by Nitta
I’ve been chasing her around the halls for two days and finally met her when she was on Watch duty at the Sunday morning booksignings. I wanted to know a bit more about the inflatable kangaroo (as well).
On closer examination she proved to be Sue Weatherwax (some relation of Granny’s, no doubt), and although the kangaroo was not within sight, she had a small white kitten under her pointy hat.
- What is the name of your kangaroo – and which part of Fourecks is he from?
- He’s called Flipper and is from Sydney, like me. It took me 30 hours to get her – but Flipper was not allowed on the plane, so he was smuggled in the country and we arranged a mmeting here, by the Google forum.
- Does he have a special diet?
- Oh, he’s a very light eater – practically lives on air.
Next I wanted to know whether Flipper knew a certain wizard named Rincewind – and he did; moreover, was impressed by his ability to run at high speed.
Talking about future plans Sue mentioned that Flipper would very much like to attend Nullus Anxietas III, the Australian Discworld Convention (to be held in Penrith, NSW, from 8 to 10 April 2011), only it’s difficult to get in live animals. But who knows, he might get in.
Hop over and visit him Down under!
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Monday, 30 August 2010
7 – 4 – 1: Mort. A quick chat with the Chairman
by Nitta
When I asked Brian about when he could give me 5 minutes of his time he flipped through the Convention programme, asked someone not to remove the flipchart paper with the day’s schedules, glanced at his watch and said “yes, about now would be the best time”.
I asked what his second most frequently used phrase was (after “Go to Ops!”). He laughed and said. “It’s all good!”
When I asked whether it was true that the next con was going to be held in a desert to fit in all the fans he laughed again and said 900 was a good number. At the last Con the sign-up closed at 800 members – to this one they consulted Terry whether it was OK to add an extra 100 and he agreed, but this really seems to be the outer limit. It’s not easy to find a space that can accommodate so many people, has adequate-sized halls etc.
When I asked who was to be praised or blamed for selecting the Convention’s theme he answered that allegedly that was the chairman’s privilege but in reality it was a joint decision. They pick a book with a strong central theme and build the con around it. Originally Going Postal was picked (“my 2nd favourite book, and also related to my day job”, says Brian), but then they had several meetings discussing the Con theme and came up with The Fifth Elephant instead which had much clearer themes and elements, and it was easier to structure a Convention around it.
I wanted to know how much time he had for his own life between the Conventions. He laughed again and said it varied – the closer the con, the less time for anything else. As everyone among the organisers does this as a voluntary job, time needs to be structured. In the last month before the opening everything revolves around the Con.
I wanted to know whether he read the Discworld novels in hardback or waited until the paperback editions came out. He said he didn’t rush to the books as before, in his teenage years – and as he’s got a limited shelf space, he preferred the smaller, paperback books.
His favourite character is tied with his favourite book: Mort. He has read it first as a teenager and was very much in it; he liked the idea of the boy who goes and gets offered a job by Death, does all those things, nearly rescues a princess, is at the point of beating Death but realises it would be really lonesome afterwards – to Brian this is an awesome story of growing up. He says what was written in 7 volumes in the Harry Potter series and 4 in the Tiffany Aching novels it’s condensed in 1 novel here.
Brian thinks Mort is a greatly underrated character – and what we all remember is his daughter.
When I asked Brian about when he could give me 5 minutes of his time he flipped through the Convention programme, asked someone not to remove the flipchart paper with the day’s schedules, glanced at his watch and said “yes, about now would be the best time”.
I asked what his second most frequently used phrase was (after “Go to Ops!”). He laughed and said. “It’s all good!”
When I asked whether it was true that the next con was going to be held in a desert to fit in all the fans he laughed again and said 900 was a good number. At the last Con the sign-up closed at 800 members – to this one they consulted Terry whether it was OK to add an extra 100 and he agreed, but this really seems to be the outer limit. It’s not easy to find a space that can accommodate so many people, has adequate-sized halls etc.
