My OperaAT5: Sweet Reminiscences...Saturday's Saga!
Sunday, January 1, 2012 11:39:35 PM
After three, sweet, comatose hours of choc-filled z’s, either excitement or the call of duty woke me up and I was down in the lobby by 5am, proudly sporting a spanking brand new “GABIT Events; AT5 REVERBERATION” tank top, laptop in one hand and giant, fluffy AT5 fleece in the other. Truly giant. So giant it makes Grawp look like a poodle. Big. Black. Marquee.
5am! Only crazy people (like geeks/dorks) and workaholics (like Amanda Tapping) are up and at it at 5am!
And babies.
5am. You’d think the hotel would be dead at 5am. I thought so too. As it turned out, lights were ablaze, and apart from the restaurant staff preparing yet ANOTHER decadent spread, I managed to spy one or two stray GABITeers who had decided sleep was overrated entirely. After meandering vacantly about for some five minutes, I settled down in a wee corner, nabbed an adaptor, and knuckled into it. I was in the perfect spot. Out of my right eye I could see the impending disastrous advance of any potential attendees, and by my left eye…shrewdly watched for signs of food. After an hour of immensely dedicated typing, emailing and sundry 'puterisms....the first trickle of GABITeers started shuffling toward the promise of coffee, breakfast, and most importantly, tea. First came the purple shirts, the holy Quad Squad of Amanda's fandom...the chief culprits in a magnificent five instalments of specialised Amanda Tapping events: 'Boss Lady' Julia Hague, the Mistress of Everything Becky Preen, the ever huggable 'Mumsey' Kay Jacobs, and the groovilicious John 'Flashbulb' Goode...who is NEVER spotted without his trusty camera. These fantastic four were interspersed amongst a thickening trickle of red-garmented staff ('Master Scheff' Jenn Scheffler, Rebecca Hague, Liesl Bland, and the mischievous Tracy North), the green shirted tech wonders, the blue shirted Stewards....and the throng of fans from all over the globe. Every single person had the same, intoxicating smile spread across their faces, bursting with excitement and anticipation at the launching of the day's festivities.
For me, breakfast on this inaugural day was a rushed affair. After having my chair so chivalrously drawn by the waiter, I stuffed my gob with cereal, fruit and pastries, before returning to my comfy writer's corner to witness the breakfast rush and shoot off the remaining reports.
I finished a good ten minutes before the beginning of the Opening Ceremony, then shuffled into the spacious Renaissance Suite...feeling like a bit of an antisocial twat, and flailing at a train of familiar faces as I made my way down the centre aisle to the third row.
THANK YOU, OH HOLY GABIT, for endowing us with extremely photogenic seats. I mean, the seats themselves aren't photogenic, but they enable photogenic photos to be...you know what I mean.
The 'Opening Ceremony' of AT5 commenced sharply at 8:30am, and was really just a warm welcome, especially to newcomers, and an excuse for Becky to exercise her Almighty Powers, aided by her trusty little red book, for introducing the general housekeeping guidelines (I mean...rules...RULES!), and the dreaded Line of Doom. The Line of Doom rule served to be a prudent piece of advice, as that entity loomed over the entire crowd throughout the weekend, from time to time terrifying the attendees into cowering, ear-burying, crouches as a deafening squeal emitted from the microphones. The Almighty Word of Becky was never again taken lightly. Beware the Line of Doom.
The other guideli...rule that was impressed was the holy sanctity of her little red book. This little red book contained all manner of schedule and unnamed importances, which if ever found strayed during the convention, was to be immediately returned to its Mistress.
Becky has perfected the art of comedic timing, and cut her gig short at its peak. Without further ado, she introduced Amanda to the stage, and in the midst of their banter it was discovered that she had already misplaced her baton of power, the little red book.
Amanda was sitting on it. SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
And then the first of four panels began. I won't go into the details, a lot can happen in an hour, but with her usual grace and un-seriousness, Amanda warmed the crowd into a unified state of hysterical laughter. Apparently a steward on the plane was being terribly polite and respectful, thinking she was Kate Middleton. Amanda was very flattered!
Honestly, I can't see why, what does she think SHE is?
After much dorkiness and laughing stitches, Amanda was unceremoniously cut short by a giant projected countdown clock, inevitably ending in her forced removal from the stage.
