Tea with... sweetener, these days.

For my fellow freeformers, I went to a workshop last night that was a bit like an audition! It was with The Killing Game, who run commercial murder mystery's based around a dinner that the punters are having. Scenes are built into the meal and then you eat as you're asked questions. I'm sure we all know the type of thing.

They had us each read a character sheet (very like a freeform character) and then they came round each small group in turn and asked us questions, as though they were the punters, and we acted in character, and with each other, hopefully impressively.

It was quite fun, in a I-do-this-all-the-time sort of a way. My group had six of us, two chaps, four girls. The two chaps were both very good - and so was one of the girls. But we had a mad Eastern European lady with us, who fell off her chair, and a very shy girl, who really did her best but was barely audible. Still - better for the rest of us to shine, I suppose! Must get used to this cutthroat business :)

Anyway. I don't hold out a lot of hope because there were about 50 people there, and they won't want that many actors, I'm sure, but it was still quite entertaining. if anyone else is interested there are other workshops in other areas, here.

Or...

Merry Christmas! XXX

*hugs all round*

Goodness, that was a strange experience. I’ve never laughed at Chekhov before! It was really fun, really entertaining. Hysterical in places. That must be Tom Stoppard’s new adaptation – roll on more adaptations from him. Apparently Chekhov makes them die laughing in Russia, and up to now translations haven’t managed to convey the humour. Who would have thought! I thoroughly recommend this production, as you might imagine, it being Ken Branagh. But also for the comedy. Wow, that feels odd.

( Spoilers for the play )

EDIT: Nearly forgot to say! I also had a random encounter at Ivanov. In the interval, I ended up eating my icecream right next to Michael Caine! I must say, everyone was very professional and no-one bothered him, which I thought was lovely.

I finally did it, I've changed from nickey b - I've only had that naming token hanging around for about a year! :) And I think I'm happy with it, I rolled it around in my head for about a week and didn't get fed up with it, which is a good sign. And it fits. So many people have been asking the question lately, it ony seems fair to put up the answer!

In other news - it's week zero, and I'm knackered. OTOH last weekend was spent with many fine people with whom I do not spend enough time, the week before that it was Alex and Ana's wedding do, and the week before that I was at Dragon*Con in the States. Perhaps I'm allowed to feel knackered...

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all those various lovely peeps who kindly gave me Amazon gift certificates for my birthday! I know it was back in June, but I've been umming and ahhing as to what to buy. I finally decided! My camera is a bit poo, so I have treated myself to a shiny new top of the line job, a Panasonic Lumix DNC-TZ5. It's got the zoom I want in a nice compact body, which means future gig photos and such should be *astronomically* better, I hope :)

Thank you very much, everybody!

Just a quick post to announce that my dear old boy, Ops, has passed away.

He'd been acting strangely for days and wasn't eating much, and wouldn't stay in the house, which is most unlike him, so I can't say that it came as a huge shock, and yet it did, somehow.

My neighbour found him this morning and kept him for me, and I've just taken him to the vets. I did look in the box before I left, and I'm glad I did, because he looked really peaceful, which I suppose I wasn't expecting. He was curled up in that way that cats do when they've just had a good stretch, and are now about to have a good sleep. The vet said that she thought it had been really sudden. He was under some trees, when he was found.

He was 16, so he's had a good life, I hope, and was the most friendly cat in the world. All my neighbours have said how much they'll miss him. My neighbour on the other side's kid, Joel, even said a little prayer, which I wasn't expecting.

RIP Opsy, I'll miss you. A lot.

EDIT: I want thank everyone for their kind words, but I don't think I'm up to answering them all individually, I'm afraid. I do appreciate them though, I know he's a cat, and not a person, but he was my family, and it means a lot.

Last night I was at the filming of the Friday Night Project with guest host Elijah Wood. I was armed with a question but despite some frantic waving I didn’t get picked to ask mine. OTOH I think I’m at least a bit visible at one point as the girl in the row in front of me got to ask her question – I will have famous knees!! :)

It was good fun – and we had Kellie Osbourne as our surprise guest. Sir Ian McKellen asks a video question, and the hobbits from the LotR musical as well. Dom got talked about, and Billy got name-checked too, so me and matildabj were happy!

The night before I joined killalla at her staff outing, and I was introduced to Japanese omelettes, and we saw Dirty Dancing. It was an excellent spectacle, although odd – it’s billed as a musical, but there’s hardly any singing, just music and dance routines. And everyone’s anticipating the last five minutes the whole way through (‘No-one puts Baby in a corner!’) – it gives a great deal of unexpected tension.

Off to Peaky soon (writing freeforms weekend) and I'm exhausted before I get there! Luckily - I have Monday off. Yay!

A lot of my LotR friends are still reading on this journal, I think, so I'm putting this here! :) They're interested in any fans that can speak Elvish too - does anyone know any one who can?

CALLING ALL LORD OF THE RINGS FANS!

We are now looking for someone to take centre stage on The Friday Night Project and go head to head with Elijah Wood in a quiz to see who knows the most about Lord of the Rings.

The person must be a super fan, and ideally do more than just your average fan. For example, we want a fan who organises conventions in their spare time, or holds LOTR parties, or dresses up as a Hobbit, or has named their children after a Tolkien character!

The fan will be on stage with Elijah and take part in one round of quick fire questions, with the first to three winning.

It is a hugely fun show, and this quiz is meant to be some light hearted fun - nothing too serious and nothing scary!

If you think that you are this fan, or that you know of someone who is this fan, then please get back in touch to me ASAP. Filming is this Thursday evening in Central London.

It will be great fun, starring a fan with Elijah himself, but you must be the biggest fan possible! So let me know if you think you're that person!

Thank you.
James Emtage
james.emtage@princesstv.com

I've got a problem really. How do you describe an incredibly hectic busy and fun four days in one convenient entry? With difficulty. I think I'll just have to mention highlights :)

( Martha's arse and other heroisms )

So that was my Eastercon. Of course, there was tons more - Mitch Benn on Sunday night was fabulous, so funny, and I had other panels, and there was catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. Wobblevision on Saturday night - nearly the last one, at least for B7. Helping out on reg desk, killing my fingers in take-down. There was so much. It was fabulous, but I've said that.

Next Eastercon I'm going to, I suspect that I'll be helping to run it, which means probably missing more. So I'm going to enjoy these memories. gaspode accused me of being a SMOF today - I don't think he's right, but I liked the illusion. Maybe one day :)

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! Sorry, you guys! If it's any consolation I've been a bit more active over on the fannish journal. Anyways.

Mainly I wanted to share the sadness over the passing of one of the greats - Arthur C. Clarke. He wasn't my favourite Golden Age writer, but he always made me think, more than I wanted to at times. Thank you for that.

And on a similar note I wanted to point out the appeal started by Pat Cadigan over on her blog, since Terry Pratchett's announcement of his illnes, and more particularly his recent generous donation to the Altzheimer's Research Trust. It's here:

Match It for Pratchett