Continuum for me was mostly about chocolate and friends. And thneeds. I have to admit, some of the friends are a bit tired of me saying "I have a need. A need for thneed" and have resorted to dire looks.
When I tried to check out the trading area I didn't get as far as actually looking at anything. People asked me "How was the chocolate tour?" I wondered how everyone knew - even people who knew me not. They had read Trudi's blog. I would blame her except she gave me the thneed and I still have a need for that thneed. It is the most wonderful garment and I adore it. Knitters adore it too. Grace Dugan made me undress in the foyer so she could examine it. My modesty was preserved by a layer of clothes. I had to say that last, because Mum has taken to reading my blog. So no rude jokes, please. Besides, Grace had a very successful booklaunch and deserves not to be embroiled in bad jokes. I am really looking forward to reading this book.
Anyhow, Trudi and I met before the Con and started with a liquid lunch of hot chocolate and chocolate fondue. We took a gentle walk to David Jones before we ventured on more chocolate as dessert. I bought a ton of couverture for historical experiments.
I went to a heap of panels, and they ranged from the sublime to the gorblimey. At one end there was one where I nearly wept over historical misinterpretation, but I think I really shouldn't name the perpetrators. There was another (which I was on) where a panellist walked out, telling us "See you in the bar."
The sublime was Margo Lanagan and Lucy Sussex. Sane and funny and full of insights. Lucy and Jane Routley and I had a coffee in Young and Jackson's one morning, just so that I could say I have been there. When I was a Melbourne girl, the only part of Y&J open to me was the Ladies' Lounge and so I refused to enter. Jane and Trudi and Emma and I took off that afternoon to taste gelati covered in Belgian chocolate. I did lots of ducking out to spend time with interesting people. At one stage I sat on stairs with Margo and a young man who has the good taste to want to study things Medieval. See, I didn't eat *all* the time. Truly.
Charlie Stross was one of those interesting people, though I didn't manage a complete and sensible conversation. It was all his fault. The first time I saw him, he used the word 'spiffing' and so I kept trying to provoke it again. He said lots of fascinating things, but I was lost to it all because I kept on listening for Biggles-speak. Sorry, Charlie. I will behave if you get out here again. Promise.
Charlie had one of the best retorts on any panel (I didn't write down so many comments this time - I kept being so very diverted by friends).
Richard Harland asked "Windows - the ultimate evil?"
Charlie answered, "No. Windows is the penultimate evil. Windows into what?"
Continuum was perfect for me because I was developing flu: my brain was not in gear as everyone in the Superheroes panel realised at a certain point - they were very polite when I lost it and I appreciate it. There was a kind of underground atmosphere, with conversations placed against other conversations until they echoed round every room.
I was a bit surprised by how many people remembered me. Bruce Gillespie continued the conversation we started last year sometime as if no time had intervened. I got to lounge around, overeat, talk heaps and generally unwind with the Blackfords, Richard Harland, Chris Barnes, Cat Sparks and lots of other wondrous souls. Trudi and Paul and Emma more than everyone else though. We share a sense of humour, I suspect. I also suspect that our mutual friends should be worried about this.
I haven't mentioned everyone I chatted with or given you panel details or told you I missed half the things I had intended to go to (eg the Cock launch and the Conflux announcement) because by Sunday I was definitely worse for wear. And now I have fullblown aches and pains. My body is a viral zone. But it was worth it. Continuum was an immense amount of fun.
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