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Post by dem bones on Feb 25, 2010 0:03:44 GMT
Vault's Sod the Convention extravaganza is looking good for Sunday 28th March with three of us agreeing we "might go!" (will pm you both later today) . An attractive programme includes a visit to my mate's stall in Spitalfields Market, then on to Costcutters to stock up on beer and a bottle of Seagrams 100 Pipers, culminating in a scramble for old NEL's at the brilliant Interzone bookstall. i was toying with the idea of opening a 'Flashmob - The Massive paperback swop' faceache page for the occasion, see if we could cause mayhem at Liverpool Street station and blame it on someone else, but being Sunday it will probably be a bit dead, so maybe that's one for a later date. |
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Post by David A. Riley on Feb 25, 2010 7:22:23 GMT
Sounds very attractive, dem, but I've already been wooed by the Horror Writers Association's fish and chip Stoker banquet on Brighton Pier at the World Horror Con. Who could resist the world's most expensive fish and chip supper?  David |
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Post by dem bones on Feb 25, 2010 8:42:10 GMT
bother, i hadn't given a thought of the catering side of things. most likely we'll throw ourselves upon the mercy of the Salvation Army. They do a mean apple crumble. i think you mentioned that the brilliantly named 'Fish & Chip Stoker Banquet' (!) was a bit on the pricey side. how much exactly? you can pm if you like. i won't laugh, promise! here's are links to the official World Horror Convention site and our thread on same. Never let it be said we didn't give the competition a chance. |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Feb 25, 2010 9:10:14 GMT
I'm always intimidated by large crowds - especially if they appear to have a common purpose - and eating fish and chips was my failed career move. The Nels sound good. I'm just worried that you admit to having a friend Dem.
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Post by David A. Riley on Feb 25, 2010 10:16:16 GMT
bother, i hadn't given a thought of the catering side of things. most likely we'll throw ourselves upon the mercy of the Salvation Army. They do a mean apple crumble. i think you mentioned that the brilliantly named 'Fish & Chip Stoker Banquet' (!) was a bit on the pricey side. how much exactly? you can pm if you like. i won't laugh, promise! here's are links to the official World Horror Convention site and our thread on same. Never let it be said we didn't give the competition a chance. I don't think it's a State secret, dem - though perhaps it should be. £32.00 per person. For which you get: Bread & Butter
Brussels Pate & Melba Toast
*
Traditional Battered Cod
served with Chips and Mushy Peas
*
Chocolate Fudge Cake with Fresh Cream
Coffee or Tea Still Water and complimentary Red and White Wine
will be supplied courtesy of the Horror Writers Association.
There is also a full cash bar. Just hope there's plenty of free wine! The WHA Stoker banquet will be held on Brighton Pier. Some details about it: "We are delighted to announce that the 2010 Bram Stoker Awards Banquet will be held at the famous Palm Court fish-and-chip restaurant situated right at the heart of the historic Brighton Pier itself, with magnificent views of the coastline and out to sea. Originally known as the "Palace Pier", construction began in 1891 and the pier opened to the public in May 1899. It cost a record £137,000 to build. A Grade II* listed building, Brighton Pier captures all the traditional splendour of yesterday with the fun and excitement of today." Mind you, the pier does have a very good plus side. According to the WHC site: "The pier has been seen in movies as diverse as Carry On at Your Convenience to Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's MirrorMask and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It was also featured in the 1980 Doctor Who serial "The Leisure Hive"." Who can resist having fish and chips on a site used in Carry on at Your Convenience? I mean.... David |
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Post by dem bones on Feb 25, 2010 20:39:48 GMT
sweet mother of kylie's bum in that agent provocateur ad! No wonder they're so "famous". £32! who are they frying, Orca, Killer Whale? still, i'll bet it's a great meal, and if you fill a hip flask with Seagrams VO Blended before you set out you should be alright. i was surprised that Quadrophenia didn't get a mention in the blurb, but i think that was the Western Pier and it's still a burnt out shell? I'm always intimidated by large crowds - especially if they appear to have a common purpose i can't cope with them either, but i find that strange coming from you Craig, if you don't mind me saying. i mean, you perform in front of crowds for a living? seriously, is it that you feel more comfortable because the stage puts some distance between you? I'm just worried that you admit to having a friend Dem. bloody hell, i did too! time to knock the bastard prozac on the head. that should, of course, have read "my 'friend' on facebook" |
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Post by David A. Riley on Feb 25, 2010 20:48:35 GMT
It will be okay so long as the Horror Writers provide plenty of wine. The last banquet I went to where there was "free" wine was at the Friends of Arthur Machen dinner in Stratford upon Avon. I had so much wine at the meal that when this finally came to an end I wandered off to find the hotel bar and couldn't find the door out of there to get back to the banquet. I had to phone my wife, who was still there, on her mobile, as a result of which everybody left the banquet and came to the bar too - which really miraculously had doors by then. They found me stood at the bar with a pint of beer and a large Jack Daniels. I enjoyed that night, though I honestly can't remember going to bed. For some reason I didn't get an invite to the next Machen do.  David |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Feb 25, 2010 21:42:50 GMT
What was that Pan horror story - Frying Tonight?
