Themes

So, lets try the old method of doing a trip/con report by just throwing a bunch of thoughts out there and see what sticks to the wall...

Thursday, got up at stupid o'clock to catch plane. Flew Air NZ for the first time in a while - they have changed their seats to considerable advantage. The old ones were torture. The new ones are, well to be honest also torture, but they won't break you so quickly.

Went to comics exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Australia. Excellent - highly recommended. First hint as to how good the hotel location was - the tram stop I needed to catch was right beside the hotel. Did I mention that trams intimidate me - not the catching or riding them - its the getting completely lost in a strange town. Not that this has ever happened.

Got back to hotel to find that my dinner plans have been canceled because my cousin is not well. So grabbed quick meal and crashed early due to significant fatigue.

Friday, walked down to the new Melbourne convention centre where the worldcon will be. Very impressive building. I walked back too via a bunch of book and electronics shops. I was going to catch a tram but every time I got to a stop I spied something just up ahead to walk to. Got back exhausted.

Con started really well - a Richard Harland book launch means a Richard Harland reading. Not to be missed. Good thing it was early because I crashed pretty much straight afterward.

Saturday - had lunch with cousin who was feeling better and keen to learn some family history. Ordering "large beef special" at Vietnamese place put me in mind of the Kliban book "Never eat anything larger than your head".

Rest of saturday seemed a bit flat. There was some stuff on at the con of interest, but there seemed to be a lack of a focal point for just kicking back and chatting to folk. Its an important point for a con because no matter how well organised a con is (and this one was very well organised) for me this is the most important part of the con. I suspect it was why Conscription worked so well this year despite being chaotic.

Bought books. Got really worried about luggage weight. Bought more books. Looked at people parading in costumes. Went to bed early.

Sunday had more interesting stuff on at the con and worked better from a chatting to people point of view probably enhanced by going out for lunch with interesting people. Demanded vendors sell me more books. Failed to find dead dog party - had another convivial meal with the same interesting people I had lunch with. Packed my stuff - wondered just how much weight I could put in my carry-on bag. Went to bed early.

Monday, got up at stupid o'clock to get to airport. Annoyed because I found out I could have actually bought another couple of books. Got home without fuss. Slept.