convention report

> About the convention: Charlie and I are just back from England and I don't feel I can do a proper
> convention report at this hour due to fatigue. I do, however, want to
> say that this was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life.
> The convention was far better than I had ever dreamed it would be. As
> you know from Marc's report, Charlie and I had a "close encounter" with
> Ed Bishop, Ken Turner, Alan Perry, Gabrielle Drake and Gerry Anderson at
> lunchtime. I sincerely apologize for not attending the shadoegroup
> picture session but what was I to do!!!!????!!!! I was truly speechless
> for nearly an hour with ed bishop sitting so close to me. As my
> husband could tell you, anything that could make ME speechless has to be
> truly amazing hehehe I kept thinking that he was going to have to leave
> soon to go upstairs so I had better make some effort to tell him about
> my admiration for his work but I found I was unable to communicate. I
> was stunned like a deer in headlights...and I knew I would hate myself
> for missing the opportunity of a lifetime. With the help of a wonderful
> gentleman named Dave Watkin (who was sitting ever so close to ed) we
> managed to start a conversation which I will write about tomorrow.
> (I'll leave you with a a cliffhanger) Ed bishop was truly the humble,
> intelligent, charming gentleman that I had heard he was. My husband
> Charlie really enjoyed chatting with him and will help me with the
> details of the conversation tomorrow. You see I was there but I seem to
> recall little except thinking over and over again "oh my god ed bishop
> is sitting across from me". Luckily we had a second opportunity to chat
> with ed in the hotel lobby the next day since he was very generous with
> his time and obviously made an effort to make himself available to his
> fans. I was more relaxed during that conversation but now I feel a need
> to kill another fan of ed's named Lorraine ( just kidding of course but
> that is a story for another time).
>
> For now I will close by saying that meeting marc martin was also a true
> pleasure! As I had told Marc, I consider him a "celebrity" in his own
> way for having such a fantastic UFO site and for enabling me to meet
> other people who share the same passion. All of the members of
> fanderson were wonderful and, as I had already said, the content of the
> convention exceeded my wildest dreams. I only have a few regrets (as
> marc did). There was so much going on at the convention that afterwards
> you mull it over and decide what you would have done differently. I wish
> I had conveyed to ed bishop during our conversation that UFO was not the
> only thing I had ever seen him in! Since the convention focused on gerry
> anderson's productions UFO took center stage. I have admired him for so
> many years in so many other things and I wish I had taken the
> opportunity to actually say that to him. I would absolutely love to fly
> to london to see him in a theatre production and just make a weekend of
> it. I also regret not having a conversation with gabrielle drake but
> her time there was limited. Most of all I regret not having the stamina
> to go back to attend the party. We brought "costumes"...nothing fancy
> just 70's wear... and had full intention of going but, after a day full
> of intense excitement, we just couldn't do it! I have heard the party
> details and OUCH! it hurts that we didn't go. I know I would have made
> an effort to go check out the party if I was staying at the Allesley
> hotel but since we were walking distance away I just couldn't go back
> (you have to realize the jet lag hit us hard that night). I do have the
> "consolation prize" of knowing that Gerry Anderson stayed at our lovely
> hotel (the Brooklands Grange) on Saturday night although I never spotted
> him there. (The owner let us know afterwards). They said ed bishop
> didn't stay there (not that I would have sat in the lobby all night
> waiting for another glimpse of him if he did hehehe). Anyway I am
> fading fast and wrote more than I thought I would be able to...I will
> add more tomorrow if you would like.
>
> Hope your trip is going well marc! BTW my Video battery did die early
> on during the UFO Identified episode done with commentary. (insert
> profanity here) Anyone who attended it can tell you it was FABULOUS!!!
> We will have to get a copy from Paolo... I think he might have
> videotaped it. It was so funny and informative...I wish they would have
> done at least one other episode. The closing ceremony had two spoofs on
> space 1999 that were absolutely hysterical. They were so creative and
> well done.
>
> Until tomorrow....when I am back on U.S. time. Ever so happy Lorraine
> :) :) :) :)
>
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