Tuesday. Feels like Monday. But that's okay, because Monday felt like a whole year of Mondays combined. It was noted I hadn't updated this blog in ages, so let's get serious about that...

I'm always wonder if the best con-reports are those written after one has time to digest everything and sift and organise memories, or whether the ones that are written in the afterglow/fall-out are the most interesting. Certainly after some sleep is good and I think I'm beginning to catch up a bit.

HLWW7 - A Call to Arms took place almost ten months after a conversation with Carmel in Sydney in which I said 'One of these days you'll have to come to my neck of the woods as we've got the perfect venue - The Royal Armouries in Leeds'. No sooner had the words escaped my mouth than a) Carmel thought the idea would be great for 2006 and b) I realised that I'd just lost the nice travel/break from the norm that usually accompanies the hard work. In fact, being the guy at Ground Zero in Yorkshire, I probably trebled my usual workload too. However if my hometown was going to host the event, I was going to make damn sure it was the best event it could be. Hopefully that was somewhat accomplished, though it's not for me to tell.

Some people have criticised the fact there wasn't a program of events ahead of the event. It's a fair comment, but as is often the case things are in flux right up to the opening ceremony as we try to maximise coverage. This time around, with Bill Panzer being a surprise guest - and the possibility of Source footage being screened (and sidenote: I was honestly telling people on the Friday that we didn't have any footage as Bill only managed to organise it at the last second) together with co-ordinating stuff about the original film, the new film, the new and old TV series, the computer game, the anime, the auction etc it wasn't until late Friday that we could 100% approve the schedule. We knew there would be a ton of stuff to fit in and it was simply a matter of working it around a logical and pragmatic time-frame. We did advertise the Meet & Greet aspect of the Friday and I think that went well. Though a few non-con bar dwellers were a little bewildered by the influx.


One by one the guests checked in to their Leeds residence and though there were a few hiccups with train arrival times (nothing new with GNER), that all went smoothly

I always feel like stepping out in front of an audience is, as Stephen Fry commented recently, like addressing a school assembly. It can be fun or boring for the audience and I try to make it fun. The hardest bits of my job go on behind the scenes and un-noticed (if things go right), but the eMCee duties are both easier, harder and important. It was good to see a raft of faces I knew and hadn't spoken to in a long time (Hi to Godiva, Silaswench, Dawn, Beatrice etc), put physical in-the-room faces to those I'd only met regularly in cyberspace (Hey there to Shakta, Scoprion, Shy German etc) and to meet new people who I'd never seen before or only cross-posted with a few times (Velvet Glove, Steph, Bonita etc). I'd met up with David Abramowitz, Peter, Bill Panzer and Marcus briefly the night before after their arrival and met up with Richard and Adrian on Saturday in the wings of the Armouries' theatre. Getting the ball rolling on Saturday was farly easy with simple rules and house-keeping lists and then we were underway. I knew we'd have a 20 year Highlander retrospective, but was truly surprised we'd got th Source promo. Much discusion and the sound of the internet breaking in half followed.

I have to admit that I didn't get to see any panel all the way through - excepting some of the first where I helped distribute the microphones to those who wanted to ask questions (and apologies to those in the balcony who didn't have their own microphone due to a fault on the third available mic but they managed to enunciate well in the accoustically suitable venue!). Working behind the scenes, there's just too much to do. While audiences are being entertained with one panel, you have to make sure everything is ready for the next. The likes of Shelley and Rosie may have been briefly acknowledged in the closing moments of the weekend, but without them often hiding off in the wings and getting guests mic'd up, called down and props ready, the realtively seamless string of events would not have gone so well, so a big shout out to them! Equally Nancye, photographer extraordinaire, kept everyone smiling and Judes and Aine quietly ushered everyone where they needed to be, from green room to stage etc and Karen quitely kept an eye on auction prep and cash flow. John Bierly was here too - only fair as he'd welcomed me to HIS hometown in Indiana for the now legendary Bar-B-Q-Con in 2000.

The memorial video (created by Mon) was a hugely important part of the weekend. We were determined that we didn't want to place it as a 'downer' but as a marker of respect. For those of us who personally knew some of those who have passed on it was a very emotional moment and underlined the sense of community that fills every corner of the fandom. Jean et al... you are much missed.

