Rant: I hate people who don't read properly

*sigh*

I've been working all night on the pictures I took at the Scottish Ball and when I had the 'ling ones uploaded I posted a message saying so on IRC. People kept complaining that there were no Sabbat or C/A pics, although I had clearly stated that only 'ling pics were up.
Then they gave me names either in the main channel or by PM, although I had specifically asked for emails.
And all this from people I always thought of being sensible...

You know me. I always post on lists when I have pics up. What is the point in asking if there are pics before I have done so?

Besides, I have a daytime job and a Cam job, and it's not a quick task to collect, order, edit and upload 120+ pictures.
Next project, which I'll do tomorrow night, is Berk 'ling pics. I'll announce it on the ling-OOC list when I have done so.
So, no asking until then, OK?

You will have to wait even longer for Gossip party pics, as these will go out privately first for sanctioning. There are quite a big number of pics I won't be able to put on the net for various reasons and I will most likely press CDs.
Note: this will take even longer. First, I'll collect names of who wants them and then I'll let people know when they're done. Price depends on delivery: by hand probably 50p, for mail order however much it costs for jiffy bags and postage. I need to check my CDR first, anyway, so this might be some time. I will let you know.

Rant over. Thank you for your understanding.

The Scottish Ball - Friday

Slept a little longer than I intended due to being on IRC for too long, so I couldn't go to Ely to try and find some props for my Tremere.
Had a nice breakfast instead and drove off to Stansted in time, check in, have lunch at the seafood bar thing, and off the plane goes, on time, which is rare for Ryanair, to Glasgow. We even arrive 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Wait ages for my luggage and finally drag my exceedingly heavy bag (must buy suitcase with rollers) to the station and just see the train departing as I walk through the overpass, so I have to wait for the next one for about 45 minutes in a cold hall.
The Cambridge posse pick me up from the station and help carry my stuff (Thanks, Paul!) to the hotel. Paul and Jason had booked a room where we drop our stuff and head off to register. Our Oz Pack idea for Sabbat is approved and they don't even want to see our character sheets. We show them to Lewis, anyway, and he's fine with them. Cool man, that Lewis, by the way ;o)

As I walk around, I realise I know fewer people there than I did at ICC which worries me a bit but is just proof for how remote Scotland is... ;o)
The bar is more expensive than Cambridge, though :o( I get some take-away pasta from across the road and change for Sabbat. The horrible wig I bought at the Wardrobe proves to be perfect for the Cowardly Lion *grin*.
Our Oz Pack consists of Robin as Dorothy - Tzimisce, Christi as the Wicked Witch - Lasombra, Craig as Toto - City Gangrel, Jason as the Munchkin, Duncan as Scarecrow - Malk Antitribu, Paul as Tin Man and me as the Cowardly Lion - Bruja Antitribu. Robin with pigtails, lipsticks, a gingham skirt and red/gold paper pasted to his boots looks hilarious, especially in Horrid Form and Christi looks great in dark red corset, scar and eye patch. We later raid, pillage and rape an ostrich farm and its inhabitants (Ostrich World will never be the same), and that's all I'm saying. It's our first Sabbat LARP game, and we find it a bit difficult to get into it, it's enjoyable nonetheless. Jason's Munchkin, of all characters, manages to diablerize an Assamite. AFAIK, the only successful diablerie attempt that night.
The costume awards go to Ginnie, Christi and Robin.

Then, it's off to Kevin's/Cathy's for crashing. Taking a taxi is considered a bad idea as the queue is about a hundred yards long, so we head to the bus stop, taking some late night dinner at a fast food joint. Just as the bus is about to arrive, Andy Connell calls as he was left behind by Keef, so Cathy goes to guide him to the bus stop. The bus arrives, we can't see Cathy or Andy, and the queue is too long for us to get in with all our bags, so we don't get on. Still no Cathy, so we go back to the fast food place to sit down. It turns out, Cathy and Andy are on the bus and we're not. Oh well, we've got to wait for another hour. The bus arrives, we get on and take the ride stuffed between loads of people. Fortunately, it's not that far to Kevin's flat and we finally collapse. Body count there: Kevin, Cathy, Christi, Rikk, Andy, Robin and myself.
I can't find my mobile, calling it reveals no Imperial March. Bugger, must have lost it.
After we can finally convince Rikk to switch off TNG, we crash out with more or less success. Robin is felling trees intermittently, Andy farts, Rikk utters strange noises but it's not that bad.

