Thursday to Friday of last week was AireCon 2023. I was running the RPG track for the event, and attending the convention, for the first time. Everything about my four days in Harrogate was just great, not least thanks to the brilliant crew of people running the event; what amazing people!
My travel had a whiff of adventure, as the snow had arrived, making my onward journey that little bit more uncertain. I had actually considered taking the MG up, but conditions precluded such wanton behaviour. You can see the MG in the picture, all tucked up and desperately glad not to be exposed to conditions.
As it was, the journey proved uneventful, passing by the bottom of my good friend Dom’s estate on the way through Whetherby, and into Harrogate. Parking was at the exhibitors car park, so no problems and free, which was nice to keep some things easy with all the newness going on.
Arriving at the Conference Centre brought me some team introductions, orientation, and an opportunity
to check the RPG area. Most of the work had already been done by the Convention staff, so there was just some table dragging, chair finding, and table numbers to add. It wasn’t long before everything was ready. I wasn’t close enough to power supply, so hoped my Matebook would last the full day on a prepared full charge.
I was to be staying at The Majestic, ‘Hilton Honours’, paid by the convention, so a real treat and very grateful. To keep things affordable, we were to be sharing with another volunteer, so someone I didn’t know. I might be getting a bit old and set in my ways to cope with that, but the grand old hotel beckoned in all its elderly splendour. I was slightly alarmed when I got to my room…
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| A Planes Trains and Automobiles moment… |
I think sharing a bed with a stranger was probably a bridge too far, but a hasty check with reception confirmed that I was to have the cavernous room to myself! The pace of events precluded me spending too much time in the room, but it was lovely to have the luxurious space. Small things, like the provision of breakfast, was also happily received, and in fact, as the breakfast was self service, it was anything but small. My experience of hotel breakfasts has not always been a happy one. The Majestic breakfast was absolutely lovely though. Even the mushrooms were big and tasty! Street food vouchers were also part of the package. A quick dash to the wagons stacked me up with hot and tasty food, with a scamper back to my desk to field the flow of enquiries throughout the day.
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