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Bits and Pieces...

Next on the agenda was the auction. Bryan began by telling us that Patrick had only done one appearance at a Convention since 99. Wow! He then auctioned Patrick's badges (I bid on them, but I didn't go very high. I think they went for something like £40 each?). The bottle went for, I think, £1600. He also did a dutch auction for some copies of the American TV Times, including an early interview with the original cast, and signed by Ethan Philips and Jennifer Lien. I was interested in getting Jennifer's autograph. Even though I prefer to get them in person, Jennifer's the only one not presently booked for a convention over here, and the one not on my poster, so I liked the idea of having the full set by the end of the year. So I bid on them, and was one of the lucky winners at £40! (Last minute edit… Jeri cancelled from 'Supernova'. Grrr…)

The 'Generations' bottle

There's a load else that happened on Sunday, and I'm finding it totally impossible to remember the order! A lot of it had happened by this point... but here's some highlights.

Early-ish I heard that there was actually a second draw for Kate photo sessions. I'd thought they'd drawn them all… but another look at the posted numbers did not reveal good luck… On the other hand, in my convention pack I'd got the program with Voyager on the front. I finally found where they were selling extra copies, and got one of the last 3 with Kate on. I've since seen it for sale on e-bay, reaching £25.77 ($37.77)

During the afternoon Tim's CD's were being sold at a table in the covered walkway, and I noticed that Tim was present and signing covers. So I went and asked Mike if I could get my poster signed there since I'd missed Tim on Friday. He explained that the rule was that Tim was only signing the CD's, so I should try and get into the autograph session later. Apparently Tim did do an extra session with Kate, but I missed it! Anyway, Tim butted into the conversation between me and Mike, to say 'See you later!'

Everybody was waiting to hear about Patrick's pictures. I'd gone for a wander, came back into the main hall... got talking to someone... heard that they were being sold at the photo table at the main entrance... where I had just been! Anyway, I ran back! Turns out that they'd started putting them out, not realising that Bryan meant to put them at a 'secret location'. They'd sold 10 before they'd been told to stop!

Bryan finally announced the location (at the end of the auction I think). As he began to say it I was already making my way to the end of the row of chairs, and as soon as he said it I was off! It was to be in the walkway at the side of the hall... I ducked out of the nearest gap and gazed around. There was a big queue... but then I realised it was for autographs. The table with Tim's CD's seemed quiet... Then I looked back the way I'd come, and saw that behind me, at the bottom, just in front of the screens that partitioned off the 'Green Room', they were putting out pictures on a table. I was the first there! Then I had a hard time deciding which to get. Though all the pictures were the same, Patrick had signed them in different places and different pens. I choose one with a black signature in the white space at the bottom of the picture, rather than across the picture. I later heard that some were done in silver: shame I didn't see them.

Liandra q'Ess

I dropped into the dealers room on a mission (left rather to the last minute...) As a child I'd gone on a great adventure to meet Darth Vader. I think I was only 7 or 8, and it had meant travelling (on my own) on one bus, waiting at a bus station were I had never been before, taking a second bus and walking through a strange town. Well, Darth (in robes) seemed rather small and when some of us saw him take his helmet off through a partly closed door, he turned out to be some scrawny guy. Even at that age, I knew that Darth Vader was played by Dave Prowse, and that's who I'd gone to see. I'd bought a brand new autograph book specially. To this day, that one fake is the only autograph in it. Incidentally, I told this story to someone, who said their mate had also been to see Darth Vader as kid. But they'd been heartbroken to get the Green Cross Man. I guess you can't win!

Anyway, now I was off to the dealers room, hoping to catch anyone I hadn't seen, but especially Dave... Well, I was too late; he'd already left. In fact the only person there was Teryl Rothery from Stargate. I didn't recognises her for a moment, because, I have to say, she is SO much better looking in real life than on the show. She's actually very beautiful. She was talking to someone, so I talked to her assistant while I looked at the photos on offer. There were 3, each with different hair colour (red, dark or blonde!) I was asking which was her real hair colour! The assistant didn't know, but I drawn to the dark one anyway, and we guessed that was probably it... The picture I'd chosen was black and white, and I was a little embarrassed to have chosen the cheap one, but it was because I liked it best!

Then it was my turn with Teryl. I asked her why all the different hair colours and she said it was because Janet likes experimenting, then glanced at her assistant. For a moment I thought her assistant was called Janet, and wondered why she was controlling Teryl's hair colour! Then I realised that, of course, she was talking about her character on the show! We all had a laugh about that. There was a lull, so I ended up chatting with them for a few minutes, and asked Teryl if she'd got to see anything in the main hall. Apparently the guests in the dealers hall were among the few to be let in on the big secret (even the backstage staff and technicians hadn't been told), so they'd know to go through into the hall for it. Teryl seemed just as wrapped about the whole Patrick thing as all us common convention goers. I've since heard that she is a big Patrick Stewart fan, so I'm glad she was able to be there. I'm also glad I got to meet Teryl. She's lovely, a real gem.

