebo for another 'wild party'. (Oh the irony! xD) Which included Chocolate biscuits, hot chocolate, water, and Ribena! Oh! I think Lady M cracked open the shortbread as well. xDD
I said goodbye around 11pm-ish, and was walked back to the Scandic by Linda and Martin, since I was up at 5am the next day in order to return home. (Uneventful apart from the bags going missing.)
Sunday
* Woke up at 5am
* At the airport for 6:45am
* Got home mid-afternoon, after being told that our luggage had gone AWOL