It was during the Sanctuary quiz that followed, when the first rows began queuing next door for photo opportunities with Amanda. Having carted across the seas two full-sized canvases, one each for Jen Marsden and Julia Hague, I quickly dispatched Julia's to the two blue shirts dutifully controlling the crowd at the doorway (with their word to pass it on to Julia), then took my place in the queue. Being row three, it wasn't long until I was sitting in the warm up seats, right next to Fuddy, being rowdy and generally rambunctious in a most undignified way. It was infectious, as soon as we walked into that room, all dignity was checked at the door. Even GABITeers were snorting all over the place. By the time I got to Amanda, who was standing with a gigantic grin across her face right next to an impressive mock-up of the 'Warriors' Moroccan tent, she was fairly bouncing and flailing her arm at me to come forth. As I frolicked towards her, I passed Julia, who was standing with the happiest expression plastered across her face, proudly guarding that exotic marquee, which one could only guess what kind of tea-and-biscuit-on-fine-china sanctuary they had set up within. "Hi!!! Can't wait to talk to you later, Jenn will find you!" burst Julia, smiling madly, "OH HULLO!!!", I replied, feeling incredibly flattered that she even knew my secret identity o.O. As I bounded past her, Amanda was standing with an equally, madly happy brightness on her face, "HI!!!", "Hi Amanda!"< I mentioned Gate to the Sanctuary in Melbourne, she remembered everything, and then the circus began.
"So, can we do something goofy?"
"How goofy?"
"Like, completely stupid. You know how we do these things. No wait, YOU *I pointed at John, witness of yesterday's antics* know how we do it!!"
"Okay! Whaddya wanna do?"
"I dunno, you can be creative
"
*Amanda adopts an intensely serious thinking face*
Amanda: "*chews finger* okay, how about something...petrified, but a little bit dumb? O.O"
Me: "Petrified, like people from Kent?"
Amanda: "YES! Ready?"
Me: "In character..."
Amanda: "GO!"
John: " NO NO NO NO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!!"
"What?"
"AGAIN!" *click click click*
"NOOO...stop it, do it again!"
Amanda: "O.O"
Me: "Wha...What do you want from me?!?!"
And so it continued for about 12 consecutive photos until he was either satisfied, or gave up entirely.
The pick of the crop. Apparently.
(Insert photo)
Accosting John later, he confessed that Amanda has a habit of poking her tongue between her teeth during shoots, and it irks him completely. I see.
After a lengthy lunch, which involved more running around and tumbling than actual eating (and during which Master Scheff, in her flurry of scarlet racing past, informed me that our lunch date with Julia needed to be postponed until tomorrow), the milling crowds filtered, in no order whatsoever (VERY un-British!), back into the Renaissance Suite for Amanda's second Question and Answer panel. There was just too much hilarity to explain it all here, nearly every question culminating in a sore tummy from laughing too much. Amanda threw her dorkiness at the attendees, at her colleagues, even at herself. Responding to a question about the Sanctuary soundtracks, she expressed that the team were working on it, but working steps included obtaining rights (as it was intellectual property) and financial backing. Following her answer to a question about Magnus' religion, Amanda uttered a reflection that has reverberated ever since: " It’s wonderful if you have that direct connection to God... but everyone has moments when they pray... just a healing thought to the universe, to make it okay. That’s what I do."
A truer word was never said! Love has no boundaries...
As Amanda blatantly disregarded the giant ticking countdown clock, her spiel was interrupted by the league of mascots, as GABIT's very own Guest Services monkeys stormed the stage, dressed as Bob the Builder, waving inflatable hammers, and the crowd singing along to the deafening music....while Amanda stood by torn between hysterical laughter and stunned disbelief. Only at the Ren, my dears....only at the Ren.
As such, Amanda was once again unceremoniously ushered off the stage for a quick half hour break before the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People demonstration. This wonderful charity, along with it's wonderful people (AND PUPPIES) has been close to Amanda, and to GABIT's, heart from their pilot convention. They provide expert training for hearing dogs, and great support for the deaf community. The demonstration with adorable little Iris is just mind-blowing in the intelligence and promptness of the little creatures! Never underestimate mother nature! I think the resident AT5 pups stole everyone's hearts over the weekend...cuddles were had by all!
