Ever had one of those days where you have been so busy that we don't notice you are really enjoying yourself? We've just had two of them, although Bean was a bit slack on the Saturday as she was reading Harry Potter (She finished it as well).
I have to say that looking after Neil Gaiman was, again, a lovely experience. He is one of mother natures genuine sweet hearts. The only real complaint I could made about the whole con, was that, as Neil's minders, we didn't get to see much of the other guests. Richard Harland was enthusiastic and fun, Robin Hobb came across as being lovely, although a bit quiet. We "pulled rank" a little to get into the closing ceremony early and see Poppy Z Brite who is a sweet person with a lovely smile.
All in all the weekend was a success; people enjoyed themselves, we caught up with old friends and made new ones.
I was talking to Jocko, the fan guest of honour, about whether or not he was giving the con value for money, he was unsure and I remember that we were unsure when we were FGoH. Bean and I were Fan Guests before at Constantinople, if you can cast you mind back that far. Fan Guests are not, usually, chosen for what the convention can get from on the day but for what they have done for fandom over the years, in that respect Jocko was real value for money.
He didn't turn up to be on the panel he was meant to be on with me, he had been distracted by another one, but that was OK as the panel went well and you cannot get annoyed with Jocko, about anything, ever.
Just feel the need to name drop now (what do you mean NOW?). Other people we caught up with:
Trudi Canavan, Sean Williams (Why do we only catch up with Sean in Melbourne or Perth), Sean McMullen (With his delightful daughter Catherine in tow), Bean has a lovely photo of Sean and Catherine, looks odd as it seems to depict Sean strangling his daughter but is, in fact, Sean with Catherine's head on his shoulder and his hand wrapped around her head, a spontaneous, loving moment. Jack Dann was there, as well, being Jack Dann.
The maskobello was really good; lovely goth outfits attached to beautiful goth people abound, some really good and eerie costumes. I went as Jack Sparrow and won a signed MirrorMask book. Neil wrote "To Captain Jack Sparrow. Where's the rum?" in it. I was chuffed.
