David McIntee's Redemption'05

Traditionally I don't do con reports, but I suppose I should finally do a Redemption report. Well, a fractured and disjointed what-I-can-remember-while-insomniac one..

THURSDAY

Dangerous weather but a relatively easy trip down. My dad was driving us, since he was going too. He enjoys the genre generally, but isn't a fan as such- since mum died he's been trying out new things and wanted to see what the attraction is. I guess he found out, because he signed up for 07 pretty quickly.

A couple of the other committee members, James and Lisa Harrington, couldn 't make it due to illness (but those of you thanking us should include them), which meant me getting landed with organising reg desk folks and a murder mystery theatrical. More of that later, but for now it meant the Judge Dredd costume wasn't finished. For 07 I'm going to do all my costuming over the coming year, just in case.

Lesley and I hadn't done a con since Red 03, so it was way cool to see everyone again. I'd given Jason Carter my mobile number so he could call me about his arrival time, but it turned out that getting a signal in the hotel was, shall we say, tricky in the extreme. So I sat chating to people while others did the hard work, in order to remain in the one spot where I had a signal. Eventually I heard that he'd arrived at the station- and been turfed out as they close Hinckley station at 5pm!

Once arrived, Jason proceeded to corpse everyone at the buffet - even those of us who know what he's like. Somebody put dad at the same table, which made for a bizarre evening. Later, Ivan and I went round checking out the hotel's security cameras, and I interfered horribly with the layout of the dealers' room. Which was just as well, as Richard Proctor (in charge) discovered they'd set it up wrong. Me being a helpful chap, cue some furniture shifting. By this point I'd put on a black jumpsuit and big boots and web belt. I mean, I couldn't wear the Dredd costume all weekend, or I'd have looked like a fascist the whole time.

Finally, Steve K gave me some prizewinner slips to fill out for the winner of the murder game. Shame I didn't know it was meant to be a winnable game. Despite all this bafflement, I was already enjoying myself hugely. Probably something to do with the mirror on the ceiling. It's the Hotel California.

FRIDAY

I'd hoped to get in the hotel pool and Jacuzzi before breakfast, but didn't. In fact I never made it in there. If it takes me as long as it did at the Ashford, I should get in the pool at Red 09. Jason showed up a little late for breakfast, discovering that by "served until 10" didn't mean they just stopped putting food out then.

Most of the morning was taken up with press ganging reg desk crew, and dealing with hotel stuff, until the first panel, which I was on: How realistic are aliens? Somehow it turned into "we're all screwed because of bird flu and GM plants, and we're all going die horribly and soon." So, a cheery start to the weekend. There was a Lord Of The Rings movie panel as well. I decided to start a Campaign for Real Elves.

Oh yeah, the reg desk. I'm more made for intimidation than meet-and-greet but somehow never scared anyone off despite people constantly telling me that if I was going to invade Poland (it's the black jumpsuit again) the weather forecast wasn't good. Luckily I was too busy helping out Ken Ludden with his computer stuff to invade anywhere.

For the opening ceremony, I had to rush to get the Judge Dredd costume (unfinished due to behind-the scenes committee stuff and frantic chatting to the remnants of the murder game cast) into wearable shape- managed mainly thanks to Melissa and Laurel's safety pins. Before long the Ruler of the Universe (the Doctor) had been assassinated, and his killer arrested by Judge Dredd. Thus were the Rulership contest and murder game begun. Og was so hilarious the result was never in doubt.

Other stuff happened on Friday, but it's all a blur until the Starbuck panel (give me the naked Boomers instead) and Steve K's fab historical swordplay talk last thing. Not a drunk blur either- I didn't actually make it into the bar until Sunday night. (See, and you think it's all fun being on the committee.) Oh, and I got a radio this year. Yay - and it came in handy for the reg desk duties.