When I asked who was to be praised or blamed for selecting the Convention’s theme he answered that allegedly that was the chairman’s privilege but in reality it was a joint decision. They pick a book with a strong central theme and build the con around it. Originally Going Postal was picked (“my 2nd favourite book, and also related to my day job”, says Brian), but then they had several meetings discussing the Con theme and came up with The Fifth Elephant instead which had much clearer themes and elements, and it was easier to structure a Convention around it.
I wanted to know how much time he had for his own life between the Conventions. He laughed again and said it varied – the closer the con, the less time for anything else. As everyone among the organisers does this as a voluntary job, time needs to be structured. In the last month before the opening everything revolves around the Con.
I wanted to know whether he read the Discworld novels in hardback or waited until the paperback editions came out. He said he didn’t rush to the books as before, in his teenage years – and as he’s got a limited shelf space, he preferred the smaller, paperback books.
His favourite character is tied with his favourite book: Mort. He has read it first as a teenager and was very much in it; he liked the idea of the boy who goes and gets offered a job by Death, does all those things, nearly rescues a princess, is at the point of beating Death but realises it would be really lonesome afterwards – to Brian this is an awesome story of growing up. He says what was written in 7 volumes in the Harry Potter series and 4 in the Tiffany Aching novels it’s condensed in 1 novel here.
Brian thinks Mort is a greatly underrated character – and what we all remember is his daughter.
Gods and P.E.
by Nitta
Brighid Hurtubise won the Junior Award at the 2010 Maskerade. I talked to her and her dad Josef while queuing for Sunday’s booksignings.
- How did you find the idea?
- I was thinking about gods – and people who don’t like P.E.
- Are you one of them?
- Yes.
- But she’s never been concussed – says her dad.
Brighid has been a Discworld fan since she’s been 6 or 7 years old (do you remember not being a DW-fan – asks Josef). Brighid is also a veteran conventioneer: she attended the 2008 Convention, and also a New Zealand convention. At the last Maskerade they were the Lancre Royal Family, and she was dressed as Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling of Lancre.
Her favourite Discworld character is Death – because he likes kittens.
Brighid Hurtubise won the Junior Award at the 2010 Maskerade. I talked to her and her dad Josef while queuing for Sunday’s booksignings.
- How did you find the idea?
- I was thinking about gods – and people who don’t like P.E.
- Are you one of them?
- Yes.
- But she’s never been concussed – says her dad.
Brighid has been a Discworld fan since she’s been 6 or 7 years old (do you remember not being a DW-fan – asks Josef). Brighid is also a veteran conventioneer: she attended the 2008 Convention, and also a New Zealand convention. At the last Maskerade they were the Lancre Royal Family, and she was dressed as Esmerelda Margaret Note Spelling of Lancre.
Her favourite Discworld character is Death – because he likes kittens.
The case of the stuck door (The Departure Aria, winners of the Best in Show Award
by Nitta
Jan Uzzell and Min Lacey won the Best in Show Award at the 2010 Maskerade in a dazzling double act, performing the Departure Aria (“Questa maladetta...”) from Maskerade!
I talked to them after the photo call, in a corner of the hall, with conventioneers still coming over to congratulate them and take more pictures.
- It was Jan’s idea – says Min -, she and her music teacher put the character together. We wanted to fit me in as well, and first we thought of a dwarf, then we settled by Walter Plinge.
- The idea came after the last Con – continues Jan – when we saw how much fun the Maskerade was, and we thought: what could we do? We tried to find a minor character and build on that. Because I sing we chose Maskerade as theme, and we were carrying on Terry’s idea: a 17-stone female pretending to be a 17-year-old girl. We wanted the costume to be as over the top as possible.
I asked whether she was a professional singer.
- No, I enjoy singing but I’ll not be a professional. I did singing at school, then I found myself a teacher and now I am a grade 8 singer at the London College of Music.
- Where did you find a fitting music for your act?
- the song was purpose-written by my music teacher who is also a composer on his own right – but he never heard about Terry before, so we had to explain him about the character and the novel.
The pair are both long-time Discworld fans (about 20 years in Min’s and 16 years in Jan’s case); it’s Jan’s 3rd and Min’s 6th Convention. Among Min’s favourite characters are Death, Gaspode, the Librarian – “the standard ones I think” she says. Jan’s favourite is Granny as “she’s so true to form, a beautifully written character, she does everything right”. Oh, and Min was on Mastermind recently, answering Discworld questions.