Regarding crowds that was a rather disturbing piece of intuition Dem. If your playing at a function you don't have to talk to anyone and the stage is a great barrier.
I also use your tactic , David, of Pint of beer and a short. I find it's a great way of not remembering the bullshit I was uttering earlier.
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Post by marksamuels on Feb 26, 2010 12:50:06 GMT
It will be okay so long as the Horror Writers provide plenty of wine. The last banquet I went to where there was "free" wine was at the Friends of Arthur Machen dinner in Stratford upon Avon. I had so much wine at the meal that when this finally came to an end I wandered off to find the hotel bar and couldn't find the door out of there to get back to the banquet. I had to phone my wife, who was still there, on her mobile, as a result of which everybody left the banquet and came to the bar too - which really miraculously had doors by then. They found me stood at the bar with a pint of beer and a large Jack Daniels. I enjoyed that night, though I honestly can't remember going to bed. For some reason I didn't get an invite to the next Machen do. David Yes, I must apologise, David. The fact of the matter is that you were regarded by the committee as not being enough of a hardened drinker to qualify for membership.  Mark S. |
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Post by marksamuels on Feb 26, 2010 12:54:38 GMT
I'm not going to the WHC fish & chips banquet either. I might sit outside on the pier and stare at them all through the window though, with a bag of fish and chips bought from a take-away and a bottle of Olde Peculiar.
Mark S.
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Post by allthingshorror on Feb 26, 2010 13:01:43 GMT
Ditto - me and the missus will be holed up in the hotel room spreading Sainsbury's basic sandwich spread on stale baguettes and drinking Barry's Gold Label Tea - cos it's the best tea there is, oh yes.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Feb 26, 2010 13:31:29 GMT
I'm not going to the WHC fish & chips banquet either. I might sit outside on the pier and stare at them all through the window though, with a bag of fish and chips bought from a take-away and a bottle of Olde Peculiar. Mark S. At the risk of drifting into a rather overworked Monty Python sketch I may well approach you for a couple of chips and any small change for a cup of tea |
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Post by weirdmonger on Feb 26, 2010 13:37:02 GMT
I'm not going to the WHC fish & chips banquet either. I might sit outside on the pier and stare at them all through the window though, with a bag of fish and chips bought from a take-away and a bottle of Olde Peculiar. Mark S. I'll join you (if, on the day, our company together is sufficiently synergistic) as I, too, am not going to the banquet. des (the Olde Peculiar) |
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Post by allthingshorror on Feb 26, 2010 13:55:54 GMT
An alternative fish and chips banquet - UNDER the pier, where the guest of honour Janes Sherbert will recieve a lifetimes award for such outstanding novels at The Hats The Tragic Dottage, The Toasts of Sleet amongst others. Hell, I'll leave my missus in the hotel room for that!  |
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Post by David A. Riley on Feb 26, 2010 14:11:52 GMT
It will be okay so long as the Horror Writers provide plenty of wine. The last banquet I went to where there was "free" wine was at the Friends of Arthur Machen dinner in Stratford upon Avon. I had so much wine at the meal that when this finally came to an end I wandered off to find the hotel bar and couldn't find the door out of there to get back to the banquet. I had to phone my wife, who was still there, on her mobile, as a result of which everybody left the banquet and came to the bar too - which really miraculously had doors by then. They found me stood at the bar with a pint of beer and a large Jack Daniels. I enjoyed that night, though I honestly can't remember going to bed. For some reason I didn't get an invite to the next Machen do. David Yes, I must apologise, David. The fact of the matter is that you were regarded by the committee as not being enough of a hardened drinker to qualify for membership. Mark S.  David |
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