Last two days of the con

Because I really need to catch up.

The scheduled events for the day ended with the Hugo Awards.  It's Worldcon.  Many cons have panels, masquerades, Guest of honour speeches,  and parties, but only the Worldcon has the Hugo Awards.  It seems silly not to attend the ceremony.  My main impression seems to be of an interesting experience rather than excitement. 

Many people dressed up very nicely.  Men in tuxedos, or in some cases, period costume, ladies in posh frocks.  It's a serious award ceremony, and high profile in SF publishing.  As such there's something of an air of respectability to it. 

The ceremony started with the Traditional Australian start of ceremonies ("I'd like to thank the ancestors...").  Awards were given.  Speeches were made.  Most were short.  Some people got quite emotional.  I was pleased to see Girl Genius win an award.  Slightly surprised Doctor Who won since Epitaph 1 was really good, but I suspect the large Australian presence (50% of attendees, and abut a third of eligible voters) and the fact that DW is actually shown over here, was a factor. 

I would have been surprised had anything other than Windup Girl or The City and The City won best novel.  I'm sure everyone was surprised when it turned out that there was a tie between them. 

Met jeanieofoz  and her friend Emma who was absolutely lovely.  JeanieofOz had to disappear but Emma was happy to accompany me to the parties.  Emma is an absolutely adorable sweet and also extremely affectionate girl:)  We had a lovely time together and later I felt guilty about worrying JeanieOfOz by returning her a little late...  Alas Emma wouldn't fit in my luggage and I wouldn't fit in hers.

So that was Sunday.  Monday was a quiet affair.  I was a little tired.  Went to a couple of panels.  Helped with teardown.  Last panel was on the Beschdel Test.  Sadly the panellists had to cancel.  We figured that just because there was no panel there was no reason not to still do the panel and it worked nicely enough as a round table. In fact it's what I think the last panel item should be like.

Closing ceremony ended with the traditional handover to the next Worldcon (Renovation 2011).  I have to say, the chair of Renovation did a fantastic job of selling that one. 

So that was that.  There was officially no Dead Dog party.  There was a helper's party that I went along to.  Caught up with Emma again.  Eventually found the unofficial dead dog party.  Always a shame when a con comes to an end.

Fitzroy and Brunswick

What  lovely part of Melbourne.  Arrived in time for lunch.  Found a really nice coffee shop where I was hard-sold a cup of coffee and a cake (I know I claimed to be fairly resistant to this sort of thing but it's a lot easier when I actually want a cup of coffee and a cake).

Checked back through emails to find out where the veggie restaurant was that ghostpaw had recommended.  Found the place.  It looked a little closed.  Then I realised that was actually next door, and the closed bit was just an annex or something. 

Sat down at a large table, and chatted to another single person because she had cameras.  Actual proper film cameras that take film!!!  One of them had a polaroid film alternative back, which was really awesome.  We chatted about comic books and Doctor Who and where the cool places were.  Seems my geekdar still works.

I had the world's biggest ever falafel wrap.  I had no idea where to start.  Seriously there was enough food on that to feed me for a week.  Took various photos around the town.  Found a second hand bookshop that had a very old and somewhat foxed Official Star Trek magazine in a basket outside, and a lovely selection of books including one abut 2 decades of Doctor Who, one about cyberspace and art, and another about Picasso. 

So that was a pleasant place to wander.  I guess I could have spent longer there and explored more thoroughly rather than just looking at shops but that was pretty cool. 

I did have plans to eat with one of the people I met at the con but she cancelled last minute.  In hindsight that wasn't really a problem.  I really am exhausted.  A quick bite and retiring to my room to relax and read and watch telly was probably the best thing for me.