At this point two fans came up to congratulate them and were discussing the lyrics. They thought the captions held up by Walter were an own translation – whereas they were from the novel, word by word. Jan started to quote the Italian version, and to help her memory she did so singing softly– giving a second encore to the surrounding people.
I asked how they felt about their success. Jan: “It doesn’t feel real yet. I have to phone my husband to tell him about it.”
Jan Uzzell and Min Lacey won the Best in Show Award at the 2010 Maskerade in a dazzling double act, performing the Departure Aria (“Questa maladetta...”) from Maskerade!
I talked to them after the photo call, in a corner of the hall, with conventioneers still coming over to congratulate them and take more pictures.
- It was Jan’s idea – says Min -, she and her music teacher put the character together. We wanted to fit me in as well, and first we thought of a dwarf, then we settled by Walter Plinge.
- The idea came after the last Con – continues Jan – when we saw how much fun the Maskerade was, and we thought: what could we do? We tried to find a minor character and build on that. Because I sing we chose Maskerade as theme, and we were carrying on Terry’s idea: a 17-stone female pretending to be a 17-year-old girl. We wanted the costume to be as over the top as possible.
I asked whether she was a professional singer.
- No, I enjoy singing but I’ll not be a professional. I did singing at school, then I found myself a teacher and now I am a grade 8 singer at the London College of Music.
- Where did you find a fitting music for your act?
- the song was purpose-written by my music teacher who is also a composer on his own right – but he never heard about Terry before, so we had to explain him about the character and the novel.
The pair are both long-time Discworld fans (about 20 years in Min’s and 16 years in Jan’s case); it’s Jan’s 3rd and Min’s 6th Convention. Among Min’s favourite characters are Death, Gaspode, the Librarian – “the standard ones I think” she says. Jan’s favourite is Granny as “she’s so true to form, a beautifully written character, she does everything right”. Oh, and Min was on Mastermind recently, answering Discworld questions.
At this point two fans came up to congratulate them and were discussing the lyrics. They thought the captions held up by Walter were an own translation – whereas they were from the novel, word by word. Jan started to quote the Italian version, and to help her memory she did so singing softly– giving a second encore to the surrounding people.
I asked how they felt about their success. Jan: “It doesn’t feel real yet. I have to phone my husband to tell him about it.”
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Worbelook is in hospital
Jean Guittet (Worbelook) was taken to hospital yesterday with a chest infection. The hospital kept him overnight, and at the time of writing, he was still in hospital.
Worbelook is a French member of the convention, and a frequent poster on the Discworld stamp forum.
Araby has a get-well card that people can sign - see him if you would like to be part of the well-wishing for this member of the convention.
Worbelook is a French member of the convention, and a frequent poster on the Discworld stamp forum.
Araby has a get-well card that people can sign - see him if you would like to be part of the well-wishing for this member of the convention.
Scandal: Granny Weatherwax Sleeps with Lord Vetinari
By Clerk Domino
Yes, the all powerful Tyrant of Ankh-Morpork has been rumoured for many years not to be entirely human and our reporter can confirm that Granny Weatherwax sleeps with a plushy doll of the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork.
As you can see, the attached iconography proves that Weatherwax, highly esteemed Ramtops Witch, sleeps with Lord Vetinari (the identity of the bear under her other arm is not known).
How the disclosure of this shocking relationship between the all powerful Tyrant and the all powerful Witch will affect how Ankh-Morpork citizens view their ruler, we can only speculate. When asked for more details of the relationship the Patrician’s assistant, Drumknott seccy PP, refused to comment.
It is well known that Weatherwax does not give interviews, and as this reporter does not wish to be turned into a frog, I did not press the matter.
Has Weatherwax used headology or witch wisdom on Vetinari? We can only wonder, but Vetinari is the longest serving Patrician of Ankh-Morpork in recent history, what is the secret of his longevity? We look forward to developments.
