LX, Eastercon 2009
Apr. 15th, 2009 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhionnachI had a really good time at Eastercon in Bradford.
I had joined up at last year's Eastercon but began to think I wasn't going to be able to make it due to the room rates. I was also a bit put off by the idea of the split site and the fact that it made a shuttle bus necessary. However, I sat down to work out the logistics of the whole exercise and discovered that Eastercon was do-able.
I followed the link from the con website which talked about B&Bs in the vicinity and found the New Beehive Inn. http://www.newbeehiveinn.co.uk/ Pricing suited me and it was only a short walk to the Midland Hotel where the shuttle buses were picking up from. The New Beehive is best described as “interesting”, although “eccentric” and “unique atmosphere” (as it says on its website) are also appropriate descriptions. But it was a place to sleep, and as I was going to be at the con most of the time that suited me. I was quite fascinated by the gaslighting in the public rooms. I had expected gaslight to flicker but it gave off a steady light. The only odd thing being that you don't tend to expect the lighting to give off a slight hiss!
I also managed to sort out train travel at a price that suited. I had gone onto the Trainline website and was thinking I'd have to pay around £70-80 for my ticket, based on what I found there. However, I went into the travel centre at Central Station where a suitable route was worked out for me at a cost of £45.60.
I travelled on the Friday morning, over the scenic Carlisle-Settle route, without any hold ups or other problems and arrived in Bradford after lunchtime. I got myself booked into my accommodation and went off to find the Midland and the shuttle bus. I happened to bump into an Israeli fan who had just called a taxi which we shared to the Cedar Court Hotel.
And so the Con began.
I gophered, worked on Ops, attended programme items, and did a couple of stints on the Satellite 2/Albacon 2010 desk. My gophering began with making sure people didn't take food or drink into the Art Show at the opening reception. It is amazing how many people seem unable to read a sign clearly stating this and who had to be stopped at the entrance. I also gophered on the orchestra set up and take down for Saturday night's orchestral concert by the National Festival Orchestra who played a number of SF-related pieces. It was a very different but very enjoyable programme item.
I attended items on Spring-heeled Jack and one on searching for Dark Matter. As is the way of things there were items I couldn't catch or which clashed with other things. The con was a chance to catch up with people I hadn't seen since last Easter or even longer, as well as a chance to meet new people. I had a really good time. I also acquired 13 books and 3 T shirts which added considerable weight to my luggage on the way home!
On the downside I would say that someone needs to explain to the catering staff that even vegetarians appreciate variety in their food and offering the same old stuff at every meal is not acceptable. The meat options were changed from lunchtime to dinnertime and day to day but veggies were expected to eat pasta, pasta, pasta, with the odd pizza, or baked potatoes and baked beans at every meal! I will say the salads were good but their quality began to tail off towards the end of the weekend.
I seem, however, to have come down with the Con lurgy. I had hoped to have avoided the tummy bug which seemed to be doing the rounds but last night things began to happen. I had to take the day off work, spending most of the morning asleep in between visits to the bathroom. I have now had some home-made butternut squash, sweet potato and lentil soup and am drinking some orange juice and mineral water as I write.
I have joined up for Odyssey 2010 next year and am looking forward to it. I just need to look into flights etc. My next convention wll be Satellite 2 in July, it's a local Glasgow con so not much travelling will be involved.
I had joined up at last year's Eastercon but began to think I wasn't going to be able to make it due to the room rates. I was also a bit put off by the idea of the split site and the fact that it made a shuttle bus necessary. However, I sat down to work out the logistics of the whole exercise and discovered that Eastercon was do-able.
I followed the link from the con website which talked about B&Bs in the vicinity and found the New Beehive Inn. http://www.newbeehiveinn.co.uk/ Pricing suited me and it was only a short walk to the Midland Hotel where the shuttle buses were picking up from. The New Beehive is best described as “interesting”, although “eccentric” and “unique atmosphere” (as it says on its website) are also appropriate descriptions. But it was a place to sleep, and as I was going to be at the con most of the time that suited me. I was quite fascinated by the gaslighting in the public rooms. I had expected gaslight to flicker but it gave off a steady light. The only odd thing being that you don't tend to expect the lighting to give off a slight hiss!
I also managed to sort out train travel at a price that suited. I had gone onto the Trainline website and was thinking I'd have to pay around £70-80 for my ticket, based on what I found there. However, I went into the travel centre at Central Station where a suitable route was worked out for me at a cost of £45.60.
I travelled on the Friday morning, over the scenic Carlisle-Settle route, without any hold ups or other problems and arrived in Bradford after lunchtime. I got myself booked into my accommodation and went off to find the Midland and the shuttle bus. I happened to bump into an Israeli fan who had just called a taxi which we shared to the Cedar Court Hotel.
And so the Con began.
I gophered, worked on Ops, attended programme items, and did a couple of stints on the Satellite 2/Albacon 2010 desk. My gophering began with making sure people didn't take food or drink into the Art Show at the opening reception. It is amazing how many people seem unable to read a sign clearly stating this and who had to be stopped at the entrance. I also gophered on the orchestra set up and take down for Saturday night's orchestral concert by the National Festival Orchestra who played a number of SF-related pieces. It was a very different but very enjoyable programme item.
I attended items on Spring-heeled Jack and one on searching for Dark Matter. As is the way of things there were items I couldn't catch or which clashed with other things. The con was a chance to catch up with people I hadn't seen since last Easter or even longer, as well as a chance to meet new people. I had a really good time. I also acquired 13 books and 3 T shirts which added considerable weight to my luggage on the way home!
On the downside I would say that someone needs to explain to the catering staff that even vegetarians appreciate variety in their food and offering the same old stuff at every meal is not acceptable. The meat options were changed from lunchtime to dinnertime and day to day but veggies were expected to eat pasta, pasta, pasta, with the odd pizza, or baked potatoes and baked beans at every meal! I will say the salads were good but their quality began to tail off towards the end of the weekend.
I seem, however, to have come down with the Con lurgy. I had hoped to have avoided the tummy bug which seemed to be doing the rounds but last night things began to happen. I had to take the day off work, spending most of the morning asleep in between visits to the bathroom. I have now had some home-made butternut squash, sweet potato and lentil soup and am drinking some orange juice and mineral water as I write.
I have joined up for Odyssey 2010 next year and am looking forward to it. I just need to look into flights etc. My next convention wll be Satellite 2 in July, it's a local Glasgow con so not much travelling will be involved.