Conflux - The not a trip report report
May. 1st, 2013 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysSo as is my way I’ll do the bullet point thing for Conflux 9. Not in any particular order nor complete nor necessarily about what was most important.
Nine book launch events for the launching of twelve books in total. Too many? I never thought I’d say it, but yes, a few too many. There was a fair bit of launch fatigue going on. The space allocated for it may have contributed. On the other hand the books launched at Conflux were certainly a promising lot. I look forward to reading them.
Lots of sitting around talking for me at this con. That is what I always hope for, so big plus there. A good number of those discussions were over meals. Even bigger plus there. Which isn’t to say the programme was weak – far from it. A good convention caters to all sorts of con goers. Of course this con had a big writers focus – duh – it was a Conflux after all.
On the subject of meals, I don’t remember a con where I ate both so regularly and so well. All with a minimum of junk food. Oh and let’s not forget a historically accurate Regency feast.
I do have to say, my pain threshold for Regency dancing is very low. It isn’t an issue that has ever came up before. You live and learn – on the other hand my pain threshold for watching any form of dancing is very low so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Good venue. There was lots of lounging around space which was good. Even more use could have been made of that space. Nice also that when the con information says that the local shopping area is only 10 minutes walk away that it really only takes that long.
I may well have got the best room location I have ever had at a con. Close to the action, but a short stair journey separate so with a little barrier for quietness when needed.
Sydney airport is the hellmouth. I have said this many times. It isn’t just the size and complexity and the failing machines and the crowds – other airports have them too. There are other intangibles that just seem to make it a place of gloom. But this time, I flew Air NZ/Virgin for the first time since they started their partnership. Virgin has new international/domestic transfer areas. When I stepped into these (both journey directions), suddenly the gloom lifted. It was brighter and the staff actually smiled and were actually helpful. What a revelation. It also helps that this is the first time I have travelled to Canberra when at least one leg hasn’t been cancelled or redirected.
I attended the natcon business session for a while. There is an amount of amusement that can be gained from attending such a meeting when you are not invested in it. But I did hit my limit after a while.
17 books. That is all I bought. Slightly below average for me at an Aussie con, but not by much. Sixteen of those books by Aussie authors – the seventeenth by the same author as the book I was reading on the plane on the way across (which I bought at the previous Continuum natcon) Coincidence – not even a bit.
Did you know Croatia has a population of about 4 million (i.e. the same as NZ) and gets 1300 people to their national convention? Locals need to know this stuff.
Did you know that Eurocon next year is right after Worldcon – I’d forgotten that. I find it very interesting from a GUFF point of view.
More to come - maybe. Got to work out where to show a GUFF delegate around.
Nine book launch events for the launching of twelve books in total. Too many? I never thought I’d say it, but yes, a few too many. There was a fair bit of launch fatigue going on. The space allocated for it may have contributed. On the other hand the books launched at Conflux were certainly a promising lot. I look forward to reading them.
Lots of sitting around talking for me at this con. That is what I always hope for, so big plus there. A good number of those discussions were over meals. Even bigger plus there. Which isn’t to say the programme was weak – far from it. A good convention caters to all sorts of con goers. Of course this con had a big writers focus – duh – it was a Conflux after all.
On the subject of meals, I don’t remember a con where I ate both so regularly and so well. All with a minimum of junk food. Oh and let’s not forget a historically accurate Regency feast.
I do have to say, my pain threshold for Regency dancing is very low. It isn’t an issue that has ever came up before. You live and learn – on the other hand my pain threshold for watching any form of dancing is very low so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Good venue. There was lots of lounging around space which was good. Even more use could have been made of that space. Nice also that when the con information says that the local shopping area is only 10 minutes walk away that it really only takes that long.
I may well have got the best room location I have ever had at a con. Close to the action, but a short stair journey separate so with a little barrier for quietness when needed.
Sydney airport is the hellmouth. I have said this many times. It isn’t just the size and complexity and the failing machines and the crowds – other airports have them too. There are other intangibles that just seem to make it a place of gloom. But this time, I flew Air NZ/Virgin for the first time since they started their partnership. Virgin has new international/domestic transfer areas. When I stepped into these (both journey directions), suddenly the gloom lifted. It was brighter and the staff actually smiled and were actually helpful. What a revelation. It also helps that this is the first time I have travelled to Canberra when at least one leg hasn’t been cancelled or redirected.
I attended the natcon business session for a while. There is an amount of amusement that can be gained from attending such a meeting when you are not invested in it. But I did hit my limit after a while.
17 books. That is all I bought. Slightly below average for me at an Aussie con, but not by much. Sixteen of those books by Aussie authors – the seventeenth by the same author as the book I was reading on the plane on the way across (which I bought at the previous Continuum natcon) Coincidence – not even a bit.
Did you know Croatia has a population of about 4 million (i.e. the same as NZ) and gets 1300 people to their national convention? Locals need to know this stuff.
Did you know that Eurocon next year is right after Worldcon – I’d forgotten that. I find it very interesting from a GUFF point of view.
More to come - maybe. Got to work out where to show a GUFF delegate around.