Granny Shocks!
by Nitta
At the opening ceremony of the Discworld Convention 2010 Mistress Weatherwax was reportedly seen taking a seat in the middle of the ceremony hall, then looking around and taking her hat off (unasked) – revealing a small white kitten underneath. What might she be up to?
Pat Harkins is reporting from the convention
In this day and age, it can come as no surprise that the Chronicle Live is not the only place you can go to read reports on all the things that are going on at the convention. And whenever we find someone, we shall point you to them, so you can read about the con to your heart's content.
One of the people writing about the con is Pat Harkin.. no, not that Pat Harkin, it's his son [QUACK].
At the time of writing, he's posted two items, the fist being a quick report on Terry's cooperation with Stephen Baxter, the second being a non-report of no non-items concerning Discworld films that Pat never heard at a klatch he didn't attend. No interesting rumours there, I'm afraid.
Juicy tidbits of gossip
The Gossipmongering part (Wolffie, with a helping hand from Nitta) of the Honourable Company of Journalists, Clackspersons and Gossipmongers have been out digging up some juicy tidbits of gossip, which we bring here for your reading pleasure.
Interview with Al from the Watch
by Nitta
You remind me of Officer Gotcha from Jamie and the Magic Torch. Where does the idea to wear a helmet* comes from?
- It started about 4 or 5 Cons ago: I signed up for the Watch then. Next time I came up with the squeaky truncheon, and then next time again with a policeman’s helmet. At the 2008 con I had a flashing light fitted on it and then I thought this time I’d come up with something more silly, so I put a siren on it – it’s actually meant for bicycles. It seems to amuse peple – and that’s the main thing.
Which was the firs convention you went to?
- It was about 13 years ago – at that time not all of them were called cons, there were some yearly events as well, more like big camping events. I’ve been doing the Watch for a couple of cons, and when 2 years ago Dónal couldn’t do it I joined in as Commander of the Watch with Gabe.
Who’s your favourite character on the Discworld?
- That’s a tricky one. Probably Archchancellor Ridcully.
And here the interview ended as Terry’s Saturday booksigning began, and the Watch had a lot to do all at once.
You remind me of Officer Gotcha from Jamie and the Magic Torch. Where does the idea to wear a helmet* comes from?
- It started about 4 or 5 Cons ago: I signed up for the Watch then. Next time I came up with the squeaky truncheon, and then next time again with a policeman’s helmet. At the 2008 con I had a flashing light fitted on it and then I thought this time I’d come up with something more silly, so I put a siren on it – it’s actually meant for bicycles. It seems to amuse peple – and that’s the main thing.
Which was the firs convention you went to?
- It was about 13 years ago – at that time not all of them were called cons, there were some yearly events as well, more like big camping events. I’ve been doing the Watch for a couple of cons, and when 2 years ago Dónal couldn’t do it I joined in as Commander of the Watch with Gabe.
Who’s your favourite character on the Discworld?
- That’s a tricky one. Probably Archchancellor Ridcully.
And here the interview ended as Terry’s Saturday booksigning began, and the Watch had a lot to do all at once.
*: Editor's note: Al had, as official watch head-wear acquired a "Bobby" style helmet with a loudspeaker on top, permitting him to sound a divers number of alarums. We were all terribly amused.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Babies at the Con
 |
| Terry posing alongside a junior member of the con. Where the baby came from, we don't know. |
I have never been to a convention for Discworld or any other world for that matter. Neither have 50% of the other attendees. Fifty percent is pretty significant. Why so many newbies? Well I did a little looking around and a fair few of these are in nappies; with one notable exception they don't have hair on their backs. In the under 2 set there is a 16 month old, a 15 month old one who is 4 ½ months old, 3 months and I think the youngest is 5 weeks. So, there are people at the convention who weren't even born when the planning stages were started.
They aren't in fancy costumes but get loads of attention. I doubt many of them have read the books. They seem to be having as much fun as the rest of us though they are managing to have naps.
/Zetty Abbott
Thursday, 4 September 2008
In which Igorina removes her hair...
Hello All,
You may remember me from the con as 'the Igorina with the really long plaits.'
