One of life's pilgrims

Had a very pleasant evening - left work a bit early, popped into London, met Sarah (very briefly) and avonette, to whom I gave a slashzine which is useful research for her PhD and also contains much B7-related slashy goodness. We had a bite to eat at Pizza Hut on Piccadilly Circus before retiring to her place for drinks and more slash chat and watching B7 vids on Youtube. 'Twas a bit of a mini-slashbash, and great fun.

avonette mentioned the Festival of Venice, which a.) put me in mind of Rondo Veneziano (and I managed to dig up the vid for La Serenissima on Youtube, which was rather joyous as I've not seen it since...ooh, about 1983); and b.) reminded me of the fact that Venice is one of Those Places that I'd love to take Sarah to (that's "take her to" as opposed to just "go to with her") - others include Prague for Christmas markets and a Welsh Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium.

One day.

Speaking of Sarah, her back problems have flared up rather nastily - prayers and general good vibes would be highly appreciated.

I got home from avonette's rather late last night, and am now knackered. Despite that, the plan for tonight is: driving lesson after work, then to mum's for fish and chips, and then out to a quiz at the local grammar school. Looking forward to that. Less looking forward to not seeing the last episode of Torchwood as it goes out. I mean, yes, Tim and I'll be taping it, and probably watching it as soon as we get home, but it's not the same.

And I gather there's something to look forward to on the tellybox tomorrow evening. Can't think what... *g*

David.

Well, I'm having a seriously cheerful time at EasterCon so far, although (like Easter People) there's the rather ridiculous scenario of having a couple of hours when there's nothing I fancy doing, followed by one slot where there are three really interesting panels that clash.

blazingskies, multiclassgeek, and wildfyre are all around, as are several other folks who I recognise but don't know their LJ names. As for that matter is manmela, a friend of Tim's. And entorien who was selling her books. Oh, and elfinessy, whose Knight Rider fic Sarah likes, and who has been running a few panels/events (including last night's Slash panel, followed by the Blake's 7 drinking game, which was huge fun - I don't know exactly what being inebriated feels like, but there comes a point when I'm so physically and emotionally drained but high on life that I'm sure it must be close...certainly surrounded by that many drunken Blake's 7 fans last night was a great feeling). Staying up until the wee small hours chatting with Becky and Misha was also enjoyable, although getting back to my hotel at 3:00am wasn't. Although it wasn't far to walk (five minutes) I decided I was so tired that I'd get a cab. £9:00. Not making that mistake again...

I've spent rather more money on books than I ought, including Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys on the very good grounds that he recommended it as a good book of his to start on. Also he signed my copy of Good Omens and Don't Panic, and Richard (bruv-in-law)'s copy of Good Omens.

Just been in a "religion and SF" panel. One panellist made the rather interesting remark that religion occurs because people are a.) afraid of what happens when they die and b.) want answers to questions - reference was made to the God of the gaps notion, and how fewer and smaller gaps has led to a decline in religion. Trouble is...I don't see either of those really applying to my own Christian-ish beliefs, and I'm not sure they apply to the beliefs of the people I know, and I sort of wonder how much truth there is in them.

Although as it is, I don't really like the word "religion" because it seems too much like a pejorative even when it's not meant as one, and I don't like to describe myself as religious, just as Christian. And not always that - these days I think I'd just say that I'm someone trying to find out what it means, in the 21st century, to be a disciple of Jesus and how to apply that to my 24/7 life.

Anyway, all things considered, I'm enjoying this convention immensely, and am planning on making it to next year's EasterCon in Bradford.

Also feeling a bit mithered by the absence of Easter People this year, and hoping to make it to ECG next year.

Food last night included a bus ride to Hounslow where I ate at Nando's. There's also a KFC and a McDonald's there which I might go to tomorrow and/or Monday. Not sure what I'll do today, as I'm not desperately hungry yet and I had a chicken burger at the Radisson for lunch. But I probably ought to have some kind of evening meal. I might go next door to the McDonald's. Sorry, Sarah...

I'm definitely definitely going to write. I want to finish a novel-length book by my 40th birthday. My main project is the NoNaNoWriMo project that started out as A Spaceman Came Travelling and stalled a bit when I came back from Thailand. Right now, I'm taking the characters I was using from that, and working on a set of short stories featuring them but set before ASCT. It's sort of Young Adults general sci-fi fantasy. I may end up using my Insanejournal as a writing journal and setting up a filter on that for anyone who'd like to a.) read what I write and b.) offer me intelligent critiques. If anyone's interested, let me know.

This entry has been rather longer than intended, and I still haven't done all the diary-ish stuff I've been meaning to lately. Just to point out (see gratuitous userpic) that Sarah was v v happy with the rugby result last Saturday. Is this stating the blindingly obvious??!

David.