When I went to LoneStarCon, a couple of the people I was hanging out with took off one of the days to travel to Houston to visit Johnson Space Center. Wow, thought I, I wish I had thought of that! (NB: I didn’t ask to tag along, if you’re wondering, because I A: didn’t know them that well and didn’t want to impose (go being Canadian!) and B: I actually had plans that day anyway.)
A Kettle in action on the ELR, Sept 2012
This did get me thinking. I am going to LonCon and ShamroKon in the summer, and there are a few definite things that I like to do when I’m in England (can’t say for Ireland, as I’ve never been): Travel by kettle, take in a show, and drink a few pints amongst other things. In Dublin I think I’m going to go with the flow of the con, but during my stay in London, I have plans…
- On the Saturday of the con, I’m going to RailEx, which is in Ripley, believe it or not. That’s a six-hour round trip, but it should be a heck of a day out, and I’ll still be back in time for evening fun.
- The Tuesday I arrive, or perhaps the Tuesday after, if I’m too jet-lagged, I intend on seeing Perfect Nonsense, a play based on P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster. Sadly, according to the website, Stephen Mangan and Patrick MacFayden will only be performing until April. I will go regardless.
- Thursday I’d like to catch a taping of either of the BBC Radio 4 comedies “The Now Show” or “The News Quiz”, which ever is on. Hopefully they aren’t both on summer hiatus. I understand it’s quite difficult to score tickets to this, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. (NB: I tried last time I was in London with no success.)
Now, that’s all fine and dandy, and I think I’ll have a well-rounded, jolly old time this summer. And it got me thinking: I intend to go to WorldCons from now on, and I spent a goodly amount of time last night thinking about what I would do during the other WorldCons. Here’s what I came up with:
Spokane 2015:
Um, actually, I don’t know. I originally figured I’d be able to see a Spokane Chiefs game, but their pre-season usually only starts the week before Labour Day, and that’s too late. My other plan was to bring the whole family, as we had been debating going to Lake Louise in 2015 already, and it’s not that far. My sweet vetoed eighty hours in the Berry Bus, though, so I’m going to have to rethink this one…
Kansas City 2016:
- Go to a Royals game, of course. This is a thing I do. Heck, I’ve even seen the A’s play in Oakland, and I was the only one there (or so it felt). I already worked out how to get to the stadium from the Convention Centre. It’s not pretty.
- Walk across the border into Kansas City, Kansas. Walk back, say, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
- Considering going to Dodge City, but it’s a heck of a drive.
Beijing 2016:
Yes, they have a bid! Do touristy type stuff, I guess. This one is a tough sell for me, to be honest, mostly because it’s a Croatia year, and I wouldn’t want to go all the way to China and just stay there for a week. Great Wall! Forbidden City! Shanghai! Hong Kong! We love the Yangtze, Yangtze Kiang! Flowing from… Anyway, you get the point. I’d want to spend a month, and I don’t have a month to spend. I guess I’ll go to NaSFiC if they win. Sniff. Unless I’m miraculously up for a Hugo, then wild horses etc etc.
Montreal 2017:
Two words: Old Dublin. And visit my Mum, I guess…
Helsinki 2017:
No idea, but it’ll be awesome! Wooo! This is definitely a trip where I’d like to bring the family, and hang out for a week or so post-con.
Japan 2017:
Hit all the places I didn’t manage to see last time I went. This would also be a multi-week, but at least it’s not a Croatia year. Two words: On-Sen. I guess that’s actually one. Maybe not. Eat as much curry rice and okonomiyaki as I can handle.
Washington DC 2017:
Visit the Smithsonian museums that I haven’t hit yet.
Ya, that’s about as far as I got. If you have any ideas, for things I can do or see on those quieter moments (especially for Sasquan!), let me know ;).