A word of advice to those who, like myself, are a bit on the hypoglycaemic side. Eat more than an apple, a Mars Bar and a pot noodle in any given 36-hour period. The effects aren't pleasant. But at Redemption they're worth it, even if it does make the wife want to slap me for not eating properly.

SATURDAY

Off to Somerfield for supplies, where we kept running into Redeemers. Then into the Dredd costume for the murder game. Which I had to write little notes for about two minutes before going in. Script? Plan? Nah. Fortunately the folks who turned up (more than I expected!) took the hints and ran with them, turning the thing into a sort of marvellous live roleplaying session.

After that, into the Neo costume for the stage fighting workshop. It was scheduled opposite Jason, but we had a decent amount of people. Of course, as soon as I walked in, Gary Stratmann shot me with an air soft pellet. Apparently it's safe to shoot me, when anyone else needs safety goggles and stuff. Luckily I got my revenge later, with the aid of an electric-powered P90 on full auto. I could get used to that. It was the normal workshop, with a bit of aikido, a bit of gunplay, a bit of sword stuff - and Steve K joined us as well, which was great, cos he's done stuff that neither Gary nor I have. A bit of the chaos filmmaking also took place then as well.

Following that - to the Zocalo (fun) and the Dealer's room.

The Dealer's room, yes.. The reason I probably won't be eating this month! Picked up some Dr Who stuff (Chris Boucher's new book, and The Juggernauts audio) and then made the mistake of asking Kathy Sands if she had any men's stuff among the ethnic clothing. I was hoping for Chinese/Japanese stuff, but there wasn't any. So, she goes through all the galabeyas and suchlike until it spot this beautiful silvery grey thing with subtle white and black flecks and my mind shouts "Elrond!" And then the dark grey elven cloak that, with the hood up, is dark enough to double for Darth Sidious or Anubis. And the blue turn-of-the-first-millennium cloak with the Celtic pattern. (Judith got one the same except the pattern on hers is grey and mine is brassy/gold.) Lesley calls it the Aragorn cloak, and people tell me it makes them want to pick up a sword and ride on horseback to kick the crap out of people. Well, I suppose it's a slight improvement on invading Poland.

I think I'm going to have "Agent Elrond" as my badge name at 07...

I went to more panels on Saturday and they were fab and groovy, and I have no idea what they were. I also decided to partake of the £5.50 buffet offer, and it was really good. I think that's the first time I've *ever* eaten dinner at a con. This made me a bit late for the book launch, which didn't matter cos I hadn't yet got the copies of the books I was supposed to be launching - so Ken Ludden got to inherit the evening. (A fire at the printers' apparently, resulting in the machinery still not being up to speed. It seems that even burning my books isn't good enough they want to make really sure!).

Then Lesley's Heroes panel, and a change into Goth shirt and black waistcoat with red roses on it for the Vampire evening. Oh, I didn't go the disco - not when there was a rope bondage workshop to be had. Eventually made it back to bed in the wee small hours. to remember that I had to read the writing competition entries. Sleep is for tortoises.

SUNDAY

First there was a killing-off-characters panel (what me? Nah) with Jimbo which therefore was obviously great. The murder game became a sort of discussion panel until someone got the right answer, which I'd written down previously. Off next to a Rangers panel with Jason and Jane Killick. I only really wanted to corpse Jason if humanly possible. Nearly did it.

The second stage fighting session only had four people despite not being scheduled against Jason this time. I'd added a belt holster and shoulder holster to the black jumpsuit, and realised I've maybe been playing Splinter Cell just a little too much lately. Since there were fewer people, we could do more interesting things, and I went through the jitsu-ka eight-cut sword kata, and taeguk poomse 1 with them, as well as letting them actually do stuff with the bokken (since with only four people, there were enough non-pointy things available.

