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Con report #5,041
Sep. 1st, 2004 04:49 pmAka the Robin of Sherwood con, I should be doing something else, really....
Got to Swindon station on Friday, immediately confronted by a bloke doing the 'I'm convinced I know you from somewhere' stare, which I was doing to. After a bit, he went "Conina!" Disc con attendee. You're surely not supposed to see them that fast, are you? Mind you, the sword down my back and mass of blonde hair probably helps with identification. On studying the notes on how to get there, etc, I noted that reg wasn't until 6pm. It being 2:30, I decided arriving really early might be a bit embarassing, so did half an hour in the pub over the road. Which turned out to be a biker bar where the barman was into tattoos, swords, and recognised the discworld ref during a convo I had with Tors while there.
Taxi, dumped stuff, went to the Hilton. Where sat and drank with Phil Rose and a few others. Really a few others. Most people didn't get there until later. Evening spent doing a quiz and drinking, the main pursuit at any RoS con.
Saturday, brekkies, got over there, enjoyed talks, played at the stalls - crossbow range being the most popular. It turns out if there'd been a third Robin, Kip's choice at the time was Sean Bean (Robert taking over the Earl of Huntingdon role when his dad died). Cue most of the con musing over the weekend that the Will-Robin fight would take about four days with stops for drink, and Herne would mostly get 'you're bloody kidding' looks. Many exhortations to flood Granada and HTV with requests for reruns, as this is the only country where it's never been rerun.
Banquet - my god. Well, we had bloody gorgeous roast suckling pig on a spit on tables set up around a performance area. Where the entertainment was the Offstage Theatre Group doing the Reduced RoS, Robbin' the Legend, all 26 eps in one evening. Yes, every episode. Including the outtakes. Cue 100+ people plus guests pissing themselves with laughter.
Highlights being Jason Connery played by a girl ('I'm not a girl!'), Sean Connery portraying King Arthur in The Inheritance, Lilith, the Silver Marrow, the bloke who played the Sheriff (who also wrote the script) with his moustache twirling, Michael Praed coming in with a towel on his head (haircare being terribly important), The Knights who Say Oui (and yes, I did bring my coconuts out), Gulnar being played as Richard O'Brien in Crystal Maze mode and Herne and his many headdresses.
Bets were being taken at half time on exactly when Nick Grace would expire from laughing so much.
After that, me and a small group of mates from last year got the elusive and legendary Madonna story out of Nick Grace due to persistence. And no, you can only hear about it from the lips of the man himself.
Drank much mead, including that nicked from other people's tables. Had impromptu sword lesson in carpark whilst drunk, and my right little finger's knuckle still bloody hurts.
Morning, off on the trip to Lacock Abbey (also see Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth version) which we found out was actually built fifteen years after the series was set... :g: as in keeping with RoS timeline. Was most amused whilst exploring rooms there to see one bloke go 'I've just seen Phil Rose from Robin of Sherwood and got his autograph!' Heh. Also had wtf moment when Phil hissed 'Look behind me'. Looked. Vaguely familiar bloke with grey hair, black rimmed glasses, and a gaggle of blond children who looked a bit like my uncle Ian. Squinted and realised it was Harry Enfield. Explored Lacock and its bakery and pubs.
Got back, showered, changed into Conina outfit (sans fur shoulder-bit) for disco. Danced ourselves sily and got gapes for such things as cartwheels, dancefloor mostly being claimed by me and a few others. DJ appearing to be David Brent from the Office's younger brother. Had *no* idea of music taste or what we wanted, it being an 80s disco... Got us to do Bohemian Rhapsody with me and Angela leading, as we were the only ones who knew how and he didn't. And then put on two slow songs at the end to the cries of 'Have you not noticed that this dancefloor is mostly women and it's things like 'Come on Eileen' that get us going?' Cue two couples dancing and me and Kirsty being so very silly. Including tango, really bad ballet, highland dancing, and a couple of cartwheels.