Before the charity auction, Julia Hague began the proceedings with the most heart-touching introduction humanity could possibly conceive. Her video and speech about the bitter truth of our daily attitude, about the need for change, the power of love in achieving this change, the plight of children in desperate circumstances...had everybody, including herself in tears of solidarity and human connectedness. Julia was immediately followed by Amanda, S4K shirt and all, who conveyed to all her touching and spiritual experiences with the children of Nepal Orphan's Home. Her slideshow, her emotional description of the sheer joy of these children, who have such dark pasts we could not imagine, fuelled her supporters with a steely resolve for change, and a love for these wonderful specimens of true human spirit. By the end of this cathartic, uniting and emotional introduction, everyone was well-revved for the charity auction which directly followed.
The muchly anticipated auction. OOOOOOOOOOH THE AUCTION. Describing every detail in here would make several pairs of ears burn like hot coals, not least Amanda's and Tracy's. And Fuddy. Young Fuddy won a skin-tight native's costume from the SG1 episode "One False Step", and was ordered to wear it at some point during the weekend. Dutifully, she wore it to the Abnormal's Ball, and a photo was sent to Amanda as proof. Fuddy will never go a day without being haunted by the memory. If not by hers, then by everyone else's!
The generosity and selfless, and extremely manic spirit, of Amanda and of her fans was just mind-blowing to everyone involved. For example, the first two paintings auctioned, small heart canvases done by Amanda when she was pregnant, were each sold for 2000 pounds each. For every single item that was sprinted, strutted, bobbled and weaved around the room by the face-pulling, accent-booming Amanda (side-kicked superbly by the mischievous lioness, Tracy North), the bids just kept coming and coming. Amanda was moved to tears more than once, and even had to sit down in a corner to compose her sweet self. For all the items listed for auction, we ran short on time before all the items could be presented, and STILL went two hours overtime. All because fans just kept bidding and bidding and bidding, all the while in hysterical laughter and moving tears, and while the auction was continuing, buckets were being passed around and filling with change unbelievably fast. Amanda pretended to be holding an invisible nubbin, and was flailing around goofily when somebody (RACHEL!) yelled out "100 POUNDS FOR THE INVISIBLE NUBBIN". Nuff said. SERIOUSLY. Said nubbin was apparently peeing all over her, and Amanda maintained that it must have been pregnant and having bladder problems...
As Amanda was about to leave, after an unbelievably tumultuous ovation and cheering, yet another called out, "500 POUNDS FOR YOUR TEESHIRT", at which Amanda looked aghast and astounded (she couldn't believe people were still bidding even though the auction was over), took her shirt half off, then paused. She looked down and blurted, (she was wearing a white undershirt) "OH MY GOD I'm totally wearing a black bra! ....um...come and see me tomorrow". She exited with grace, no dignity, and a large, blushing, embarrassed grin to the accompaniment of cheers and laughter.
Two short hours later, all returned to the lobby and the main hall, all dressed in the most fabulous costumes that even the Sanctuary Productions wardrobe department couldn't concoct, for the party of the century! There were beasts and monsters, Helen Magnus lookalikes, Jack the Rippers, vampires galore, and all manner of creatures with fascinating back stories that have not yet been discovered. And John Goode looked awfully like a rock star from the 1970's.
Entering on the party zone, we were greeted by a table at the left covered in blue jello shots, a disco ball glittering overhead, and the rockin' Jenn Scheffler, dancing mistress, who we later agreed looked like Cher, dressed as a punk ballerina, on crack. Go figure. I think she was a bit pirate too. She led the troops in some fantastic group dances, a bit of line dancing, and the famous Star-Trekkin' Across the Universe shindig. After a very energetic fast-forwarded lesson, all hell broke loose and it was dancing for India!! We burned that floor like nobody's business...I think Mr. Goode was either very tipsy, or very high on dance fever, dance fever.
People spilled out into the lobby for air, fiercely excited milling conversation and some antics. I seem to remember doing handstands at some point. Who knows.
The fever died down by 1am, and closed with a beautifully unifying and moving rendition of 'Proud', as everyone joined shoulder to shoulder in a giant circle, arms entwined around waists and shoulders, swaying...as our wonderful dancing mistress made the rounds hugging every single person. After that it was a free-for-all hugfest. Nobody was spared by anyone.
