Back from Brum

[karohemd]

A good weekend, all in all.

Managed to get almost eight hours sleep on Friday, picked up vierkilau from the station, faced horrid winds and rain on the A14 and feared for the worst. Thankfully, the weather cleared up by the time we got to the A1. Had to wait for jonnyargles to get home but leaving later would have meant horrid traffic in Cambridge. Then, slow traffic on the A14 due to two accidents but plain sailing on the M6. Confusion in Brum as the directions didn't comply with reality but we found our cheap hotel in the end. More problems with the automatic check-in thing but got it sorted eventually.
Set off to the venue and found it without much problem, although we had been looking for a manor house type thing rather than a brick church hall...
Walked to a nearby pub, first in the backroom which gave off the typical "local pub for local people feeling" but the front bit was better and also populated by Cammies. Paid under 7 quid for a rump steak with pepper sauce and a pint of Tetleys...
The size of the venue was adequate, though and a had a reasonable amount of extra rooms. Smoking was allowed throughout which was probably welcomed by the smokers but not by others (including me). Then again, it most likely helped people staying IC more.
Said Hi and hugged far too many people to list here and took a few pics at Sabbat but left early to go clubbing.

Took suave_steve into city centre who was kind enough to direct me to New St. Parked and went to The Gallows but as there wasn't anyone we knew went on to Eddies. Was still quite empty so we went upstairs and I chatted to rotkopf for quite a while and got a copy of the new Grendel album from her (Thank you!). Had a look downstairs later and got there just in time or a set of Faith No More, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, so that was good. Found out I can still dance to Rock. ;o)
Went back upstairs to Voltage as other people had arrived and had a good time listening and dancing to Clive's superb set. He even played some proper Noise at the end and Soulless earlier. Whoo!
Back to hotel afterrwards and pretty much fell asleep straight away.

Got up, had cheap breakfast and off to the venue again. Got briefed for NPCing Mage and played a guard on the Technoc ship first (who survived), and a generic guard later (who was horrbily slaughtered but not before doing at least some damage). Was quite an enjoyable game although the venue wasn't really suited for that (one of those laser quest/paintball places would have been cool).
Changing, walking a bit to find cash, more chatting to people I hadn't seen in ages, interesting Tremere meeting and then C/A game. Rather quiet for me but the trials were rather amusing and interesting. dreamingchristi shone as both Bliss Carraway/Justicar Markov, just as most people gave their best.
It wasn't as much YoF related as I had feared so another good bit. I guess the rest of the campaign could become very interesting, especially as Xav/Mr Black are no more...

Back to hotel, watched TV for a bit (Harry Hill first and then the start of the very dire Quicksilver Highway. That was so bad I had to switch off)
Got up at 8 due to jonnyargles setting the alarm wrong, had breakfast at McD (ew) and had plain sailing on the way to P'boro and home.

Have downloaded 106 photos but won't start til later as I need some more rest, I think.

Comments

[sesquipedality.livejournal.com]

*blush* Thank you.

And yes, that little twist was as much of a surprise to me as to everyone else. I didn't know until I turned up and was briefed by Torley.