Drank not that much, then embarked on sunday, watching the Reading Festival goers straggle back home.
Got to Swindon station on Friday, immediately confronted by a bloke doing the 'I'm convinced I know you from somewhere' stare, which I was doing to. After a bit, he went "Conina!" Disc con attendee. You're surely not supposed to see them that fast, are you? Mind you, the sword down my back and mass of blonde hair probably helps with identification. On studying the notes on how to get there, etc, I noted that reg wasn't until 6pm. It being 2:30, I decided arriving really early might be a bit embarassing, so did half an hour in the pub over the road. Which turned out to be a biker bar where the barman was into tattoos, swords, and recognised the discworld ref during a convo I had with Tors while there.
Taxi, dumped stuff, went to the Hilton. Where sat and drank with Phil Rose and a few others. Really a few others. Most people didn't get there until later. Evening spent doing a quiz and drinking, the main pursuit at any RoS con.
Saturday, brekkies, got over there, enjoyed talks, played at the stalls - crossbow range being the most popular. It turns out if there'd been a third Robin, Kip's choice at the time was Sean Bean (Robert taking over the Earl of Huntingdon role when his dad died). Cue most of the con musing over the weekend that the Will-Robin fight would take about four days with stops for drink, and Herne would mostly get 'you're bloody kidding' looks. Many exhortations to flood Granada and HTV with requests for reruns, as this is the only country where it's never been rerun.
Banquet - my god. Well, we had bloody gorgeous roast suckling pig on a spit on tables set up around a performance area. Where the entertainment was the Offstage Theatre Group doing the Reduced RoS, Robbin' the Legend, all 26 eps in one evening. Yes, every episode. Including the outtakes. Cue 100+ people plus guests pissing themselves with laughter.
Highlights being Jason Connery played by a girl ('I'm not a girl!'), Sean Connery portraying King Arthur in The Inheritance, Lilith, the Silver Marrow, the bloke who played the Sheriff (who also wrote the script) with his moustache twirling, Michael Praed coming in with a towel on his head (haircare being terribly important), The Knights who Say Oui (and yes, I did bring my coconuts out), Gulnar being played as Richard O'Brien in Crystal Maze mode and Herne and his many headdresses.
Bets were being taken at half time on exactly when Nick Grace would expire from laughing so much.
After that, me and a small group of mates from last year got the elusive and legendary Madonna story out of Nick Grace due to persistence. And no, you can only hear about it from the lips of the man himself.
Drank much mead, including that nicked from other people's tables. Had impromptu sword lesson in carpark whilst drunk, and my right little finger's knuckle still bloody hurts.
Morning, off on the trip to Lacock Abbey (also see Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice, Colin Firth version) which we found out was actually built fifteen years after the series was set... :g: as in keeping with RoS timeline. Was most amused whilst exploring rooms there to see one bloke go 'I've just seen Phil Rose from Robin of Sherwood and got his autograph!' Heh. Also had wtf moment when Phil hissed 'Look behind me'. Looked. Vaguely familiar bloke with grey hair, black rimmed glasses, and a gaggle of blond children who looked a bit like my uncle Ian. Squinted and realised it was Harry Enfield. Explored Lacock and its bakery and pubs.
Got back, showered, changed into Conina outfit (sans fur shoulder-bit) for disco. Danced ourselves sily and got gapes for such things as cartwheels, dancefloor mostly being claimed by me and a few others. DJ appearing to be David Brent from the Office's younger brother. Had *no* idea of music taste or what we wanted, it being an 80s disco... Got us to do Bohemian Rhapsody with me and Angela leading, as we were the only ones who knew how and he didn't. And then put on two slow songs at the end to the cries of 'Have you not noticed that this dancefloor is mostly women and it's things like 'Come on Eileen' that get us going?' Cue two couples dancing and me and Kirsty being so very silly. Including tango, really bad ballet, highland dancing, and a couple of cartwheels.
Drank not that much, then embarked on sunday, watching the Reading Festival goers straggle back home.