What a way to end the perfect day! Within an hour, everyone was back to their rooms, to catch but a few short z's before the festivities continued...
5am! Only crazy people (like geeks/dorks) and workaholics (like Amanda Tapping) are up and at it at 5am!
And babies.
5am. You’d think the hotel would be dead at 5am. I thought so too. As it turned out, lights were ablaze, and apart from the restaurant staff preparing yet ANOTHER decadent spread, I managed to spy one or two stray GABITeers who had decided sleep was overrated entirely. After meandering vacantly about for some five minutes, I settled down in a wee corner, nabbed an adaptor, and knuckled into it. I was in the perfect spot. Out of my right eye I could see the impending disastrous advance of any potential attendees, and by my left eye…shrewdly watched for signs of food. After an hour of immensely dedicated typing, emailing and sundry 'puterisms....the first trickle of GABITeers started shuffling toward the promise of coffee, breakfast, and most importantly, tea. First came the purple shirts, the holy Quad Squad of Amanda's fandom...the chief culprits in a magnificent five instalments of specialised Amanda Tapping events: 'Boss Lady' Julia Hague, the Mistress of Everything Becky Preen, the ever huggable 'Mumsey' Kay Jacobs, and the groovilicious John 'Flashbulb' Goode...who is NEVER spotted without his trusty camera. These fantastic four were interspersed amongst a thickening trickle of red-garmented staff ('Master Scheff' Jenn Scheffler, Rebecca Hague, Liesl Bland, and the mischievous Tracy North), the green shirted tech wonders, the blue shirted Stewards....and the throng of fans from all over the globe. Every single person had the same, intoxicating smile spread across their faces, bursting with excitement and anticipation at the launching of the day's festivities.
For me, breakfast on this inaugural day was a rushed affair. After having my chair so chivalrously drawn by the waiter, I stuffed my gob with cereal, fruit and pastries, before returning to my comfy writer's corner to witness the breakfast rush and shoot off the remaining reports.
I finished a good ten minutes before the beginning of the Opening Ceremony, then shuffled into the spacious Renaissance Suite...feeling like a bit of an antisocial twat, and flailing at a train of familiar faces as I made my way down the centre aisle to the third row.
THANK YOU, OH HOLY GABIT, for endowing us with extremely photogenic seats. I mean, the seats themselves aren't photogenic, but they enable photogenic photos to be...you know what I mean.
The 'Opening Ceremony' of AT5 commenced sharply at 8:30am, and was really just a warm welcome, especially to newcomers, and an excuse for Becky to exercise her Almighty Powers, aided by her trusty little red book, for introducing the general housekeeping guidelines (I mean...rules...RULES!), and the dreaded Line of Doom. The Line of Doom rule served to be a prudent piece of advice, as that entity loomed over the entire crowd throughout the weekend, from time to time terrifying the attendees into cowering, ear-burying, crouches as a deafening squeal emitted from the microphones. The Almighty Word of Becky was never again taken lightly. Beware the Line of Doom.
The other guideli...rule that was impressed was the holy sanctity of her little red book. This little red book contained all manner of schedule and unnamed importances, which if ever found strayed during the convention, was to be immediately returned to its Mistress.
Becky has perfected the art of comedic timing, and cut her gig short at its peak. Without further ado, she introduced Amanda to the stage, and in the midst of their banter it was discovered that she had already misplaced her baton of power, the little red book.
Amanda was sitting on it. SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
And then the first of four panels began. I won't go into the details, a lot can happen in an hour, but with her usual grace and un-seriousness, Amanda warmed the crowd into a unified state of hysterical laughter. Apparently a steward on the plane was being terribly polite and respectful, thinking she was Kate Middleton. Amanda was very flattered!
Honestly, I can't see why, what does she think SHE is?
After much dorkiness and laughing stitches, Amanda was unceremoniously cut short by a giant projected countdown clock, inevitably ending in her forced removal from the stage.
