As I sit here at a table, in what passes for Kerry Airport's departure lounge, typing the story of my convention into my laptop, I realise with horror that I've fallen into the first-person present-tense style that I so hate in my writing class.

( And so I stop typing, and think... )

Tags: k2

Okay, this is only of potential interest to people going to K2 from London, so I'll hide it behind a cut.

( Read more... )

Tags: k2

Had a thought, mainly about the fact that this is supposed to be a fun event and not something to stress out over, so I'm come up with a separate plan of action (just for me, I'll leave G. to pick whatever suits him most).

New plan is:

1) Fly out Friday evening, Ryan Air, Stansted to Kerry, taxi to the Country Club.

2) Spend Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning and early afternoon at the convention.

3) Get cab from Country Club at about 3:30 pm Sunday and fly out that evening, Ryan Air, Kerry to Stansted.

That way:

1) I get to enjoy myself though 75% of the convention rather than stress myself through 100% of it.

2) Instead of having a really busy, stressful Monday full of traveling followed by arriving at my writing class knacked, wasted and without having prepared (we get homework and stuff)... I instead get to have a really leisurely Monday (I've got the day off) preparing for it, and then arrive in a good frame of mind.

Seems better all around, and means I can just look forward to the convention instead of stressing about it. (I have to confess that I am one of life's stressers).

Tags: k2

Okay, this is mainly motivated by a desire to be able to get back to London in time to make my 6:30 pm writing class - because I've already missed one of the ten nights, and I don't want to miss another.

So the thinking is to fly out Ryan Air from Stansted to Kerry (and just get a cab to the Country Club). But I can't return that way because the only flight is late evening (which means that I miss my course and also have to hang around for ages).

So I'm now thinking that we could fly back from Cork - assuming we can beg a ride back to Cork. The only problem there is that there is only one flight (Aer Lingus) in the afternoon, and it's pretty early. (The next Aer Lingus flight is several hours later, as is the only Ryan Air flight).

So the questions are:

1) Is there anyone staying at K2 who's going back to Cork and who can give us a lift there (and to the airport). I know Becky has already offered this.

2) Is there anyone who can get us to the airport by 11:15? (I know this could be a bit awkward because it means leaving by around 9:15 - so it's only really going to be for those who are eager to get back to Cork for some reason).

Here's the flight details for G., and anyone else who might be interested. (Of course, G. could just hang around in Kerry and take a cheap Ryan Air flight out in the evening).

*** OUTBOUND

One-way Regular Price 39.99 GBP

Fri, 05 Mar 04

Flight FR 703 16:00 Depart London Stansted (STN) 17:25 Arrive Kerry (KIR)

*** RETURN OPTION

Price for this Journey 100.50 GBP

AER LINGUS EI712 non-stop CORK - Mar 08, 1215 LONDON/LHR - Mar 08, 1340 Economy

Tags: k2

...But I hadn't realised quite how big Ireland was until I just looked at an online map to see how far Killarney was from Cork. I figured the answer was going to be "not much", seeing as how they're both tucked away in the south-west corner of Ireland, in adjacent counties.

But they're about a *hundred* miles apart!*

That's like the distance between London and Bristol, and they're on opposite coasts of Britain!

* If you're an American reading this, please try to understand that to us Europeans one hundred miles is a long way, in much the same way as to you, one hundred years is a long time.

Tags: k2

Me and Evil G are going to K2 next month and basically, I'm just wondering how we're actually going to get there. It's at Killarney, which as far as I'm aware doesn't have an airport (least not with one with direct flights from Heathrow, which is where we fly from).

So I figured I'd ask you guys if you've got any ideas, thoughts, advice or perhaps (smiles sweetly) offers of lifts from more convenient locations. I think we're pretty flexible on times and stuff (at least I am, haven't talked to G).

If anyone else is interested in K2, there are some details about last year's convention here, and here. (I can't find a site for this year's convention - if anyone has it please let me know and I'll post it here).

The general plan is that there is no fixed schedule or events, with the participants instead bringing their own games. We thought we'd bring Pimp: The Free Collectible Card Game (subject to me having the bottle to carry the cards across an international frontier), since although it was a joke not to be played, it would be kindof cool to just play it once - providing, of course, that those participating / spectating were drunk enough to overcome any lingering taste issues.

Tags: k2