Filkcontinental 2005

Started with what felt like a ridiculously early start on Friday morning (like get up at 0545 to be out of house – with kid and baby - by 0645) to catch the 0800 ferry. Fortunately, we did get most of the packing done the previous evening so we did actually get out not too much later than this and were at Dover in plenty of time.

All then went fairly well until we hit Koln, where the jams on the East side of the ring-road were a lot worse than usual (unhelpful roadworks). And then went really pear-shaped on the autobahn over to Siegen where viaduct works seemed to have brought the whole road to a grinding halt. So we set off cross-country, acquired a better map (like one which actually showed the small towns we were passing through) and well-navigated by Rika we eventually made it to the con just as Alex and Amy were reaching the meltdown point. So, on balance, it's probably a good thing we took as early a ferry as we did, however useful it would have been to have started the con less tired! Though on the downside it did mean I made it to the Rocky Horror inspired opening ceremony, the scars of which (especially Franklin-furter!) will take a while to heal… *grin*

Was asked to do a couple of songs in the pick circle, one of which was a highly experimental version of Beacon Men of Gondor with deborah_c trying heroically to remember the piano part! A fun circle, for all it would have been nice to have been more awake, and an early night seemed advisable. Especially given Saturday was going to be … interesting.

The previous year I'd taken a bit of stick from Franklin et al for not reading the PRs and so not noticing they were holding an "excuse to wear your medieval garb or any other fun outfit" Fancy Dress day on the Saturday. And so this year each PR and the Programme Book carried a "so no excuses this time, Phil" comment! So I had to do *something* impressive. And as noted in a previous entry, I took over Rachel's latest Far Isles medieval gown, together with a suitably feminine mundane outfit for later in the day.

And so Saturday morning - after breakfast; I wasn't going to wake up early enough to get it all done before an FC breakfast! – Rachel wandered forth in her new gown, taking I must confess a huge amount of glee from the range of stunned expressions and reactions she got from those she met. Oh, alright, and modesty aside probably an even greater degree of satisfaction from all the compliments! I think 3 women independently came up to me during the morning to say words to the effect of "if I didn't recognise your face I really would think you were a woman" – which under the circumstances (and how much effort - and pain! - I put in to try and achieve this) I really do take as the highest praise!

At time of writing I didn't have any full length piccies from the con yet but here were a couple from the revel a couple of weeks ago to show more or less how this gown looked, albeit at FC without the head-dress.
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/Dimingsdale1.jpg
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/Dimingsdale2.jpg

And here's one edited in later from FC by Kirstin.
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/Rachel_3071.jpg [Kirstin]

I'd agonised before the con whether to wear the bodged-togetherhead-dress (it's not at all authentic, but works well enough for Far Isles!) to go with the gown. In the event, this was a fortunate decision as delennara took one look at Rachel and promptly asked if she could braid up my hair. Well, what's a girl to say? So after what I must confess was a very pleasant and relaxing braiding session, Rachel ended up sporting quite a fancy hairdo, adding considerably to the overall effect – thanks Shaya!
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/Rachel_3074.jpg [Kirstin]
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/2005_1003_0058w.jpg
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/2005_1003_0057w.jpg
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/2005_1003_0056w.jpg

Had a fun time posing outside the main function room with shannachie in her gorgeous Victorian outfit – if we'd been stunning people individually, together or in rapid succession the effect was even greater! *grin* Well, alright, normally "gorgeous" wouldn't be quite the expression I'd use for that combination of colours and frills, but nevertheless as an outfit it just *worked* and was absolutely striking. A well-deserved winner in the costume competition, though Rachel swears if she'd known she was going to pip her for first place she'd have slid a skateboard under Yooh's crinoline and pushed… *grin*

I always enjoy the harmony/choir workshops at FC, and this was no exception, especially as a I cunningly managed to always sit next to highstone who has far better sight-reading and pitching ability than I do, making my life much easier! Must confess evil satisfaction as following one rehearsal of a bass section that droned "Come into my castle, come into my castle, come into my castle" several times in a row I interjected into the following silence "Oh just bloody come in!", to general merriment!

There's usually a dance workshop at FC, and this was no exception. This year we had Yooh teaching Scottish Country Dancing. Which suffered somewhat (if also a good thing) from too many people attending to be easily explained to, but nonetheless was a huge amount of fun. Even in a dress which was definitely too warm for energetic dancing and with a skirt which was just a fraction too long! But I survived - just!
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/Rachel_3102.jpg [Kirstin]

Lunchtime was followed by a while child-wrangling – was wonderful to see Alex playing happily with another kid despite each not being able to understand a word the other is saying – personally my theory is this shows how little he's listening at such times! I did though manage to get to see some of Geborgt which was a lot of fun. For some reason Lissa seemed to identify with the song about the husband who is impossible to summon away from his computer game – I can't imagine why!

Programme scrutiny had suggested the auction would be a good time to change into something cooler before the crowded concert and evening sets. If not before seeing Franklin top his efforts of the previous night and appear (as decided by the winner of an auction last year) in a Sailor Moon costume for the auction and MC the main concert. Words … fail. The sight was … well, see previous comment. But incredible amounts of kudos to Franklin for going through with it!

