I spent most of this past weekend at Gateshead International Stadium helping out at the Tyneside Games Expo.

The last games convention I attended was probably Dundracon sometime in the nineties, and even then it was because my boyfriend at the time and some of our friends were goning. I played Magic, of course – everyone did basically – and I really liked WizWar, but I have no memory if I played anything that weekend.

Decades later here I am at a gaming convention, this time because John is one of the directors. But this time, as well as staffing the front desk and various other bits of volunteering I also managed to play a few games.

First off was a bee themed matching game called Bee Friendly which reminded me a little of Calico, that was a fun little first game to start with, later it was Hot Streak, which was very silly but a lot of fun. Finally, thank to the very patient designer who stayed late for us, we play-tested Tapa Tapa Tapa, which was really great – the game involves running a tapas restaurant and I am ashamed to say I came last, shaming my ancestors but surprising no one. On Sunday I was a bit busier but still managed to play a round of the profoundly weird Magical Athlete.

Obviously I am biased, but it was a good time, there were enough non-games dealers that I had a real hard time not buying a bunch of stuff, and I had a lovely time.