Meme-Free Zone

I haven't been especially good about blogging from the Worldcon, but there hasn't really been a lot to say - lots of queuing, though the rest of the con was better than Friday because they got various people to keep the queues under control a bit - didn't always get to see my first choice, but there was enough variety that I almost always found something of interest. Enjoyed myself enough that I think it was worthwhile, and I'll probably go to another Euro Worldcon if it happens.

So, a little earlier than I really needed to, I left Trinity College this morning and headed home. The journey was OK - plane was delayed about 25 minutes but otherwise OK, and I didn't get soaked at any stage; in fact it's now fairly sunny in London.

I didn't use nearly as much cash as expected - didn't spend a lot in the book room or go out for any hugely extravagant meals, and had access to a kitchenette at the college - I ate a Tesco chicken jalfrezi ready-meal one evening, a Subway meal another, and had cheaper options at the local burger place etc. Even failed in my one attempt to buy someone a drink, because someone intercepted me to chat as we walked into the bar and by the time I turned around Charlie had disappeared. Also walked every day and didn't use public transport apart from the airport bus.

As a result I've come home with just over 200 Euros. My feeling on this is that unless I particularly need the money (or it looks like something horrible is happening to the Euro) I'll leave them as Euros for now, because the pound will probably drop a fair bit before I need Euros again. Am I being sensible here, or should I rush back and change them for patriotic British plastic?

I took a few touristy photos, mostly of the Liffey etc., and will post the best of them to Flickr tonight. I'll add a link when they're up.

Later - photos are here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150868539@N02/albums/72157710449772506

Breakfast was good - lots of the usual choices and reasonably well cooked - on a student cafeteria setup. Plenty of mushrooms, bacon, black pudding, scrambled eggs etc., continental options, etc., so a definite plus.

The route to the convention centre turns out to be dead simple - head east on the campus to the north pedestrian gate, keep going east then north to the Liffey, cross it on a nice footbridge, then go east again to the centre. You can see the centre as soon as you get to the Liffey so it's hard to get lost! About a half hour at my snails pace, at least ten minutes of that on the campus getting to the right gate. Hopefully I'll get a bit faster now I know the way.

Registration was FAST, about three minutes queuing then a quick ID check and they print out the badge and you're in. Probably longer for program participants etc. This was about the same time as Helsinki, which makes me wonder again how London 2012 screwed up so badly, with queue times well over an hour. Hopefully any future UK con is taking notes....

The programme seems to be in adequately sized rooms so far, but I've only been to two panels, neither featuring George R.R. Martin. Early days, of course.

More as the con progresses.