Perhaps most interesting - in a weekend full of exclusives - was the talk of the video game and Nic, who is helping David A on the game's creation, was an charismatic guest who genuinelly seemed interested in the fanbase's views and input into the creative process. The concert/cabaret is downtime for a lot of people, but as well as eMCeeing that as well, I was drafted into the scripted scene that I'd written for the geusts a week or so before, so until that aspect of the evening was over I was probably just as quietly stressed out as before. It might explain the fact I accidentally reversed the order of two of the acts, but hopefully that didn't matter too much in the end. However the guests were fantastic and did us proud. Adrian's 'Bad Day at Terminal A: A Silent Rendition' was a brilliant mime, complete with hysterical 'punch-line'. Everyone knows Richard Ridings can sing, but know one really knew his range. Songs like the soulful, self-penned Helpless were quite amazing. Peter read some intense passages from Pete Townsend's book of anecdotes and Marcus Testory entertained for well over an hour with old songs accompanied with his girlfriend and Ralph on flute/guitar/vocals. David's 'Memories' was truly memorable and special mention to Mon for her keyboard skills. The aforementioned 'What's Past is Prologue' sketch went down well and I was relieved that the lines were well received (and that the guys ocassional promised moments of ad-libbing didn't throw me off too much! ;) )Yes, the food was a little... minimal in artistic terms (I found my pork under the carrot) but it was tasty and I think the entertainment was worth the price of admission alone.

The concert finished after midnight but I managed a few hours in the bar afterwards, catching up with the likes of journalist Grant Kempster and Richard Ridings, but as there was another early start on Sunday, there wasn't the chance for TOO much merriment. Rather than heading home for a few hours I managed to grab some floor space for the night and Sunday was approached reasonably freshly (though I did take the odd moment to just close my eyes and relax, listening to parts of one or two panels rather than watching - but usually for just a literal few minutes at a time.


We had to reverse some of the panel orders when Marcus had to be able to leave earlier than planned, but it all went down well. The auction is always a highlight and Peter and Adrian are always on fine form. UK con auctions never quite seem to attract the bids of US versions, so there were some bargains to be had here. However there were a few items that went sailing up the ladder and produced many moments of fun. Can one describe a moment as almost a Brokeback Director's Chair? Yes, I think one can. ;)

There was more on The Source, with David as passionate as he always is and admitting he sometimes reveals too much (though as pointed out the previous day's promo reel as unfinished and might be deceptive within the outcomes of seeming plot points within the story!)

Like some others have commented, there's a vast range of people - ages, religions, races, nationalities - who assembled in lees for this con and that's always a memorable thing. People pull together and new friends are found. Nothing better than that.

Someone (I think it was Velvet Glove and Steph) asked me if I'd enjoyed the event. I actually had to pause and think. It wasn't because I hadn't enjoyed the event - which everyone who came up to me seemed to think was the best in ages - but this time around I hadn't really managed to get any down-time and think about it. From Wednesday lunch-time throught to the wee, wee hours of Monday morning I don't think I really felt relaxed. Organisers never get much time to be off-duty, but it was often a case here that there were three or four things that needed doing before one could think of stepping away from beign an ambassador and eMcee duties and downing a beer (Despite what Methos may tell you, I think I managed only six or so bottles over four days). By the time the guests got their presents and raised a glass on stage at the closing ceremony (no glass for me this time, but I'll live) I felt the job had been well done. Certanly thanks to those who came up later and shook my hand - all thanks was received humbly and with great thanks.

So. Now it's Tuesday. Almost a whole week since the first con-goers arrived in the UK. As the HLWW Scottish tour heads north, the real world beckons for me. Impact duties, Verbatim duties (thanks to all who bought back-copies and new info ill be up on my site's main page very shortly) and heading off a couple of snarky comments made on the HL list. Despite the extreme tiredness and aches that still remain (which I think is akin jet-lag but without the frequent flyer benefits) it's all good.

I look forward to Vancouver where I hope I'll be eMceeing again, but with all due respect, I think I need a proper holiday before then. Actually I know I need one. I hear Bora, Bora is nice this time of year.