If you don't remember me, "Hi! I'm Essy, the Igorina with the really long plaits."
But I'm going to have to come up with a new costume idea for 2010, since I'm about to shave my head to raise money for Alzheimer's Research Trust.
And you're going to sponsor me.
Yes, you are.
Okay, you're going to recover from all that cash you spent in the dealers' room, then you're going to sponsor me.
Remember the more money you raise, the less silly I will feel in a month's time when I've got no hair!
You can sponsor me online at http://www.justgiving.com/blondiegoesbald secure in the knowledge that your cash is going direct to the charity. (Don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box if you're a UK taxpayer!)
Thanks!
Essy
You may remember me from the con as 'the Igorina with the really long plaits.'
If you don't remember me, "Hi! I'm Essy, the Igorina with the really long plaits."
But I'm going to have to come up with a new costume idea for 2010, since I'm about to shave my head to raise money for Alzheimer's Research Trust.
And you're going to sponsor me.
Yes, you are.
Okay, you're going to recover from all that cash you spent in the dealers' room, then you're going to sponsor me.
Remember the more money you raise, the less silly I will feel in a month's time when I've got no hair!
You can sponsor me online at http://www.justgiving.com/blondiegoesbald secure in the knowledge that your cash is going direct to the charity. (Don't forget to tick the Gift Aid box if you're a UK taxpayer!)
Thanks!
Essy
Monday, 25 August 2008
Death By Chocolate
They always say when there has been a murder it's often a close family member and in the case of the contract taken out on my son, they are right. At the age of seven, my now 14 year old son developed a serious allergy to Chocolate. On that occasion he was rushed in to hospital because he had stopped breathing and so has avoided chocolate ever since. This gave me the perfect way to facilitate his demise at the hands of the Assassin's Guild. The reason - he's a 14 year old boy, I think that's reason enough. So after managing to lose my son, I made my secret rendevous with a beautiful young female assassin by the name of Tabby. We plotted and planned and decided that the pre-gala cocktails would be the perfect opportunity for her to slip my son some "chocolate laced" fruit pastilles (having cleared it with Ops and the MOC of course).
As the time drew closer, my excitement grew. Sitting at the table I watched as Tabby passed her tray of goodies to other people around us, then she offered one to my son and he popped one in his mouth. "Are you Mashus Altorus?" she asked. "You have just been assassinated". I would gladly have paid double the 2 Million AMD that it had cost me to see the thrill on his face as he realised it was me that had taken out the contract! I handed him the death's head ring I had bought him to commemorate the day of his death and we thanked Tabby for her wonderful service as she read out his contract.
Shortly after this we were sitting enjoying our dessert at the Gala dinner, when it was pointed out to my son that the base of the mousse he was eating looked a little too dark to be plain sponge. Had the assassins struck for real this time? The waitress was called over and asked. She callled the head waitress, who went to speak to the chef. Sure enough, the sponge contained the fatal cocoa and my son was over half way through it. Yet he was still breathing. It would seem that to a certain extent my son's terrible allergy has lessened. Was the assassination both kill and cure? He is still breathing now, and we shall be doing some further controlled tests, and if he has outgrown this allergy, he will always remember the day he found out.
Mashus then went on to have an official photo taken with his young assassin and has her Facebook details - I think he plans to haunt her!
Pam Martin
As the time drew closer, my excitement grew. Sitting at the table I watched as Tabby passed her tray of goodies to other people around us, then she offered one to my son and he popped one in his mouth. "Are you Mashus Altorus?" she asked. "You have just been assassinated". I would gladly have paid double the 2 Million AMD that it had cost me to see the thrill on his face as he realised it was me that had taken out the contract! I handed him the death's head ring I had bought him to commemorate the day of his death and we thanked Tabby for her wonderful service as she read out his contract.
Shortly after this we were sitting enjoying our dessert at the Gala dinner, when it was pointed out to my son that the base of the mousse he was eating looked a little too dark to be plain sponge. Had the assassins struck for real this time? The waitress was called over and asked. She callled the head waitress, who went to speak to the chef. Sure enough, the sponge contained the fatal cocoa and my son was over half way through it. Yet he was still breathing. It would seem that to a certain extent my son's terrible allergy has lessened. Was the assassination both kill and cure? He is still breathing now, and we shall be doing some further controlled tests, and if he has outgrown this allergy, he will always remember the day he found out.
