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I was sat behind a couple with a baby. Now, I like babies. I do. Cute. Future of mankind, etc. And this one was generally very well behaved. But there was a fair bit of too-in and fro-ing as they passed the baby to each other and/or taking him/her out for a bit of a breather. I meant to ask - how were the guest encounters? A credit to the Radisson - they honoured the drinks discount even though I didn't present them with the card at the time of ordering. They discounted everything at checkout. Mart

I used an iPhone 5s which isn't bad in low light conditions (I am a big fan of using natural light wherever possible, even if it means grainer photos) http://www.drake.org...0-the-check-in/ http://www.drake.org...dodgy-sandwich/ http://www.drake.org...edible-stories/ (Note the blog reflects what I felt at the time, and I must stress: no disrespect to ME or the crew)

Didn't attend the parties, but if anybody remembers the Patrick and Alex talk on Saturday, I was the guy that asked them about what was their most difficult visual effects sequence or make-up job. And in which we found out that the costumes and makeup don't make it easy to go to the toilet....

I avoided the photo signings on the Saturday as it looked to be too chaotic (could have done with better signage and explanatory talk at the opening ceremony) - Sunday, however, went brilliantly. Very well handled. As for the talks, I sat at the right side aisle, one or two rows behind the front of the silver ticket seats. Reasonable view, but being short sighted everybody looked like Hobbits (so good job with the "jumbotron" screens). But what was annoying was people lifting their arms above their heads taking pictures with large cameras. Constantly. Obscured the view big time. Also distracting. I must have watched half the talks through somebody's camera display. In all honestly, however, this wasn't really my bag and am unlikely to attend next year (or if I do, not as gold or silver). Not a bad reflection on Massive Events at all, enjoyed myself a great deal, but I'm just not cut out for conventions of this sort.

Displays in main hotel reception and along corridors all point to the right place, but it's the 3rd floor atrium. Blinkin' hot, so don't wear jumpers or warm clothes. Note they don't have badge holders to hold the pass, just a ball of string and some scissors - e.g. the low tech approach.

Must give a try. Anybody up for going this evening, or maybe tomorrow?

Less than two hours until registration opens..

Oh, now that's an option. Thanks :) I walk pretty fast, so I'dl probably arrive before I set off But the breakfast they serve here more than makes up for dinner options at the hotel itself. *now feels snoozy* Bring on registration at 2pm. *pumps fist*

Just look out for the McDonalds. As soon as you see it, that's where you want to get off.

Paying on exit I assume. I'll see what happens when I check out. Enjoying the stay so far - no complaints. Not sure I'd want to go back to Trunk, though. Didn't get the set menu and although meal was delicious the seating was a bit uncomfortable. Felt too low down and it doesn't really cater for the long legged gentleman. Might try the Indian restaurant tonight. Depends on what happens in the evening. Always that 24/7 McDonalds

Just to mention that the Radisson added a £150 pre-auth on top of the total room value when I checked in. It may be possible to avoid this by asking them not to do so, but just a heads up those that are checking in tonight/tomorrow.

Ah, found the Trunk menu online. The main menu: http://www.trunklondon.com/documents/1286978/3834104/TRUNK+DINNER_LambShank.pdf/e7d244d2-2170-425c-a4ea-32386cd862d1 The drinks menu: http://www.trunklondon.com/documents/1286978/3834104/Trunk+Bar+HTRW%2C%20Mar+2014.pdf/b2f7f638-6564-494c-92eb-9dc7952e9be9 Prices not unreasonable, to be honest.

Will be wearing grey jeans with a good shirt. That's about as formal as I get these days, unfortunately (last time I was in a tux was back in 2005). I'm grateful to the hotel for providing an iron. Although I am rather tempted at just handing one or two shirts and get them to do the ironing for 6 quid a piece.

The one thing I would have liked the Radisson to have done is make the menus available outside of the restaurant. Will investigate further later when I've got a proper shirt and looking a little smarter than I am now. I did pop next door for a quick bite at McDonalds - not the greatest selection on offer, but they do make a good mocha if nothing else. BTW, is anybody else here at the Radisson yet (and is checking these forums - the internet access here isn't bad - about 5Mbs average via wi-fi)

And that's when Google will introduce Google Contact Lenses. Haha!

