Issue two of LULZine is now up! Actually it’s been up for about a week, but we almost immediately after went out of town for four days so I forgot to post. The theme this time is the line between fact and fiction, and we got some excellent pieces exploring the topic.
Ytterbium – Eastercon 2019
This year, Eastercon was at the Park Inn Heathrow, right by the airport. My very first Eastercon was also at Heathrow, just down the road at a different hotel. That year I was incredibly jet lagged, which seriously affected my enjoyment of the con (and let’s be honest, the con’s enjoyment of me). I’m happy to report that the Park Inn experience was vastly superior! John and I arrived early afternoon on Friday and as soon as we stepped of the bus we ran into Hanna Hakkarainen, also on her way to the con, always a good way to start …
Book Challenge
Although I’m not so much about New Year’s resolutions, I am as prone as anybody to take stock in January and make some adjustments. Rather unoriginally they involve reading more and getting more personal projects done, though that impulse is as much driven by finally being settled in the new house as it is by the changing of the year. So, signed up for the usual reading challenge, aiming for a book a week and doing okay so far with The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (ehn) and the Girl With All the Gifts (excellent) under my belt, plus …
2019
Once again John and I headed up to Casa Coxon in Peterborough to spend the holidays with his parents. It was a smaller affair this year, his grandfather wasn’t able to come down from Halifax and of his brothers only George was about – but it was still nice, with good food and good company. Things kicked off for me with my office Xmas dinner on the Friday before Xmas, which was four of us eating a heroic amount of Mexican food at La Baronia, and no one telling me they didn’t like tequila until after the pitcher of margaritas …
New Who
First Thirteen episode today, and it was good! Not perfect, but really solid and more enjoyable that a lot of the previous season for me. Not sure about the music, but that’s always true. Hope the opening credits come back, presumably that was about time rather than gone for good. Yeah, excited to see where it goes next.
It’s alive!!!
Had to burn everything in cleansing fire because on the internet of 2018 we can’t have nice things. Slowly restoring it all now. Please hold.
Jan 6th
December flew by, as it does. We went to the midnight screening of The Last Jedi, which I actually enjoyed more than John! Although he has since watched it twice more and surpassed me, as is right and proper. And then it was off to Peterborough for Christmas at the Coxon’s. Mince pies, roast dinners, boardgames, and of course the pantomime. This year Dave and James couldn’t make it and George was only there for part of it so everything was a bit less crowded and busy, but it’s always lovely and a nice break, get some reading done, and …
Novacon 47
his was my first Novacon, and I didn’t really know what to expect. John had warned me it was small with a single track of programming, and it was that, but it was also well designed for the space it occupies so despite being around 200 people it never felt constricted or claustrophobic. The Park Inn has seen better days but still manages to be friendly and comfortable, and has the advantage of being on a street with multiple pubs and restaurants in reasonable walking distance for most folks. I didn’t get to see a lot of Nottingham on this trip …
Helsinki Worldcon – Day 1
I got up early Wednesday since the Lounge and the art show were still pending. John got up at the same time and made toast and eggs with fish from the supermarket, plus of course coffee. He did this every day we were there, on most days we had this amazing smoked salmon that I really miss now. We took the tram up to Messukeskus, and while John went to get his badge I headed to the Exhibits Hall. Once again it took a while to find someone who knew how what was what, but eventually I managed it and …
Helsinki Worldcon Day 2
I woke up feeling fine, so after another delicious husband-cooked breakfast we headed out. The previous night John had figured out where to catch the train proper to Messukeskus, instead of the tram. It’s very simple once you know and much quicker, we were onsite in ten minutes instead of thirty. The convention provided every member with travel pass good for the week, which meant there was never any hesitation about just popping into town; free, fast, and frequent is hard to beat. I spent a few hours in the Lounge, had a wander through the Trade Hall and exhibits, …