The Scottish Ball - Saturday

We are brutally woken up by Kevin who needs to go to the 'ling ST meeting, so we head back to the hotel by train after some nice and cold water in the face.
Meet Vicky, Paul and Duncan at the station and have breakfast. Then off to Paul's room to change for Changeling.
There are some nice costumes and Krys' strokey dress. Too bad she was playing a Childling ;o)
It's a reasonable game which turns quite dramatic in the end and the Nockers need to be prevented from saving the world by burning down the Freehold again. There is a still unresolved scene, so I won't get into details here.

Then, back to Paul's room to change into Tremere costume. I feel a bit odd at first but soon get used to it. The Clan Meeting gets gatecrashed by CheeseOfDoom[TM] but no major harm is done. I head over to the Pasta place afterwards and get some lovely Penne a l'arrabiata. I already felt naked without my cane... ;o)

When back, Paul tells me that somebody had found my phone, so I call it and agree with the finder that he's going to mail it to me. He calls a couple of hours later and even brings it to the hotel. Phew! Well, it shows that there are some decent people left in the world, after all...

The C/A game is a rather quiet affair with mostly social interaction and some interesting announcements. I found it actually rather easy to get into my new character, who is a lot different from my other characters. I think the - for me - rather severe costume helped. I just need to finish it off with my own cane and a pocket watch. Some fancy cufflinks are on order, I hope they arrive before the Tremere only game.

Head back to Paul's room to change yet again and pack all our stuff to go to the Gossip party. There's again a huge queue for taxis so we wait for Chris to chaffeur us to Keef's in groups. Kudos to that man!

I even find a place to sit on the corner of the bed where Lorraine (sp?), Keef's girlfriend, is sleeping like a baby. Bags of sugar products, bars of chocolate and bottles of alcohol are passed around (my bottle of Amarula was basically empty after the first round) and everybody is having a great time.
There are actually three groups: the hardcore gossipers/revelers in Keefs bedroom, the philosophers and those with morals (apparently, as if we hadn't any) in the hall and the people actually wanting to sleep in Doug's bedroom. This is all I'm going to say in that matter, as I've been sworn to secrecy. ;o)

The Scottish Ball - Sunday

When Christi vacates the bed, I lie down for a bit, not actually really sleeping but being able to put my aching legs up and being semi-conscious for a while. Tea is brewed and choc biscuits are consumed for breakfast (Thanks Rhona!) and everybody is just relaxing. Calls are made and people are leaving one by one. I stay behind with the locals to go to the Mage game in the afternoon.

Have late lunch at the Mage venue and RP a bit, estranging the others with my antisocial and shy SoE. I took a lot of digging to finally get him to talk about the gathering in the US (the only UK Mage there, and it's one who can't speak in public without shutting himself in ;o). Dave Williams, Matty Bawn and Dave Keyes are there as well, Matty wanders off and doesn't come back (got lost searching for ProPlus). Shame we didn't have time to do the Mongolian restaurant...

Cathy, Kevin, Doug and Jamie accompany me to the station and make sure I end up in the right train to Prestwick. A couple of hugs and firm handshakes later, I'm off. I don't even have to pay on the train as it reaches Prestwick before the conductor could reach me. ;o)

Arrive at airport far too early (2 hours before departure my arse, the check in didn't open until an hour before), so I sid around and write this diary so I can actually remember it all as well as an IC report of the C/A game. Head to departures and pass through the check with no probs, buy some dark huge Toblerone, get myself a cup of coffee (I've got to drive home, after all) and finish the diary. They announce the flight to arrive 15 minutes late. Well, not too bad, considering that a flight scheduled for 19:10 was delayed to 23:45...