It was during the Sanctuary quiz that followed, when the first rows began queuing next door for photo opportunities with Amanda. Having carted across the seas two full-sized canvases, one each for Jen Marsden and Julia Hague, I quickly dispatched Julia's to the two blue shirts dutifully controlling the crowd at the doorway (with their word to pass it on to Julia), then took my place in the queue. Being row three, it wasn't long until I was sitting in the warm up seats, right next to Fuddy, being rowdy and generally rambunctious in a most undignified way. It was infectious, as soon as we walked into that room, all dignity was checked at the door. Even GABITeers were snorting all over the place. By the time I got to Amanda, who was standing with a gigantic grin across her face right next to an impressive mock-up of the 'Warriors' Moroccan tent, she was fairly bouncing and flailing her arm at me to come forth. As I frolicked towards her, I passed Julia, who was standing with the happiest expression plastered across her face, proudly guarding that exotic marquee, which one could only guess what kind of tea-and-biscuit-on-fine-china sanctuary they had set up within. "Hi!!! Can't wait to talk to you later, Jenn will find you!" burst Julia, smiling madly, "OH HULLO!!!", I replied, feeling incredibly flattered that she even knew my secret identity o.O. As I bounded past her, Amanda was standing with an equally, madly happy brightness on her face, "HI!!!", "Hi Amanda!"< I mentioned Gate to the Sanctuary in Melbourne, she remembered everything, and then the circus began.
"So, can we do something goofy?"
"How goofy?"
"Like, completely stupid. You know how we do these things. No wait, YOU *I pointed at John, witness of yesterday's antics* know how we do it!!"
"Okay! Whaddya wanna do?"
"I dunno, you can be creative
"*Amanda adopts an intensely serious thinking face*
Amanda: "*chews finger* okay, how about something...petrified, but a little bit dumb? O.O"
Me: "Petrified, like people from Kent?"
Amanda: "YES! Ready?"
Me: "In character..."
Amanda: "GO!"
John: " NO NO NO NO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!!"
"What?"
"AGAIN!" *click click click*
"NOOO...stop it, do it again!"
Amanda: "O.O"
Me: "Wha...What do you want from me?!?!"
And so it continued for about 12 consecutive photos until he was either satisfied, or gave up entirely.
The pick of the crop. Apparently.
(Insert photo)
Accosting John later, he confessed that Amanda has a habit of poking her tongue between her teeth during shoots, and it irks him completely. I see.
After a lengthy lunch, which involved more running around and tumbling than actual eating (and during which Master Scheff, in her flurry of scarlet racing past, informed me that our lunch date with Julia needed to be postponed until tomorrow), the milling crowds filtered, in no order whatsoever (VERY un-British!), back into the Renaissance Suite for Amanda's second Question and Answer panel. There was just too much hilarity to explain it all here, nearly every question culminating in a sore tummy from laughing too much. Amanda threw her dorkiness at the attendees, at her colleagues, even at herself. Responding to a question about the Sanctuary soundtracks, she expressed that the team were working on it, but working steps included obtaining rights (as it was intellectual property) and financial backing. Following her answer to a question about Magnus' religion, Amanda uttered a reflection that has reverberated ever since: " It’s wonderful if you have that direct connection to God... but everyone has moments when they pray... just a healing thought to the universe, to make it okay. That’s what I do."
A truer word was never said! Love has no boundaries...
As Amanda blatantly disregarded the giant ticking countdown clock, her spiel was interrupted by the league of mascots, as GABIT's very own Guest Services monkeys stormed the stage, dressed as Bob the Builder, waving inflatable hammers, and the crowd singing along to the deafening music....while Amanda stood by torn between hysterical laughter and stunned disbelief. Only at the Ren, my dears....only at the Ren.
As such, Amanda was once again unceremoniously ushered off the stage for a quick half hour break before the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People demonstration. This wonderful charity, along with it's wonderful people (AND PUPPIES) has been close to Amanda, and to GABIT's, heart from their pilot convention. They provide expert training for hearing dogs, and great support for the deaf community. The demonstration with adorable little Iris is just mind-blowing in the intelligence and promptness of the little creatures! Never underestimate mother nature! I think the resident AT5 pups stole everyone's hearts over the weekend...cuddles were had by all!
