Badgerguy

Well, I refuse to be drawn in beyond saying that those who know me, I trust enough to simply leave them to draw their own conclusions.  My conscience is clear.

After having been at RBW this weekend, it’s probably a good idea to make a bit of a report on how it went.
If you’re looking for a short version – it was superb, they totally turned things around, you should go next year!

And yes, there will indeed be a next year!  This year was really make-or-break time for RBW, as it was fair to say last year didn’t go well at all.  We’ll not dwell too much on the negatives of that now, as I think it’s best that RBW 2008 be allowed to fade away, and we can all concentrate on this year’s success.

That being said, it’s important to note the improvements that have actually led to it all coming together this year.
Firstly – planning and execution is now 100% sorted.  The final schedule was very close to the preliminary one, offering a considerably more meaty set of activities – and they all actually happened! No events were dropped – everything was delivered.

The hotel was actually nice, with accommodating staff!  Contrast this to the Royal National which is a dump that treated us as a nuisance!  The hotel convention floor has good space for socialising.  There was a slight mixup which resulted in the bar not being open straight away on day one – but this was quickly sorted (particularly when the hotel realised the money they were missing out on!) 

My only advice for next year would be for the staff to work out a way of getting more tables and chairs laid out around the bar to provide maximum space for people to sit and chat – getting people together in that area should prove cosier and friendlier than using the seating in the main stage hall.

Of course, the boat party was a success – but this has always been the ace up their sleeve, everyone always seems to enjoy this, and with a shorter journey to get to the pier due to the proximity of the hotel, and a fairly short wait to get onto the boat, things couldn’t have been better.

Other than that, I could only offer minor feedback at the obligatory ‘feedback session’ – a few scheduling suggestions etc, that sort of thing.  This is a reflection of how far things have come, and how much better things really are.  The ship has now been officially steadied, and the staff can now work on repeating, and hopefully bettering their success next year.

Of course, there will still be plenty of naysayers – I don’t doubt for one second that past experiences, old drama-wounds (and people taking sides over it), and just shear pig-headedness (no pun intended!) will still cause some people to scoff at RBW – but I don’t think I’m blowing my own trumpet too loudly to claim that I don’t operate from the position of any particular bias, and believe that it’s safe to declare that in RBW we can now claim to have two great conventions in the UK, both of which are well worth attending.  This should be something that everyone in the UK fur community should support and celebrate.

As with Confuzzled 2010, I plan to do more at RBW next year, possibly including hosting a room party, and staying an extra night to allow me to attend the dead-dog, and generally take my time more.

Next up of course here in the UK is Confuzzled, and I hope to see you there!

Well, this will make the conservatives happy http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8333192.stm

The nightmare possibility of a 'President Blair' could well be over almost as quickly as it began. It also now looks like this was a rather obvious conclusion, would any EU country support a Brit for President? Clearly no, they don't trust us.

RBW tomorrow.

Leaning toward taking the train.  Herein lies the problem of a convention in London, even though it may not be in ‘zone 1’ – it’s still deep enough in that travelling by car could be painful – not to mention expensive, parking alone is a costly looking proposition.

So, train then – with the rather annoying issue that it means having to leave before the dead dog party on Sunday.

This kinda defeats one of the big advantages of having a convention in your own country.  When I’ve been to Confuzzled, on both occasions I took my car – meaning I could just throw anything I could possibly want in, including things that I’ve been happy to issue for convention use (such as putting my large pedestal fan in the Fursuit lounge).

Now, I appreciate this only applies to those people who actually have a car – but using a car significantly opens up the freedom of what you can bring along when you travel places – but if that ‘place’ is London, many car users are put off.

Tis a problem to decide – but one I’ll try to decide tonight, as getting tickets booked will be far more advantageous over buying on the day.

Already starting to think about what US convention to do next year.

I had wanted to do MFF this year – but uncertainty at home (primarily being down by one housemate and still not having a ‘replacement’) means it’s been more sensible to save money ‘just in case’.

I’d decided not to do FC again next year, as having done it three years in a row, it seems like a good idea to give something else a try, and go somewhere else in the US.

So, it seems like Megaplex, AC, MFF(2010) are all worth considering (although if I wait until MFF 2010, that’s a long wait until my next US convention) – any other suggestions? :)

Not watched the whole thing yet, only the first 20 minutes or so. He certainly didn't seem to be putting himself accross cery well, strugglig as he did with questions on the holocaust.

I intend to watch the rest of it, but it seems clear that nothing he has to say can hide the fact that he is a racist leader of a racist (and homophobic) party.

Bravo to the BBC though for having the courage to do this. Whilst his views maybe abhorrent, it should never be down to any media group to control free speech - people can make up their own minds. If the anti facist protestors feel the need to 'storm the gates' then they clearly don't have much faith in the British people.