In the end I got off at Terminal 5 from the NE from Woking, went down to Arrivals (a lift ride's away) and then caught the H53 to the Radisson. Not too bad. I'll pay the fees this time, but will definitely consider the ordinary buses next time.

Have arrived at the Radisson. Unpacked. Ready to go, go go. Checking out the restaurant this evening to see if it's feasible (in terms of costs and/or value for money) for the next three nights or, as has been said, it'll be the 24 hour McDonalds. Hoping the former, of course.

Google Glass will make all this sort of thing so much easier in the future Thanks etmuse for clarifying things.

Is it even okay to take photos during the talks? Got the impression in the rules 'n regs that such things aren't permitted.

Heading over to the Radisson tomorrow to get all settled in and find my bearings. And then Friday will be the first time I have ever attended a proper, proper convention[*]. Nervous and excited in equal measure. [*] Well, not quite true, I suppose. (I joined a group of King Kong fans/Peter Jackson fans got together for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's King Kong back in 2005 in New York. We met up for lunch, went up the Empire State Building, and then went on to the premiere in the evening - tickets very kindly given to us by Universal. Amongst the guests were George Lucas (and son), Rick Baker, Stephen King, Peter Jackson, Jack Black, Naomi Watts, Jamie Bell (who sat directly behind me in the theatre), Andy Serkis, and many more besides. It was staggering. Got to see the original 1930's King Kong armature used by Willis O'Brien. The irony was that the associate producer of that film went to work for the same company as me the following week - she only recognised we were at the same place at the same time by the fan T-Shirt somebody had made up that I wore to work that day.)

Oh, where's an Asgard transporter when you need them? FWIW, I'm taking a Hopper. I'm going from Woking via the Heathrow NE bus which stops at the Central Bus Station.

Ah, Friday is a reasonably leisurely affair for the most part. A nice gentle intro to proceedings. I kind of regret not going for gold (but without Henry Kelly - now that's an obscure reference for you), but I'm sure those that have will have a ruddy good time during the reception drinks (providing pan-galactic gargle blasters aren't being served).

I'm intending to pay for dinner on debit card - I feel my credit card needs a bit of a break after everything going on. Might take a few notes for bar-related stuff as a precaution. Will be heading up on Thursday. Can't believe it's almost here. *insane laughter*

Hello, I'm Martyn. Nice to meet everybody here, and hopefully everybody in person during the weekend. Chevron 8.1 will be my first ever con, well, if you're not counting Caesar the Geezer radio shock jock/DJ back in the 90s - not quite in the same league as Stargate. I'm not coming too far - I live in Woking which is mere spitting distance from Heathrow. Many years ago, just as SG-1 was announced way back in the late 90s, I wrote to Centropolis Entertainment to ask about David Arnold's involvement (as he wrote the original theme, and I consider it still to be one of the best movie soundtracks of all time). I got an email reply back from Dean Devlin himself (or at least one of his assistants - the email was signed off as Devlin) to tell me not to watch the show, he and Roland Emmerich had nothing to do with it. Avoid! Well, here we are in 2014 and I've watched every single episode of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and most of Universe. The ultimate irony is that during the period in which I worked in film and television visual effects, there was one period in which I worked on Emmerich's 10,000BC. Emmerich even came into the office, but perhaps, thankfully, didn't meet him given the above. And thank goodness I didn't wear an SG-1 T-Shirt at the time - there could have been hell to pay.

I apologise to Arcane for any misunderstanding (blasted flu/cold/whatever). It's more than likely just a staff training issue that needs to be addressed. Clearly whoever I spoke to knew about the event and booked it accordingly to the agreement that ME has with the Radisson. I now wished I took the name of the person I spoke to - as that would have been useful contact for those with 100% cancellation problems to go to. And is the agreement between ME and the Radisson uniquely agreed above and beyond these general terms? http://www.radissonb...tion-Policy.pdf