[Buzzing with excitement]

Yep, very excited! I've been to a few conventions before, but never a pure Star Trek one. My feeling at other cons (e.g., the relatively recent ComicCon in Swindon) has always been "this is fun, but it would be much more fun if I was into everything here, rather than just one or two things." No such problem with Star Trek: it's all good!

[Restaurants/places to eat]

I'd get the train from Birmingham International to New St, you'll get waaaaay more food choices, higher quality too. I used to live in Birmingham and loved it, great city. I particularly liked eating by the canals.

[Where is everyone coming from?]

I'm coming from rather less far, down in Bristol (South West England). Megabus leaving there at 06:30 on Saturday, due into Birmingham at 08:50. I've taken that bus before and it normally gets in earlier than that. Which would be good, as I'm keen to make the Dax talk at 09:30: if I can get to New St in time for the Birmingham International train, should get there ok. :)

[Will Talks Be Free Ticketed Events?]

Cool, thanks: I'll keep an eye on the threads here, then. Is this forum the best place for announcements like that, or is there a Facebook page or whatever that's more active and up-to-date? :)

[All by myself]

I'll be coming up on my own, just for the Saturday (hooray for Megabus). Happy to chat though, especially if anybody wants to babble about BJJ as well as Trek. Feel free to say hi, I'll be the short guy with sideburns in a TNG operations rashguard. :)

[The "Who are you meeting?" thread......]

I'm mainly interested in the talks, so probably nobody. I'm not sure what I'd say anyway: I'll just gawp from a distance.

[Will Talks Be Free Ticketed Events?]

Does anyone know if the talks are likely to start early, especially if there are going to be queues? I'll be Megabusing it on the 06:40 from Bristol on the Saturday, so should be there relatively early, but not right from the start. I'm guessing I'll get to the NEC about 09:30/10, something like that.