Category: Conventions

Konflikt was my second Eurocon, the first being Shamrokon nearly ten years (ten years!) ago in Dublin. It sort of felt like my first proper one though, being outside of the anglosphere this time – though everyone I met at the con spoke English, as did virtually everyone I interacted with in town. My old Bay Area friends Mette and Bryan just moved to Uppsala earlier in the year, so it seemed absurd not to attend even if my finances are a bit of a shambles at the movement. I flew Norwegian from Edinburgh and landed near midnight on the …

This past weekend was Satellite 8 in Glasgow, which is now an easy trip for us, basically three hours with a change at Edinburgh. It was also my first time going to Scotland, so I was really looking forward to that too. The covid policy was similar to Eastercon, but with the additional requirement of showing a photo of a covid test taken prior to the event. They also had tests available for those who forgot, I had to ask two people to do so while working reg and they were both happy enough to do so. Masking was about …

Still have a lingering cough, but otherwise back to normal. Gearing up for some travel, going to Uppsala for Eurocon and to visit friends, and bracing myself for Gallifrey One Hotel Hunger Games next week. Here at home there was the coronation of course, aside from some bunting down the street we experienced it mainly through memes. John has friends over this weekend so its been all gaming all the time for him and mostly puttering about in the garden when its sunny, and reading when it isn’t for me. Quite a pleasant way to spend a three-day weekend.

Still testing positive a week on, had to postpone my dentist appointment to get my implant stitches out. I I remain congested, and a bit fuzzy, but generally feel better so hopefully just a few more days of this nonsense. The weather has been gorgeous the last few days so it would be nice to have enough energy to get some gargen maintenance done, or maybe even go into town at the weekend. On the other hand, I don’t get paid till next week so perhaps its an opportunity to hunker down at home and finish Horizon Zero Dawn finally.

A week back from Eastercon today, but obviously Covid ate that week right up. Still testing positive at the moment, but feeling mostly normal other than a realtively (so far) light cough. The first few days I basically slept all day, after that it was fatigue, some congestion and fuzzy headedness, mild headache, that sort of thing. Not terrible as these things go, but obviously not delighted to finally break my covid-free streak. It meant we missed this month’s First Thursday (postponed to second due to Eastercon clash) and a planned trip to Edingburgh. The weekend overall was good, we …

I have a bunch of art stuff to do as convention season is here, so I’ve applied for my passport, registered my postal vote, painted the downstairs hall, and planted some berry bushes in the garden.

As of a couple of days ago I’m officially British. The ceremony was a bit long but nice overall, there was piper and a harpist and a couple of speeches. The mayor confirmed we are also Geordies, so I’ll have to start working on the accent. The other speech was very much a welcome to the country sort of thing. Which was well-meaning obviously, but they also mentioned at one point that the new citizens in the room had lived here between four and seventeen(!) years, so I can’t imagine that latter one felt especially in need of encouragment to …

Well, Xmas really sneaks up on you doesn’t it? Especially if you forget to blog for, oh say four months, whoops. Stange times, etc. Summary; went to Corflu, went to Novacon, had opinions on both. Went ot Newcastle to look at houses, we put an offer on one, soon it might be ours! Next up, (virtual) DisCon III!