Before the charity auction, Julia Hague began the proceedings with the most heart-touching introduction humanity could possibly conceive. Her video and speech about the bitter truth of our daily attitude, about the need for change, the power of love in achieving this change, the plight of children in desperate circumstances...had everybody, including herself in tears of solidarity and human connectedness. Julia was immediately followed by Amanda, S4K shirt and all, who conveyed to all her touching and spiritual experiences with the children of Nepal Orphan's Home. Her slideshow, her emotional description of the sheer joy of these children, who have such dark pasts we could not imagine, fuelled her supporters with a steely resolve for change, and a love for these wonderful specimens of true human spirit. By the end of this cathartic, uniting and emotional introduction, everyone was well-revved for the charity auction which directly followed.
The muchly anticipated auction. OOOOOOOOOOH THE AUCTION. Describing every detail in here would make several pairs of ears burn like hot coals, not least Amanda's and Tracy's. And Fuddy. Young Fuddy won a skin-tight native's costume from the SG1 episode "One False Step", and was ordered to wear it at some point during the weekend. Dutifully, she wore it to the Abnormal's Ball, and a photo was sent to Amanda as proof. Fuddy will never go a day without being haunted by the memory. If not by hers, then by everyone else's!
The generosity and selfless, and extremely manic spirit, of Amanda and of her fans was just mind-blowing to everyone involved. For example, the first two paintings auctioned, small heart canvases done by Amanda when she was pregnant, were each sold for 2000 pounds each. For every single item that was sprinted, strutted, bobbled and weaved around the room by the face-pulling, accent-booming Amanda (side-kicked superbly by the mischievous lioness, Tracy North), the bids just kept coming and coming. Amanda was moved to tears more than once, and even had to sit down in a corner to compose her sweet self. For all the items listed for auction, we ran short on time before all the items could be presented, and STILL went two hours overtime. All because fans just kept bidding and bidding and bidding, all the while in hysterical laughter and moving tears, and while the auction was continuing, buckets were being passed around and filling with change unbelievably fast. Amanda pretended to be holding an invisible nubbin, and was flailing around goofily when somebody (RACHEL!) yelled out "100 POUNDS FOR THE INVISIBLE NUBBIN". Nuff said. SERIOUSLY. Said nubbin was apparently peeing all over her, and Amanda maintained that it must have been pregnant and having bladder problems...
As Amanda was about to leave, after an unbelievably tumultuous ovation and cheering, yet another called out, "500 POUNDS FOR YOUR TEESHIRT", at which Amanda looked aghast and astounded (she couldn't believe people were still bidding even though the auction was over), took her shirt half off, then paused. She looked down and blurted, (she was wearing a white undershirt) "OH MY GOD I'm totally wearing a black bra! ....um...come and see me tomorrow
". She exited with grace, no dignity, and a large, blushing, embarrassed grin to the accompaniment of cheers and laughter.Two short hours later, all returned to the lobby and the main hall, all dressed in the most fabulous costumes that even the Sanctuary Productions wardrobe department couldn't concoct, for the party of the century! There were beasts and monsters, Helen Magnus lookalikes, Jack the Rippers, vampires galore, and all manner of creatures with fascinating back stories that have not yet been discovered. And John Goode looked awfully like a rock star from the 1970's.
Entering on the party zone, we were greeted by a table at the left covered in blue jello shots, a disco ball glittering overhead, and the rockin' Jenn Scheffler, dancing mistress, who we later agreed looked like Cher, dressed as a punk ballerina, on crack. Go figure. I think she was a bit pirate too. She led the troops in some fantastic group dances, a bit of line dancing, and the famous Star-Trekkin' Across the Universe shindig. After a very energetic fast-forwarded lesson, all hell broke loose and it was dancing for India!! We burned that floor like nobody's business...I think Mr. Goode was either very tipsy, or very high on dance fever, dance fever.
People spilled out into the lobby for air, fiercely excited milling conversation and some antics. I seem to remember doing handstands at some point. Who knows.
The fever died down by 1am, and closed with a beautifully unifying and moving rendition of 'Proud', as everyone joined shoulder to shoulder in a giant circle, arms entwined around waists and shoulders, swaying...as our wonderful dancing mistress made the rounds hugging every single person. After that it was a free-for-all hugfest. Nobody was spared by anyone.
What a way to end the perfect day! Within an hour, everyone was back to their rooms, to catch but a few short z's before the festivities continued...
