Huge Big Report-Type Thing

Yay for Redemption. Yay for the Members, and for the Guests (some of whom want to be Members next time).

The Plan was to all drive up in one car, then for the other two to drive back on Sunday, leaving me to get the train. Just after I'd arranged to pick up the lovely servalan from Hinckley Station, Magic Cat decided he was ill. Only vet's appointment? Fifteen minutes before I needed to reach Hinckley. So I set off in my car, leaving Himself and Rachel to catch me up in Himself's after Magic's appointment.

Found Hotel easily enough, then after a chance encounter with one of my customers, her husband and their son(1), I found Hinckley, then Somerfield's, then the Station, then Servalan. Good going so far. Went in search of food, and mooched around Hinckley Town Centre for a while (after a struggle to understand the ticket machine in the car park). Servalan even more fun than I remembered, and we soon conclude that we actually share a brain.

At hotel, dropped Servalan and bags at entrance, then parked to discover that she had been found by steverogerson -- Servalan starts to suspect I am most popular person at the Con, because everyone knows me, and thus her. Fail to disillusion her all weekend. Bags to room, selves to where the people are. Much socialising. Not so much drinking due to expense, although Londo did supply us with Ambassadorial Brandy.

Up bright and early (unlike Servalan).More socialising. Trip to Somerfield's, Woolworths, etc for Room Party Supplies. Briefly see Himself and Rachel a few times (usually in the vicinity of the bar) -- suspect they have bigger room than us -- Himself put out at not being invited to Party, so invite him.

Panels on B5, B7, and Leadership Styles. Then it's the 'Man of Iron' script reading(2). This time we have bound copies of the script, complete with astounding cover art. I play Vila. as I did at Redemption '03, and only corpse once. Still convinced that Certain Actors should not try to write (scripts).

Actually manage to eat before the Opening Ceremony. Good Ceremony. Ruler of the Universe candidates make speeches, with Og's translated into BSL by spacefall(3). Realise that Jason Carter (and the other guests) may just be insane. But he has an interesting line in suits and a nifty hat, so that's all okay.

Panel on webpublishing vs print-zines, then round up party guests, hoping that others will remember our room number. As always, am amazed at how many folks will fit into one small hotel room. Snacks in bowls more popular than bags of crisps, and we end up with one bottle of white wine left from our stash, and one unopened BYOB of red. snowgrouse being friendly. Actually manage to tidy stuff away before crashing. Realise dimly that Himself has never been seen (further evidenced by our still having all four cans of Stella that I got in specially for him.


The morning after the party I found a small Armadillo, and a grey jumper. Armadillo was (relatively) quickly reunited with his owner, but I still have the jumper if anyone cares to claim it. Made it to breakfast again, unlike my roommate. Stared the day with a slash panel, then went in search of Himself and/or Rachel. Panicking slightly, even though one would have thought to text me if the other had a problem. Am grabbed by Rachel, who frantically asks me if I've seen Jason. I think I just passed him, and ask after Himself, who turns out to be in the bar. It also turns out that all three had their very own Room Party the night before, which explains why none of them came to ours. Not that I thought to invite Jason, but I would hardly have thrown him out, now would I?

Pop back to tidy Room, but Servalan has already hidden all evidence in the top of the wardrobe.

Lunch with Servalan and kerravonsen (I think that was Saturday), then I'm running my first panel of the con: Fanfic Writing Styles. It goes well, I think, even though we have to start writing definitions on a flip-chart. I rush down to the opposite end of the corridor for Servalan's panel on Corruption in the (B7) Federation vs that in the Ministry of Magic. We are more suspicious of the MoM overall.

Then it's off to the Zocalo (4). Tombola, more secondhand stuff on the Bring&Buy stall, and the first of many attempts by Ivan to sell me a 'Space Above and Beyond' Flightsuit. Assure him I will try it on later if no one else is desperate to buy it. Encounter the Beeblebears' picnic, and buy the one that is actually teddy-coloured (and thus more disturbing than any pink, green or purple teddy bear that also has three arms, two heads, and three eyes plus one patch)(5).

Panel on Exposition is very helpful, and I decide that I really like Jim Mortimore (or had I decided that already?). He is a cool Guest, but then the Writer Guests usually are(6).

My Firefly panel goes well, although we all seem to agree on every single point anyone makes. I think I ate after that one.

I am a forceful audience member at the 'Why Isn't There More f/f?' Panel, and seem to have agreed to write fics based on specific kinks.

I miss the Fancy Dress and Cabaret, due to excessive tarting up of self in our room. But I looked fabulous(7). Go to bar, chat to people, bounce in disco to four songs or so, then back to the bar for more chat. Actually buy a round. Himself and Jason are being lightweights and only want squash, so they are much cheaper dates than myself and Servalan.

The Trio go off and have their own Room Party again, creating gossip amongst the Committee by all accounts (showing up to breakfast together the next day did nothing to scotch that one).

Up bright and early again(9), for I have another early panel: 'Can Het Romance Be Feminist?'. Again we all agree with each other on the answer to that, but get good debates going anyway.

'Fashion in B7' is a slide-show, and there are some Real Crimes there.

I do my stint on the Reg Desk for '07, and sign up while I'm at it. Jason is signing, so I decide I really should have a photo of him. Pick up a nice one of him being Repo-Man in 'Angel'(8), and we are having a fun chat on make-up, accents, and eating bodies, when someone points out that I'm supposed to pay him. Foiled again!

Spacefall's 'Signing B7' is far more fun than the BSL class I dropped out of a couple of years ago. Then it's the closing ceremony -- where did the weekend go?. Himself and Rachel leave after saying goodbye to Jason.

Servalan gives me a Publisher's view of my novel, and I call her a 'Damn American' amongst other things. Actually I agree with what she said, but I'm not making major revisions until I finish the first draft.

Final panels, then D'Argo's Wake (Dead Dog Party) Crisps not eaten at Room Party all go. Drink cheap brandy, but avoid hangover.

Up bright and early to pack. Servalan asleep, but she packed the night before. At breakfast people seem enthusiastic about staying for lunch.By lunchtime, everyone has vanished, so we go looking for a cheaper place to eat in Hinckley.

Railway Hotel, as advertised in the Con Programme Book, does not do food, but the barman sends us up the road to the Holywell. Food much cheaper, and at least as good as, anything at the Con Hotel, but service a little slow.

Mooch around Town Centre until time for Servalan's train, then drive home.

Up at a sane time. Took car to Body Repair Place, and am now getting it fixed in two weeks. Then into Ipswich. Bought 'Little Britain' Comic Relief Special, a couple of pagan pocket books, and the shiny re-issue of Volume One of 'Charley's War'. Checked prices of poncy frames for Jason's photo. Faffed a lot I don't want to work tomorrow.

Redemption was fun, and I want another one now. Hello yet again to all the lovely people I met.



(1) Actually I thought she looked familiar when I met her as a customer -- they've been to more Redemptions than me.

(2) 'Man of Iron' is the never-filmed B5 S4 script written by Paul Darrow. It is legendary for all the wrong reasons.

(3) See here.

(4) At some point I had already been to the Dealers Room, and bought secondhand DVDs, books and zines, but I'm not sure where that fitted in.

(5) Photo to follow.

(6) Not that the other guests aren't cool, it's just that I only really spoke to Jim and Jason.

(7) Or would have done, if there had been more light for people to see me by.

(8) Scan to follow, before I get a poncy frame for it.

(9) On way to breakfast am grabbed by Ivan. I try on the flightsuit, give him some crisp pieces of paper, then wear it all day.