I love Bruce Gillespie to bits and I’m so proud to have been there to have seen him win this prestigious award.  And what a cool award it was – a small telescope all brass and wood.  Bruce (whose not reading this because he’s not entirely sure how this LJ thing is meant to work, but anyway…) WE LOVE YOU!

Danny winning the Silver Swan

I’ve already said is about a bazillion times, but it was a bit freaky for Danny to win a Silver Swan at my first ever Swancon.  Simply put, if it wasn’t for Danny and his passion for all things fannish, I would never had gone to any con, let alone Swancon.  And I bet there are others who can relate a similar story.

Sharing a room with Mitch

Yeah, it got a bit gay at times, but sharing a room with Mitch was a laugh.  Our room at the Hotel Northbridge was both the best room EVAH – with its huge space and its comfy beds – and bizarre – with it’s bathroom, which wasn’t actually a bathroom but a few sliding curtains that didn’t reach the floor (and just about covered our rude bits).  We’d spend a good half hour after each room party dissecting the day’s play, and mostly giggling at our own little in-jokes.  Most nights, it was a miracle if we were asleep before 4:00 in the morning.  Mitch is honestly the greatest room mate that a bespectacled 30 something Jewish man with glasses and a penchant for snoring like someone being tickled lightly with a feather could ever likely want or need.

Saturday with Janice and Stephen and Perry

We had a great chat on the Saturday, especially Janice and I discussing all things Jewish while Stephen rolled his eyes.  And Perry was a laugh as well.

The room party experience

It’s through the room party experience that I got to know people like:

• Cat – who never ever seemed to stop taking photos and who always captured my less geeky side.  And she won a Ditmar as well.  Cat, it was really fantastic to get to know you better.  You’re just wonderful.
• Alex – who let us all abuse her room.  It was brilliant when on the last night she got up on her chair at about 2 in the morning and told everyone, in the politest way, to piss off.  It sounds horrible, but honestly without Alex and her room and her endless patience, the con would have been a less fun place to be.  Oh, and she won a Ditmar as well
• Kathryn – who was just so sweet and funny and a brilliant interpreter when I couldn’t hear a conversation properly.  And she won a Ditmar as well.
• Dirk – A man who knows far too much about urine.  Yeah… you really had to be there.  And guess what… he won a Ditmar
• Ben – Who I only really got to know toward the end of the convention, which is a shame.  Together with Alisa and Tansy and Alex (and am I missing someone) Ben read over 2,000 short stories last year, and yet somehow remained sane.  Well… sane’s probably over-exagerating it a little, but he was coherent enough for me to appreciate his dry sense of humour.  Congrats on your Ditmar mate.
• Sean – The cutest thing ever was Sean falling asleep in his room – at about 2 in the morning on the Friday night – while Mitch was telling him a story.  And I’m proud to be the owner of Magic Dirt which is Sean’s new anthology from Ticonderoga Press (Hi Russell!!!!)  And he also won… was it a Tin Duck.  I get confused.

As you can see, I only spent my time with award winners.

Planet Book

Also known as catching up with Robin and his wife Tula (did I spell that right?).  Robin, you’re a class act.  And you work in the best book shop ever.  I could have spent at least a year or so in Planet Book browsing.

Meeting Nick

He looks like Michael Chiklis, he sounds like Russell Crowe and he rides a motorbike.  Could there be anyone cooler than Nick?   From the moment we first met there was that instant spark.  He knew precisely how to insult me and how to make it hurt and how to reduce me to tears.  And he did that for 5 straight days.  Somehow, in amongst the insults, the tears and talks about banning Lycra from all future Swancons, Nick and I became friends.  Not particularly good friends, I mean, I never want to see him again, but still friends.  Oh, and I can’t forget Amanda – who is so much more nicer and funnier and prettier than Nick.  I’m sorry I didn’t vote for you.  Will you ever forgive me?!?!

Getting to know Alisa

I’ve said it on her LJ and I’ll say it here – Alisa is the best thing to come out of WA other than my wife.  Not only did she win about 19 Ditmars, but as was pointed out by Mitch, she did it with poise and decorum.  Meeting Alisa and you immediately realise that she’s the sort of person who can make things happen and will change the face of Australia spec fic publishing.  I was inspired by Alisa, and now have an urge to become more involved in the community, whether it be writing  fiction or reviews or generally supporting the work out there.  Her passion is really addictive.

You should all buy hers and Ben’s book, 2012, (the link takes you to the As If website) which showcases some fine Aussie writers and which I’ll be reading shortly. 

Matt and Andy

Oh, and I nearly forgot Matt (Choofa) and Andy.  Matt was just the coolest guy ever and Andy was all stress prior to delivering his academic speech.  But once he did, Andy the party man came out.  Mate, I’m so proud of you that you’re back in the academic game.

Rob

Great bloke, close friend, a man who endeared himself to everyone who met him at the convention (including one very scared waiter at the Hotel Northbridge).  It was a privilege to launch his magnificent book Tiny Deaths which sold out at the convention.  And it was a laugh doing the Dalek commentary with him as well.  Spending time with Rob made me realise how much I’m really, really, really going to miss him.  I’d say more, but… I’d rather be a bit manly and not get too soppy.  And he knows anyway.