Chase arrived back to sign, but she was immediately put to work by a fast-forming queue, so I only got to say hi, and not to talk at all. She seemed tired. I think it was a long weekend for many of the guests.

Though those in the dealers room (a.k.a the Starquest fair…) were told about Patrick being there, apparently not all the guest were. I heard from someone who was there, that Keegan de Lancie's jaw hit the floor when Patrick walked out, so it seems he didn't know!

I decided to try and get my poster signed before heading back to the hotel for tea. There was a massive queue at that point though... The stewards didn't know if it was OK to let me straight in, and I didn't think I had time to wait. So I headed off. Halfway out, I saw a set of head phones and asked again... he got on the radio, got instructions... next thing I knew I was being escorted back to the autograph session. Not only did I get to walk straight into the session, but I got an escort by one of the guys with headphones, right up to Tim! I didn't have time to talk, as they were keeping the queue moving a lot faster, but I felt quite the VIP! And I got my poster signing finished for the event....

I had another moment at the tram stop.  I met the woman who had bought the bottle. And I got to hold it! It was totally, obsessively, wrapped in bubble wrap, so I didn't get to touch it, but it was good enough! And if you think it was a lot to pay for it... apparently she has wanted that bottle from when she first saw the film. When Patrick started to talk about the film, nobody around her heard him actually say what he had, because she started shouting 'He's got the bottle... he's got the bottle...' Apparently there were actually a case: one destroyed in filming, one or two auctioned for charity, and the rest given to cast members. I think that was 12 or 14 in all? Anyway, Patrick's own is a very unique collectors item.

Having been back to the hotel once, I returned for my final photo: the one of me and Bob taken earlier. As I was waiting I noticed something about the ones of Ethan: he was wearing a Random Flight badge (that being Robbie's fan club!) As for Bob's… remember I told him that he'd got his revenge on Kate, but he still had to revenge himself on Robbie? Well, when I saw the picture I burst out laughing. I told the woman at the photo table. She'd been the one organising the session, and apparently she remembered me as a pain for holding things up. But when I told her the story, then showed her the picture, she had to admit it was worth it! I'm not sure if it really shows on the copy, but if you see the original, I swear he has a really wicked glint in his eye!

Bryan took to the stage briefly, to give a closing speech. The actual closing ceremony was cancelled, as all the guests were busy signing. They'd started at 4 pm, and were continuing, having just taken a half hour break for their tea. So, another con where I didn't get to see the opening and closing ceremonies... another time! And it was for a very good reason. There was a 'history being made' feeling in the air by then.

My second trip back to the hotel, with my autograph collection now complete... I just had to do the 'laying them all out on the bed' thing. Quite a collection, as you can see (and quite a tasteless duvet cover...) In fact I stood on a stool to take the picture. Even though I'd run around like a mad thing the night before, I decided not to dress up in wig etc. I wasn't feeling that well, and I decided to go 'comfortable'. Even so, I think it took me a couple of hours to drag myself back!

My autograph collection

I think it was past 10 o'clock by then, but the guests were still signing. They'd split the line in two: one for people with personal items only, and one for those wanting to buy photos. I guess that was helping with delays caused by stopping at the photo table. I wandered down the walkway at the side of the hall, trying (and failing) to raise the energy for a mad dance on the dance floor. The walkway seemed empty in spite of the autograph queue. The toilets were still flooded. They'd been flooded the whole weekend with pools of water on the floors. But everyone had used them happily (if carefully) guests included.

Refugees from Buffy-dom

Sometime gone 11 I was up near the entrance to stairs to the balcony, when they reached the last numbers. I got my camera out and snapped the closing of the doors. Then they very kindly re-staged it for me since someone choose the wrong moment to walk past the first time... They still had people inside of course, and they let some stragglers in too.. so the photo is a total fake! The actual moment they stopped signing was never actually announced. I think in theory Lolita was doing the PA, but by then she'd gone into 'enjoying the party' mode. Good for her: she did a great job all weekend, so I think she was entitled! (I'd chatted with Lolita earlier, and she was definitely enjoying the party!)

The closing of the autograph queue doors... not

I'd ended up chatting with some of the stewards down by the Green Room. I got handed a bag of crisps with the comment 'here, I'm bored with them'. Turns out they were actually from the Green Room. So, I can now reveal that the guests were eating Walkers cream cheese and chive! Actually, I got given another pack, because it seems they had loads. Maybe that means the guests were not actually eating them… I was told they had sandwiches as well...

