A large group of us from TARDAA (Time and Relative Dimensions in Ann Arbor) went to a media con in Lansing, Michigan about a dozen years ago. At the restaurant across the street, there was a wait for tables, and they were calling out "Smith, party of 4, your table is ready." on the intercom. Upon realizing that there happened to be 7 of us present, we naturally gave them the name "Blake", figuring that other folks from the con were eating there, and would be amused.

Sadly, we were simply announced as "Blake party, your table is ready". Sigh.

"Blake, party of 7" would have had a much nicer ring to it.

Oh, yes, Gareth Thomas is a very affable old chap. Looks more like Falstaff these days than Blake, and played a wonderful Polonius in a performance of Hamlet I saw in Edinburgh a couple of years ago. He's also shaken flippers with Wilfred the penguin, and Wilfred hasn't quite got over the excitement!

I've met Paul Darrow several times now; if he's one of the guests at a convention I will try to get there, and I also get to most of the Kaldor City launch or signing sessions, which he generally attends. (He plays enigmatic assassin Kaston Iago in this series, and you can just tell he enjoys it!) Put it this way, he always greets me by name these days... He is absolutely charming, quite outrageous at times in a terribly public school sort of way, and a hilarious public speaker. He's about as much like Avon as you would expect of a man with a dachshund called Tilly. :-)

I'll leave Skiffle to tell all the Star One stories. I'm sure she'll do it better than I would!



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Dante: good idea, I'll bring your copy of 'Darrow's Word ' to Leeds. Same goes for anyone else who will be attending and wants a copy.

Don't forget I have paid for mine! :-)



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Excellent.

I had been thinking that my bag was too big, but then I remembered I have to bring a book to read, a book to get signed, and you're bringing me two more books - and that's before we even get to the bookshop! Argh!

Now there's a thought. Any good second hand bookshops in Leeds?



:--

Do something pretty while you can...

I'd asked for a copy if possible, but Leeds is a tad far for me. Any word on whether you can take money by PayPal for international orders? I could get an international money order if necessary, of course, but then we'd both have to make a trip to the bank on either end.

Magda, this rapidly seems to be becoming my "specialist area" (knew there had to be one eventually!)

International Money Orders cost a bomb, they're not that convenient and the only people that benefit from them are the banks.

A great way of sending money from the USA to the UK is via AFEX, Associated Foreign Exchange, Inc: You pay them in dollars and they send a check (to us, a cheque) for the equivalent amount in pounds sterling to the designated UK address. It costs us nothing to convert it when it's received because it's drawn on a London clearing bank, and it costs next to nothing for you to arrange the transaction. Their toll-free phone number is, I believe, 1-800-525-2339

Failing that, I have a PayPal US$ account linked to my English bank account and am more than happy to use it to "bounce" money if you want - in other words, you pay my PayPal account and I'll gladly forward a cheque (aka check! Oh it's all so confusing!).

Thanx for offering to help, Ptolemy, but I have a Paypal account of my own, so I can accept overseas orders directly. I've finally got around to visiting the Post Office and checking likely P&P costs.

For the USA it's £2.97
For Aus, it's £3.21.

These are the air mail rates for books. I know it's about as much as I'm asking for the books, but it's still @#$%& than the cover price and as they are being remaindered, you probably can't get them any other way. And certainly not personalized signed copies !

And Sarah - YES I HAVE REMEMBERED THAT YOU'VE PAID ! I forget once and she keeps on reminding me....!

Now, come on, be fair, you did ask me to remind you! :-)



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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Did I ? Must have forgotten.

Your exact words were "Don't let me forget". Since that was about a month ago, I remember. It's just the last two or three days that have been a bit of a blur!



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah