So that was Basingstoke
May. 21st, 2023 09:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dizzojayI heard about Basingstoke Comic Con about three months ago, and I was intrigued by it. Not only was it a new convention, but Basingstoke (or Blazingsmoke as Mr D calls it) is a relatively unglamorous medium-sized town about 20 miles away from my home. Mr D used to be Duty Manager at the railway station there, so I'm pretty familiar with it.
Then, shortly afterward Jeffrey Dean Morgan was announced for the con, and it was suddenly a no-brainer for me!
So yesterday, I hit the road about 7am for the 30 minute drive to Basingstoke. I parked up in the allotted parking about a five-minute walk from the venue, and headed over on foot.
One thing I love about conventions is meeting new people, and this one was no exception. I found myself walking across from the car park to the venue with a Youtuber and a third generation gravedigger!!!
amberdreams was already at the venue, and our two other non-LJ friends, Chris and Natalie were on their way.
After registering and meeting up for a chat and a drink, we made our way into the queue for JDM's photo. The queue moved fairly quickly, and we were all remarking how well-organised things seemed to be.
In the photo, JDM was a delight. I was wearing a 'family don't end with blood' T shirt and he took a moment to stand back and read it. So I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has closely examined and admired my chest, and I wouldn't be lying!!!!
He pulled me into a lovely squishy hug and I just enjoyed the moment - and the heady scent of his leather jacket! I think my photo perfectly sums up my mood at the time!
Later in the day, we joined the queue for JDM's autograph, and I think it's fair to say that at this point everything went a bit downhill. Who am I kidding? It descended into absolute chaos!amberdreams and I both had JDM VIP tickets and In the never ending queue for his autograph we were told our tickets gave us preferential queuing, then they didn't, then they did, then everyone just gave up trying to figure it out. We were put into a fast-track VIP queue, then we didn't move for half an hour. The queue had started to look like something Crowley would be responsible for!
Chris, Natalie,amberdreams and I were in the queue for three hours. Whilst queuing, I did manage to get Jake Abel's autograph at last. I drew his portrait about seven years ago for a convention at which he had to cancel, and I've waited to get his auto ever since!
I eventually got JDM's autograph and he was, as expected very attentive and gracious. I think the poor man was as exhausted as we all were!
By the time we had finally got through the JDM autograph queue, things were running over two hours late, and so I reluctantly had to bail on JDM's panel because Mr D is away and I'd left the bunnies shut in their pen. I knew if I went into the panel I'd only be sitting there fretting about them and I wouldn't have enjoyed the experience, and to be honest I was starting to feel a little unwell. My back, legs and feet were aching like a bitch after that long wait, and also, I'd gone most of the day without any substantial food and only two cups of coffee, so I was feeling a little bit headachey and 'swimmy'.
I got home and the bunnies were fine (although giving me the stink eye), and so I fed and fussed them and then I just glugged a glass of water and made myself a big old plate of cheesy beans on toast! I followed that up with a long hot soak in the tub!
In terms of the event, hope we all get the opportunity to give some feedback because if this were to become a regular event, I'd like to continue going because it's so very convenient for me, however I'd like to think they'd learn from the fiasco that we experienced yesterday.
Anyhow, all that said, it was lovely to catch up with great friends again, and of course, meet the SPN fandom's favourite silver fox!
Then, shortly afterward Jeffrey Dean Morgan was announced for the con, and it was suddenly a no-brainer for me!
So yesterday, I hit the road about 7am for the 30 minute drive to Basingstoke. I parked up in the allotted parking about a five-minute walk from the venue, and headed over on foot.
One thing I love about conventions is meeting new people, and this one was no exception. I found myself walking across from the car park to the venue with a Youtuber and a third generation gravedigger!!!
After registering and meeting up for a chat and a drink, we made our way into the queue for JDM's photo. The queue moved fairly quickly, and we were all remarking how well-organised things seemed to be.
In the photo, JDM was a delight. I was wearing a 'family don't end with blood' T shirt and he took a moment to stand back and read it. So I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that Jeffrey Dean Morgan has closely examined and admired my chest, and I wouldn't be lying!!!!
He pulled me into a lovely squishy hug and I just enjoyed the moment - and the heady scent of his leather jacket! I think my photo perfectly sums up my mood at the time!
Later in the day, we joined the queue for JDM's autograph, and I think it's fair to say that at this point everything went a bit downhill. Who am I kidding? It descended into absolute chaos!
Chris, Natalie,
I eventually got JDM's autograph and he was, as expected very attentive and gracious. I think the poor man was as exhausted as we all were!
By the time we had finally got through the JDM autograph queue, things were running over two hours late, and so I reluctantly had to bail on JDM's panel because Mr D is away and I'd left the bunnies shut in their pen. I knew if I went into the panel I'd only be sitting there fretting about them and I wouldn't have enjoyed the experience, and to be honest I was starting to feel a little unwell. My back, legs and feet were aching like a bitch after that long wait, and also, I'd gone most of the day without any substantial food and only two cups of coffee, so I was feeling a little bit headachey and 'swimmy'.
I got home and the bunnies were fine (although giving me the stink eye), and so I fed and fussed them and then I just glugged a glass of water and made myself a big old plate of cheesy beans on toast! I followed that up with a long hot soak in the tub!
In terms of the event, hope we all get the opportunity to give some feedback because if this were to become a regular event, I'd like to continue going because it's so very convenient for me, however I'd like to think they'd learn from the fiasco that we experienced yesterday.
Anyhow, all that said, it was lovely to catch up with great friends again, and of course, meet the SPN fandom's favourite silver fox!
no subject
Date: 2023-05-22 06:50 am (UTC)A long soak in the tub sounds like a great end to your day though!
no subject
Date: 2023-05-22 12:12 pm (UTC)