Vaughn and friends

The guests were beginning to appear. Vaughn and Rob LaBelle came down, and got a queue of people asking to have their photo taken with them. Vaughn in particular seemed to be loving it. He'd seemed quite normal when I'd talked to him the night before, but he'd now turned into a total flirt! I had my picture taken with both of them, and I couldn't stop giggling with Vaughn, as he held me close and made purring noises and wouldn't stop even when I told him he sounded like a tribble! Rob was being a lot more restrained... I think I told them I thought it was great that they'd been signing so long. Even though I'd been an early number so it made no difference to me, I think it was wonderful!

The dancing was warming up and Vaughn was definitely up for it! He threw himself into the silly actions to various songs with great abandon. Keegan DeLancie was also on the dance floor. I was dancing quite close to him and got literally pushed out of the way by a couple of lads who then hovered behind him for some time. I couldn't hear above the music, but I'd bet the conversation was something along the lines of...

"I can't believe we're this close to him!"

"Talk to him"

"No you...."

"I can't..."

This went on for quite some time before the lads apparently totally lost courage and speedily left the dance floor. I don't think Keegan ever noticed them at all!

I heard that others of the guests: Manu (who played Icheb, and who I have a nasty feeling I saw without realising who he was...), Alice and Tim joined the party by the end of the night, but I didn't see them.

I was once again standing by the walkway at the side of the hall, when I spotted Bob Picardo walking up from the Green Room. He was looking tired, and I wanted to express how great I felt it was that they'd all kept signing so long. I later heard that during the evening he'd been thanking people coming up for autographs for waiting so long. What a great attitude! Anyway, there were people in between, so I shouted 'Bob!' He turned around, looking like he expected yet another flash to go off in his face. I just said well done and gave him a thumbs up sign. He gave me the biggest smile back and walked on.

The evening wore on... I joined the J/C UK group at a table. Nice women! I also got to dance with Terrence the Fish. Seems no one knows why he's their mascot... The lady who bought the bottle was also there, and I was momentarily shocked when I realised there was a signed champagne bottle on the table. Turned out though that she'd got another bottle and got all the guest to sign it to carry on the theme. It was not THE bottle... About half past 1 a couple of them said they were getting a cab, and I said I'd join them. It just came out... I didn't want to leave really, and said so, but at the same time it seemed as good a time to go as any. Maybe I would miss something, or maybe if I'd stayed I'd have just been waiting for nothing more to happen...seeing the event slowly die… I think some part of me was acknowledging that I was actually getting quite ill. We had a nice chat in the cab, and even stood outside their hotel and chatted some more. Then I walked the last couple of hundred yards back to my hotel.

The hall: stage to the left, walkway and the balcony over it at the far side, entrance behind me,  bar and balcony over it to the right...

The weekend wasn't all perfect. People were saying that the heat in the hall was really bad, but honestly after working through a central London heat wave in an office with no air conditioning, the hall at the Norbreck felt quite comfortable to me! I met a couple of American women who felt seating should have been reserved and numbered in the American way (though they did add that maybe that was just them being anally-retentive Americans... I don't think I should comment!) Most of the problems I saw were down to prats with cameras. I told someone off for continuing to take flash photos right through one of Bob's PA's. I also heard someone took a photo of one of the guests as they came out of the toilet. Apparently the guest's language was not nice... It was the main door, not actually a cubicle, but still, they could have used a little more sense (especially since, when you think about it, they must have been waiting for them to come back out!)

On the other hand, they had 3500 people, and only about 6 security people (plus a lot of untrained stewards of course...) I heard none of the stewards encountered any real trouble. I also heard they had 6 wallets lost during the weekend, all of which were returned with contents intact. And of course, though I never saw the headliners there, I can vouch for many of the guests being at the parties, and joining in to the fullest. I think it says something that Keegan, who was after all still a minor, was (as I heard several people put it) 'let loose' on Sunday. I wonder if they phoned Dad for permission? I found all the stewards and staff to be helpful, and the way the guests all pulled out all the stops to get everybody got their autographs was just wonderful.

Looking back, I seemed to have spent much of the weekend walking back and forth and rushing to various sessions. And I still managed to miss loads! Even before Patrick showed up, people were saying it was the best ever... and then they topped it! But I think what really made it was the atmosphere. Something magic happened.

That's it for the Convention report.  There is also another page on my Monday in Blackpool (and maybe something for MY fans...if there is such a thing!), but if you are just interested in the convention, then you probably don't want to bother to read it.

Report index / page 1 / page 2 / page 3 / page 4 / page 5 / page 6 / page 7 / page 8 / page 9 / and... page 10!

This page is part of The Borg Grail. If you have not already done so, please visit the Main Page for news and an introduction to my site.
Site Guide / Consideration is Puerile / The Hall of Innocence / The Hall of Amazons / Reports / Stories / Links / Webrings / News Archive / View Guestbook / Sign Guestbook

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