Mashus then went on to have an official photo taken with his young assassin and has her Facebook details - I think he plans to haunt her!
Pam Martin
Bri Tze - Deja Vu
As people may remember, at the 2006 Convention, Brian D took to the stage in Maskerade as Bri Tze (to thunderous applause). What people now know, is that he was pounced on afterwards by the nascent 2008 Committee to be the poster boy for the next Convention.Some may also remember that he received a special place in a Kaffee Klatch with Terry at the 2006 DWCon because he'd arranged some major surgery to happen after the Con!
Well, this is the History Monks' convention (where it's all about time), but it does seem rather "quantum" that history has repeated itself.
After one of Bri's routine checkups, the tests came back as positive that the cancer had returned. There followed weeks of more tests, some sounding positively painful (Reporter's Note - although Bri does assure me that they weren't as bad as they sounded). With results in hand, his consultant recommended more surgery and Bri agreed, adding that it MUST NOT HAPPEN between 21/08/08 or 26/08/08.
Everything was set ready for the operation on Wednesday 13th August. Bri turned up only to be told that they were unable to do the operation as his medication should have been stopped and had nobody told him so!! (The History Monks strike again!). Needless to say, the offer of a date over the Con was refused and his new date was set for 03/09/08.
So, luckily for us, Bri was able to attend DWCon 2008 and took part in the Opening Ceremony, reprising his role as Lu Tze, and leading the Monks in Saffron to save the ceremony.
He's enjoying himself so far (Reporter's Note -I caught up with him on Saturday). The Opening Ceremony was a lot of fun to do and he enjoyed the extended reading at Terry's Bedtime Story. He summed up Nation as "an allegory on how people should get along".
One of the best things that has happened to him so far though this year was the birth of his grand-daughter Charly (his lady Beth's 1st grandchild) - although the Con comes close!
Ssirienna of the Conjuror, Thespians, & Associated Trades' Guild
Photo: Robert "Otto" Flach
Staying Up Late at the Discworld Convention
I was assured at the bar when ordering my umpteenth pint of scrumpy that it is tradition for a representative few to still be in the bar when the sun comes up the next morning.
Well, not being one to shrink in the face of a challenge, I joined the general hubbub of Discworld regulars and novices alike, as a sing-along began. The best (and of course the worst) of British folk, British and American pop and rock classics, Disney originals, blues, jazz and songs from the musicals, were aired and destroyed, until in the wee small hours of what was no longer Saturday night but had become Sunday morning we even resorted to opera.
Well, not being one to shrink in the face of a challenge, I joined the general hubbub of Discworld regulars and novices alike, as a sing-along began. The best (and of course the worst) of British folk, British and American pop and rock classics, Disney originals, blues, jazz and songs from the musicals, were aired and destroyed, until in the wee small hours of what was no longer Saturday night but had become Sunday morning we even resorted to opera.
Everyone joined in: young and old, the tuneful and the not so; vampires, seamstresses, witches; writer and readers alike. Then as each musician abandoned us to their dreams, the music or instruments changed until there was no instrument at all, the didgeridoo was removed by security, and there were only a small selection of musical books for inspiration.
But by then we had already sung all we could reasonably recall, and had sung or drunk away most of the tunefulness of our voices, so the evening turned to bad jokes badly told. And as the
jokes became steadily worse the sun came up and the tradition was fulfilled.
I can happily report that there were definitely people still awake from the night before when the morning after breakfast goers were arriving downstairs. In the spirit of accurate reporting, I was there to make sure of it. I was of course absent from much of the next day's scheduled events as a result but the convention is not all about the events - as wonderful as they are. We have to remember, as well, that we are part of an important community, and that this convention is an opportunity to meet not only the writer we all know and love, but also his other disciples from places far and wide, from all walks of life, and to experience the new friendship opportunities all around us.
Here's to the Discworld convention, and all who sail in her.
Sarah Ganderton
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