I missed the hustings but managed to make a brief tour as Darth Sidious during the voting. We had a disc of sound files for Rygel's dialogue, but there was no tech in the Rotunda, so he'll have to come back next year to get a word in past Londo. Then a mad dash back for the closing ceremony. If I'd known what Londo was going to do - and the effect of flash photography on the shirt - I'd have fixed up some attributes. The chaos film was the best yet.

I managed to get to dinner again, while Lesley was getting me chasing Red 07 forms.

Sunday evening I finally got into the bar. I think, for all the great stuff that was on at the con, this chance to socialise and catch up with friends (and later cement a new friendship with someone I only knew vaguely) was the absolute best. From the bar to the Rotunda's dead dog party, it was a marvellous blissful night of chat with (among others) Gaspode, Mark, Ruth, Bridget, Laurel, Robin and Vicki, Jimbo, Gary and Linda, Roy, Laurie and SJ, and too many others to remember.

Somewhere in the middle of it Laurie and SJ produced laser-tag guns whose handles give you a shock if you get shot. I'm a very practical sort of warrior, so a pair of gloves seemed reasonable cheat.

Finally, the night ended with . I dunno, but it was special. Cementing friendships and marvellous intelligent discussion. Off to bed 05:10, me and Gaspode last men standing.

MONDAY

It's always horribly sad on leaving day, yet it's an uplifting time of hugs and invitations to visit, and appreciation of the coolest and most wonderful people on this or any other world. Yeah, that's all the folks I've mentioned, and all those who came to the con.

Last minute hotel stuff and payments etc got made. The hotel has made a few mistakes, but every problem that was identified was sorted with lightning speed. You can't ask for more than that. Well, except for a relaxation on the annoying ban on bare feet in the bar and restaurant - annoying for us who prefer to be barefoot (it's healthier, comfier.)

The trip home was quicker with the better weather, and. and almost immediately the emails and con reports started coming in. I'm not sure Redemption is every two years- I think it's an ongoing network that has a biannual general meeting. It'd be a cliché to say the Redeemers are like family but it's largely true. There's no other group of people which contains so many whom I consider sufficiently valued friends that I'd say they're loved ones. For a long time I've run by other emotions but I find as I get older I just love more people. Not in the romantic way but as the most invaluable friends for whom the word "like" isn't enough.

Partly this is down to some sort of Jedi Master thing. Partly it's down to power bringing responsibility. Largely it's down to Lesley being the proverbial great woman behind me. Since she and I met at Redemption, and married at Redemption, I guess I must be getting some redemption.

OK, that turned weird.

Right, now for the thanks and acknowledgements.

• All the committee for obvious reasons.
• Steve K separately from his committee position, for helping out with the stage fighting.
• Harriet Monkhouse, Becky Duty, Ann Thomas, and all the people I didn't see for both the reg desk and murder game assistance.
• Laurie and SJ for reg desk and stuff
• David Curry, Morag Kerr, and all of the folks Lesley recruited for reg desk.
• Martin Baylis, Phillip Berry, and the rest of the murder game folks.
• Gary and Linda Stratmann as usual
• Ivan and Colin, and Richard Proctor, for not getting too upset at my interfering with their jobs.
• Jason Carter for being a fab guest. Mat Irvine for being cool. Jimbo for being. some writer bloke.
• Melissa and Laurel for cat pictures, safety pins and kung fu
• Doug Reay and Louise Burfeet for being way cool, and very good understanding teachers.
• My dad for actually driving us down
• Iain Coleman for not being afraid to put me in my place when I need it (and I sometimes do)
• Kathy and Leo Sands for being great and having great stuff. And the Vader song.
• John Merry for recommending my books to people
• Bridget for being the wonderful Bridget of old- you go, girl!

Gaspode, Rita, Mark, Ruth, Snowgrouse, Dormouse, Carrie, Kelvin, Henry, Jon, and everybody I've forgotten, or didn't know the name of (we don't get pics with the registrations!) or is in the blank space that fills my mind at this hour of the morning.

Jeez, I'm probably last man standing again.