Dalekboy

Been meaning to make this post since September, but as you're all aware, life has been hectic. Getting around to posting has been a lesser priority than 47 other things.

Something Sharon and I discussed at WorldCon (and more or less ever since) was how blessed we are to have such awesome and brilliant friends.

We were room-bound for a good chunk of the con thanks to the kids. This was something we expected and were fine with, knowing we'd only see small sections of the con, and some of our friends. But then we had all those lovely folks that made the time to come up and say hi, to sit with us, chat, and give us the pleasure of their company. We were really grateful for this, because some of these folks we'd have not seen at all if they hadn't come to us.

We had a couple of folks who offered to babysit Lex for us, which was fabulous and gave us a chance to see a little more of the con. And then when Sharon hurt her back, the help and assistance given to us by so many was an absolute Godsend. People went and got painkillers, helped organise food, and just came up and gave us company once again seeing as we wouldn't get to any more of the convention.

We also had help packing our stuff and loading up the car.

More recently, I had help cleaning the house, packing and loading the truck, and unloading and unpacking.

And just this week, in light of a couple of my recent posts, two people sent us presents for Lex - a pink monster, and an Upsy Daisy top.

So this is just a quick word to those people mentioned, those folks I've missed, and to all the others out there that have been there for us over the years, as help or company.

We really appreciate your friendship and help, it means the world to us.

Thank you.

Note! This poll is about negative impact of experience!

[Poll #1517139]

Well, stephiepenguin did a post on pictures that she took during 2009. So I'm pinching the idea and doing the same. All pictures of people, many of whom are holding Lex for some reason, and they're in chronological order. Every photo was taken by me, or was pretty much entirely set up by me and then I had someone else press the button.

I was quite pleased when I compiled this. I had felt like I'd hardly taken any pictures this year, but in actual fact I had hardly taken any travel pictures. There's plenty with people.

Goal for next year - more pictures of people (and hopefully some travel pics).



( +34 more, includes some harmless nudity, but consider yourself warned... )

* April and Andy visited on the weekend. Yay!

* My car indicator continues to play up. Boo!

* Sharon and I got to go see Up on Sunday. It was good and didn't stupidly pander to the 3D. Yay!

* Sharon's grandpa died Sunday night. He was an awesome old bloke. Boo!

( More under cut, some TMI... )

So, after my post on how Media and Lit Natcons were joined, and how media fandom as a whole got thoroughly screwed, general consensus was that the whole situation sucked.

( So what are we going to do about it? )

With regards to my previous post on forgotten Natcon history. What spurred it on was people saying we didn't need more awards. One of my points was that we actually used to have more awards. In doing that I needed to mention some of the history behind how we lost them, and got distracted by how crap the whole situation was.

At no point in the original post did I say anything bad about Aussiecon 4. Aussiecon 3 got a mention, but I made it clear that it was only a small part of the overall problems occurring at the time. And in all the replies, my only negative comment with regards to Aussiecon 4 was that one or two folks can be a little aggressive or dismissive of complaints.

All the other concerns voiced about A4 came from other people. This isn't me backing down on anything, or saying I don't agree with some of the comments made (just as I disagree with others), just that I didn't make them. I don't mind being blamed or accused of stirring trouble for the stuff I've said, but if I haven't said it, no thanks.

Just felt the need to be clear on that one.




Coming Soon - Aussiecon 4... Are the committee all Satan worshippers?

In the early 90's the media Natcon was going gangbusters (300-400+ attendees), the lit Natcon was dying with a slowly decreasing (around 200) and aging membership. With the success of a couple of joint media/lit Natcons, it was suggested that Australia's population was so small the two cons should be joined.

It would mean a bigger overall Natcon with a larger budget. Everyone would win. The media fans had no reason to do this. Their Natcon was doing fine. The only reason they did it was out of a sense of community. It would be good for fandom as a whole to have a single, bigger Natcon. ( Read more... )

Nomination for the Chronos Awards to be awarded at Continuum 2009 are now open.

To lodge a nomination please click on the Read More link below. ( Read more... )

You know what's great? Continuum 5 is coming up, August 14th-16th, Melbourne.
If you're not there, you'll be missing out.


What's cool is, this Saturday the 30th, C5 is having a Trivia Quiz.
( Poster with details below the cut )


The awesome thing is that Continuum 6 is already being planned for next year.
That's right, it's on baby!


And the amazing thing?
People are already starting to make plans for Continuum 7!

I have just discovered that, apparently, there are those that have referred to me as "the Confather"...

On an evening where I feel like a delicate flower, this does not so much comfort me as leave me feeling rather bemused.

Still, could be worse, they could be calling me a SMOF. I find that so uncomfortable a term (when used in relation to me) that it borders on offensive. Confather has an air of gentle mockery which I am far more comfortable with.

And I like the idea of having a personal mafia. I could get them all working for me on Continuum Foundation projects...