Someone pointed out to me that Chris's con report cut off unfinished. Sorry about that. Here's the rest of the report, including a repeat of the paragraph that got chopped. Carol Mc
Chris Blenkarn at Redemption (continued)
We just about had time to get changed for the disco before going to Gareth's Shakespeare talk. Being in a hurry I put on odd earrings but didn't notice until much later. Gareth interspersed readings with anecdotes about his career, and intermittently attempted to find the Falstaff speech he had given at the outset of his career. It was all absorbing stuff and unsurprisingly overran, but not before Michael Sheard put in an appearance in bra and suspender belt, innovatively worn over his suit. The rest of the night was spent in the bar. We made three attempts at entering the disco but withdrew immediately because every time the music (sic) was dire and way too loud. Perhaps we were timing it badly, but the bar was more fun, and more full. Neil turned up with a camera and his hair unleashed. Exciting stuff. For once we were back in our room before 2.00am, but sat up for ages talking and starting the second bottle of wine, or was it the third? Can't remember.
Sunday
Woke up early again, made more grapefruit tea very quietly, gulped down the usual collection of Holland and Barrett herbal supplements for the older woman, and spent a couple of hours looking through the zines Janet had bought. By the time she woke up the ginseng had kicked in and I went to have a shower. I wasn't wearing my glasses when I turned it on, so it was only after I stepped into the bath tub that I noticed there was a dark blob-shaped thingie floating at my feet. Peering closer I realised it was the ashtray that Janet had considerately placed there the previous night so that I, a non-smoker, was not subjected to cigarette smells. And I thought I was Always Safe with Her.
Breakfast finished, I was keen to see if the cricket match was ready to resume in the boulevard. Harriet had got everything ready for the second innings, the pristine green baize cloth, the indomitable cardboard captains sternly gazing at the pitch. I wondered not for the first time how Blake was ever going to catch anyone at first slip when he was holding a gun.
Blake's XI fared badly in their second innings. Zen did not display his usual dexterity at number three, and Orac just couldn't get on to the back foot with any regularity. However, my hero Vila had one of those moments where he (almost) saves the day, and enjoyed a gratifyingly spirited last wicket stand with Cally. I always thought they'd be good for each other. Janet returned from Sainsbury's with a Sunday paper and disappeared into the auction, but I just couldn't bear to leave at this exciting juncture.
Ares and Katherine were busy sorting papers at the next table, and had also been put in charge of Ian's birthday cake. Kat came over to give the spinner a twirl and left somewhat later, committing the cake to our care. A very small child bore down upon it at standard by seven, but was intercepted by a pursuit parent. . I had the unexpected honour of assisting the Supreme Commander herself when she caught the heel of her shoe in the hem of her dazzling gown. Such exquisite ankles! She neglected to grind the heel of her shoe on my hand, and even gave me a hot tip on where to get false nail multi-buys. What more could anyone ask?
In Babylon X1's second innings, Londo Mollari seemed abstracted, no doubt dwelling on his sensational marriage earlier that day, and was quickly out. G'Kar proved more difficult to shift; perhaps Avon should have taken his parka off when bowling to him. Vila's bowling was a disappointment after his bravura batting display. He should have got a wicket with his first ball but the umpire gave Not Out and so he got disheartened. Okay, so I'm biased, but it's true, ask Harriet. Janet emerged from the auction with a gleam in her eye and clutching a mysterious bundle, but nothing could drag me away from the match as it drew to a conclusion. Alas, oh anguish and despair, Blakes X1, despite flashes of brilliance couldn't quite get it together and lost. Story of their life.
So, what was this thing that Janet had bought? A Vila tee-shirt, specifically, Sheelagh Wells's Vila tee-shirt and so doubly blessed. She was going to take it home to Shrewsbury and hang it on the wall, when she could have given it to me! First she sabotages the bath, now this! It's no use, she'll have to go out of the airlock. We missed the start of the hustings talking to Sheelagh, so we only caught part of the speeches. Outside the hall we carefully punched our chads and placed them in the super- techno ballot box. There were mysterious ladies in red fur commandeering it, and rumours of many dark deeds and dirty tricks, even by the Bear Tendency. I cast my vote for Ares because he had the best boots, then we went to admire Paula's winning picture caption of Avon giving Cally her worming pills. I bought a copy of Paula and Steve's zine because of its great cover, but haven't dared look inside yet.
The rest of the afternoon blurred into talks by Gareth and Michael, with intermittent forays by the latter's drilled troopers, and the closing ceremony - what, already? No, not before a brilliant film of the workshop space craft, ingenious models of washing up liquid and bits of cutlery; marketing executives would kill for this sort of product placement. The space craft were almost as good as the BBC versions and wobbled in the grand tradition. Those old Blue Peter skills never leave you.
Then people won prizes, organisers, stewards, tech crew and everyone else involved in the hard work got cheered, and Servalan retained the title of Ruler of the Universe for the second time, slaughtering the opposition. Could it be true that more votes were cast for her than there were attendees? Time the Red Dalek made a come-back.
Another superb Redemption, and I got through the whole weekend on just two paracetemol. Many, many thanks to everyone.
By the way, where were the Klingons this year? At the other Ashford?