G’morning. Slept like crap; you? Came home last night with that sticky, ready to burst feeling in the air – and we had a mother of a thunderstorm overnight, that woke us up several times. It’s nice to fall asleep with rain on the window. Not so great to get woken up by thunder which sounds like the building’s collapsing.
Anyway, so this weekend. We’re off to the UK Games Expo as you know. I know a few of you reading this are going to come down, which is lovely. I will again attempt to do some updates from there, but the likelihood is I won’t be able to sit and blog very much – at least I hope not to be able to. If I can, it means we’re not busy, which I won’t be happy about. If you want to keep tabs on me you’ll be better off with my Facebook status updates.
In the interests of transparency, or sharing, or some sorta thing, I thought I’d let you know our general plans for the weekend too. Really only of interest to those of you attending, I guess. Unless you know an awesome curry house in Edgbaston.
Friday’s pack-and-travel day as always. We’ll be driving up and aiming to be there on-site at about 4pm or something. After that we’ll most likely be done for the day, so expect to find us in a local pub or similar not too long afterwards. If you’re likely to be in B’rum with time on your hands let me know.
Saturday is of course a show day. The show’s open from 10am to 5pm. We don’t have any particular schedule planned, so pop down to the stand whenever you want. We’re in the main dining room, which won’t look like that… but basically when you arrive in the main doors, turn left and we’ll be on your left (maps). By the way there are tournaments going on outside of the show’s main opening hours, so you might be on-site outside of those hours but we won’t!
Remember if you want a sketch from Karl Kopinski, you’ll need to turn up on Saturday. I have a feeling given Karl’s detailed style he won’t be doing many sketches, so if you really want one, come early.
Saturday night is of course our only free time, so if you’d like to hang out, that’s when it’s gotta happen. When in Birmingham we usually end up at a curry house – does anyone have any good recommendations? If we can decide in advance I’m happy to group book somewhere, and you’re welcome to come, but you’ll have to pay your own way I’m afraid.
Later on Saturday I’m sure there might be some drinkin’, but also, there’s late night gaming rooms available at the Menzies Strathallan Hotel, which is right next to the Expo. If anyone is interested in volunteering to run something, even if it’s only a decent boardgame… we’d potentially be up for that ourselves. We do have a lot of HeroClix….
Sunday is again a show day, and the Expo’s open from 10am to 4pm. As it’s a shorter day than usual we’ll naturally be doing a few less sketches, so again, if you want on the list… get in there early. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the list is full (and closed) by midday. Also; don’t be offended if we limit you to one sketch per person per day, initially. We want to allow plenty of ‘newbies’ to get sketches.
Erm, that’s it I guess. When the show’s done it’ll be time to pack and ship out home. Hope to see you there sometime over the weekend!
#1 by Zortel at May 28th, 2008
Aww, sorry to hear about the storm-induced lack of sleep, I was able to avoid it last night but I can fully understand how hard it is to get proper rest in that.
I’d say the con sounds a bit more relaxed than the others I’ve attended for you guys, but what with all the preperation and such that goes into it I’m sure that’s a lie.
Definitely can’t make this one, but I’m hoping for next year maybe. I -think- one of my non-CoH friends (Hey, me and Hikari did give him a trial disk!) may be attending, so good luck with the show, and with finding a curry house. Tell Mat to make sure to get some good pictures!
#2 by Crimson_Archer at May 28th, 2008
Wish we’d had a thunderstorm last night, I love them!!
Just sent you an email regards what looks like a good Balti house in Edgbaston, so you might be saved from pub food of dubious quality.
Fridat night too, huh? Hmmm… any idea which pub?
#3 by Shadowe at May 28th, 2008
Sleep? What is this sleep thing you speak of? I know it not.
I’ll be there on Saturday, along with Pix (and hopefully Callista) and rumour has it that there may be a supply of cookies available*.
I’m seriously looking forward to the Games Expo – it’s been a while since I’ve been to anything quite like it, so I’m just a tad excited.
Not sure if we’re going to be getting any/many sketches done this time around (which isn’t to say we don’t want to!), as my budget for it is very tightly locked, and there are a few “must purchase regardless of cost” items on my list. We’ll kind of see how it goes.
Afraid I can’t help on the curry-house side of things, and not even remotely sure if Pix and I are likely to be available for a swift drinky afterwards (we might be – kind of depends). If we are, I’ll do something crazy like pass along my mobile phone number during the Expo (though Chris may still have it on a sheet of paper somewhere).
All in all, I’m just looking forward to another chilled out and relaxing day among (dare I say it?) friends (/acquaintances. Alright, so I bottled.
), browsing, and spending even MORE of my hard-earned money. And for once I may end up spending more at other places than the NCSoft/DTWT stand.
#4 by Shadowe at May 28th, 2008
* Oops, forgot to post my little footnote. Which is that the supply of cookies that may be available is *entirely* predicated on Pix and I not eating them all before Saturday.
#5 by Rockjaw at May 28th, 2008
Friday night pub – will inform Facebook where I am, the rest of you can come find us.
(Very likely it’ll either be the pub right across the road from the Menzies Strathallan – great beer garden – or TGI Fridays, up the road).
#6 by Shadowe at May 28th, 2008
You assume that I will be anywhere near a computer that I can use to access Facebook? Tsk. And I hate using my phone for ‘net access, ’cause it’s so damn slow. And my PDA’s wireless isn’t available right now, either.
Still, I’m sure something can be worked out. Preferably involving a promise from me to continue paying for my CoH account…
#7 by Rockjaw at May 28th, 2008
Just try every pub in walking distance. We’ll be in one of ‘em.
Of course by the time you find us you may be too drunk to have a conversation. Pub crawl!
#8 by marc_johansen at May 28th, 2008
Head to the Khanum on the Bristol Road in Selly Oak for your curry. It was a staple of my 5 years living in Brum. Pop next door to Liquor Locker to pick up your cheap booze first.
#9 by Rockjaw at May 28th, 2008
I knew someone recommended a curry place at the MiniCon… thanks mate, might well check that out.
#10 by Gangrel at May 28th, 2008
ARRRGH! and bloody bills have just been payed…. shall catch you at another time (whilst i go rant about it on my blog
)