So, with a little relief, I then changed out of the by-now overwarm long-sleeved wool gown and chemise and slipped into a more comfortable outfit of black v-neck top, flared knee-length multicoloured skirt and mid-heeled knee boots. And headed off for the Main Concert where I planned to debut my er- slightly revised version of Mike Richard's "Will Ye Come Back Home". (The one I was bwa-ha-ha-ing about a few weeks back!) After, that is, a very quick if belated experiment to see if I could find an octave/capo combination where I could sing without the voice being incongruous to the outfit!
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/cnv00026w.jpg [thanks Hitch]

I was on second – and spent most of the first act worrying because Mike (and Allie) weren't in the audience and I really didn't want them to miss it. Fortunately, they slipped into the hall just before I went on – perfect timing. At least from my point of view! *grin*. And it went wonderfully – lots of laughs in the right places, and my voice as far as I could tell held up for the top notes [fortunately I find a corset does wonders not just for one's feminine figure but also for the voice – I think because it gives the diaphragm something to push against]. And (most importantly) a standing ovation from Mike afterwards, despite (or because of) the pained expressions I noticed as his own parodist talent saw some of the lines coming charging over the horizon... *laughs evilly*

Outside after dinner for the fire-breathing – sadly a little curtailed due to the morning's workshop having been largely rained off, but still wonderfully spectacular. And as I feel the heat from the flames a good 20 or 30 feet away, I can still only think … they're mad! [Yeah, okay, this from the one watching in skirt and heels, so a bit of pot and kettle in that!] But I'm very glad they are as it's a FC tradition I'd hate to miss.

And then what an evening to look forward to. Lord Landless, followed by Summer & Fall. Oh, and then Urban Tapestry. Yum, delicious. And so it was. LL and S&F were their usual selves of exquisite vocal harmonies and gorgeous songs. And I'm pretty sure UT were sitting there thinking "OMG, we've got to follow *these*"! But of course they had nothing to worry about, being their usual marvellous selves. And I trust the con CD *will* be called "Wo ist der Bahnhof?"… Just great.

10pm, time to change back again (a lot of make-up removal to do, which I didn't want to be doing at 2am!) before the pre-launches party and filking. And enduring all the usual "where have you been today, Phil?" jokes! The party was fun, especially the surprise birthday cakes etc for a suitably embarrassed Jodi (though they did also make a point of similarly serenading Alison after midnight on Monday!).
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/2005_1003_0062w.jpg

Thought about filking afterwards, but circle looked large and tiredness was by then hitting hard and a relatively early night resulted – but then one way and another it had been a busy day!

Blurg. Saturday night had not started restful – snoring! – and Sunday morning started far too early as both Amy and Alex woke early and unhappily. We could have done without that! Breakfast (ah the retrospective foresight in bringing cheerios and English tea-bags!) and then harmony workshop part 2, which didn't quite finish so we sneaked in another session after lunch.

What next? Thanks to Teddy I got to see more of SteveMac than I was expecting. Hm, let me rephrase that - thanks to Teddy's childwatching I got to go see more of SteveMac's set than I was expecting to - hurrah! Then a lovely set from Mich and Marilisa - Mich in particular really does have a great ear for a gorgeous chorus, and both were in fine voice this weekend (as I would note was Mike Richards who has, I think, improved his voice a lot of late - and I don't imply any criticism in that as I'd happily say the same is hopefully true of myself!). And then - probably cursing whom they were following *again* - another set of UT. Oh the hardship. And Amy was particularly co-operative, sitting quietly on my lap through most of the set.

Oh alright, Amy picture with the Hair of Doom...
http://www.oreos.plus.com/images/2005_1003_0066w.jpg

Then it was heads down for the close. Gaelic workshop performance, choir performance (pretty good, I think, though the tenors lost it for a few bars at one point but found it again before it mattered too much!) and request concert where Rika and I got asked to do Thief in Little Pieces which went down very well.

Dead dog filk was ... overlarge pick/play circle. I mean *massively* overlarge in that I think it took what? 3 hours or more to not quite get around! So not fun for anyone desperately wanting to perform but actually a really nice circle to just sit and listen as some nice songs were being picked. I think I'd done a total of 4 songs by the time I decided to pack up for bed - only to find myself told "You can't go yet, I want to hear you do Third Hand Songs..." Then someone else insisted on Grief in Little Pieces (with others singing the harmony part). And then someone else asked for Anna at which point I said okay, I'll do that - then Precious Moments and then I *was* going to go to bed. So one way and another I ended up singing a lot more songs at the end of filk than I did during most of it! But I must confess it was good for my ego! *grin*

Journey home went fairly well. One minor diversion where I somehow missed the autobahn exit towards Liege but recovered fairly quickly and all in all was a far easier trip back - door to door it took us 10.25 hours, of which perhaps 30 mins was extra for Amy feeding and 30 mins spare early for the ferry. How does that compare with the train?

Great convention - anyone else with conreps or photos online do please let me know (unless you know I'm already reading your LJ! Many thanks to the Committee and to the Sound crew. Lovely to see you all again, and see most of you again next year. And will you see Rachel again for the fancy dress next year? Well, she does have a few more impressive medieval outfits she hasn't had a chance to show off yet... So perhaps... *grin*