The plane actually departs on time and even arrives 10 minutes early. I half sleep through most if it.
I have to wait for my bag forever, at least 20 minutes and the whole weekend really starts taking its toll. I can barely carry my bags around. Off to the bus stop, wait another 15 minutes for the bus to the car park. Put some Blues on loud and head off home, making the stretch in good time and I'm home just before 12.

Despite my best intentions, I do get on IRC being surprisingly awake. People are starting to hassle me for photos already (see other post). I don't get off until 2, so I have only six hours of sleep til work on Monday.

Well, that was it, a very enjoyable weekend and one of the best I've had, right after the Changeling National and ICC. Looking forward to the next one.

And, especially to our hosts Cathy, Kevin, Keef and Doug, if you ever have the opportunity to come down for the Cambridge weekender, please do so, you are all welcome to game and party with us. Or even if it's just for a party, like Robin's RHPS one on the 24th.

Questionnaire

1. What time is it: 12:10
2. Name as it appears on your birth certificate: Andreas Gerald Beck
3. Nickname: Ozzy
4. Parent's names: Volkmar and Erika
5. Number of candles that appeared on your last birthday cake: 14, I think
6. Occupation: translator
7. Pets: a purple Cthulhu sitting on my monitor, the spider in my left wing mirror
8. Height: 5'8"
9. Eye color: grey/green
10. Hair color: dark brown
11. Piercings: Never
12. Tattoos: Never
13. How much do you love your job? That much (holds thumb and forfinger 5 mm apart)
14. Birthplace: Selb, Germany
15. Hometown: Selb
16. Current residence: Cambridge, UK
17. Been in love before? Yes
18. Been to Africa? Nope
19. Been toilet-papering? Nope.
20. Loved someone so much it made you cry? Yup.
21. Been in a car crash? Yes, two minor ones
22. 2-door, 4-doors on car? three
23. Coffee or Coffee ice cream? COFFEE!!
24. Dumper or Dumpee? I wish
25. Salad dressing? cream and herbs
26. Color of socks? Black
27. Favorite number? 7
28. Place to be kissed? neck
29. Quote from a movie? "Move or you're dead" - "I'm dead and I move" (The Crow)
30. Favorite Holiday? Ireland
31. Favorite foods: Italian, Chinese, Greek
32. Favorite day of the week: Saturday
33. Song at the moment: AirCon: The Whirring
34. TV Show: X-Files, TNG, First season of LEXX, Twin Peaks
35. Favorite toothpaste: Colgate
36. Flower: Roses
37. Least favorite thing: intolerance
38. Sport to watch: none really, maybe downhill skiing in winter
39. Fast Food Place: KFC
40. When was your last hospital moment? visiting my granny in summer
41. Favorite drink: St Georgen Kellerbier (a dark, cloudy, German beer)
42. What color is your bedroom carpet? muddled brown
43. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero
44. What do you think of Ouija boards? A toy that can be dangerous (not because of what it does but what certain people believe it does)
45. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Home in Germany, sharing a nice flat with a caring partner (yeah, right)
46. Who is the last person that you got e-mail from? the MMN
47. Favorite store to max out your credit card at? Amazon, but I don't max out my card on general principle.
48. Favorite Movies? The Crow, Blade Runner, StarWars, Interview with the Vampire, Fight Club, The Matrix
49. What words or phrases do you overuse? Not sure..., somebody else judge that.
50. Name the person that you are friends with that lives furthest away? An ex-colleague in Melbourne, Oz
51. Best thing: happiness, being with friends
52. Bedtime: between midnight and 2 am
53. What is the meaning of life?: Existence
54. What is the meaning of cheese? There is no Cheese here, move along..
55. Dream vacation? A tour through the US on the old Route 66 in a red '69 Mustang
56. Any phobias? no, there are very few things that can truly frighten me
57. Dance or don't Dance? Dance
58. Dream place to retire: Summer: Ireland, Winter: Hollywood Hills
59. Cremated or buried?: Cremated and scattered as widely across the world as possible
60. A city or country you'd like to visit?: Japan
61. Any siblings?: No
62. Do you own a car? Yes
63. Ever try karoake? No
64. Favorite color? Blue
65. What time is it now? 12:25